Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

if we stick to Adam’s route, we’ll never be more than half a kilometer from a spring or stream.”

“Excellent work, lad. Come on, Ann, let’s give the boys some peace.”

They left again and sat down to rest not far off. Adam settled against his backpack, legs crossed at the ankles, hands laced together over his stomach, determined to enjoy a snooze in the sun for a few minutes. Snoozing being his second favorite activity.

“Adam,” Zach said, “I…I’m glad you’re here.”

Adam smiled without opening his eyes. “Glad to be here.”

“On a personal level, but also…” His voice dropped. “I can’t do this alone, lead all these people.”

Adam opened his eyes and smiled reassuringly at Zach, who wore a frown Adam hated to see.

“I’ll do whatever you need. Not just me. The doc and the professor, you saw they’re going to be useful.” He glanced at the crowd of people. “The Franes too. Don’t underestimate the respect they’ve garnered for sending the distress call. They’re popular. Keep them on your side.”

“Right. What about Deputy Torres? I’m worried she’s here to persuade people to turn around and go back.”

Adam looked down the slope to where Torres was talking with a family. “Nah. She doesn’t play that kind of game. She’s the sort to do the job in front of her and try the hardest she can at it. She may not believe your prediction, but that won’t make any difference. She’s here to take care of people. She’ll do that come hell or…” He stopped realizing what he’d been about to say. High water? A little too close to home. “Whatever.”

“She has a sense of duty?” Zach said.

“Yes. I’d say so. Her badge means a lot to her.”

“Great, thank you.” He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, knocking off his hat. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Lose your hat,” Adam said, picking it up from the grass. He sat up and dropped it back on Zach’s head, askew again. “And fry those brains we’re all relying on, so keep it on.”

Zach straightened it, grinning. “I will.”

“Come here,” Adam said, lying down again. Zach followed him, and Adam snaked his arm around under him and held him around the shoulders. They stayed that way for the rest of the break, enjoying the sunshine. Only the chatter of all those other voices spoiled it for Adam, who still wished they could be alone out here. One day perhaps, somewhere else, probably, they’d get the chance for a romantic stroll through a lush meadow, and then later share a tent together.

The thought of what they could do in the tent produced an immediate reaction in his body, and he had to take a deep breath and put the images out of his mind.

Later, Adam, later.

* * * *

“Mr. Genius can’t figure out a little heater, huh?”

Zach looked up at Adam and smiled sheepishly. Adam had taken the job of putting the tent up when they stopped for the day. Meanwhile, Zach had started preparing dinner, and Adam had interrupted his struggles with the camping stove.

“Save me, Adam,” Zach pleaded. “I admit defeat, and I would really like some hot food.”

“Leave it to me. You grab us some plates, butter some bread.”

Within twenty minutes, Adam had heated up two hikers’ meals of chicken stew and had a pan of water on to make coffee. They ate, barely exchanging a word. The walking and fresh air had given them an appetite it would take silent concentration to satisfy.

Adam finished first, tossed his plate aside, and lay back with a sigh. “Oh yeah.”

The sight of him stretched out in the flickering light of the fire the group had set in the middle of the campsite gave Zach the stirrings of another appetite. Could it be only this morning they’d shared Zach’s bed? It felt like a week ago. It felt like a dream.

As people finished eating dinner and sorting out their tents, many began to gather around the campfire. Mostly adults, a few teenage kids. Zach realized they kept glancing his way, and though he was tired and wanted to go to bed, he knew he should join them for a while. Adam followed his gaze and must have realized the same thing. He sat up and made the coffee. In a few minutes, they both wandered over to the fire. A group of women were singing, the harmonies clear and beautiful through the night air. They reached the end of a song and stopped.

All eyes turned to Zach. Adam stood at his side, an arm around his waist. How well could people see that? What point was Adam making? Marking territory? Showing support? It felt good.

They wanted him to speak. He’d started to recognize the look of expectancy. But what did they want him to say?

“Thank you,” Zach said. “You’ve all done so well today.” They had. Some of the younger children had cried as the day wore on and they grew tired. But their complaints were the only ones.

“What time are we starting in the morning?” someone called.

“It will get light around five,” Adam said quietly.

“We need to use as much daylight as we have to make progress,” Zach said. “Everyone should get to bed as soon as they can. We’ll get up around five thirty and try to leave by six thirty.”

“I’d suggest seven,” another voice said. Torres, standing nearby. She used the same quiet tone as Adam, so not many other people would have heard her. Was Zach expecting too much of the people? Especially when there were children to organize?

“Seven at the latest, please,” he added. He’d have them ready to leave at first light if he could but suspected that would definitely be too much to expect, especially after a night of sleeping on the ground. He hadn’t been camping often in his life, but he knew a person didn’t sleep the way they would in a big soft bed.

A big soft bed dominated his thoughts, desperate to lie