The B Girls - By Cari Cole Page 0,26

went in the direction the GPS arrow pointed. Best of all, it seemed to take advantage of the landscape in a way that meant the up and down wasn't as steep as the ground on either side of it. The track was twisty and disappeared from view within fifty yards or so but Lucy was sure it had to be the right way to go.

"All we have to do is follow this until it forks, then go east to Breakleg Creek. The old homestead is on a hill above the creek," Lucy said as she led the way out of the parking area.

The Forest Service map identified the old overgrown track as a jeep trail. No Jeep or any other vehicle had used the trail for years. The Forest Service had closed the wilderness area to motorized traffic a few years ago and the wilderness was taking over again.

Jane cast a wistful glance back toward the parking area as it disappeared from view. "Breakleg Creek? That doesn't sound very promising."

Mae frowned at her. "We're not doing this for fun."

"Ouch! Damn it," Jane stopped and hopped on her right foot muttering more curses under her breath.

"What now?" Mae asked.

"I stubbed my toe on a rock. I think it might be broken."

"It's not broken. You'd still be yelling if it was broken," Lucy said.

Jane gave her the evil eye. "Well it hurts."

"Just sit down for a minute," Mae said.

Jane looked around at the foot high weeds on the track and the dense forest on either side and shuddered. "No thanks. Anything could be crawling around in there. I'll just walk it off. The throbbing is slowing down."

"Next time we should probably wear hiking boots," Mae said.

"There isn't going to be a next time," Jane said. "If we had any brains, there wouldn't be a this time."

"Let's just keep moving, before we change our minds." Lucy was already starting to miss the air-conditioned van. But she'd gladly put up with some sweat and a stubbed toe if it meant finding Belle in one piece.

They trudged on for another fifteen minutes before Jane started muttering under her breath.

Lucy didn't blame her. Mid-August in the deep South is hot, humid, and generally miserable even up in the mountains. Today seemed especially stifling without a hint of a breeze. Pushing through the heavy, still air was a chore.

"How far was the fork supposed to be?" Jane asked.

"A little less than a mile from the parking area."

Jane stopped and slapped at a mosquito. "Shouldn't we be there by now?"

"We should be close," Mae said.

Lucy's tee shirt was starting to stick to her body and she had a sick feeling her deodorant was going to fail soon. She eyed her companions.

Jane didn't look any better, her blond hair was two shades darker with sweat and plastered to her head.

Mae didn't exactly look fresh but she didn't seem to have as many working sweat glands. Her hair still had some shape to it and her high-tech tee shirt wasn't sporting sweat marks under the arms.

Chances were huge they were in way over their heads but she didn't see that they had a choice. Waiting until Wednesday and relying on the cops wasn't an option.

Jane slapped at another mosquito. "What the hell were we thinking using Skin So Soft instead of Off?"

"We'll live," Mae said. "Aunt Belle needs us and I'm tired of being boring and predictable."

"Didn't you tell me you actually went deer hunting and killed a deer?" Jane said. "I hardly call that boring or predictable."

"I was twenty-two and still trying to convince Chip we were compatible." Mae paused, looking smug. "I'm still a great shot. We go skeet shooting every once in a while. It makes Chip crazy when I outshoot him."

"So why not try out for Olympic skeet shooting or something?" Jane slapped another bug and made a face as she wiped the remains on the back of her khaki camp shorts.

Lucy stepped on something hard and sharp and felt it through the sole of her tennis shoe. No wonder they made hard-soled boots for hiking. "I'm not sure they have skeet shooting in the Olympics. But I've seen it on ESPN."

Mae nodded. "I've seen those women on ESPN too. They wear pretty cute outfits even if they are plastered with sponsor logos."

"So you think you might actually try some competition shooting?" Lucy asked.

"Who knows? A woman with a tattoo is capable of anything," Mae said.

Jane looked at Lucy. "What're the odds this is a wild