He smiled back like a fool. “Hey. I’ve got to go check the horses.”
“I’ll come with you.” She sat up and immediately winced.
“You okay?” Ben asked.
“Yes, I just used some unfamiliar muscles.” She pushed her hair out of her eyes. “And you weigh a ton.”
“Which is why next time you can try out your reverse cowgirl move if you like.” Ben moved off the sleeping bags to gather his clothes. “I’ll wash and get changed in your tent, okay? There’s warm water in the flask if you need it.”
* * *
“Damn...” Ben looked at the creek and then back at their camp. “We’re going to have to move higher up the bank if the water continues to rise like this.”
The rain had eased off slightly, but the volume of water pouring over the waterfall into the valley wasn’t letting up. As it stood, there was no way he could see them getting back across the creek and into the safety of the valley beyond.
“What happens if we can’t get across?” Silver asked. She was wearing her rain slicker, and every time she looked up at him she had to hold on to the hood to stop it from blowing down.
He pointed upward. “We’ll make our way out of the canyon that way, come around the edge, and drop back down into the valley farther along.”
“It looks too steep.”
“You’re right. But if we go downstream, the slope gets easier, and we’ll be able to get out. I’ve done it before.”
He’d done it on a sunny day with a group of experienced hunters, not in the middle of a rainstorm with a relative newbie, but he had no intention of mentioning that. It was not a route he’d ever pick voluntarily.
“I need to talk to BB,” Ben said abruptly.
“Why don’t you do that while I tend to the horses and mules and watch the fire?” Silver suggested. “We definitely need more hot water and coffee.”
“If you’re okay with that,” Ben said. She was being amazingly calm about everything, and he really appreciated it. “No point in both of us scrambling up there.”
She nodded, and went down toward the horses while he trudged up the side of the hill, which wasn’t easy when the mud beneath his feet kept sliding away like molasses.
He was amazed that he could actually get a signal in such crazy weather and even more grateful when BB came through loud and clear.
Ben briefly outlined their current situation and then asked the all-important question. “Any chance this rain is stopping soon? I don’t want to risk getting out of the valley at this end if I don’t have to. But I don’t want to get stuck here or cut off by the creek overflowing its banks.”
“The forecast is rain and more rain.” BB sighed. “Knowing where you are, I think you’d better consider evacuating.”
Ben let out his breath. “Do you think Silver will make it out?”
“From what you’re telling me, she’s soon going to have a choice between fording a creek that might drown her, or climbing out of a valley on a good horse with the best guide possible.”
“I hear you.”
“Sorry I can’t give you better news, Ben, but my advice would be if you can hang in there tonight, to leave as soon as it gets light. It’s not only the water you should be worrying about, but the possibility that the whole hillside could come sliding down on you as well.”
Ben’s first thought was that at least he’d get to spend one more night with Silver, which was when he realized how far from being his normal self he still was.
“You’re the boss, and you know this land way better than I do,” Ben said. “If you say we should move, then we’ll leave in the morning.”
“Good man. I’ll keep this channel open tomorrow. If you have any problems ping me, okay?”
“Thanks, BB. I’ll stay in touch.”
He ended the call and headed carefully down the slope, slipping and sliding until he was finally on the rock level. They still had plenty of food. They weren’t cut off from help, and he would do anything in his power to make sure that Silver got out of the valley alive.
Chapter Ten
Silver knelt by her pack, folded everything up, even her damp clothes, and secured the ties. Ben had gotten her out of bed in the dark and given her the bad news that they had to leave, and that they’d be going up the