the gaps, and watch out for landslides, exposed roots, and the occasional jut of the underlying rock that the rain had exposed. For every foot they gained it felt like they backtracked three, but slowly and steadily they were getting there.
He stopped again to make sure Silver was following behind him. Her expression was fierce with concentration and she hadn’t complained once. He was so proud of her right now. Jeez, how was he going to say good-bye in a few days, when they’d shared some of the most intense days of his life?
He reminded himself that he had no claim on her. If they didn’t get up this slope and onto the rim of the valley it wouldn’t matter what he thought of her or how he wanted to proceed because they’d both be dead.
“You hanging in there?” he called out.
“Yes, but it’s awful.” She shuddered. “I know Ladybug is good at this, but every time one of her hooves slips my heart skips a beat.”
“Luckily for us, she’s got three other legs to stabilize her,” Ben reminded her. “We’re not far from the top now. Another hour should do it.”
He checked his watch. They’d been moving for three hours and should reach the top in time for an early lunch. He set his gaze on the next obstacle to overcome, clicked to Calder, and set off. They were going to do it even if it took all day. There wasn’t any other possible outcome.
He whooped like a real cowboy when Calder took the final unsteady step upward and they were on flat ground. He had an absurd desire to fall to his knees and kiss the barren rock. Instead, he moved out of the way to allow Silver to come up behind him.
“We made it.” He dismounted and went over to her. “You made it.”
She was soaked through, her hair had come down, and there was an ugly welt on her cheek from an unruly branch, but she still managed an exhausted smile.
“Can I die quietly now?”
“I’d rather you stayed alive so that I can kiss you.”
He waited until she kicked her feet out of her stirrups and lifted her down, keeping her in his arms until she kissed him back.
“That’s it?” She looked up at him, her eyes dancing. “That’s my reward? I don’t even get laid?”
“Seeing as you look like you’re about to fall asleep, I was thinking more about coffee, the last of Mrs. Morgan’s cookies, and some lunch,” Ben said.
She leaned into him. “I’m good for all of that.”
“Then how about you sit down over there while I attend to the horses, and—”
She held up a finger. “How about I sort out the food while you deal with the horses? You’re just as tired as I am.”
“Yeah, well, you did wear me out last night, so there is that,” Ben countered.
“Weakling.” She moved toward the mules, each step an obvious effort. “Where’s the food?”
“Left side of Bill.” Ben forced his cold fingers to loosen the horses’ bridles and girths. Calder was trained to stand when Ben dropped the reins, but Bill, Ted, and Ladybug needed tying up.
“Got it.”
* * *
He was so glad to get some hot coffee inside him that he gulped it down in three mouthfuls and helped himself to more. Silver ate two protein bars, finished the last cookie, and also had a second cup.
“What’s next?” She looked down into the valley, but there was very little to see due to the mist and rain. “We stay up here until we find a safe place to descend?”
“Exactly. The canyon we were in is something of a cul-de-sac, so once we get beyond that and out into the central valley there won’t be any need to cross the creek until we’re back on Morgan ranch land.”
Silver nodded and then yawned so hard, Ben could see her tonsils. “Any chance we could stop and take a nap before we move on?”
He checked the time. “It would have to be short. I don’t want to get stuck up here in the dark.” He took another look at her exhausted face and got to his feet. “I’ll put up the tent.”
* * *
It seemed like five minutes between lying next to Ben in the tent and him gently shaking her to wake up. She was exhausted, her clothes were damp, and her limbs stiff. She wanted to get down into Morgan Valley because being up so high and on such a narrow path cut into