probably two thousand calories. But after the hike we had done, I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it.
“Must’ve been good,” Bubba said when I was done. “Girl cleaned her plate.”
“That was exactly what I needed,” I said with a smile. “I could probably eat another entire plate.”
Bubba hopped up with more spryness than I would have expected from him. “Good, on account of the pie I have waiting.”
“Pie?”
“Bubba’s pies are better than his food,” Harper said.
My stomach rumbled. “Challenge accepted. Bring on the pie.”
Bubba had baked us two pies: pecan and pumpkin. I took a huge slice of each, which he topped with whipped cream. And Harper was right: they were just as good, if not better, than dinner.
“Don’t think nothin’ of it,” Bubba said when we thanked him. “Y’all are my last customers. Snow’s comin’ in a day or two, which means old Bubba is closin’ up shop and hikin’ out tomorrow. This is your first time down here, yeah? Congratulations are in order! How’s it feel?”
“I’ve only done the first half of the hike,” I pointed out. “The easy half. You can congratulate me when I make it back to the south rim.”
Bubba waved a hand dismissively. “Details. “Going up’s easy, if you know the shortcut.”
“Shortcut?”
He leaned on the table and lowered his voice. “Hike for two miles, pass out, and let the chopper carry you out!”
“Oh sure, a shortcut,” Logan replied. “Which comes with a twenty-five grand pricetag.”
“More details!” Bubba waved another hand. “Thanks for visitin’ my canteen, miss. You ever get sick of these fools, you give old Bubba a call. I’ll treat you right.”
I leaned back and rested my hands on my belly. “After the meal I just had, I’m ready to marry you!”
Bubba beamed as he took our plates away and disappeared into the kitchen. I turned to my three men.
“You were right. Hiking down into the canyon is a million times better than just looking at it from the rim. Thank you for pushing me to do this.”
Harper smiled. “We’ll gladly take your gratitude now. Because you won’t be thanking us when we climb back out tomorrow.”
“That’s why I’m thanking you now!” I stretched my arms out. “What time’s sunset?”
Logan looked at his watch. “A little after five. But it’s more like four-thirty when you factor in the canyon walls.”
“Guess we’d better set up camp, then,” I said.
The three guys looked at each other and smiled.
“What?” I asked.
Riley turned to me and scratched his brown hair. “We have a surprise for you.”
The smile on his face, and Harper’s and Logan’s, gave me an idea of what it was.
“I’m flattered that you all are attracted to me in my current state. But I feel sweaty and gross after the hike. Whatever your surprise is, we should save it for another night.”
“It’s not what you think,” Harper said.
We gathered our gear and I followed the guys outside. We walked past the Phantom Ranch campsite, then turned down a path to the side. We came to a group of three stone cabins. A sign in front said, “RANGER CABINS.”
“No roughing it tonight,” Riley said while letting his pack slide off his shoulder. “We’ve got beds.”
“And showers,” Harper said. “Though we have to conserve water.”
We walked into the third cabin. There were four military-style bunk-beds along the wall like an Army barracks. Another door led to the bathrooms and showers.
I retrieved a change of clothes from my pack and went to take a shower. The hot water was soothing on my skin as I scrubbed away the salt and grime from the hike. I could have stayed under the stream for hours, but I was in and out in just a few minutes. The guys were taking showers in the neighboring stalls, so I relaxed in a chair and enjoyed the warm air coming from the heater in the ceiling.
“There’s nothing like putting on clean clothes,” I announced when they all came out of the showers. “Comfortable sweat pants, a sweatshirt, and a warm cabin. This is much better than shivering in a sleeping bag. Thank you.”
Harper’s hair was still damp, and he scratched it while grinning. “Actually, that wasn’t the real surprise.”
“It wasn’t?”
“Nope,” Riley said.
Logan walked out next with just a towel around his waist. “Time for the real fun,” he said with a smirk.
29
Christie
Logan stalked across the cabin like a cat, his bare feet thumping on the wooden floors. His muscular body was still damp from the shower, and it glistened in the light.