The Target

by Gerri Hill

  “Well, you get used to it.”

  “I was going to say you could join us,” Abby said, motioning with her arm to the others. “But this isn’t exactly being alone.”

  Sara stood quickly. “I doubt she’d want to tag along with us, Abby.”

  Jaime looked up and smiled. “Well, I might not mind the company for a day or so,” she said. “If you guys don’t.”

  “What’s one more?” Abby asked.

  Sara cleared her throat. “Actually, I don’t want to be rude . . . well, I will be rude. You can’t join us.”

  Jaime raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”

  “We’re . . . a group. It’s kind of a . . . a therapy hike.”

  “Therapy hike?” Jaime grinned. “I see. All women. You’re either doing a male-bashing session or you’re all lesbians. Which is it?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’ll fit into either, I assure you.”

  Abby and Lou Ann laughed. “Come on, Sarge, she’s injured. We can’t leave her here alone.”

  She turned and looked at the expectant faces around her. She’d been taking these trips three times a year for the last three years and never once had they happened upon a stranded hiker. Was it just a coincidence or was her earlier uneasiness getting the best of her? The woman looked harmless enough. She was obviously a seasoned backpacker judging by her worn pack and hiking boots. And no doubt, once her twisted ankle improved, she would be leaving the group. She shrugged. What could it hurt for a day or so?

  “Okay. You can tag along with us for the day.”

  Jaime smiled. “I appreciate it. I hope I don’t slow you down.”

  “No, no. You can hang back here with me,” Sandra offered.

  Abby reached down to shake her hand. “I’m Abby.” She turned to the woman beside her. “This is Lou Ann. I won’t bother you with everyone’s name, you’ll never remember them. But that’s Sandra at the back. She’ll talk your ear off.”

  “Great,” Jaime said with a smile. She turned and met the blue-green eyes of Sara Michaels. Suspicious blue-green eyes, she noted. Well, that’s good. At least she wasn’t so trusting as to allow just anyone to get close. Jaime assumed she’d have her work cut out for her as Michaels took off down the trail, leaving the women to follow. She quickly put her boot back on and laced it, looking up as a plump older woman with god-awful bleached hair stared back at her. Then the woman offered her hand and she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Jaime.”

  “Well, nice to meet you, Jaime. You just limp all you need to and I’ll stick right beside you. They won’t leave me behind.”

  “Thanks.” Jaime took a step, reminding herself to go slow. “It actually feels better already.”

  “Can’t be too careful. I had a broken foot once. Had it run over by a motorcycle, cast up to here,” she pointed to her knee. “Was on crutches for five weeks. My arms were so sore . . .”

  Jaime rolled her eyes as she let Sandra’s monologue drift away. Up ahead, the others walked, most in single file, with Sara Michaels leading the way. She was certainly different than Jaime imagined. The woman in the picture had been in a business suit, not faded jeans and a denim shirt. And the blond hair had been styled, not the short, windblown look she sported today. She was sexy as hell. Jaime grinned. Yes, you have to get your perks wherever you could.

  Jaime nodded at the appropriate times during Sandra’s nonstop talking, trying to listen to conversations up ahead. The others, mostly in groups of two or three, talked quietly among themselves. Except for Sara Michaels. She walked alone, a few feet ahead of the others.

  Sara kept an even pace, ignoring the desire to go faster to test their tagalong hiker. She glanced back occasionally, seeing the woman nodding at something Sandra was telling her. She only hoped Sandra wasn’t revealing who they were or why they were up here. The last thing they needed was some outsider asking a hundred questions. Everything they’d learned in the last ten weeks should be embedded by now. There was no need to talk about it. Once the last session ended, that was it. Even among themselves, these last two weeks hiking was to be among friends. They weren’t to discuss the sessions.

  But now, they had an outsider. And it would be too easy to undo all the weeks of hard work they’d been through, with just a few innocent questions. No, she couldn’t allow it. Tonight, she would speak to this Jaime person. She would tell her about their group and ask her to use discretion when talking to the others. If not, she would just refuse to allow her to join them.

  “Right,” she whispered. And how do you propose to do that? She grinned. Tie her to a tree?

  “Sarge?”

  Sara turned.

  “Sandra and Jaime are lagging behind,” Abby said.

  “Of course they are,” Sara murmured. She stopped, allowing the others to catch up. Sandra and a slightly limping Jaime brought up the rear. “How are we doing back there?”

  “Just . . . peachy,” Jaime said, forcing a smile to her face. Sandra had not stopped talking the entire time.

  “Oh, this isn’t hard at all, Ms. Michaels. Just trying to keep a slow pace for Jaime,” Sandra said as she labored to catch her breath.

  “How about we stop for a little lunch?”

  “Now that’s a good idea,” Sandra said, shrugging off her pack.

  They all crowded under the shade of a ponderosa pine and rummaged into their packs, pulling out apples and cheese. All but Sandra. She pulled out a slightly smashed sandwich.

  “How many of those you got in there?” Jaime asked.

  “A couple. Ms. Michaels said to pack light. This tuna sandwich weighs less than an apple.”

  Jaime laughed. “And tastes better too.”

  “What you got in there?”

  “Bananas and apples.”

  “Rabbit food. I swear, I’m going to lose twenty pounds on this trip,” Sandra said, then patted her ample stomach. “Not that I couldn’t stand to do that, mind you. But I figured, at least the first day, I could eat something other than fruit.”

  “Yeah. By the end of the trip, you’re going to hate freeze-dried meals.”

  “Sandra, what the hell are you eating?” Abby demanded.

  Sandra looked up sheepishly as she chewed. “Tuna sandwich,” she said around a mouthful.

  “Tuna?” Abby waved her apple. “Tuna? Did you pack a steak for dinner too?”

  “I would have, if I didn’t think I’d have to share it ten ways.”

  Sara shook her head. If anyone bucked the fruit and cheese rule, it would be Sandra. She watched as Jaime peeled a banana and took a bite, then looked away as brown eyes tried to capture her own. She bit into her apple, instead looking up the trail. It would be their first real climb. Soon, they would leave the scrub oaks and pines behind and climb higher into the mountains, spruce and fir trees replacing the ponderosas that dominated the lower elevations. And they would pass through stands of aspens, the colors just now changing to the golden hues that made them famous. She hoped the women would enjoy the colors of the mountains as much as she did. Autumn was her favorite time of year. The days still warm enough to enjoy and the nights had a crisp, invigorating feel. And, if the trail maps didn’t lie, they would pass hot springs along the way. She’d instructed them all to bring swimsuits so they might enjoy a soak. She preferred to soak in the nude but she thought in a group such as this, they might all feel more comfortable in suits.

  Then she looked at the stranger. The woman was sitting crosslegged next to Sandra, quietly eating her banana. Wonder what she brought to soak in? Sara let her eyes travel over the woman, the T-shirt tight against her skin, sleeves rolled up to reveal well-muscled arms. She was tan and looked fit. No doubt, the woman would feel quite at home walking completely nude into one of the springs.

  “Whatever,” she murmured. There was just something about the woman that bothered her.

  “What?” Abby asked.

  Sara frowned. “Nothi
ng. Sorry.” She stirred. “Everyone about ready? We’ve got a pretty good climb coming up.”

  “When do we stop for the night?”

  Sara laughed. “In about four hours.”

  Jaime looked at the women around her, thinking there was no way they’d make it another four hours. But they all stood up, eagerly putting on their packs, even Sandra. Well, it was the first day. She couldn’t imagine this group being this eager for two weeks straight. Of course, once they were out there, it wasn’t like they could call a bus to come pick them up.

  She stood, too, easily slipping on her pack and joining Sandra on the trail. The older woman, for once, seemed to be at a loss for words as the trail headed straight uphill. Jaime slowed her pace, not wanting to get too far ahead of Sandra but they were lagging behind the others. Sandra labored for breath and several times Jaime took her hand as the older woman slipped on a rock.

  “They tell me the view will be worth it,” Sandra gasped.

  Jaime smiled. “It’ll be out of this world. Up on top, you can almost see forever.”

  “You been up here before?”

  “Yeah. A few times.”

  “I hope I live to see it,” she gasped, finally stopping and bending over at the waist. “You’re not limping any more.”

  “It’s still a little sore.”

  “Uh-huh. Not hanging back here just to make sure I’m okay?”

  Jaime grinned. “If I said my ankle was okay, your boss up there might kick me out of the group.”

  Sandra laughed. “That she might. Don’t take it personally. We’ve been through a lot with her. This trip is sort of a . . . a celebration. She’s afraid you might set us back.”

  “Yeah? Well, whatever you’ve got going on here, I don’t want to get in the way.”

  “No, you won’t. We’ve all got our own demons we’re trying to shed. Maybe it’s good you’re here. You can keep Ms. Michaels occupied so she won’t be so worried about all of us.”

  “What’s she worried about?”

  “Ladies? You okay?” Sara yelled.

  “Yeah. Coming,” Jaime called. She nudged Sandra. “Ready?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go.” Sandra fell into step beside Jaime. “She’s worried we’re going to revert back to our old selves,” she finally said. “But not me. Not any of them, I think. And I don’t know why she’s worried. I mean, she gets paid whether this works for us or not.”

  “If what works?”

  “I’m really not supposed to talk about it.” Sandra glanced quickly up ahead. “Secret group therapy,” she said with a grin.

  “Okay. I understand.”

  They climbed on, still several feet below the ridge that the others had already disappeared below. Jaime grabbed Sandra’s hand and pulled her up, resting at the top for a moment.

  “Look.”

  Sandra lifted her head, her eyes opening wide.

  “Good heavens.”

  “Yes. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Beyond the ridge rose the Collegiate Peaks mountain range, stretching for miles and miles in every direction.

  “We’re going up there?”

  “Yep. Well, not to the top, no. The trail travels along the sides of the mountains and if I remember, to the backside of Mount Princeton.”

  “Wow. It’s . . . breathtaking.”

  “That it is. Makes you feel good to be alive, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, it does. No wonder she wanted us to come out here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A lot of us weren’t really living, you know.”

  Jaime frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “We’ve all got our own issues to overcome. Like I said, I’m not supposed to talk about it. Especially with an outsider.” She paused. “But me, I lived my whole life with parents who abused me.” She shrugged. “I didn’t know any better. So when I got married and my husband turned out to be an asshole, I thought it was just more of the same.”

  Jaime nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, I got away from him. Divorce is a lovely word,” Sandra said with a laugh. “But I was down in the dumps. I was on my third different antidepressant drug when I saw Sara Michaels on Oprah one day. She was just so positive and full of energy. I learned a lot from her book but I wanted to experience the real thing, you know. I was on a waiting list for over a year.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. And it cost a tiny fortune but I feel better about myself now than I have in my whole life. She’s so wonderful.”

  Jaime nudged Sandra as Sara Michaels was making her way toward them. “Better look alive. Sarge is coming.”

  Sandra laughed.

  “You two okay?”

  “Great, Ms. Michaels. Isn’t this view something?” Sandra asked.

  “Yes, it is. Do you need to rest for a bit, Sandra?”

  “No, no. I’m okay. Jaime, with her hurt ankle and all, is kinda slowing the pace.”

  Sara met the amused eyes of the stranger and let a small smile touch her face.

  “I see. Well, we’ve got another couple of hours to go. Do you think Jaime can make it?”

  “I’m sure she can manage,” Sandra said. “Can’t you?”

  “I’ll try my best.”

  Chapter Nine

  Jaime shed her pack along with the others, leaning it against a tree as she rubbed her shoulders. She was winded after the climb, no doubt they all were. Sandra had said very little in the last hour, but she was a trouper and had only requested to rest a few times. Jaime had stayed with her. For some reason, she liked the woman. Perhaps it was because of the courage she saw Sandra muster up each time they crested a ridge only to have another in front of them.

  “Okay, ladies. Let’s call it a day, shall we?”

  “Shall we?” Abby mimicked. “Gee, let’s hike for another couple of hours, Sarge.”

  “You’re all doing great. Getting into the mountains is the hardest part. Now that we’re here, the trail will be more level,” she promised.

  “You said that two hours ago.”

  “Can we have a campfire?” Lou Ann asked.

  “Sure can. The fire ban has been lifted up here.” Sara unhooked her tent from her pack and found a level spot a few yards away from the group. “I’d suggest setting up your tents first. Once we eat, most of you will want to crawl into bed and sleep.”

  “Why bother with eating,” Abby murmured. “I could fall into bed right now.”

  Jaime surveyed the area, wondering how they were going to fit eleven, no twelve tents there under the trees. She nudged Sandra. “Where’s your tent?”

  “Oh, I’m sharing with Celia. Two to a tent.”

  Jaime nodded. Made sense. Less weight, too. Soon, six tents— blues, greens and one bright yellow—dotted the trees. She took her own a little ways from the group, thinking she’d give them some privacy. Maybe Sara Michaels had some sort of session planned for later. Although judging by their conditions, most would be asleep as soon as the meal was done, campfire or not. She pulled over a flat rock and brought out her tiny propane burner. She soon had water heating and sorted through her freeze-dried meals, trying to find one that seemed appetizing. Spaghetti? Why had she bought spaghetti? She hated freeze-dried spaghetti.

  Leaning back, she took a long drink of water and watched the others. The dark-haired Abby was hanging on Sara Michaels’ every word as she showed them how to light their stoves. Buddy system again. She counted only five stoves.

  “Need some help?” Jaime finally called as only one stove was burning.

  “No. They need to learn,” Sara said, turning her back to Jaime and watching the women.

  “I see.” She shrugged. Apparently Michaels was still not too thrilled by her presence here. Well, she wasn’t exactly having the time of her life either. If she was alone, she would still be hiking. There was at least another hour of daylight. Then she’d set up camp, eat and maybe read a little. Camping was the only occasion that she took time out to rea
d. Her busy days left little time for such pleasures.

  Conversation was sparse as everyone settled down to eat and Jaime kept her distance, allowing them their time. Even Sandra seemed completely exhausted as she quietly ate, sitting by herself on a downed tree, a little ways from the small campfire. She’ll never make two weeks, Jaime guessed. What in the hell was Sara Michaels thinking?

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Sara told the group. “You’ll never make it two weeks.”

  Jaime looked up. Could the damn woman read her mind?

  “But you will. The first day is always the hardest. Tomorrow will be a short day. We’ll camp by some hot springs. You can soak for hours, if you like. We’re going to take it nice and slow. I know the hike up today was hard. I only saw Abby pull out her camera, although I know you all brought one. But trust me, in the days to come, you’ll want to stop and take pictures and just enjoy the scenery. And before you know it, we’ll be walking up Monarch Pass and you’ll wonder where the time went.”

  Jaime wondered if this was a pep talk she had to relay to each new group when they started out. But, she’d been doing it for three years. Apparently, she knew what she was doing.

  “How high up are we?” Celia asked. “It’s already starting to get cool.”

  “Eighty-five hundred, maybe nine thousand feet.”

  Jaime fingered her watch, then pushed one of the side buttons, reading the digital altimeter. 8,794. She shrugged. The Sarge was pretty good.

  “Well, ah . . . anyone need a pee break?” Lou Ann asked. “I’m going.”

  Jaime smiled as four women got up. Just like at a bar, there was safety in numbers. Well, she’d take her own break in private, thank you very much.

  She was just wiping clean her dinner pot when Sara Michaels walked over. Jaime met her eyes for a moment then went back to her cleaning.

  “May I . . . may I have a word with you?” Sara asked.

  “Sure. It’s your party.”

  Sara nodded. She sat down cross-legged opposite Jaime and waited until the woman looked up again.

  “I need to apologize. About earlier. And also, I wanted to thank you.”

  “Thank me?”