****
Boone and Delilah pulled up in a makeshift parking lot at the entrance to the survival camp in Idaho. Several other vehicles were already there. There was one other couple so far and several vehicles with single men standing around. “Ten so far,” Delilah counted and announced. “I am not sure if more or less is better.”
“Nervous?” Boone asked.
“A bit,” Delilah replied. “No phone, no internet, no way out if things turn to shit.”
“If things turn to shit, I will turn,” Boone stated without hesitation. “You are more important to me than my secret. I promised to protect you and by God, I will.”
“We are really on our own out here,” Delilah whispered while surveying the area. From the parking lot, she could see an open field and then a wooded area. From what she memorized from the NSA photos, she knew the campsite was at least a mile on the other side of the woods. Beyond the campsite were miles and miles of uninhabited land.
“We are a team; an army of two. I got your back, Angel,” Boone stated with resolve. He would do whatever it took to protect Delilah, his best friend.
“From your lips,” Delilah started.
“To Daddy’s ears,” Boone finished even though he did not know who Daddy was.
They both took a deep breath and looked towards each other for comfort and courage. “Let’s do this, Mrs. Wolfe.”
Delilah smiled as if her new name was a litany; a prayer to the heavens, a prayer to Daddy.
Boone and Delilah started pulling their gear out of the back of Boone’s SUV. They nodded at the other campers. Within minutes, Hopkins and Pitman arrived together in a beat-up all-terrain vehicle. They greeted everyone warmly and started explaining what would happen the first night.
“Tonight, we will stay in the cabins just over the hill and behind the wood line. You will hike in. It is about a mile. You will make only one trip so anything you cannot carry will have to stay. Pick your gear wisely. It is all you will have for two weeks. Tomorrow we will hike further in and the training starts. We have butchered a cow for dinner tonight. Eat well. Tomorrow, the hunting and gathering begins.”
Boone and Delilah suspected the ruse and had planned accordingly. Of course, they had brought extra gear. They did not want to appear well prepared or experienced. They pretended to swap a few things around in their packs and readied to leave. Both were strong, and neither would tire quickly while on the hike in. Both were confident the first night would be easy. The hardest part would be keeping up the deception and not being discovered.
While they were waiting for the rest of the campers, Pitman and Hopkins started walking around, reintroducing themselves and watching what the survivalists in training were packing.
“Great watch,” Pitman exclaimed noticing the watch Boone was wearing. It was a watch with a concealed camera. “It looks a bit too expensive for a place like this. I sure would hate for it to get broken. Let me lock it up for you.”
Boone and Delilah looked at each other concerned. Damn that is going to complicate things, Delilah thought. Boone removed the watch and handed it to Pitman. “Thanks, dude,” Boone stated. “It was a wedding present from Angel’s daddy.”
“And pissing off the little wife’s daddy is not a good thing,” Pitman chuckled.
If you only knew, Boone and Delilah thought simultaneously while trying to keep a straight face.
As Pitman moved to the other couples, Boone smiled. He looked down at this belt buckle and tapped it gently and then smiled. “Boy Scout,” Boone smirked. “Always prepared.”
Delilah smiled. “Me too,” she revealed lightly touching her medicine pouch hidden under her pullover sweater.
“An army of two,” Boone smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek. “Shall we, Mrs. Wolfe?”
Delilah frowned as if she was being led into the bowels of hell against her will. She knew to continue playing the reluctant bride. “Next year, I want a real vacation,” she whined on cue, her voice filled with disappointment and reluctance.
The hike to the campsite for night one took less than thirty minutes. With their packs and other gear, the other campers were tired and a little winded. Boone and Delilah had to be cognizant of those around them and ensured they pretended to be winded as well. Delilah pouted even more than earlier and complained just loud enough for the others to hear. “I wanted a sandy beach and a couple of palm trees. I do not think this place has any fruity drinks with paper umbrellas.”
The men shook their heads and threw Boone an apologetic glance. They were all glad they were not in his shoes. Boone just shrugged and raised his brows.
Pitman assigned the shacks without delay. “The couples have a cabin for themselves,” he announced. “The single men can double up. You will all be responsible for gathering your own firewood for the fireplace. Grab your axes and let’s head into the woods.”
The men quickly doubled up, and everyone stowed their gear in a shack. Everyone headed to the woods. Delilah stayed close to Boone watching him as he used his ax on several fallen trees. Delilah smiled in appreciation of his strength while she gathered smaller twigs and dry leaves for kindling. She smiled as she picked up several dry pinecones. Not only would they burn hot and help start a fire, but they would have a pleasant aroma. The fragrance would help mask the scent of the old, stale shack. Boone smiled when he saw her gathering the pine cones. Delilah would do small, simple things which made his home more comfortable and cozy. He stopped and gazed at her lovingly. And then he thought, is it my home or ours?
He tried not to dwell on the thought. He just smiled again and started splitting the logs. “You have done this before,” one of the other campers stated as a question.
“Yep,” Boone replied. “The missus and I only use the fireplace most of the time. I have cut my share of wood over the years.”
“I see it keeps him in shape,” the other woman mumbled. She was standing just a few feet away from Delilah. Delilah giggled and smiled. The other woman blushed being caught staring at Boone’s muscular arms and tight ass. Luckily her husband had not heard. Delilah winked her and grinned.
Red Wolf Page 25
