Rocky Mountain Mayhem (8 page)

“A predator,” Overeager said.

Duh
, Vivian thought.

Buck instructed the group to join him in the
woods. “Observation and reconnaissance are critical.” He pointed
out a set of tracks and pine tree branch with the bark rubbed off.
“Deer tracks, a buck. And he rubbed his antlers on this branch,
leaving his scent.” He walked deeper into the woods, away from the
lake and any semblance of a trail. “Here’s the scat.”

He kept walking, the group behind him. “Keep
your head up and look forward as much as possible. Look for the
probable path the animal, or human, took.”

“Is this how you were able to find us?” Kate
asked.

Buck kept walking and said over his shoulder,
“I saw some tracks from you, and where the ground was too hard I
noticed decompressions in the leaves. Someone snagged her clothing
on a branch and left a trace of red thread.” He looked at
Wendy.

She inspected her jacket. “I sure did.”

“I also smelled the human scent. Vivian’s
perfume or lotion, I believe.”

Damn, he was observant
!

He crouched down and showed them smaller
animal tracks. “See how these meander? Skunk. They don’t have many
natural predators and amble along without much concern.” He stood
up. “Let’s see if we can sniff him out.”

“Is that such a good idea?” Lucy asked.

Buck silently walked through the forest, and
the group sounded like a stampede in comparison. They came to the
trail leading back to the cars but Buck kept going, in pursuit of
his varmint. A few feet later he slowed and then stopped.

“See that?” He pointed to a fallen, hollow
tree trunk. “That’s the skunk’s den. The family is probably in
there, as they’re nocturnal animals.”

Chris picked up a pebble and tossed it inside
the trunk. Nothing happened, so he went to do it again. The girls
backed away a few steps.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Buck
said, also backing up.

Chris did it anyway, and a madder ‘n’ hell
skunk emerged. It hissed and stamped its feet, raising its tail to
defend its territory.

“She’s protecting her young,” Buck said.
“Back away slowly. No sudden movements.”

The girls and two of the guys complied.
Chris, on the other hand, turned to run and the skunk chased after
him. Chris tried to climb a tree and escape, but she turned, lifted
her tail and sprayed, then casually walked back into the den.

Vivian and the girls doubled over laughing
and ran back to the trail, trying to outdistance the smell.

Buck followed them. “Some people never
learn.”

Wiping a tear from her eye, Vivian asked, “Do
you have a course in skunk spray removal?”

After everyone quit laughing, the girls said
goodbye to Buck at the trail. He was staying with the guys and
giving Chris pointers in how to deal with the smell. He went over
directions and made sure everyone knew how to get back to the
car.

“We’re good,” Vivian said and gave him a wave
as he walked off. She watched his backside for a moment.

Lucy tugged a strand of her hair. “Come on,
sex fiend. Let’s go.”

THE girls were still laughing about the skunk
incident as Lucy pulled out of the trailhead parking lot. “Can you
believe that guy?” she said, shaking her head.

“He totally deserved it for messing with that
momma,” Vivian said and cracked the window. Though they didn’t get
sprayed, a slight hint of skunkiness clung in the air.

Wendy’s laugh quieted and she made an abrupt
announcement. “I’ve decided, when I get back, I’m breaking up with
Jake. That’s it. It’s over.”

That shut the other girls up.

A few beats later they all spoke at once.
“You sure, he’s a nice one?” “That’s a big decision.” “But I like
him.”

“I know. I know all of that. But I don’t
think he’s ready to commit and I just can’t move to North Carolina
without a commitment. This long distance thing sucks.”

Vivian turned around from the passenger’s
seat and looked her in the eye. “You would move to North Carolina
for him? Have you ever even been there?”

“I would move if we were engaged, but I don’t
see that happening at this point. And yes, I’ve been there. I went
out for Thanksgiving last year and met his family. They’re all very
nice and normal. They’d make great in-laws.”

“Wow.” Lucy looked at her in the rearview
mirror. “You sure you’re ready to call it quits?”

“Yes. I have to admit, I’m a little mad at
him. We’ve talked about marriage, seemed like things were leading
up to that before he moved.” She fidgeted with the cup holder in
the backseat. “We went to Washington, D.C., for New Year’s, and no
proposal. I kinda thought there would be.”

“Well, who wouldn’t?” Vivian insisted.

“That sucks,” Lucy said.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Wendy continued.
“Then Valentine’s came, he flew out to see me, and again,
nothing.”

“Stupid Valentine’s Day,” Vivian remarked.
“The last Valentine’s Rick and I were together he gave me, and you
aren’t going to believe this, a JOHN DENVER CD!”

“Shut up!” Lucy said.

“John Denver?” Kate asked.

“Yep. I should have known the end was
near.”

Wendy shook her head. “So now, here it is,
May, and we haven’t talked about it since. He must not love me
enough to commit, so screw it. I’m done.”

“Boys are dumb-asses,” Vivian said. “Stay
strong, sister!”

Kate patted her knee. “I like Jake, but I
hear ya. You can’t wait around forever.”

Lucy pulled up to the valet, and Vivian was
thankful to be back in civilization. She’d had enough playing in
the woods for one day. Kate went back to the room to call Shaun
while Lucy, Vivian and Wendy headed for the Yellow Aspen’s locker
room in the fitness center. They changed out of their hiking gear,
then Wendy ventured off to the steam room and Vivian and Lucy
checked in for racquetball.

They were assigned the middle of three
white-walled courts. The back Plexiglas wall looked onto the
adjacent basketball courts and locker rooms across the hall.

Vivian reached for the flush-mounted, chrome
door handle but couldn’t figure out how to open it.

“What is it with you and opening things on
this trip?” Lucy joked.

“It’s designed weird,” Vivian said. “We need
Kate to figure this thing out!”

After several tries, she popped up the flush
handle, rotated it and unlatched the door. Lucy started warming up
and hit the ball a few times. Vivian watched it bounce around.

“You have to hit it before it bounces twice,”
Lucy said.

“I’m trying to!” Vivian said, but she
honestly didn’t realize Lucy was serious and ready to start
playing.

Lucy explained the rules. “You stand in that
box to serve. Then it’s in play as long as it lands here.” She
pointed to the box in front of her. She looked at Vivian, who was
giggling. “What?”

“You said box.”

“OMG. Grow up! I’m not talking about your
girl parts, I’m trying to exercise here!”

“I’m already sweating,” Vivian whined.

“You haven’t even done anything yet. We’ve
only been in here five minutes.”

They “played” for about 30 minutes before
Kate walked up to the glass door carrying a large cup of coffee.
Lucy hit the racquetball and it bounced off the back wall, right in
front of Kate’s face. Startled, she threw her arms in the air,
along with her coffee. Java flew everywhere. All over the glass,
her, the floor.

Kate stood still for a second, then wiped off
her face with her shirt. She didn’t appear to be scalded, and she
frowned into the empty cup. Lucy and Vivian were doubled over,
laughing hysterically. She glared at them and then walked away.

“I couldn’t repeat that if I tried,” Lucy
said after she had semi-recovered.

“I think I’m done,” Vivian said, wiping tears
from her eyes.

“We still have 20 minutes on the court.”

“I suck and I’m suckin’ wind, especially
after witnessing that.”

“So what! Move your ass around and burn some
calories.”

Vivian wasn’t pleased with the comment, but
her competitive spirit insisted that she keep going. Twenty minutes
later, she noticed two guys standing near the court door.

“I think they’re waiting.”

“We have a few minutes left,” Lucy said,
wiping her brow with her towel. “You’re just looking for an
excuse.”

“Okay, I admit it. I’m ready to get the hell
outta here. I’ve burned more calories in the past hour than I’ve
burned in my last three rounds of sexercise.”

“Don’t say stuff like that around me!” Lucy
smacked the ball super hard against the wall. “You know what my
life’s been like.”

Vivian watched the ball relay around the
court several times before she was able to hit it. “Speaking of
that, I noticed you fidgeting with your nonexistent wedding ring
last night while you were flirting heavily with Rock-Ola.”

“I wasn’t flirting heavily.” Lucy slammed the
ball again.

“Okay, you were flirting lightly, but you
were flirting,” Vivian said and hit the ball after two bounces.
“Your cheeks were rosy pink, as were the tops of your
breastabules.”

“He was cute.” Smack. “I was titillated.” The
ball bounced directly back to her. Smack. “I used that word just
for you, by the way.”

“Yeah, I figured.” Vivian swung and
missed.

“Time’s up.” Lucy snatched the ball as it
passed near her.

Vivian didn’t argue, and they gathered their
things. She noticed someone pass behind the two guys who were
waiting. That someone looked like Craig, her ex.

Lucy tossed the ball in the air. “You know,
if you’d practice, you could be pretty good. You have good hand-eye
coordination.”

Vivian dropped her racquet. “Uh, yeah.”

Lucy it picked up, and one of the waiting
guys opened the door. Vivian looked around the basketball court but
didn’t see anyone resembling Craig.

Where did he go
? Then she saw the exit
door close and walked toward it.

“Viv, where are you going?”

“I thought I saw…”

Lucy looked around. “What?”

“Oh, nothing. I think I’m too hot. I’m seeing
things.”

“There’s a water cooler. I recommend you use
it.”

Kate walked up with a fresh cup of coffee and
a clean shirt. Wendy came down the hall glowing pink.

“I recommend the steam sauna,” Wendy said,
looking relaxed. “Twenty minutes in there and a cool shower, and
the toxins are gone. I feel invigorated!”

“I prefer to detox without feeling like I’m
in Pasadena in July,” Vivian said.

Lucy checked her watch. “My appetite has been
invigorated and I’m ready for dinner.”

Vivian’s stomach rumbled on cue. “There’s my
vote for food. Let’s go get ready.”

They walked into the hotel and Vivian saw
Eric behind the bar. She fluffed her sweaty curls and told the
girls she’d meet them in the room.

“But you stink,” Lucy said.

“I won’t get too close, and I won’t be
long.”

She went to the far end of the bar and
called, “Hey, cowboy.” Exaggerated Texas accent. “How are things in
these here parts?”

“Hey, there, little lassie,” Eric said,
pretending to tip an invisible cowboy hat in her direction. “I’m
doin’ mighty fine. Looks like you are, too. Have a good day?”

“Sure did. Now it’s time for dinner.”

He looked her up and down. “Hope you’re
planning on meeting me for SIN later.” His tone got serious. “I
know a great spot for dessert.”

Vivian winked at him, turned and walked out
of the bar.

VIVIAN got into the elevator, her cheeks
blushing. She fanned herself.
Damn, Eric is hot
!

A man in his mid-40s stuck his arm in the
doors just as they were closing; they opened and he got on.

“That was a close one,” he said.

“You can say that again,” Vivian said,
pushing the 6. “What floor?”

“Same, thanks.”

“So what’s going on in Aspen tonight?” he
asked.

“Night out with the girls for me,” she said.
“We tend to make trouble wherever we go.”

The doors opened and she stepped off.

“Be careful out there,” he called, walking
the opposite way.

She let herself into the room where the girls
were in full swing getting ready. Lucy was in the middle of opening
a bottle of wine, Kate slaved away over an ironing board and Wendy
was wrapped in a towel heading to the shower. She stopped.

“Did Mr. Buttery Nipple butter you all up?”
she joked.

“That stick of butter is still in its
package, thank you very much,” Vivian replied, placing her purse on
the entry table. “But he reminded me about SIN night. We are
so
going!”

At that moment Lucy’s wine cork pulled free.
“I’m in!” she said with a laugh. “Who wants a glass?”

Two “me’s” chimed in unison.

Lucy poured three, small plastic cups with
pinot noir and handed them out. Wendy took hers, held it up and
said cheers, then shut the bathroom door.

Vivian turned her head and sniffed the air.
“I smell it again.”

Kate stopped ironing for a second. “Smell
what?”

“I swear it smells like cologne. Craig’s
cologne.”

Lucy swirled the wine glass. “The only thing
I smell is this fine bouquet emitting from my glass.”

Vivian walked around the room. “Remember when
we came in earlier, I thought it smelled like cologne then,
too?”

“I only smell the heat from the iron,” Kate
said. “But I didn’t really notice anything before.”

Lucy ran the straightening iron through her
hair. “What’s wrong, Viv? You missin’ a man’s scent already?”

“Hardly! I don’t need no stinkin’ or sexy
smellin’ man! They’re just nice to have around occasionally
for—”