“Rumor has it, you two are quite the team.”
“It has definitely been fun working with him. But I don’t stay in one place for very long. So, I don’t let many people in and I sure as heck don't let myself get too involved with anyone.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Why don’t I what?”
“Stay in one place for very long.”
“I enjoy having the freedom to explore unfamiliar places, meet new people and live life to the fullest.”
She nods her head and pushes off the bar.
“That sounds like fun. I’ve never left Montana.”
“You should. There is so much to see.”
“Yeah. Maybe someday.”
The guys are done singing and they all grab their freshly opened beers. A few of them waste no time in downing the whole bottle.
“Well, I for one am glad you stopped in our small town. You pulled Grayson out of whatever funk he was in.”
I laugh, “I’m glad I could be of service.” I thought maybe he’d seemed off when I met him, like maybe he wasn’t himself. This clarifies my suspicion.
WHEN YOU'RE READY
101
Three hours later, we were practically dragging the young men to their rides.Ornery little fuckers.
We close up the bar and split the tips. An easy $100 in my pocket. If I keep making tips like this, by the end of the summer, I’ll have plenty to carry me to a few new places. I only need to figure out exactly where I want to go.
Chapter Seventeen
Grayson
“THE HIKE UP TO the waterfall is about 45 minutes.”
“I’m not going to lie; I have never hiked more than five minutes and that was through sand to the ocean,” she laughs
“I have faith you can do it, but if you need to take a break, let me know.”
I grab my pack from the trunk of my car. I packed some trail mix, protein bars, a few bottles of water and bear spray. There has been a few sittings on the trail that is adjacent to this one, and I would rather not be mauled today. I grab the spray from the bag and clip it to my belt, then put the pack on.
Riley and I walk to the trail head and she snatches the spray off my belt.
“What is this? A giant can of pepper spray?”
“Essentially, yeah. Just twice as powerful. Regular pepper spray wouldn’t take a bear down.”
“Bears?” Her eyes grow wide
104
T. SPEAR
“The likelihood is very slim, but I would rather be safe than sorry.”