I watched him walk away, yet I continued to stay motionless. Everything that had just transpired was too much. The fleeting moment of feeling like a kid again with absolutely no worries and just being free, to the kiss Colt and I almost shared, to the bear, and then to everything he had just said. It left me feeling...well, that's just it. It left me feeling. And until that moment, I hadn't realized that's exactly what had been missing. It was almost as if I had been on autopilot, and it abruptly turned off.

The fact that I almost kissed him really threw me off. I didn't know what had come over me, or us for that matter. I was sure, at least up until that point, that we were both just tolerating each other. I mean, we couldn't even stop fighting for crying out loud.

But, that was the thing. I never fought with Mark the way I fought with Colt. With Mark, really with any male in my life, I always just let things go. With Colt, I held nothing back. It unnerved me.

What also unnerved me was what he had said about Mark--how he should have been there with us. How he knew I wanted to dance that night, and the thing about the massage. What was that about? How did he even know Mark got me one? I didn't know, but I did know I had to get back. The more distance between Colt and I was probably for the better. The doubts swirling in my head about Mark was surely Colt's doing. I just needed to talk to Mark; surely things would make sense again.

I folded my arms across my chest and started walking. I had to walk at a quick pace to catch up, but he slowed a bit, and we fell into a steady rythm with me behind him. We walked in silence, our energy being spent on stepping over branches or looking out for animals.

I just moved a tree limb out of my face, when I heard twigs crackling to the left of us; a group of birds flew off immediately following the noise. I jumped and unconsciously grabbed Colt's arm. He looked down at my grip, and instead of pushing me off like I half expected, he slid my hand down to hold his and squeezed.

We took a few quiet and careful steps, and Colt let out a breath when two deer came into view. I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath too.

"It's okay, just some deer. Surprised we haven't seen more." He said, letting go of my hand. I instantly missed the comfort and warmth of it. We kept walking, this time side by side, and in a comfortable silence.

He stopped after a bit, wiping sweat from his brow. I sat down on a log nearby and threw my hair back up. It was sticky from the perspiration. It was really hot out, and I was in desperate need for some water. I rubbed my pounding temples which were screaming for hydration and sleep.

I looked up to see Colt undoing the buttons of his shirt. He slipped it off, revealing a tanned and very muscular chest which was glistening with sweat. He was lean and sculpted from his shoulders down. He had an impressive six pack and a v shape leading past his waist band. His body was truly unfair to both men who couldn't attain it, and women who couldn't claim it.

He tied his shirt around his waist and looked up to catch me staring. Instead of averting my eyes, I confidently held his gaze. He didn't call me on checking him out that time. He simply smirked, giving me a once over that made the heat outside seem frigid in comparison. I mentally kicked myself for giving him the satisfaction and for the desire that pooled in me.

I stood back up and we continued our hike. I began to wonder when, or if we would make it back. No, not if. When. We would. We had to.

"So, how long have you guys been together?" Colt asked out of the blue.

"What?"

"You and Mark."

"Oh, um, five years."

He looked to me seeming surprised by that.

"Really? Any plans of marriage then?"

"Once he gets promoted he said we will be in a better place for a wedding."

I noticed his jaw tick, and I was ready for a rude remark, but it never came.

"And how did you meet?"

"He works under Frank. Frank set us up; he said I would be lucky to be with a guy like him, and I would do him some good." I shrugged. "I guess he was right."

"Who's Frank?"

"Oh. My step dad."

He abruptly stopped walking, so I did too, and faced me with a quirked brow.

"Your step dad said you would be lucky to have him? Not that he would be lucky to have you?" He asked incredulously.

The moment he asked it like that, it hit me like a punch to the gut. I had never thought about it until then, not in the way Colt had inflicted. But the truth was, Frank had said I would be lucky to have Mark as a boyfriend; that he was going places and I could help get him there. It was always about him when it came to us being together. In Frank's eyes that is.

Was it in Mark's too?

Colt shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm starting to understand a bit more."

"Understand what?"

"You."

*****

It seemed our walking was neverending. I could tell Colt was getting antsy. Something wasn't right.

"Colt."

"What?"

"What aren't you telling me?"

He sighed and turned to face me.

"We're lost."

"Well yeah, but--"

"Like, lost, lost." He ran his hand through his chestnut hair. "I fucked up somehow. I didn't want to mention anything, because I thought I could get us back on track today, but I'm not sure I have."

"What are you talking about Colt?"

"Eleven miles maybe Grace. That was it. Walking that is three, maybe four hours on foot. We walked close to two hours yesterday. I didn't see shit I recognized, and we obviously didn't make it out of the mountain. We should have made it at least back to the trail and then finished the walk this morning."

I nodded, slowly grasping exactly what he was getting at.

"I searched the sky for the North Star last night. We were going completely in the wrong direction. Meaning making up that two or so hours, and then starting the eleven mile trek again give or take since we've at least been heading down. I thought I had it figured out this morning, but fuck, I don't know. We've been at it for what, four or so hours now? And I have no clue if that's four more hours wasted."

I tried taking a deep breath, but panic rose in my chest. I gripped the back of my neck and paced, trying to calm my nerves.

"Grace, it's going to be okay. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."

I turned toward him and did the last thing I expected. I laughed. I laughed and I couldn't stop laughing.

Go ahead and add hyenas to that list of Wyoming wildlife.

I'm pretty sure I was going insane. Colt definitely looked at me like I was.

"What in the world are you laughing for?" He looked a combination of frightened and amused.

"I... have no... idea." I managed in between laughs. Thankfully, my insane fit of laughter slowed, and I took a moment to catch my breath.

"Whew!" I breathed. "I think I needed that."

Colt looked at me like I grew two heads, but a smile slowly grew on that adorable, stubbled face of his.

"I was expecting yelling, maybe even punching. Definitely not that." He chuckled.

"I think the exhaustion, hunger, and dehyradation are getting to me."

His smile quickly faded as he cursed under his breath.

"Hey, Colt. It's okay. Ooh! Here!" I unzipped my bag and pulled out some mints. I popped one in my mouth and then handed him one. He slowly took it and shook his head.

"What else you got in there? I'm beginning to think you're Mary Poppins."

"I wish! How cool would that be?" I grinned, and we shared in a laugh.

He suddenly looked at me with such intensity; all playfulness then gone. His electric blue eyes pinned me in place.

"I'm going to get you out of here Grace. I will save you. I promise."

I noticed how there was no "us" in that sentence. He was going to save me. But who was going to save him?