Chapter 3: Daylight Truths

The next morning, everyone rolled out to catch the sunrise—except Boss Nick, who wouldn’t budge no matter how loud they called. The others joked about his deep sleep. Danielle sipped her instant coffee, eyebrow raised like she was about to drop a punchline on SNL.

When someone asked what you lose by sleeping so well, Danielle quipped, “Guess he’s got a sleep number bed in there. The better you sleep, the worse you are in that department.”

The guys burst out laughing, the women less impressed. Morgan rolled her eyes, Mimi checked her nails, but I saw a smile tug at her lips.

Danielle grinned, “Don’t believe me? Try it if you get the chance.”

Morgan and Mimi waved her off. Paige piped up, “Who’d want to try? He’s so fat, it’s gross.”

Her voice was sharp, too quick. She wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes, but her lips twitched—like she dared someone to call her out.

I felt dizzy. The image of Paige in stockings, kissing Boss Nick, wouldn’t leave my mind. Now she was acting innocent.

I couldn’t make the two Paiges fit. Did anyone else notice, or was I the only one who saw the cracks?

Today was the hardest day: Bearclaw Mountain, Mushroom Rock, three miles of old-growth, a river, waterfalls, and finally Applewood Hollow.

The air had a bite, and even my cousin looked serious, checking his watch and the sky like he was reading a playbook.

Even locals would need five hours. With this crew—eight city folks, Boss Nick included—it’d take double.

But the real battle wasn’t the trail. It was the pace—Fitbits compared, Spotify playlists swapped, constant stops for selfies and group shots.

If we made it to Applewood Hollow by nightfall, it’d be a miracle. I wondered if my cousin had a trick up his sleeve.

Boss Nick finally rolled out, grumbling about missing breakfast. Danielle shot him a look that could freeze Gatorade.

She teased, “Sleeping so well is a blessing. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

She winked, and the group cracked up. Boss Nick played along, scratching his head.

I walked at the back, watching Danielle and Boss Nick side by side, laughing together. Honestly, I thought they were a couple.

By noon, I knew something was off.

My legs ached, and we hadn’t even reached the halfway point. My cousin led from the front, moving slow on purpose.

Four hours gone, barely a tenth of the way covered. The group started to notice, checking their Fitbits, muttering about making better time.

My cousin played dumb, stopping every few minutes for snacks, photos, and water breaks. He watched their reactions, like he was studying them for a quiz.

At this rate, we’d never reach Applewood Hollow before midnight.

A couple guys joked about needing to file for residency on the trail. The women rolled their eyes, unwrapping more protein bars.

At lunch, I cornered my cousin while everyone fussed with their Jetboils.

I whispered, "Are we really this lost?"

He didn’t even blink. Just said, “Stick with me, don’t worry about it.”

He winked. "Patience, little brother."

I didn’t get it. I chewed my granola bar, tracing circles in the dirt. At this rate, we’d barely clear Bearclaw by sundown and hit the old-growth forest by dusk—a wild tangle full of snakes, raccoons, and who knows what else.

The sun burned hotter. Sweat dripped down my back. I couldn’t shake the sense we were stalling on purpose.

Watching my cousin work the group, I felt like a rookie again. He was part camp counselor, part carnival barker—always with a trick up his sleeve.

The afternoon blurred into more of the same, just a little faster. We finally topped Bearclaw before sunset, and the dark green forest stunned everyone into silence.

Even Boss Nick was speechless.

My cousin pointed ahead. “We won’t make Applewood Hollow tonight. Too dangerous to hike after dark. We’ll camp over there.”

His tone was pure leader now.

I saw where he pointed and realized he’d planned this all along.

Big Timber Post—a natural cylinder of rock at Bearclaw’s foot—stood out like a giant fence post.

Some said giants hammered it in. I just knew it was a bear-proof place to crash.

“Looks hard to climb. How do we get up?” Boss Nick asked, poking his belly for laughs.

My cousin grinned. “It’s about thirty feet. I brought a rope ladder. The top’s flat—you can pitch tents. Not many get to see the stars from up there.”

He let the promise of the stars work its magic. Everyone perked up.

“The stars? Really?” Paige’s eyes lit up. “Are there a lot?”

She looked up like she could already see them.

“Tonight’s clear. You’ll see more stars than you’ve ever seen in your life. Plus, it’s safer—no snakes or wolves up there.”

He tossed a stick into the grass, letting everyone imagine what might crawl by.

“I want to go,” Paige said, rolling up her sleeves.

The other women jumped in, and the guys caved fast. Even Boss Nick looked determined.

From the mountain, the Big Timber Post looked like a moon pie. But on top, there was space for everyone.

Most importantly, once you climbed up and pulled the ladder, you were there till morning.

That was the point. No going back.

On the way down, my cousin checked his canvas bag again, making sure tonight’s business was ready.