[ad_1]

“What? You’re it?” She frowned. My eyes were immediately drawn to the trainer’s fiery red hair, flowing behind her in a neat ponytail. But it wasn’t just her hair that caught my attention; she exuded a captivating cuteness that was impossible to ignore. Her emerald eyes, slender nose, and wide cheekbones were framed by the wrinkles in the corners of her eyes, adding a touch of mysterious allure to her ageless beauty. I tore my gaze away, not wanting to be caught staring.

“Yeah, I guess?” I shrugged awkwardly, taken aback by her mesmerizing appeal.

“Well,” she dragged out the word, her voice dripping with curiosity, “If you’re all they’re sending me…” Her gaze flickered towards the nametag patch on my jacket, revealing her name to be Molly. Over the next thirty-six hours, Molly would be the one to certify me on all the equipment I needed for my new surveying position. And as the dust settled behind Theo’s departing truck, leaving us alone in the wilderness, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness.

“Whichever team they stick you on, you’ll be pretty remote,” she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of adventure. “If any gear breaks, it’s up to you to fix it or make do without it. Got it?”

I nodded dumbly, following her into the quonset hut. Molly wasn’t in uniform, but her black canvas pants covered in pockets and weatherproof jacket oozed authority. It was clear that she commanded respect in her role. Only three silver loops adorned her right earlobe, showcasing her minimalistic style.

We stood by a simple folding table set up between the walls, and she pointed to a bag. “Put your stuff here. We’ll go through its contents. By the way, how old are you, Harrison?”

Furrowing my brow, I prepared myself for the inevitable opinion about my youth. “Twenty-four,” I answered, hoping to prove myself despite my age.

“Hmph,” she pondered, her eyes studying me intently. “And what made a twenty-four-year-old like you sign up for something like this? Leaving behind everyone you know and love? Running away from your family?”

I shrugged, unsure of how to answer her probing questions. “I don’t know, it just seemed like fun.”

“Fun?” Her incredulous look made me realize just how naive my response may have sounded. “Are you an eagle scout? Or perhaps a survivalist?”

I chuckled nervously, shaking my head. “No, not at all.”

“Good. Survivalists are usually unreliable. They never last long in this field. Always needing to be rescued after some foolish behavior. You’ve completed first aid, right?”

“No, wait, I mean, yes, I have,” I stumbled over my words. “And I just really enjoy camping, I guess…”

“You enjoy camping, you guess?” she repeated slowly, a critical gaze fixed upon me. My foolishness became painfully apparent as I heard her voice echo my own words. “Right then. Well, it’s a good thing you enjoy camping. Because if you didn’t, how on earth did you manage to get hired? Do you even know what we do here? Has the company in Denver resorted to sending anyone who walks through the door?”

I stopped myself before becoming overly defensive, recognizing that I needed to prove myself rather than making a fool out of myself. “I’ll be good, I promise.”

Molly shook her head dismissively and walked over to grab a radio from the wall. “Hey, hey!” I called out, reaching towards her. “Wait.”

She frowned at my outstretched hand. “Wait for what? For you to grow up?”

I let out a sigh, gathering my thoughts. “I know I’m young. I was in an accelerated program, tested out of most of high school. I earned my bachelor’s at nineteen and completed a geology master’s program by twenty-one on a full scholarship. I was recruited by a petrochemical company, but…I couldn’t do it anymore. When I saw that you were looking for geologists, well…here I am.”

Molly’s eyebrows raised in surprise, and silence filled the space between us. “So, you’re some sort of boy genius? Why didn’t you mention that earlier?” she said, a touch of admiration in her voice.

I sighed once again, feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. “I just wanted to be normal. To be seen as just another regular person.”

Putting the radio away, Molly’s face broke into a smile, her dimples appearing once more. “Ah, there it is. The thing you’re running from,” she teased playfully. Leaving the topic behind, she guided me to the table where my backpack sat, waiting to be explored.

Together, we unpacked the bag, examining each item meticulously. Molly patiently explained their purpose and how to use and repair them if needed. She proved to be a skilled teacher, and I was a eager student, absorbing the knowledge while secretly admiring her captivating presence. I pushed my own desires apart, focusing on learning about high-powered radios, infrared cameras, digital rangefinders, soil drills, chemistry test kits, and every other tool that a well-equipped field agent would require. Molly shared unexpected tips and tricks, highlighting the importance of certain items, such as my tarp, while dismissing others as unnecessary dead weight.

As the sun began its descent, casting a warm orange glow over the hut, we finally finished. “I’ll make us dinner,” Molly announced. “Campfire gourmet. Afterward, the evening is yours. But I suggest you get some rest. We’ll be setting out early tomorrow, and you’ll have the chance to showcase those big brains of yours, proving that you can handle all this equipment I just showed you.”

“Cool, cool,” I responded with a nod. “Where do I sleep then?”

Molly pointed towards the back of the quonset hut. “That door is my room. Don’t even think about going in there, or I’ll mace you with bear repellent. But just in front of it, there’s an open area for you to unroll your sleeping bag. Luckily, you’ll have it all to yourself tonight, no need to fight for space.”

While Molly cooked dinner on a small gas stove, positioned on the opposite wall of the hut, I couldn’t help but steal glances at her lithe figure, her effortlessly rugged demeanor. She possessed a confidence that came from being at home in the great outdoors, a self-assuredness that intrigued me. Even the wondered of spending the night alone with a stranger in the wilderness didn’t seem to faze her. And I had no doubt she could hold her own, whether in a battle of survival or in any other challenge that came her way.

We sat down to enjoy a simple meal of lentils, bread, and canned carrots. Molly placed a bowl in front of me, and as I discreetly added salt, she caught me in the act. “I see that,” she grinned, taking a sip of tea from a metal mug. “My cooking is crap. I’m not offended.”

“It’s…” I stammered, blushing, “It’s not bad. I just, um, like salt…”

She laughed, her laughter a melody that danced in the air. “You really are quite the charmer, Harrison.” Her eyes lingered on mine, her smile growing more pronounced. I suddenly felt self-conscious, diverting my gaze to avoid further embarrassment.

“So,” I found myself changing the subject, willing to keep the conversation flowing, “how long have you been working out here?”

Molly’s smile took on a reflective quality, her gaze growing distant. “You mean, what am I running from? Do you want the honest answer?”

“Uh, sure,” I replied, curious to uncover the layers behind the independent woman before me.

“It’s sad,” she murmured, her voice imbued with a touch of melancholy. “A failed marriage, a child. I was never a great mother. She’s better off without me. A sister who despises me because of it. A mother who’s lost in her own world of drugs. So, that’s my life story. A complete mess by thirty-nine. Quite different from your tale of brilliance, I suppose.”

I winced, feeling a wave of empathy wash over me. Where could I even start with my own story? “You’re thirty-nine?” I asked, struggling to believe it.

“Big four-oh in fifty-seven days,” she acknowledged with a nod. “Not that I’m counting, of course. Why? Do I appear older? If I didn’t dye my hair, it would already be halfway to gray.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” I hurriedly corrected. “You seem younger, and your hair looks natural. I didn’t mean to–”

Cutting me off, Molly shook her head, a mixture of emotions flashing in her eyes. “Don’t try to charm me, Harrison. It won’t get…”

[ad_2]