Finally everyone got packed up and started on the min hike at about 1300 hours. Why so late says you, It’s because of the girls. It took Klaus 30 minutes to convince E that heels wouldn’t work on a hike. Cy and Mark had to empty their wives packs of 12 lbs of Chocolate. Freddy ditched his Jacket for a light Sports coat and chucked off everything else and was talking excitedly with Matt and Jay about which direction moss grew on trees.
Sara walked in and stopped in shock.. the Hobbit had a baby!! Wow.. What a shock. Well, was going to have a baby. What if Chad wanted a baby? Each girl was thinking the same thing, either in dread, excitement, or in envy. The midget was having a baby. Carol laughed softly until she saw Ben’s face. A look of pure pain crossed his face. Before she could talk to him they had to head out. Ben and Tom took the lead. Time seemed to pass by as the group looked at the woods and the creation. It truly is amazing to get outside and see the glory of the earth. They saw some birds feeding their young, some wildlife that resented the noisy intruders. Finally they made it up to the big clearing and everyone gathered around. As everyone unpacked the food and arranged it,
Matt said around a ham sandwich, “Don’t know, Don’t care”
Scarlett looked around for Carol then caught her eye and they got up, Scarlett squeezed Matt’s hand b4 leaving. They started looking around the perimeter of the clearing and they couldn’t see where he left. They started asking the couples if they had seen Ben and where he went. Peter and Abi were too busy being a couple to notice that anyone left. Klaus scrolled through his pictures and noticed that someone had brought dessert, so he occupied himself. Jay said good riddance, and E wondered if Ben had even come. They didn’t have any luck until they came to Tom. Tom said he didn’t know but he’d help them find him. It was a wonder to watch Tom. He walked once around the perimeter. Then he stopped and dropped to one knee. He peered at a small twig next to a small game trial. Tom stood up. “He went this way, it goes to a small bluff with a dropoff, he’s probably there.”
Scarlett was totally shocked. “How do you know that?”
“If I wanted to be alone, I’d go there too.” Tom bent over and picked up the broken twig, “Anyways, no one else has left and this is a fresh snap and some of the trail grass is bent over.
Scarlett and Carol walked that way enjoying the view but keeping a sharp eye out for Ben. They didn’t notice Tom trailing them behind, staying close enough to make sure they were safe. You never let a girl or girls alone in the woods.. rabid squirrels, I’ve seen em! So they walked along until they saw Ben sitting on a large rock on the edge of the bluff. “Hey Carol, Red.”
They looked at him, “How did he..”
Ben spoke up, “Thanks Tom, cya later.”
Tom disappeared as Ben patted the rock next to him. Carol at on one side and Scarlett on the other side. No one spoke for about ten minutes. Ben whispered, “Look, a Northern Bluebird and it’s babies”
Scarlett leaned over and stared at the pretty bird. Carol’s D300 hummed softly as she zoomed in on the nest. She clicked 4 times. The silence dragged on as they pointed out different birds. Carol broke the poignant pause, “Ben, Are you ok?”
“What do you mean, Carol?” Ben turned his head to look at Carol. “Physically I’m fine, Mentally I am ok, but no I’m not.” Ben continued as he picked up a small stone. He studied it’s pitted surface. “I don’t want to be a party pooper, but I’m not feeling too good.”
Carol and Scarlett waited as Ben continued. “it’s been really hard. I really don’t know what to do. It’s been some time, I should be over it.. but it’s been one year in three days.” Ben wiped his eyes and muttered about the dust.
“Is it the girl whose picture you have in your Bible?” Scarlett asked.
Ben started to nod, then he stopped. He grabbed Carol’s camera and zoomed in then got up and helped the ladies up and pulled them along. “It’s time to head back.” They headed back as quick as Ben could move them. He started quipping jokes and started them giggling. Matt scowled as he noticed Scarlett hanging onto Ben’s arm. He got up halfway but Scarlett disengaged herself and sat next to Him. Ben handed the camera to Carol and pulled Tom aside.
Scarlett kept an eye on Ben though and saw them leave. Tom and Ben headed out and Scarlett got up. Matt scowled again and got up to follow her. He mumbled something about Ben stealing his girl. Carol noticed Matt’s surliness and quickly nabbed him. “Carol, Ben is stealing Scarlett from me! He’s doing it again. He publically humiliates me in the chat room and now he’s stealing the person I love. He’s a jerk! I’m going to ki..”
Carol shushed him, “They are just friends, like we are, brother and sister. Ben has always been there for her, and now she needs to be there for him. But you know that she loves you, if she had loved Ben, she would have accepted him when he asked her to marry her.”
Matt showed total shock and he stammered.. “he did?”
Matt went and sat down in shock, Scarlett must really love him to have turned down Ben in hopes that she and Matt would work out. He really had a treasure in Scarlett. Carol sat down with Klaus and rummaged in her bag for her stash of chips. “Ben didn’t really propose to Red did he?”
Carol mumbled no over a mouth of chiplets, she swallowed and ahemed. “Sometimes a little lie helps”
Scarlett followed far behind enough so they couldn’t hear her. She got to the bluff and peered over. Tom and Ben were squatted around a small patch. Ben had a puzzled look on his face. Tom pulled his cell phone out and took some pictures. Scarlett shifted her weight and sent a small pebble rolling down the bluff. Tom and Ben stood up and turned sharply as a look of relief crossed their faces. Ben motioned Scarlett over. “Hey Red, What do you think of this?”
Scarlet made her way down to where Ben and Tom were standing. At Ben’s feet laid a female and her three babies. The female’s head was bashed in and the babies’ throats were torn open. Scarlett looked at Ben with a question in her eyes. “You saw it when we were up there,” She pointed with her left hand. “What did you see?”
Ben squatted again, “I saw them feeding and the mum, if you can call her that, turned and ripped out the babies’ throats after one of them was trying to nurse off of her when she was digging for nuts. She then went crazy when she saw the blood and beat her head against this stone here. I’ve never seen this behavior, don’t understand. It’s very freaky. Tom has never seen this behavior before either, have you?”
Scarlett didn’t know what to say, as the three headed back to the group. They were each puzzled and bewildered. Was this an isolated rabies incident or a harbinger of worse things to come?
Part 10 The lull
As they went back they agreed to tell Frank but to keep it between themselves. The less people who knew, the better, it was Ben’s first mistake; unfortunately it wasn’t going to be his last.
When Ben, Tom, and Scarlett got back, Ben noticed that once again all the guys were grouped around talking about computers, didn’t take them that long to ditch the gfs/wives. And most of the girls were grouped around, well except for Carol and Elisabeth. Carol was taking the time to show Elisabeth how some of the new features worked. Every time a new DS came out she would get it, or really Santa would get it. Santa didn’t mind his loving wife’s infidelity with cameras. For once Elisabeth was getting out of her shell. It had been a hard time for her. She was on her own, not much in the way of funds and ever since her brother had been kicked out of the house she had been trying to make ends meet. All her life she had booked on her looks, but all the good ones she turned down in hopes of finding the future President, but she lived in Oregon, pfft, what were the odds of that happening? Freddy had spent what little she had and maxed her cards out. The reunion was a last ditch shot at maybe finding some work from one of her friends. Being as independent as she was, she hated asking for help. But as she talked with Carol, she found herself opening up and telling everything. Carol listened to Elisabeth’s heart and let Elisabeth cry on her shoulder. Afterwards they all hugged and Carol pulled Elisabeth towards the group of girls, who were talking about makeup of all things. Elisabeth wiped her eyes and joined in the discussion about the latest thing in Lipstick from MaryKay, the Foobar Blossom.
Carol stepped away and pulled Mark aside from his passionate discussion about Mac versus Linux. Chris is a diehard you know. Swears by his holy servers, that Linux trumps Mac. Mark was the key proponent of Mac and getting pulled out early destroyed the Mac side so Chris got to rub his hands and laugh at his fallen foes. Those IT guys… so sadistic. He was going to need all the sadism he could muster soon enough. Carol and Mark talked for a bit then Mark went back and the guys started to discuss the morality of downloading music and movies. All to soon the lovely picnic came to a cease and they packed up what little was left..
Tom and Ben lead them back and they had so much fun, already there was a touch of melancholy that time was passing so fast.. They got back to the hotel and Sarah and Tom said their goodbyes and headed out. Ben and Scarlett looked up Frank and passed the word to him while all got ready for the dance, no one wanted to go on that hike with Ben. Go figure, I guess Jay and Matt had been humiliated enough. Soon enough the girls and guys were prepping for the dance. All was going to be great!
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