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  I put the tins in front of the sleeping bag and got out a couple forks from my kitchen supplies. Then pulled a water bottle out of my coat and was pleasantly surprised when she did the same from her coat before I could pull out my second one. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind this woman would have weathered the night just fine on her own.

  I slid back into the bag and we both rolled to our stomachs and removed our gloves to eat. “Brrr,” I said. We both laughed and she slid next to me to share body heat as we ate our meal, picking from both tins and making sure to drink our water to keep hydrated.

  Then I finally answered her implied question. “It's Aussie, we moved to the US when I was eight after we lost my mother. She was American, her brother, Uncle Stu was here. The last of our family. I have dual citizenship.”

  She nodded, a sad look on her face, hearing about mom, but then smiled. “It's sounds nice. It adds a touch of mystery to your voice. I wasn't sure I was hearing it.”

  We made idle chit chat as we ate. She was a barrel of laughs this woman. I was fascinated with her lips as she spoke, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in a relationship. Everything but my fingers was quite toasty by the end of the meal. God, I love my Penguin bag!

  Chapter 2 – Misconceptions

  I turned my lantern down to the lowest setting and slid my hands into the bag. She did the same, and we simultaneously slid off our coats, leaving them inside the bag with us. She had pulled the heating pads up from our feet, using her feet and shoved one into my hands while she held the other to warm the last part of us that was cold.

  We talked about everything, the conversation flowed easily like we were old friends. Then the topic of dating popped up. She asked, “So anyone special in your life?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I just started dating our new Granite Ridge sales rep a couple weeks ago. It kind of feels like a long distance relationship since he travels up and down the coast. I barely get to see him.”

  Blake was suddenly quiet and her body went stiff. Her face was a little pale and I swear I saw fire in her eyes. She asked in a monotone voice, “Granite Ridge sales rep? Not Jerry Banks... right?”

  I nodded with a cautious smile, she looked a little perturbed suddenly as I replied. “Yeah. Oh, of course you'd know him, he probably sells to you too.”

  She went off, slamming a fist into her other open hand. “Not anymore the goddamn two timing son of a bitch! I started dating him a couple weeks back too when he took over the territory! The goddam ass! I don't suppose he told you about me? I had no clue he was dating anyone!”

  I could feel the blood draining from my face as what she just said sank in. My hands were shaking in anger. Goddammit! “No! I friggin' hate men! I had no clue, I'm so sorry... I wonder how many women he is stringing along besides us? I feel like a complete idiot!” I wanted to lash at at something, but Blake was the only person here and it sure as hell wasn't her fault. I felt like crying... I had hoped that I had finally found someone to have a real relationship with. I'm not getting any younger.

  Her face was red with anger and she didn't look to be on the verge of tears like me. She was rummaging around in the sleeping bag and pulled out her cell from her coat mumbling, “Goddamn asshole. Telling me I'm the only woman for him. I fell for it like a goddamn schoolgirl!”

  She looked at her phone. “Dammit! No signal. He's dead when I get back into town tomorrow!” She looked at me and suddenly calmed down, a look of concern on her face. “Oh, I'm so sorry, Roberta. I could have been much more tactful bringing this up. It just caught me off guard. But don't worry! I'm out of the picture now, he's all yours. Frigging small world in our industry.”

  I almost snorted at that. “Why would I want him all to myself when we can tear into the asshole together?” I produced my satellite phone from my jacket in the sleeping bag and stared at Blake devilishly.

  I showed her the screen and punched up Jerry on speakerphone. I gestured to her as he answered in his deep baritone. “Well well... Roberta Valentine, as I live and breathe. I thought you were going to be out in the mountains tonight. To what do I owe the pleasure, sweetie?”

  Blake shot daggers from her eyes at the phone as she hissed out, “Well 'sweetie' she IS out in the mountains tonight... with me! You son of a bitch!” I was wringing my hands together to stop myself from doing anything drastic.

  He was sputtering on the phone. “Blake? Umm... Blake, calm down, it's not what you think. She means nothing to me.”

  That was it, I snapped. “NOTHING? You spineless goddamn jellyfish! You made me care about you and you pull this shit? Leading us on!”

  He was on the defensive now. “Hey I never told either of you that we were exclusive! I was...” I cut him off. “It's over! Be a man and realize it and walk away! Your products are no longer wanted at Silent Bob's you sleazebag!”

  Blake ground out a few words, too. “The same is true for Reston Outfitters. Go pedal your wares and wet your dipstick elsewhere!” And she reached over and hung up before he could respond.

  We both looked from each other to the phone then back. It was such a therapeutic release, going off on Jerry like that. The we started cracking up. God, our emotions were everywhere, but I suddenly found the whole situation funny. Blake finally spoke, “Can you speak for Silent Bob's like that?”

  I grinned and nodded as I responded, “I do every day.”

  Blake just shook her head. “God I feel stupid.” I understood completely. She grinned. “But at least we crippled his sales for the Highway 2 and I90 corridors. That's gotta look bad to his headquarters.” I answered her grin with one of my own.

  “I think I'll call them up Monday to let them know they can come pick up their stock from Silent Bob's. If they ask why... I'll tell them why.”

  She smirked back. “Ooooo... good plan, I'll do the same. Maybe we can get his ass fired!”

  She looked at me again. “Brrr.” I giggled and we pulled the sleeping bag up to our chins again as we chatted.

  She said, “I truly am sorry.”

  I nodded. “Me too... let's change the subject. We were having so much fun before testosterone boy ruined it.” Damn it hurt... will I ever catch a break in love? Just once I'd like to find a happily ever after.

  She nodded with a smile on her face. “OK, so new topic, Silent Bob's. Mind if I ask stuff without you divulging any 'trade secrets'? Wouldn't want to get you in any trouble. There's just some stuff I don't quite get.”

  I nodded, locking eyes with her, I could see the shadow of pain in their depths that mirrored mine. I chirped, “Shoot.”

  She thought for a second. “I seems that he has a lock on all the major players in the area that can help expand my business into other arenas like he did with his. I'm struggling making contacts for augmenting and expanding my mountain tours. I already have all the gear vendors I need, but you can't build your business on a stool with only one leg.”

  A woman after my own heart, it somehow made me appreciate her competitiveness knowing she had a head for business. She continued, “I've tried with multiple businesses, two that stand out the most are regarded as local legends for some reason. Crystal James' party planning services and McKay Air Tours. I get more requests for them than any other additions to my packages. But when I approach them, they say that they'll only work the Cascades with Silent Bob. What the hell is with that? Don't they want more business?”

  I held back a snort but couldn't stop the smile I knew that was probably dancing around in my eyes. I replied trying to keep the mirth out of my voice, “They happen to be close personal friends of Silent Bob's. They are probably just protecting the interests of their friend.”

  She scoffed a bit and dismissed the whole thing. “I hear they are a couple of dykes anyway.” Suddenly I didn't find her attractive anymore as I felt the blood drain from my face. I would have never have pegged her for a bigot.

  I snapped at her while shaking my head. “Whoa... step off there a bit! I'm one of those 'dykes'
and I don't appreciate the slur!” My eyes bored into her.

  She looked shocked and slid back a bit farther from me in the bag. “What are you talking about? You were dating Jerry!” Her eyes were looking everywhere but at me. Typical reaction. I'm the exact same person she was talking with a minute ago, yet suddenly I'm not to her.

  I took a deep calming breath, I had no reason to confide in her, but I felt I needed to defend myself for some reason. Her opinion shouldn't matter to me. I stated calmly, “I play on both sides of the fence. I used to be quite the party girl when I was younger, and would hook up with any hottie, male or female. But as I got older, I found that I leaned toward women more. The past few years as thirty was approaching, I felt like I wanted more than the casual hookup.”

  “It took me a while to figure out that I was looking for a real relationship. I want to build a family of my own before it is too late. But the girls I hung out with, were younger and hadn't hit that stage in their life yet where they were looking for something more. So I switched sides of the street again to see if I couldn't find someone who shared my dreams.” I took another deep breath.

  I tried to get her to look back at me. “Then I found Jerry and thought my unlucky streak was over. He said all the right things, and made me believe.” A tear fell even though I didn't want to show any emotion right now. What was so wrong with me that I can't find someone who really cares for me? Jane McKay was almost that person but she was still too young at the time and was still into heavy partying. If I had only waited just another year or two with her...

  I shook my head. “So yeah, I'm gay or bi or whatever. Stupid goddamn labels! I'm the exact same person you were just talking with and having fun with a moment ago. Now you can't even look at me. Do you hate gay people that much?”

  She looked at me quickly then turned to meet my eyes again as she spoke, “I don't 'hate' gay people. It's just, I don't know... unnatural. The choice you made.”

  I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Wait... first, the way you said dykes was pretty derogatory. Second, you think that sexual orientation is a choice?”

  She narrowed her eyes, ready to defend herself. “Of course it is.”

  God I hate fighting. I snorted. “Really? Then can you pinpoint the exact moment in time that you made the choice to like men? I hate labels but just when did you decide to be 'straight'?”

  She shook her head. “I didn't 'make the choice', I am straight.”

  I snapped back, “So you didn't 'choose' to be straight? You just are? Well guess what... it is exactly the same for me. I never chose to be gay or bi, I just am. It is the same goddamn thing. Attraction is attraction, you don't choose. It is society that puts pressures on people to be 'normal'. Normal is a subjective thing. But something that is universal is love. You can't help who you are attracted to.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, I could see her thinking and she snapped her mouth back shut. I asked, “So let me ask you this. Are you one hundred percent sure you are totally 'straight'?”

  “Yes,” she snapped back.

  I nodded. “OK, now be one hundred percent truthful here... you were never curious in school or college? Never kissed a girl?”

  She blushed a little. “I did make out with my roommate once, but it was just an experiment. It didn't mean anything.”

  I nodded. “You ever see a hot actress in a movie and think, 'I'd do her even though I'm straight'? Most girls do. It isn't anything to be ashamed of.”

  She paused then nodded still blushing. I think she saw where I was going with this. I said, “Well congratulations, according to society's definitions, you aren't one hundred percent straight. Since a 'normal' 'straight' person would NEVER even entertain those thoughts. Welcome to the bisexual world! Guess that makes you one of those dykes, too. Just something for you to think about.” I was just being mean now and I knew it. She had hurt me so I was hurting her back. God, I hate myself sometimes.

  She creased her lips then retorted, “I've never wanted to be a man. Doesn't like one of you want that in a gay relationship?”

  I sighed. “You think that gay women want to be men? This it the type of misinformation being spread out there by ignorant people who need to be educated. I simply LOVE being a woman. And when I'm with a woman, I LOVE that she is a woman too! What you are describing is transgender or transsexualism, which has absolutely nothing to do with sexual orientation. That is a man or a woman who is stuck in a body of the wrong gender. But even then, still not a choice.”

  She looked at me not knowing how to respond, but I saw her thinking hard. Maybe I knocked a little sense into her.

  She looked to her pack nervously. “Maybe I should sleep in my own bag.”

  I squinted at her and tried to be calm, this was so frustrating. “Why? You think I'm going to make a move on you?”

  Her silence was all the confirmation I needed. God I hated misinformed bigotry more than true bigotry. Why don't people stop to think before they speak?

  I took a deep calming breath so I didn't yell, then calmly asked, “Do you make a move on every guy you see since you are straight?”

  She again looked to be letting what I was asking sink in before she shook her head and said in a small voice, “No.” She looked seriously in thought as her brow was slightly furrowed and her eyes looked distant. I hope I'm educating her a little here.

  To her credit, she didn't leave the sleeping bag. I took a deep cleansing breath to calm down then spoke, “I'm sorry. I really hate fighting, and we were getting along so well before this. Let's start over.” I offered my hand to her. “Hello, I'm Roberta Valentine. I'm pleased to meet you.”

  I saw a lot bouncing around behind her eyes and could see she came to a decision a split second before she accepted my hand. God, her hand is so soft and warm. Then she said, “I'm sorry Roberta... Blake Reston. It is very nice to meet you, too.” I could see the apology in her eyes, she held onto my hand just a little bit longer to emphasize it.

  I smiled at her and said, “Now that we have all that nonsense out of the way. I can help you out with Crystal James and McKay Air Tours if you agree to only use them in the Highway 2 corridor and anything north of it, and don't encroach on the I90 corridor with them.”

  She looked shocked at the offer. With a look that asked “Weren't we just fighting?” she tilted her head and then her melodic voice chimed out, “I'd really appreciate that. So long as it doesn't get you into any trouble.”

  I snickered and contemplated on telling her I was Silent Bob... but we were just coming out of one fight, I didn't need to fuel another one. I'd never see her again after tonight anyway, so I just said, “No, no trouble at all. Hang on a minute.”

  I grabbed the satellite phone and checked the time, it was only seven PM. Then I dialed Jane McKay on speakerphone. I got a distracted “Hello?” from the other end.

  I responded quickly, “Hi, Jane! This is Roberta Valentine, I hope I'm not interrupting you and Crystal. I have Blake Reston with Reston Outfitters on the line here with me on speakerphone.” I stressed my name and could tell she caught that when she refrained from calling me Silent Bob or Bobbi as our conversation progressed. She was always such a smart woman.

  “Oh, hi, ROBERTA. No, not interrupting... much...” I heard the receiver get muffled by her hand and her saying, “Cryster, I can't concentrate.” Then she was back loud and clear. “Is that wind I hear howling on your end? You're still up on the mountain aren't you?”

  I laughed. “Yes... yes I am. It's such a marvelous night to camp!”

  I heard Jane snort then she said, “What can I do for you tonight, Roberta? You know I don't do blizzard airlifts.” She snickered. I saw Blake grinning at our antics.

  I stopped a snicker of my own as I continued, “What, and be taken away from all this nature? Perish the thought. No, I was just calling in to, how does Crystal say it? Call in a marker?” This got almost hysterical laughing on the other end of the call. I did snort this time. Jane is always joking abo
ut Crystal's marker system.

  She manged to squeak out a couple words. “Please continue.”

  I grinned at Blake and said, “Well I was wondering if you two could help Blake out from time to time so long as she stays away from the I90 corridor and south.”

  She giggled again. “Oooooo... staying away from the dreaded Silent Bob's territory?”

  I almost started cracking up myself. “Dammit woman, don't get me laughing... I probably wouldn't be able to stop. So? Do this favor for me?”

  Jane stopped laughing instantly and got a little serious. “For you... anything. Hey Blake, don't make me regret this, honor Roberta's terms and stay away from Silent Bob's turf and I can see us all being great business acquaintances.”

  Blake smiled as she said, “Thanks, Jane. I have no intention of getting Roberta in trouble with Silent Bob. She seems to have a lot of pull herself with friends like you.”

  I heard a muffled giggle on Jane's end again. God, I can imagine the fun she is having with this. Then Jane said, “OK. Well ladies, if that is it, I have a crazy woman over here who demands some attention. And Roberta, call me later to let me know what the hell is going on?”

  I smiled and winked at Blake. “Will do, Jane. Bye!” Jane said her goodbye and hung up. I could imagine what that vixen of a wife of her's with her dual color eyes was doing to her just about now.

  I grinned like an idiot to the bemused looking brunette beside me and said, “Hmmm... I believe the two words I am searching for are 'taa' and 'daa'. Yes, yes, those will do nicely.” I ran my hands through my long ebony locks.

  Blake looked impressed and happy, and something else... like she was studying me. Did she suspect? Then she placed her hand on mine, heat spreading from the contact, and said, “Impressive. I can't begin to tell you how much this will help out the mountain tour portion of my business. You sure I can't entice you over to the dark side?” You can entice me anytime. Oh shit... my attraction to her is back! I just smiled smugly and shook my head.