uncivilized.
But as uncomfortable as that thought was, the thought of sleeping with Redd was even more uncomfortable. No, not sleeping with Redd, but sleeping next to Redd, she corrected herself. But in a tent the size of a toothpick, the distinction made little difference. Awkward.
Her feelings about spending the night with him were mercurial. Redd was handsome and obviously a protector. Those qualities were highly desirable. But Redd had a brooding side, too. One that clearly stated, in bold red font, “Go away.” Would he resent being forced to stay with someone who, quite literally, could not leave him? And would her being bound to him tonight set him further on edge tomorrow?
Back at the campsite she was going to find out quickly. She threw the little Ziploc into a makeshift garbage bag and hurried inside the tiny tent. The entrance flap closed behind her.
“How’s the weather out there?” Redd was rubbing his hands together, no doubt in an attempt to warm them. The speed at which the temperature outside had dropped was remarkable.
“Let’s just say I’m not confused we’re in the Arctic.”
“Look on the bright side. If we came out here a few weeks from now, you’d have more heat but you’d have swarms of mosquitos, too.”
“No way. Not this far north.”
He nodded. “There are more mosquitos up here during the summer, density-wise, than the Equator. Seriously. It’s a fact that should appear in Ripley’s. Alaska’s mosquitos put the Tropic’s to shame. Not just in quantity but in quality.”
She shot him a look. “Now I know you’re teasing. People don’t rate mosquito quality. They’re pests, not fine wine.”
He barked out a short laugh. “Well, you’d whine if you saw them. They’re super-sized out here. Alaskans jokingly refer to them as the state bird.”
She felt her knees grow weak. “I don’t want to see one.”
“Out here they don’t carry disease. At least not typically. That’s what I mean when I say they’re better in quality. But you’d still need to walk around in a full-on mosquito netting.”
“Then I’m surprised Teleworld didn’t wait a few more weeks to film. I would have thought Mark would have loved to see me walk around with a fishnet stocking thingy over my face. Give the audience an easy laugh.” She leaned over to take the smaller camcorder off the floor and pressed the ‘on’ button. “Speaking of filming, might as well get some taping in.” She sighed.
If Redd was annoyed to have the camera on him he didn’t show it. “Summer or no summer, I’m glad I took the rocks from the fire and put them in the tent to warm things up. Don’t touch them,” he warned, pointing to a little space he’d made off to the side of the tent.
“Great, thank you. It is warmer in here. I’m glad to be back inside.”
“I’m glad you’re back, too. I can’t have you continue to wander off until I teach you how to use the gun and convince you to take it with you. I don’t trust pepper spray.”
“I’ll be okay without the gun. I may not know about mosquitos but I studied up on how to handle wild bears on the plane ride.” She would have taken the little book with her if the show allowed it.
“Oh, really?” Redd asked, eyebrow arched. “Do tell.”
“Never surprise a bear,” Ana prattled off. “Be double careful by dense brush or by rivers where the sound of running water masks the sound of a person’s approach. Should I see a bear, let it know I’m there by making a loud racket. Shouting, singing, making whooping noises, whatever.”
“Very good,” Redd acknowledged. “What else?”
“If a bear approaches me, don’t flee. They can run up to thirty miles an hour so they can’t be outrun. They climb and swim faster than a person, too. The best course of action is to slowly veer far away from the bear, giving the animal a lot of space.”
Redd nodded his approval. “Keep going.”
“If a bear notices me, or comes toward me,
But as uncomfortable as that thought was, the thought of sleeping with Redd was even more uncomfortable. No, not sleeping with Redd, but sleeping next to Redd, she corrected herself. But in a tent the size of a toothpick, the distinction made little difference. Awkward.
Her feelings about spending the night with him were mercurial. Redd was handsome and obviously a protector. Those qualities were highly desirable. But Redd had a brooding side, too. One that clearly stated, in bold red font, “Go away.” Would he resent being forced to stay with someone who, quite literally, could not leave him? And would her being bound to him tonight set him further on edge tomorrow?
Back at the campsite she was going to find out quickly. She threw the little Ziploc into a makeshift garbage bag and hurried inside the tiny tent. The entrance flap closed behind her.
“How’s the weather out there?” Redd was rubbing his hands together, no doubt in an attempt to warm them. The speed at which the temperature outside had dropped was remarkable.
“Let’s just say I’m not confused we’re in the Arctic.”
“Look on the bright side. If we came out here a few weeks from now, you’d have more heat but you’d have swarms of mosquitos, too.”
“No way. Not this far north.”
He nodded. “There are more mosquitos up here during the summer, density-wise, than the Equator. Seriously. It’s a fact that should appear in Ripley’s. Alaska’s mosquitos put the Tropic’s to shame. Not just in quantity but in quality.”
She shot him a look. “Now I know you’re teasing. People don’t rate mosquito quality. They’re pests, not fine wine.”
He barked out a short laugh. “Well, you’d whine if you saw them. They’re super-sized out here. Alaskans jokingly refer to them as the state bird.”
She felt her knees grow weak. “I don’t want to see one.”
“Out here they don’t carry disease. At least not typically. That’s what I mean when I say they’re better in quality. But you’d still need to walk around in a full-on mosquito netting.”
“Then I’m surprised Teleworld didn’t wait a few more weeks to film. I would have thought Mark would have loved to see me walk around with a fishnet stocking thingy over my face. Give the audience an easy laugh.” She leaned over to take the smaller camcorder off the floor and pressed the ‘on’ button. “Speaking of filming, might as well get some taping in.” She sighed.
If Redd was annoyed to have the camera on him he didn’t show it. “Summer or no summer, I’m glad I took the rocks from the fire and put them in the tent to warm things up. Don’t touch them,” he warned, pointing to a little space he’d made off to the side of the tent.
“Great, thank you. It is warmer in here. I’m glad to be back inside.”
“I’m glad you’re back, too. I can’t have you continue to wander off until I teach you how to use the gun and convince you to take it with you. I don’t trust pepper spray.”
“I’ll be okay without the gun. I may not know about mosquitos but I studied up on how to handle wild bears on the plane ride.” She would have taken the little book with her if the show allowed it.
“Oh, really?” Redd asked, eyebrow arched. “Do tell.”
“Never surprise a bear,” Ana prattled off. “Be double careful by dense brush or by rivers where the sound of running water masks the sound of a person’s approach. Should I see a bear, let it know I’m there by making a loud racket. Shouting, singing, making whooping noises, whatever.”
“Very good,” Redd acknowledged. “What else?”
“If a bear approaches me, don’t flee. They can run up to thirty miles an hour so they can’t be outrun. They climb and swim faster than a person, too. The best course of action is to slowly veer far away from the bear, giving the animal a lot of space.”
Redd nodded his approval. “Keep going.”
“If a bear notices me, or comes toward me,
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