Temple of the Snake: An Archeological Mystery (Jo Bennett Archeological Mystery Book 1) by David Berens & Nick Thacker

Author:David Berens & Nick Thacker [Berens, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Turtleshell Press
Published: 2018-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

In their fifth hour of walking, the sun had climbed to the center of the sky and was blasting them with noonday heat. Claude had been the perfect guide thus far leading them to passable trails and keeping plenty of clean water in his jug. He walked twenty or so feet in front of them to check the trail and to watch for wildlife. With Jo’s permission, he’d put a couple of bullets back in his gun, just in case.

In the sweltering air, Jo felt the sweat begin to soak into her socks and her boots began to rub on her toes and heel. She knew if she went much farther, she was going to have blisters all over her feet.

“Claude, I need a break,” she called up to the man. She pointed down at her hiking boots. “I gotta air these dogs out. Let my socks dry out some.”

He nodded and walked back toward them. “Good place to stop. We’ve got a pretty serious ridge comin’ up. Need you to be ready to do some climbin’ when we get there.”

Jo walked over to a tall pine tree and sat down at its base. As she pulled off her boots and stripped her socks off, Claude walked back toward them. Jo was still uneasy about him, but for the last few hours, he’d been silent, only calling out if there was something interesting to see nearby.

“I’ll run another trap here and see if I can’t scare up a snack.”

“No more rabbit, please,” Jo said and felt bile threaten to surge up into her throat.

Jake smiled and plopped down beside her. “Aw, c’mon. I was getting used to the gamey, tough, furry taste.”

That almost put her over the top, but she held back the vomit. Both Claude and Jake laughed. She shot lightning bolts out of her eyes at Jake and he swallowed his chuckle.

“Okay, then.” Claude slapped his hand together. “I’ll be back soon enough. And I’ll rustle up something more vegetable for you, young missy. Plenty of other options out here.”

“I’m fine with rabbit, Mr. Knapp,” Jake said grinning at him.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

With that, he disappeared into the scant stand of trees they were resting in.

“I don’t get it,” Jo said when he was gone. “I was sure I saw him going through my phone. I didn’t think I was dreaming. I mean, I am pretty sure…”

Her voice trailed off. In the last hours of their hike, she had become less and less sure. She’d gone through every check she could think of and there was no sign that he’d ever been on her phone. She shook the thought away.

“Hey,” Jake patted her on the shoulder. “It’s been a rough couple of days. We were stone drunk the other night, hung-over all the next day, and both dehydrated—me more than you, of course. But the mind can do crazy things with all that in the mix.”

She let out a slow breath. “That’s true I guess.”

“Don’t worry, Jo.

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