The Secret of the Seven Valleys by Dan DeKoning

Author:Dan DeKoning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Geocaching, Treasure Hunting, Italy, da Vinci, Cozy
Publisher: Dan DeKoning
Published: 2024-03-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Y’all ready to do this?” Allie asked.

Ingrid and Drake both nodded.

“I’ll take the front. Drake, you stay on my tail, and Ingrid, you have the back. If anything happens, yell.”

“Will do, captain,” Ingrid said.

Allie looked around the cave one last time. They divided everything Ingrid had found and all the items they had brought with them among the three backpacks.

“By the way, you look adorable, Drake,” Allie teased.

To protect his head and stomach, Allie had given the poncho to him.

“I agree,” Ingrid said. “You look like a radioactive blueberry.”

“I still say you guys are jerks. Can we get on with this already?”

The three got in line and stepped out from the cave and started down the trail.

“I think the rain has let up some,” Ingrid said. “It’s less of a tropical downpour, and more of a spring shower.”

“I think you’re right,” Allie said. “Perhaps this day is looking up after all.”

Allie kept a steady pace and looked back after every fourth step she took. When she determined Drake and Ingrid had no trouble keeping up with her, she changed to looking back every eight steps.

The fresh rain mixed with the pine and produced a scent that permeated the area, and Allie breathed in the moist air with equal parts enjoyment and gratitude.

“Are you doing okay back there, Drake?” Allie asked over her shoulder.

“I am. You can even pick up the pace a little if you prefer,” he answered.

“I prefer not to, but thank you, anyway.”

Allie stepped around a large puddle and carried on for another fifty yards until they came to the downed tree. She waited for the others to catch up to her.

“The path continues on the other side of this tree. I got here by pushing my way through it. We’ll need to take this slow. There are plenty of places to get caught up here.”

Drake studied the large obstacle. “You know I hate pine tree geocaches, right?”

Allie smiled. “This is better. There’s nothing to find except the trail, and that’s straight on ahead. Besides, this tree is dead, so other than the annoying feeling of getting pine needles down the back of your shirt, this should be easy.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have a saw in your pack, would you?” Drake asked.

“Sorry. I left my saw at the hotel. I wasn’t planning on doing any forestry today. Everyone ready?”

Hearing no objections, Allie stepped up to the giant, trying to remember the path she’d taken through the thing. She picked one of the large branches at waist height and pulled it toward them as far as the branch would bend, hoping it would break off. She detected no snap and determined she wouldn’t get lucky with it after all.

“Ingrid, can you step in front of this and hold it until we’re through?”

Ingrid nodded and walked around Allie and stood in front of the bough. “Okay, let it go, I got it.”

Allie slowly released her grip, and the branch, wanting to spring back into place, caught on Ingrid’s hip and stopped.

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