Canyon Walls Read Online Free PDF Page B

of his head. “I remember going down that way when I was a camper.”
    â€œSo you remember how steep it is.”
    He nodded. “But the caves below the summit are pretty cool. If I were the boys, I’d want to see it at night. You better lead the way though. It has been years since I’ve done this.”
    It had been a long time since Cassie had hiked the back trail, too. She had never attempted it in the dark, but she would never admit that to Will.
    Cassie poked around the wall of bushes and branches. When she found the narrow opening, Will walked close behind her.
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    Will followed Cassie’s loose ponytail as they trekked down the rocky path. A few days ago Will couldn’t have imagined he would be hiking in the middle of the night with someone like Cassie.
    She was different than the girls he grew up with in Wyatt Bend. Fiercely independent, she challenged him at every turn.
    â€œSo, how long have you been director here? Six months?” he whispered, so the boys, wherever they were, wouldn’t hear him.
    Cassie glanced at him over her shoulder. “Actually, it’s been about nine.”
    Will reached over her head to pull up a branch hanging in her path. “So how’s it going?”
    There was a long pause. “It’s fine.”
    Not exactly the response he had hoped for. Will wanted more. Not so he could report back to his dad, but because he wanted to know more about her. “Do you like your job?”
    Cassie stopped and turned around to face him. “I love it.”
    He squinted, trying to see through the shadows to the emotion on her face.
    Cassie crossed her arms. “What about you? Do you like your business?”
    Will took a step back. “For the most part, I do love being in real estate. It’s never dull.”
    â€œWhat are you working on right now?” Cassie asked.
    His pulse quickened as he recalled the conversation with his brother. “We have some projects in progress, but I don’t know what’s next.”
    Cassie turned back around, walking faster as the path widened in front of them. Something rustled the grass alongside the trail, but this time Cassie didn’t stop to investigate.
    They reached a point in the path where they had to slide down a ten-foot slope. Cassie lay down feetfirst with her stomach to the stone. She descended with a small groan and wiped off the front of her sweatshirt. Will followed. As he and Cassie walked together, a low rumble cut through the whisper of the breeze against the leaves.
    Voices. Relief washed over Will.
    He gripped Cassie’s shoulder. She pulled it away, but as the voices grew louder, she froze.
    Cassie took off toward a small overhang of the cliff wall. Will reached an arm out in front of her. “Wait,” he whispered. “Can I handle this?”
    Cassie handed him the flashlight and moved off the path, letting Will pass by her.
    Will ran his hand along the rock wall, following the voices and feeling his way into the dark cave.
    â€œWhat time is it?” a girl asked.
    Sneaking out to meet girls. He should have known.
    â€œI don’t know,” another said. “But what do you think the counselors would say if they found out we snuck out of our bunks?”
    The high-pitched giggles of teenage girls rang out through the darkness. Will clicked his flashlight on and shone it on his face.
    The teens screamed.
    Will aimed the light at the boys’ stunned expressions. “I would probably say it was irresponsible, immature, and dangerous.”
    Will turned the light toward the teens. Whitney, one of the members of his church’s youth group, sat with her mouth open. “What are you doing out here?” He followed her gaze with his flashlight. “Marcy, you, too? You guys are in so much trouble.”
    Cassie moved out of the shadows to the path in front of them.
    â€œBecause of you, three people had to get out of bed to search for you in