Shortage (Best Laid Plans Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

gave me. We've mostly been using it for self defense, but I figured up here I'm actually more likely to use it for its intended purpose. I was going to spray my coat to keep away any unfriendly visitors.”
    He almost thought Lewis was trying not to laugh as his cousin slapped his forehead with the palm of his hand. “That's not its intended purpose, man. You're supposed to spray it in the face of an attacking bear.”
    It was hard not to glare. “Do you think I'm an idiot? Of course I know that. I just figured if bears don't like it then smelling it will keep them away.”
    Lewis carefully plucked the can out of his hands, as if afraid he'd still use it on his coat. “Actually it's the exact opposite. It's an irritant when it gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth in spray form, but once it's sprayed on something it's basically just hot sauce and can attract bears. You remember the Metz's going on a camping trip when we were younger?” Trev shook his head. “Well they had the same idea you did and sprayed their tent before going on a hike. When they came back it was crushed flat from bears rolling on it, curious at the smell.”
    “Well okay then,” Trev said, feeling like an idiot. He took the can back and put it in his pocket. “I guess I'll just bring it with me.”
    His cousin nodded, still trying not to laugh. “Good luck with your fishing.”
    Trev shrugged back into his coat and started down the gentle slope to where the cliffs began, heading along the familiar path which squeezed through a gap in the cliffs that was traversable with a bit of climbing. There was a good sized overhang below the cliffs there that was nearly a cave, and they'd speculated it would be good for camping in, or for watching the road while well hidden by the screen of trees on the slope below. But with the hideout so close they'd never actually used it.
    As for the slope it was incredibly steep and treacherous, with a bed of fallen pine needles and mulch that might be a few inches to a few feet deep with no way of knowing until you put your foot down, which slipped easily on the mud below. It was also criss-crossed by deadfall everywhere that had to be carefully maneuvered over and around, and the icing on the cake was the snow that was already accumulating in the shade under the tall trees and making everything even more slippery.
    The path down to the river at the base of the slope looked as if it hadn't been maintained in a while, and possibly not even used. There was a spring higher up the mountain that they usually drew clean water from, saving them from having to purify river water, and if Lewis had just been here for collecting firewood he might not have even gone down to the river at all.
    Still, even in poor condition it was far, far better than trying to trailblaze down the slope, and with just a bit of effort Trev was able to make it down to Huntington River. In some places the terrain around the river was flat and meadowy, or even a bit marshy, but here it went from steep slope to flowing water with no transition, the riverbanks thickly clustered with trees and deadfall and in a few places with fallen logs stretching all the way to the other bank. In his braver youth Trev had used logs like those, or maybe those ones themselves, to cross the river, but now he preferred the slightly safer path of rocks.
    At the moment he had no intention of crossing, though, and instead he found a nice little curve in the bank where he was obscured from the road unless someone was directly in front of him, and at that point he'd be able to see them too. Once satisfied the area was safe enough he braced himself against a tree leaning out over the water and prepared his pole.
    Trev had only fished during the summer before now, but while Lewis was his usual fishing buddy they'd both also gone more than a few times with his uncle Lucas, Lewis's dad, who was an avid fisherman and fished year round. Since there was plenty of time to shoot the breeze on