Even Kate had to admit defeat to the heat and humidity. By early afternoon there was no question of them continuing at the pace she had set. She called a halt when Ethan yelled up from the back of the line that Georgie was doubled- over, puking.
"Lets try and find some shade. Everybody reapply their bug repellent. Drink lots." Exhausted physically and emotionally, Kate followed her backpack to the ground. She looked like a rag doll that had collapsed. Ethan assumed the adrenaline that had fueled her enthusiasm had disappeared.
Ethan laid Georgie on his side, his head resting on his backpack and ordered him to drink lots of water to combat the dehydration. Georgie moaned really loudly, just in case anyone was in doubt about how sick he was.
Rufus helped Lucy set up her BIVVY, then handed over Twiskers. As usual, she thanked him sweetly. He started to move away to set up his own tent. Somewhere between her tent and his he came to the realization...she would never know how he felt if he didn't tell her. Spurred on by the kiss he had seen Ethan and Anne share, he marched back to Lucy's tent. He ignored Shadow's growl when he got close.
"Lucy, there's something I have to tell you." Rufus began nervously, but quickly gained confidence. He waited for her to look up before he blurted, "I love you."
Lucy paused for less than a breath. "I know." She smiled kindly. "I love you too."
Rufus went from ecstatic, to suspicious, then dejected all within the time it took to register her response.
"No, I really love you." He emphasized, his heart in his eyes.
" And I really love you." She repeated, now busy dividing her attention between Twiskers and Shadow. Both pets were bored and demanding.
Rufus felt a strange disconnect from his surroundings. Maybe he hadn't made himself clear. No, that wasn't it. Maybe she had misunderstood, maybe she thought he meant a brotherly love, or a friend's love. Either way he wanted to clarify what he meant. He began again, determined to make her understand. "Lucy, I..."
Then without warning Rufus crumpled, hitting the ground with a thud. Lucy screamed.
Ethan and Anne ran to Rufus' side. "What happened?"
Lucy was hysterical. They could get no explanation out of her.
Ethan ran his fingers through Rufus' hair. There was a large knot directly over his right temple. Ethan looked around the camp. Both Kate and Georgie lay where he had last seen them. Anne and Lucy were beside him, leaning over Rufus. That left only one person unaccounted for. Without hesitation, he demanded. "Griffen, get over here! Now!"
Ethan waited til the count of three, then opened his mouth to yell again. He stopped when Griffen appeared next to him.
"Want to tell me what happened?" It was more of a demand than a question.
"Uh, I, uh, thought he was going to hurt Lucy."
"What?"
"Really? Rufus?" Anne scoffed.
Lucy cried quietly.
Ethan remained calm waiting for Griffen to finish. Kate joined them.
"He seemed very intense. And he kept getting closer and closer to her. I thought maybe he was going to hurt her." The sentence trailed off.
"Jerk." Anne threw in her opinion.
" You monster!" Lucy threw herself at Griffen pummeling him with tiny fists. Suddenly, Shadow lept up, ready to join the attack. Griffen disappeared. Lucy fell face first to the ground.
Anne helped Lucy up while everyone offered their theory about Griffin's odd behavior. It seemed everyone was talking at once.
"Hey guys." Rufus spoke up, but nobody heard him above the chatter.
"Can I join in or is this a private conversation?" He raised his voice. Four pair of eyes turned his way.
"Griffen knocked you out!" Anne was first to explain.
"Huh. Who'd have suspected 'In and Out' boy had it in him?" Rufus rubbed the sore spot on his head.
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked.
Rufus looked at Lucy who's cheeks blushed a pretty pink. "Nothing." His crooked smile flashed. He pushed himself to his feet. "No worries. I'll talk to Griffen. We'll sort everything out."
Lucy stared at her feet, absently petting Shadow. The others gaped at Rufus.
"Uh, okay. Let's get some rest." Kate said. Ethan moved away. Anne followed.
"We'll talk later. Okay?" Rufus turned to Lucy. She nodded shyly.
Rufus definitely had a spring to his step as he headed to where his backpack lay. He stretched out using his gear as a lumpy pillow and waited.
"Sorry." Griffen said softly.
Rufus kept his eyes closed. "Hey, man, I get what happened, but maybe next time come talk to me before you conk me on the head."
"Okay." Was all Griffen said, but Rufus knew from the shading of the noon day sun that he was still standing over him.
"Have a seat, buddy. You need to rest, too."
Griffen stretched out beside Rufus.
"I've never had a friend before." Griffen admitted quietly.
"But you do now." Rufus opened his eyes and sat up, turning toward Griffen, he stuck out his right hand. Griffen shook the offered hand.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Rufus smiled.
"For not beating me up." Griffen smiled too. "But, mostly, for being my friend."
"I can have more than one friend. Understood?"
Griffin nodded. "I panicked when I heard you talking to Lucy. I thought, maybe you wouldn't have time for me anymore. Sorry. I overreacted. Oh, yeah, and sorry for hitting you."
Rufus laid back down. He closed his eyes. "Nuf said. Forget about it. Get some rest. If everything goes well we'll grab a quick break, some lunch and then make it to the river before nightfall."