I played it safe...

"Got it." I mumbled, concentrating on the road, as I heard the sound of zippers being pulled and cloth being shifted.

"Thanks Kay, really!" Charlotte said, and I could hear the sound of a towel being shaken.

"I can hurt you." Kaila reminded me as I fought the urge to look over my shoulder, or to try to adjust the rear view mirror, which my wife had thoughtfully turned directly towards herself.

A few minutes later, Kaila returned the mirror to its original position, and I could once again see into the rear of the bus. Helen and Charlotte no longer looked like drowned rats, but still had that look of a woman who has just stepped out of a shower.

"Thanks." Helen looked directly into the mirror as she said it, and her smile made a slight chill run through me. I just drove, along the curves and dips of the highway.

"Up here." Helen suddenly shouted as a small dirt road into the hills appeared on our left. I would have missed it with all of the rain, had she not alerted me.

"How much farther do you have to walk?" My wife asked, eyeing the rain.

"About a mile, mile and a half." Helen shrugged.

"Her uncle's got a trailah up here on some land." Charlotte piped up.

"He's not my uncle." The blonde countered, pulling her beret back on.

"What's one more mile?" I asked, turning the bus onto the dirt road. "So he's not your uncle?"

"No, he's my dad's army buddy." Helen explained as she began adjusting the straps on her backpack. "He said we could use the trailer for a couple days."

"Oh, really? What was the unit?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"You've probably never heard of it. Five-Oh-Deuce Infantry."

"You're right, I've never heard of it." I nodded, trying to concentrate on driving.

"So he's not there?" Asked Kaila, her eyebrows rising.

"Nope, just a little romantic getaway." Charlotte grinned at Helen.

"Stop it." Blushed Helen.