Fortunately, I didn't have to lie.

"It looks great on you." I nodded. "Hell, anything looks good on you."

"I warned you about that!" Helen threatened, casting her eyes about the room. "Where's my pack?"

"In the main room, and please give me a head start." I snickered.

"Ah HAH! So you admit your guilt! Excellent first step!" Helen laughed.

I quickly grabbed my phone and wallet from the front room, pointedly ignoring the foot tapping of Charlotte as we did so. She seemed like she was **** to talk, but couldn't say a word as long as we were still in the house. She noticed me looking, and waved her hand with a happy nod.

"You're going to love it. Really. I... ack... don't want to ruin it. Please, just trust me one more time." Charlotte brought her hands together in front of her in a pleading gesture.

"Fair enough," I nodded. I placed my hand on the door. Helen was right behind me, her Beret now back in position atop her head.

"Oh, and pick up something for brunch. You know, sugar, flour, I feel like pancakes or something." She stopped after she noticed my slightly annoyed expression. "Please?"

"Sure, because you asked nice." I smiled. "But I am grabbing coffee and something at the market."

"And we're off, and you two don't worry, I'll make sure that he doesn't have any ideas about running off." Helen laughed.

"Well, DUH, I'm here." Kaila laughed. "And I've got the keys to the van."

"Why do I feel like I've just gained three new ell tees?" I grumbled.

"Let's wait to have this conversation until we get out the door." Helen elbowed me out of the way and opened the door, stepping out into the chill outdoors. "This thing is NICE and warm."

I waved one last time to the room, and exited onto the porch. The fog swirled around the cabin like some kind of gauzy Halloween decoration. This was some of the thickest fog I'd ever seen in my life. I could barely make out the shape of the Bus from where I had parked it, and it couldn't have been more than fifty paces away, but Helen paid it no mind, stepping out into the damp earth without hesitation.

"Ok, Got my stuff, so we're not taking the road." Helen beckoned me, pulling a small compass from the small leather case I hadn't noted her grabbing at first. She bent it up at an angle. "Crap, wish the sun was out."

"Which direction do you want to go?" I asked, trying to remember what I could think of the general area, and what I remembered from google maps. I pulled the cell phone from my pocket, but It looks like while Charlotte had at least not used my data, she had NOT charged it. About 20%. Good enough for messages, but if used the internet, It would get eaten up FAST.

"Uhm, Southwest by South. About 208 Degrees."

"Uh, I think that is the Road, at least to the first dropoff." I nodded.

"Oh Cool! So, we do get to do a little hill surfing!" Helen grinned. "Again, Not taking the road."

"Guess so." I nodded, as we began to walk along the slightly muddy driveway, heading for the road. I was suddenly extremely glad that I had worn hiking boots. It only took a few yards of steps along the asphalt before we found ourselves at the first dropoff. It a fairly steep angle, but if I kept my head and balance, wouldn't be too hard to keep my footing. Still, it was a ways down, and I wasn't sure how far I would end up sliding in in the fog. A tree in the wrong place could end that trip really quick.

"Looks a little steep." I noted.

"You wanna live forever?" Helen grinned, stepping onto the matted pine needles. She pushed off with her left foot, and began to slide, occasionally adjusting her footing as she half slid and half sidestepped down the side of the ravine.