When Hugh Mathews decides it's time to get out from under his tyrannical father's thumb and away from the life he's been living, he does it in a big way. Packing what he'll need to survive in the wilderness, and with only his dog, Orion, for companionship, he heads into the mountains. When they find a abandoned cabin, Hugh begins the arduous task of repairing it, as well as hunting for food and everything else they'll need to stay alive.<br><br>Soon after, Ansel Jeffries, a nature photographer, arrives at Hugh's cabin, seeking an abandoned mine he wants to photograph. After talking with him, Ansel sees the potential for a story in what Hugh is doing -- and why.<br><br>Ansel convinces Hugh to let him tell it, meaning he'll be living at the cabin with Hugh. When he moves in, will what becomes friendship between the two men grow into more?

Off the Beaten Path

Ansel smiled. “Touché. It would be, except they’re often two different things, as far as the various publications I work with are concerned.” His gaze went to the cabin then back to Hugh. “You’re squatting, too?”


“Nope. I’m real sure the previous owner is long gone, so I’m taking advantage of his largess. Why do you care?”


“Just making conversation,” Ansel replied with a shrug.


“And you hiked hundreds of miles to find someone to talk to.”


“Not quite. I have an assignment to shoot abandoned mines. There’s supposed to be one around here, according to my survey map.”


“If I show you where it is, will you get the hell out of here?”


“Yeah, sure. Tomorrow. The lighting’s not right for photographing one at the moment.”


“Then go back to wherever you’ve set up camp.”


Ansel shook his head. “I haven’t, so I can’t.”


“Well, you’re not doing it here.”


With a slight grin, Ansel replied, “Since you don’t own the land, I don’t think you can tell me whether I can or not.”


Chapter 11