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

“Isn’t he going to scare away any game?” Ansel asked.


“Right now, probably. When we get deeper into the trees, I’ll keep him with us, until I’m ready for him to flush out a rabbit, or whatever else might be around.”


Hugh did as he’d said, telling Orion, several minutes later, to heel. The dog did until Hugh gave him the signal to go into the underbrush. Then Hugh nocked an arrow and waited. A quail suddenly darted out a few feet ahead of where they were standing. Hugh shot, smiling when Ansel murmured, “Damn, you got it, and I’ve got the pictures to prove it.”


“Yep.” Hugh waited for Orion to retrieve it, then put it in the bag hanging from his belt before moving on.


It didn’t take long for Orion to flush a second one. Hugh took it down, putting it in the bag when the dog brought it to him. Again, Ansel photographed the whole thing. Then he said, “I wonder if there’s anest with eggs.”


Chapter 21