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

“Nice. Comfortable,” Ansel said as they waited to be seated—which happened a couple of minutes later.


“And the food is good,” Hugh replied. “If you like barbecue.”


“KC denizen here. Of course I do. Let’s see how theirs stacks up to what I’m used to.”


A while later, after finishing his pulled pork sandwich, and sharing some of it with Hugh in exchange for part of his beef brisket one, Ansel said, “For non-Kansas City, that was pretty damned good. Wait ‘til you get to KC, though. Then you’ll have the real thing.” He loved the smile Hugh gave him when hesaid that. Maybe he really will move out there. He sounded like he wanted to, last night, but that was sort of in the heat of the moment. Okay, I’ll worry about it later. First we have to get through tonight.


They decided against dessert, because it was close to six—“And Dad is always home right on the dot of five-forty-five. By the time we get there, he’ll have mixed his drink and be settling down to watch thenews.”


Chapter 43