Natalie-Personally, I’d rather be in Vegas like Izzy—but hey, that’s me… But I must say we will head back to Vegas before it’s all said and done.
Jan-So, so true! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!!!
Concerning the bonus update—well, Monica conned me into it. Thank you so much for you sweet compliments. I appreciate them!
Alien_Friend-I have no use for snakes either. Generally, I can deal with bugs if given enough repellent. Concerning Maria & Michael-they’re really enjoying their torment of Max and Liz, so Michael is quite willing to comply.
Tamashii-Poor Rebecca was kind of thrown into the situation, but she will improve over the course of the week. With the fishing episode I really wanted to capture a slice of their childhood and that playfulness…which segues quite nicely into a very adult moment.
Maria’s plan—we’ll see in a couple of chapters!
Ginger-You have been one of the few who would actually go camping of her own volition (without the lure of our favorite resident alien). Though I’m not terribly outdoorsy, I have gone camping, fishing, rafting, etc (though I’ve never done any serious climbing). I had grandparents who were very outdoorsy. I thought you’d particularly like Claudia.
Yeah, I told my grandmother a few whoppers in my day as well. She taught English as well, and I was always amazed (at the time) how she found out about my shenanigans before I got home from school.
Monica-Yes, they heat up the water quite nicely! I hope you are feeling better, and I hope you enjoyed your bonus! Thank you so much for your kind words—I hope things are improving with you.
I think at this point most of the friends and family (except Jeff) are fairly convinced of what we know to be true. It’s just a matter of catching them in the act. And you are most welcome for the dirty part.
Carrie-Well, if a cold shower is your thing, ok then, but as for myself…
Natalie-I’ve never floated a river that difficult, but I might be tempted to. (The drop was probably a bit exaggerated for effect).
Ms_Buffy-I think most of them are pretty convinced of the truth.
Onto the final part of our Santa Fe shoot...
Dale Ball Trail North-the next morning
Liz and Max barreled through the brushy undergrowth, stirring up little clouds of dirt as their mountain bikes sped along the worn trail.
“Great job, guys. If I can get you to give me one more pass here, and then I’ll ride down to the switchback and set up there,” Rick instructed as he looked through the shots he had already taken.
Max and Liz circled around and peddled hard back up the mountain in their Columbia biking gear. After making another pass by Rick’s camera, Max and Liz had a chance to grab a drink from their water bottles. Taking a short break to give Rick time to reset, Max and Liz sat on the soft forest floor and leaned back on their arms.
“I’m gonna’ miss that smell,” Liz sighed wistfully as she took a deep breath, her face turned upward to the trees and her eyes closed. “The pinon woods remind me of Grandma’s.”
“How about we buy a few sacks of woodchips that we can burn in our fireplace this winter?” suggested Max.
“You would move firewood all the way to Massachusetts for me?” Liz rhetorically asked, a contented sigh escaping her lips as she looked at Max, once again moved by his thoughtfulness.
“Anything you want, baby,” Max smiled, glad that a simple sack of kindling could bring about such a reaction. After last night, any request she made, he would happily grant.
The crackle of Rick’s walkie-talkie indicated that he was ready for Max and Liz to continue down the trail.
“Be careful, honey, remember we’re coming to the twisters,” Liz delivered a quick kiss with her warning as they mounted their bikes again.
“I thought that was my job,” Max teased.
“What?” Liz scrunched her forehead in wonder as she looked back at Max.
“To be the over-protective one in this relationship,” Max teased as he fitted on his helmet and swung his leg over the bike.
“And who, exactly, cured your concussion day before yesterday? Hmmm?” Liz reminded Max with playful smugness.
“Fair enough--how about we just take care of each other, then?” Max smiled as he fastened Liz’s helmet and then gave her a soft kiss.
“Sounds good,” Liz smiled as she mounted her bike and straddled the seat.
Left to his own devices, Max would normally be prone to dwell on such matters—on his innate drive to love and protect Liz or his fear over the alien changes taking place in her body. But those thoughts would have to wait, because it was Liz who taught him to have fun and enjoy himself, and now, they were in the mountains where they spent so much of their childhood. A mischievous twinkle came to Max’s eyes as his playful side emerged once again.
“Race ya’ to the bottom!” he challenged as he jumped the gun and started peddling rapidly down the packed trail, leaving a stunned Liz in his wake.
“No fair!” Liz called out as she slipped her feet in the clips and sped down the mountain after Max. Liz squinted hard and peddled faster, determined to overtake Max and win the contest. She drove the bike hard and fast, chasing after Max’s laughter all the way.
Later that afternoon on the Capulin Trail
Water crashed from high overhead as Max and Liz Neared the edge of the Jemez Falls. Rick was set up about twenty feet away, shooting as they backpacked near the rushing water.
Max held Liz’s hand as they crossed the slippery rocks, exploring the nooks behind the screen of water.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it Max,” Liz smiled as the spray from the falls dotted her dark braided hair with tiny, glistening drops. The twinkle in Liz’s eyes spoke as much as her shared thoughts. It was easier to communicate silently than shout over the sound of the rushing water.
“You’re beautiful,” Max smiled at Liz, oblivious to anything but Liz in the moment.
Grinning and shaking her head, Liz swiped at the falls with her hand and splashed Max, breaking him out of his romantic stupor.
“And you’re wet!”Liz teased as they played along the bank of the pool below.
“Hey!” Max grinned as he wiped the water from his face with his hand. “And, I can’t even dry off cause Rick’s still watching.” Max fussed playfully as he splashed Liz in retaliation, his teeth biting his lip as he took aim.
“Oh! The water’s still cold!” Liz gasped as she took a face full of the chilly water
“Let’s start climbing back down, and I’ll get you all warmed up,” Max promised as he took Liz’s hand and grinned.
~~~
“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” Liz pouted playfully as slid down into the steamy waters of the hot springs.
Clad in swimsuits for the last scene of the Columbia shoot, Max and Liz relaxed in the warm, blue-green water. After all the physical exertion of this week’s shoot, the mineral baths were a welcome relief.
“Just a few more shots and I’ll be all done,” Rick snapped dozens of photos of Max and Liz relaxing together in the natural pools. Rick checked his screen and found several excellent photos of the pair. “I think that’s a wrap,” he decided as he popped the lens cap back on and released the camera body from the tripod.
“Ooh, I’ve been dying to try this,” Rebecca squatted down and reached her hand into the pool. “Wow, it really is hot,” she looked up in wonder at Max and Liz before turning around to gape at Rick as well.
“Hence the name,” Liz smiled in amusement when Rebecca realized why they were called hot springs after all. “Why don’t you get in?” Liz suggested.
“Oh, I don’t have a suit with me,” Rebecca gushed, though she looked longingly at the water.
“You could at least put your feet in,” Max offered, seeing as how Rebecca had forgone the Armani suit and heels in favor of khaki shorts, a tee and hiking boots.
“Well, ok, maybe just for a minute,” Rebecca grinned as she sat down and stripped off her boots and socks, heaving a relieved sigh as she stuck her feet in the warm water.
“Oh, my, what’s that?” Rebecca shrieked as she quickly pulled her feet out of the water, recoiling from the little nibbles at her feet.
“They’re just minnows—they’ll leave you alone in a bit when they realize you’re not food,” Liz grinned as Rebecca cautiously put her feet back in the water, cringing for a moment at the little fishes’ futile attempts at dining on her toes.
Pulling off his boots and socks after stowing his gear, Rick happily sat down beside Rebecca and stuck his feet in the warm water.
“Ah, I kind of like the minnows myself—very tickly,” Rick waggled his fingers at the group. “So, Bex,” Rick playfully slapped Rebecca’s thigh, “Did we make an outdoorsy girl out of you this week?”
“You know, Rick,” Rebecca slapped Rick on the thigh as a playful payback, “I have learned a great many things this week,” she grinned. “Like, it’s probably not a good idea to send your models to ‘Devil’s Canyon’,” Rebecca finally realized that the translated name indicated the difficulty of the climb. “Or that you can’t actually catch Tilapia in New Mexico,”
Max and Liz smiled at how Rebecca had loosened up over the course of the week.
“And, most importantly, the Armani and Prada should stay in the closet when shooting outdoors,” Rebecca grinned at her fashion choices from several days ago. “Yeah, you know, I might actually try camping or fishing,” Rebecca conceded with a smile.
“Well, if you ever want someone to show you the finer points of outdoor adventure, you could give me a call,” Rick offered as he stood and extended his hand to Rebecca to help her up.
“I might just do that,” Rebecca smiled as she rose and dusted herself off, smiling at the not-so-subtle suggestion from Rick.
“I think we’re two for two,” Liz grinned at Max, proud that their influence had brought together two new couples this summer.
“We could give Cupid a run for his money,” Max raised his eyebrows as he snuggled Liz closer.
“Guys, I had a great time. I’d love to work with you whenever you’re in town again,” Rick gave a short wave.
“We enjoyed it. It was nice to meet you,” Max offered, nodding to Rick and Rebecca. “We’ll head back in a bit, so don’t worry about us,” Max wanted a little private time with Liz after Rick and Rebecca left.
“Your checks should be on their way to your agent. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet her,” Rebecca grimaced good-naturedly.
“No rush,” Liz commented, “Janelle’s on her honeymoon in England.”
“She married our last photographer,” Max grinned wickedly.
Rebecca blushed at the news, “Oh well, tell her ‘congratulations’ for me,” she backed up in embarrassment, nearly stumbling over a rock before being caught by Rick’s strong arms.
“Careful there, Bex,” Rick replied softly.
Rebecca’s eyes lit up at landing against Rick, and she smiled at the familiar nickname he had already given her.
“Yeah,” Rebecca breathed out before remembering herself and turning back to Max and Liz. “Anyway, you two have a safe trip back and hopefully we’ll all get a chance to work together again soon,” Rebecca called out as she and Rick continued to head down the trail, Rick clasping her hand to help her down the mountainside.
“It looks like romance is in the air,” Liz sighed wistfully as Rick and Rebecca disappeared from sight.
“How about a little romance in the water?” Max pulled Liz in close now that they were alone.
Liz grinned as she turned around to face Max, “I thought you’d never ask.”
