She mated them, placed a titanium cup over the burner, and filled it with water from a Nalgene. She then twisted the gas valve open and lit the burner to a gentle hiss. Rising, she caught Will’s stare. “What? Do you think it’s too loud?”
He gestured to the contemporary fire-starting device in Lauren’s hand. “No, it’s fine. But I could use a light.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Lighter in his grasp, Will unwrapped the cigarette pack and tore the foil from the top, then placed the filters to his nose. “Goddamn. They’re probably stale as hell, but they smell great.” He lit one up between his lips and blew out a puff of smoke. “Yep. I was right. Undeniably stale…but otherwise, damn near orgasmic.”
Lauren giggled at the remark, vetoing when Will went to hand her back the lighter. “Keep it. I have plenty.”
He smiled and nodded, then pocketed the Bic. “So, what’s with the stove? Are you making hot chocolate for us?”
“No, sorry. Didn’t bring any…I just need some warm water.”
“For what?”
“For…a while.”
The young soldier smirked. “Riiight. Okay, come on, time’s up. Level with me.”
“About what?”
“About this whole…thing you’re doing. It’s borderline shady, a little cloak and dagger, and I’m growing suspicious. Shoot me straight, it’s about Richie, isn’t it?”
Lauren turned away. “We have some unfinished business.”
“That was a roundabout answer, but it sure sounded like a yes.” Will cradled his rifle and took another drag. “And I’m guessing however you’re planning to finish the business you have with him can’t be good.”
“You’re two for two.”
Will rolled his lips together. “Lauren, listen. Nearly everyone who’s encountered him knows he’s a weasel, and I have no doubt he’s been a thorn in your side.”
“He’s been far worse than that,” Lauren said. “What he did this time…was unconscionable. It’s caused me and someone special to me a lot of pain…and he deserves some pain of his own.”
“Pain, huh?” Will studied the burning stove, then scanned her head to toe. “You don’t have anything on you, do you?”
“That depends.”
“Weapons?”
Lauren shook her head. “No. No weapons.”
“What do you have in the pack?”
“Items befitting the benign category, nothing dangerous. Water, snacks, extra layers…gloves.”
“What kind of gloves?”
“Just…gloves. Got to protect these hands,” Lauren said, beaming.
Will paused a long moment. “How did I know this little meetup wasn’t going to be innocent?” he pondered aloud, turning away. “Look, I’ll give you…five minutes, that’s it. Get in, do…whatever it is you’re planning to do, and get out. If you can’t get whatever you’re planning done in that allotment—”
“Five minutes is plenty of time,” Lauren said, a cunning grin appearing.
“Good. If anyone asks, I’ll say you snuck in from around the back while I was taking a piss.” He blew a puff of air through his lips. “Get going before I change my mind. You never saw me.”
Lauren smirked. “And you never saw me.” She knelt, transferred the heated water from the titanium cup to the Nalgene, stuffed her pack, and trotted past.
Will watched her leave, hesitated a moment, then finally called to her. “Hey, Lauren. Hold up a second.”
Lauren slowed to a stop and sent a curious glance over her shoulder.
Will took a long drag and closed in on her. “It’s my turn to level with you. News travels fast around here. I heard about what happened, all of us have. And, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“Me too. And thank you.”
“I know you’re mad at him. You have every right to be. What he did was out of line; there’s no denying it. I doubt anyone in the unit would disagree.” A pause. “But…I’m getting a bad vibe about you going in there.”
Lauren scowled. “I can handle myself, Will.”
“I know that. We all do,” Will said. “It’s earned you a lot of respect with the unit. But that said, is going through with this worth losing that? Jeopardizing the reputation you have?”
Lauren turned away, her glance falling to the road. “I don’t know what else to do. I mean, he’s made dick moves before, but barging into my home and bragging to my family about something he and I did that never happened…something that supposedly existed between us…” She trailed off and exhaled. “He lied, Will. He confused a lot of people. And he hurt people. He hurt me.”
“I know.” Will nodded apologetically. “I know he did.”
“And I just want to make him pay for what he’s done, that’s all.”
“I know that too. And I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m just saying that maybe this approach isn’t the best one.”
Lauren sighed loudly. “And what do you suggest I do? Go home? Go back to the drawing board and think things through a little longer? Christ, ever since John broke up with me, that’s all I’ve done. Dad coming home was a miracle, and it took my mind off things for a while—still does whenever I’m with him, but when the dust settles and life resumes its meager pace, all I’m left with is me and thoughts of John. I don’t know how to make it go away, or if it ever will, but I do know how to even the score.”
Will squared off with her. “We’re friends, but we don’t know each other very well. I’m not much older than you, and I really don’t have any business giving you advice, but I know what I’m talking about here. I’ve been where you’re at before, and sometimes, the immediate response to that initial urge to clean the slate isn’t the best one. Besides, there are other ways of getting back at him.”
“Other ways,” Lauren murmured. “What do you mean?”
“You know as well as I do you’re not the only one Richie treats this way. He’s a loner, always has been. His relationships with other people have never been a priority to him, and his list of
