The light of the long sunset was still in the sky when Rick reached the bottom of the rise. It wasn't as far as it had appeared from across the river, but it was different. The trees along the slope were large pines, spaced, and climbing up between them was obviously no easy matter. The ground was covered with slick pine needles and it angled up quite steeply to the rise, but there was still enough light that he could find the path to the top without difficulty.

The trail was angular, cut into the side of the slope as it rose from one level area to the next, and by the time Rick reached the last cut to the top, he was breathing hard. He'd have been very unhappy if the Boyds' camp wasn't there, but a short distance along the flat and in a clearing, he saw the large tent. The air carried a distinct odor of barbecued beef; when he reached the edge of the clearing, he understood why.

Seated at a large camp table were three people. A short distance from that was a campfire and grill being tended by Karen Boyd. He was excited at seeing Karen, but he was reluctant to step into the clearing because of those seated at the camp table. One was Valerie Boyd, as he would expect, but what disturbed him was the presence of two men. The three adults were all drinking from tall glasses and laughing and talking at the same time. Rick instantly thought that one of the two men had to be with Karen. If that was the case, he'd certainly have to re-think his plans. His muscles tensed with excitement as he decided to watch; to spy on the group was more correct, and the idea did have a certain masochistic stimulation.

They were apparently going to eat the steaks that Karen was carefully turning over the campfire, but the way Valerie Boyd was acting with the two men, Rick had to wonder. Karen was almost a carbon-copy of her mother, and she was blessed with a degree of sensuality that belied her young age. Yet, Valerie Boyd was all the woman that any man could realistically ask for, and then some. Rick felt that Karen would some day come up to the qualities of her mother, but he couldn't help the way he felt when looking at Valerie. She really turned him on in the most lewd and stimulating way he could imagine.