Cut and Run 2 - Sticks and Stones

okay?” the ranger asked as he tipped his hat.
    “We’re here,” Earl confirmed.
    “So you are,” the ranger answered. Zane noticed that Ty wasn’t paying too much attention as he dug through his bag; he seemed content to let Earl handle the conversation. It struck Zane as odd that Ty didn’t want to be in control of the situation like he almost always did, but maybe he was deferring to Earl as older and wiser.
    Whatever the reason, Zane didn’t think he’d ever seen Ty this relaxed. It was an attractive attitude on him, and Zane found himself hoping Ty would stay this way once they returned home. His T-shirt this morning was a black one that claimed “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” and below that, in smaller letters, it added “Which is good because I’ve got shit to do.”
    Zane sat smiling at his partner as he mused over just how well that fit Ty.
    “We found some ATV tracks up aways,” Earl was saying, and the ranger frowned.
    “Recent?” the man asked.
    Earl shook his head. “No. Back before the last storms couple weeks back, we think.”
    The ranger nodded slowly. “We’ve had other reports the last few months.”
    “And the car,” Zane added.
    “Expired inspection,” Ty provided as he stopped at Earl’s side. “At the trailhead. Been there a while.”
    Earl supplied him with the specific location, actually giving the ranger the GPS coordinates. Zane was surprised. He’d not seen Earl with any sort of locator or battery-operated compass.
    “We’ll check it out,” the ranger said as he took out a small notepad and started scribbling in it.
    Zane leaned forward, his hands braced on the bench. “How far are we from the trailhead?”
    “’Bout fifteen miles, as the crow flies,” the ranger said.
    “Means we’ve probably walked fifty,” Deuce muttered. His legs were extended out in front of him in a mirror of Zane’s.
    “We’re heading over to the nearest pass,” Earl told the ranger.
    “We’ve had some reports of missing hikers. Searchers ain’t found no sign; it’s too wet, and the cold doesn’t help,” the ranger told him, trying to impress upon them the danger. Earl nodded again.
    “Missing hikers?” Zane asked Deuce.
    “Yeah, happens sometimes. Usually kids running off and being stupid,” Deuce said wryly. “But sometimes a through-hiker has an accident.”
    “Someone like John,” Zane said.
    Deuce nodded. “More often rookies, though. Or day hikers. People like John got enough experience to know the dangers and how to avoid them.”
    “Like snakes,” Zane muttered, looking back over at where the ranger, Earl, and Ty were still talking.
    “Don’t worry, Zane,” Deuce said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Like Grandpa said, it’s too cold for snakes right now.”
    Zane resisted the urge to growl and instead stood up and stretched.
    “We’re going to refill our water and head out,” Ty said as he walked over.
    “Any more storms coming?” Zane asked.
    “Ranger says no. It’s supposed to be clear for the next few days.”
    Zane must have growled that time, because Ty gave him an amused look. “Man up, Garrett.”
    “Yeah. Sure,” Zane muttered.
    “Y’all be careful,” the ranger said again, obviously not happy that they were planning to continue on. “The storm knocked out some lines and comm towers we got up there. Got no reception at all in some places. Other places it’s pretty sketchy.”
    Ty pulled up short and turned to look at his father, raising his eyebrows in question. Earl pursed his lips, looking from Ty to the ranger again. “How’s the shape of the trail?” he asked.
    “It’s intact, to our knowledge. Don’t know what that storm did last night. There’s some flooding around, swollen rivers and mudslides.”
    “Maybe we’ll find buried treasure in one of them,” Ty muttered under his breath. Earl looked around at them, his gaze settling on Zane doubtfully. His eyes flickered to Ty again. Ty shrugged. “I think we’re good to go,” he offered carelessly. “We’re not climbing or anything,” he pointed out.
    Earl nodded. “Thanks for the updates,” he said to the ranger, shaking the man’s hand.
    As they turned to go, the ranger called out to them. “Keep an eye out for snakes,” he advised. “We don’t know why, but they’re still out and they’re not happy. We think something’s driving ’em down the mountain lately. Been lots of rattlers around.”
    Earl turned and smiled slightly, nodding