Chapter 49

Their next challenge had been setting up their temporary kitchen. By this time, the sun had been beaming on their sweaty faces, and though their spot was sheltered by tall pine trees shading them from most of the sun’s intense rays, by three o’clock, those trees had been no match for the scorching heat. Liam and Kieran hadn’t eaten since the morning and hadn’t even unpacked half of their gear. The food they’d loaded up in town was already floating around in the cooler. Yet, their mood hadn’t spoiled. They’d managed to get everything done by six o’clock, laughing and getting along fine. After devouring some peanut butter sandwiches and a few tart apples, they’d been off to explore.

They’d walked down to the docks and rented a canoe before the office had closed.

At seven in the evening, they’d been on the water, gliding slowly along the green-blue surface of the Jacques-Cartier River.