Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“If I’d known everyone was coming, I would have brought food,” Shabina said.
One of the first things she’d learned to do was cook over a campfire. Mama Ahmad had begun teaching her almost immediately, and she’d soaked up every bit of knowledge she could. Almost all of the cooking and baking had been over campfires or in outdoor ovens Mama Ahmad and the other women had constructed. They moved camp so often that it was necessary to learn to build fires and ovens quickly wherever they went.
“Don’t worry, Shabina,” Vienna said. “I think I remembered everything you like to have on hand when you’re cooking, and I brought it with me so you could whip up one of your famous camp dinners in like twenty magical minutes.”
“And her bread,” Zahra added. “She always does that flatbread.”
“I can’t just conjure up things out of thin air.”
“Seriously, I brought everything I’ve seen you bring,” Vienna insisted. “Raine keeps a running list for us. We figured anything we didn’t use we’d lock away in the bear canister and take back to Sunrise Lake for Stella to use or donate to your café. Since you’re the master chef, we could purchase the ingredients and make the side dishes.”
Shabina couldn’t believe it when Vienna unloaded the grocery items. Vienna had somehow procured her flat stones, the ones she kept for camp cooking. Within minutes she organized what she had to work with and began making one of the dishes she knew the women were very fond of. She put the flat stones on the embers and laid out the chicken after rubbing the pieces with oil and spices. The rice was seasoned while it cooked on the grill. Harlow had brought a pasta salad and Raine a green one. They would have enough food to easily feed all six of them. Stella drove up just as the chicken was pronounced done.
“It smells so good,” Stella greeted them. “The moment I parked I knew Shabina was cooking. I’m starving.”
“Grab a plate,” Harlow said. “Raine, I’ve got your dish. Don’t try to get up.” Raine was a vegetarian, but she would eat everything but the chicken.
“Thanks, Harlow,” Raine said.
“Are you comfortable enough?” Vienna asked. “I brought more pillows. We can prop your leg up higher.”
“I’m good for now, thank you,” Raine said, taking her plate.
Zahra leaned back in her lounge chair, the firelight playing over her face. “I’ve been giving our bear situation quite a bit of thought.”
“Our bear situation?” Stella asked. She looked around at the other women who appeared just as puzzled. “Is there a bear situation here? I didn’t see any warning signs up.”
Zahra waved her hand airily and then took a bite of her chicken, closed her eyes and made orgasmic noises. They all had to wait until her food appreciation was over. “See, that’s the problem with all of you. Of course there’s a bear problem. They run rampant here in Yosemite. We’ve seen them. The aroma of this food is bound to bring them in herds.”
“Zahra, bears don’t run around together in herds the way deer or horses do,” Harlow said.
That got Harlow a dismissive hand and the rest of them another round of her moaning appreciation of the chicken and rice. “In this case, the bears will come in herds. I believe in being prepared. None of you are thinking ahead, which we need to do because Raine can’t run. She’s going to be just sitting there in that chair. Bear bait.”
Raine raised an eyebrow. “Ugh. That doesn’t sound fun at all.”
“Believe me,” Zahra said. “I looked up bear attacks. They’re no joke. They’ve ripped faces off. It isn’t pretty stuff. But I formulated a plan of action while the rest of you were worried about your stomachs.”
“I see you weren’t worried at all,” Vienna said. “We’re so grateful you’ve thought this plan of action through for us.”
“No need for sarcasm, Vienna,” Zahra replied, waving around a forkful of flavorful rice. “There are no grizzly bears here, which is a good thing. Only the American black bear. The name is silly since the majority are brown, not black.” She took several bites and did more moaning, clearly appreciating her food.
“Zahra,” Harlow hissed impatiently. “Now you’ve got me worried about a bear attack. Stop enjoying your food so much. You’re so loud, you won’t draw bears. We’ll have every male camper for miles trying to find us.”
Shabina couldn’t stifle her laughter no matter how hard she tried. Zahra looked indignant.
“If there are male campers close enough to hear me moan over Shabina’s cooking, then they can smell it. They’ll be here right along with the bears anyway.”
The others were laughing just as hard as Shabina. “She has a point,” Shabina said. “Thank you for the compliment. It’s nice to know I can still throw a meal together.”