Collin Jefferies took one final look around his apartment to make sure he hadn't forgotten any
important camping gear, he hadn't. The October coolness always gave him camping fever. The
fever hit him last week when the temperature dropped down into the 60's bringing welcome
relief to Floridians, especially Collin. Collin's boss, Marvin Gross, could read him like an open
book. He had worked for Marvin for four years as a personal injury attorney in his law
practice. Collin had yet to lose a case and when his opponents saw him coming they would
open up their checkbooks and just ask, “How much do I write the check for?” He prided
himself for working for the underdog and he had gone up against some pretty big companies
fighting for his clients. Although he made good money, his real satisfaction came when he
presented his clients with a nice fat check. Collin was as fond of Marvin as Marvin was of him.
All Collin had to do was ask to see Marvin, and his boss had his vacation pay ready.

Collin was packed and ready to go three days before the official start of his three-week
vacation. His tent was aired out, canned and dry goods packed, lanterns filled, and jeans and
flannel shirts zipped into duffel bags. His Golden retriever, Hesper, was as excited about
camping as Collin was. As departure day neared, she would lie beside his gear, and every time
he would walk by she would lift her head and question him with dancing brown eyes as if to
say, "Is it time yet?"

On the morning of his first vacation day the weather was cooperating beautifully. The
temperature was a crisp 63 degrees, and the sky was a cloudless, robin's egg blue. "Come on
old girl, let's get the van loaded." That's all Hesper needed to hear, she leaped and barked and
led Collin out the door towards the van with his first load of gear. Within an hour they were
loaded up and ready to go. Collin locked the door and headed back to the van where Hesper
waited for him in the passenger seat. They were finally on their way to Ocala National forest for
a much needed rest.

The drive was a short one from Orlando, yet Collin needed the hour to clear his head and rid
his thoughts of the Gross, Damien and Leibman law firm. Although he loved his job, this was
now his camping time and he wasn't going to spend it thinking about work. He also needed a
break from the two women who fought for his attention and affection, Kathy Simmons and
Abby Reid.

His tension eased as he drove further away from the city passing through the quaint little towns
with their quaint little names, the endless stretches of Florida country side, and finally onto the
two lane road that would take them deep into the forest. Kathy crept into his thoughts first. He
was attracted to her golden hair and intense brown eyes, but her attitude about life really turned
him off. She felt the world owed her a favor, and when she didn't get the breaks she deserved
she would become sullen and withdrawn. Collin quit spending time with her and eventually
stopped calling her altogether. Abby was just the opposite of Kathy; her vibrant excitement for
life seemed to radiate from her auburn hair and crystal blue eyes. Abby had gusto for life, and
left no stone unturned in her journey through it. But Collin knew that neither woman had what it
would take to capture his heart. His heart felt an emptiness that didn't know how to fill. He
really wanted to marry, settle down and raise a few kids, but the women he met just didn’t set
his heart and soul on fire. Even though his career was solid and he had almost everything he had
ever wanted he was still restless. He was hoping that his camping trip would help set his mind
straight. He needed the time to think, because where his mind was now he was almost ready to
quit his job, pack up his things and start fresh somewhere else. Those thoughts troubled him
greatly, mainly because he knew he was too young to be having a mid-life crisis.

Collin spotted the entrance to the forest. He was excited now, and so was Hesper. She hung
her head out the window, eyes tiny slits, snorting and sniffing the cool October wind. Collin
slowed and turned off onto a secondary road that he had never been on before. Collin loved
new adventures and he loved plunging his old van deep into the forest in search of new camping
spots. The secondary road was so full of ruts that he had to slow down so he wouldn't bounce
Hesper out of the window. He stopped in front of an un-marked dirt road. "What do you think
old girl," he asked Hesper. "Is this the one you want?" Hesper cocked her head to one side as if
to contemplate for a moment. She barked her agreement. Off they went, down the nameless
dirt road in search of adventure.