"Belle, we get to spend the whole summer in the Canadian wilderness! It'll be the honeymoon I couldn't afford to give you last year."
She looked up from her laptop. He was clutching an envelope as if it contained a winning lottery ticket.
She quickly returned her eyes to the screen. "Let me guess, we won an all expenses paid trip to look at a timeshare?"
He quieted, but still smiled broadly. "Nothing like that, Honey. We were selected to spend the summer alone in a wilderness paradise. It's for a new reality TV show called Wilderness Treasure Hunt."
She rolled her eyes, then ran her long, slender fingers through her thick red curls. "How romantic, Larry. Just us and a film crew watching our every move, telling us what to do. No thanks!"
He frowned. "No, we'll be alone. They're going to give us mini cameras that we wear on our heads. Like headlamps."
Belle set aside the laptop, looked at the huge flat screen TV, and smiled. "That's not so bad. What kind of shelter will we have if we do this?"
"We get a fully stocked log cabin, plus a two person tent to use during challenges."
Belle rose from the plush couch. No longer smiling, her tall lithe form was almost predatory. "Challenges? I'm not going to eat bugs, sleep in the rain, and jump off of cliffs..."
Larry took a step back. "We don't have to do anything we don't want to. The trip is ours, whether or not we complete the tasks, and qualify for the million dollars."
Belle promptly plopped backwards onto the sofa. "Did you say a million dollars?"
Seeing her change of attitude, Larry straightened his lanky frame, and stepped forward. "All the information's right here, Honey," he said, as he handed her the envelope.
After reading the papers several times, she looked up to find Larry watching her intently.
She raised an eyebrow. "You really want to do this, don't you?"
"Belle, I've always wanted to go out into the wilderness. But the closest I've ever come was weekend camping trips."
"And I've always wanted to know what it feels like to have a million dollars, Larry."
He grimaced, involuntarily glancing towards the crystal vase atop the coffee table.
Ignoring him, she continued. "According to this, we get to decide what's aired. Except the footage of any challenges we might accept is to be included by default."
He nodded encouragingly. "Yes, even though we'll have professional help, the editing process will be part of the contest - should we qualify. The public will vote from amongst those who make it into the finals."
Her eyes gleamed, and she looked towards her laptop. It had many tabs open, each representing a different online shop. "I just wish I knew what the challenges would be. Then I'd know if was worth doing..."
"We can decide together after we get out there, Honey. At the very least, we get a free honeymoon. My boss already approved my time off. He thought it was a great idea, publicity for the company and all."
With her jaw clenched tightly, she nodded. "Let's do this."
Three months later, they stood in a newly built log cabin. "It's nice," Belle admitted.
Larry walked over to the large bay window, and gazed at the untouched wilderness. "It's perfect."
The next day, the couple saw a small plane circle their clearing. A small package dropped from the sky.
"It's a note!" Belle exclaimed, eagerly reading the paper.
Larry tried to get behind her, but she kept turning. "What does it say?"
She put the note in her pocket, then rummaged for her hiking shoes. "We have to go to the creek and pan for gold, until we find the nugget. It'll have a W engraved on it."
Larry grinned, and got the gold pans.
He laughed when he felt cold water hit his head. "Hey, what was that for?"
"What?" Belle asked, looking around.
He waited until her head was down, then splashed her. Soon, water was flying everywhere. Drops sparkled in the sun, and laughter rang through the valley.
Larry retreated to the bank, still laughing. "Let's find the nugget, Honey."
After a few hours of panning, Belle stood up. "I found it!"
He gave her a hug. "Great work, Honey. Let's go home, and fix some soup."
For three days the couple wandered around the area, exploring their little valley. Then the plane returned.
This time, Larry retrieved the package. "We have to climb to the summit of Redhawk Mountain, and get the medallion with the ruby hawk on it."
"Let's wait until morning and leave right after breakfast," Belle suggested.
"Great idea, Honey."
The four day hike to the base of the mountain was both difficult and beautiful. They encountered deer with fawns, and meadows full of wildflowers. But there were also swampy spots, where the mud was thick and deep enough to pull their tall rubber boots off.
"I never thought I'd like it out here, Larry. But I do. Even the camping. Whatever happens, let's try to come back next summer?"
All of the tiredness seemed to lift off of him. "I promise, Honey."
After a strenuous but uneventful climb, they arrived at the summit of Redhawk Mountain. "Breathtaking," whispered Belle.
Grabbing the medallion, they started the return journey. "Is it my imagination, or does it seem easier?" Larry asked as he pulled his boot out of the mud, and put it back on.
Belle giggled. "It's your imagination."
The challenges each increased in difficulty, but the young couple met them with both competence and humor.
By the end of the summer, they had both become strong and well tanned. When they boarded the small plane, Belle dabbed at her eyes.
"I'm going to miss this place," she sniffled into a tissue.
"We'll be back. Next summer, even if it might only be for a couple of weeks. Unless we win, of course."
Sitting in a large building with bright lights glaring on them, Belle and Larry squirmed in their formal attire.
A man in a tuxedo stood alone on the stage. "And our winning couple is... first, let's give a hand to all of those who made it all the way, folks."
"Booooo! Hissss!" exclaimed the crowd.
He laughed. "Alright, I get the point. The winners of the very first Wilderness Treasure Hunt are... Belle and Larry Darste! Congratulations, come on up."
Happily they climbed the few steps, and shook hands with the host.
He held a check out. "Do you have any plans for the money yet?"
Belle carefully tucked it in her handbag, then hugged Larry. "Thank you, Mr. Cortez. We're going to try to buy the cabin where we spent the summer... other than that, I think we have everything we need."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery