(A/N: Thanks so much for all of the reviews everyone. They were greatly appreciated and helpful!)

Chapter Ten: "Hiking"

(A/N: Now, I'm sure some of you wanted to hear about the McGuire's exciting time visiting the museum and stuff, but since I know absolutely nothing about the Grand Canyon (besides the whole mule thing) I didn't write about it. Sorry!)

After they got back from the Grand Canyon tour, everyone was tired. Jo and Lizzie went to go take a nap. Gordo and Matt sort of sat around, bored.

"You can make yourself useful by collecting wood for tonight's fire," Sam suggested.

Matt groaned, but Gordo was happy to do it. Anything for Lizzie's family. In a little while, Jo and Lizzie woke up. It was only 3:30, so Gordo suggested that he and Lizzie go on a hike to pass the time.

"Ok Gordo, sounds good," Lizzie said.

"Be back in two hours!" Jo said as the two teens headed off.

"So Lizzie, liking the trip any better now?" Gordo asked.

"Well, I guess so, I mean, it's not quite as bad as Grubby Gulch or something, but still," Lizzie said.

They walked along for awhile, talking about various things. Then....

"Lizzie! Look out!!!" Gordo yelled, grabbing her. Right in front of them was a big rattlesnake!! It rattled its tail angrily. Lizzie held onto Gordo, whimpering.

"It's ok Lizzie," he said, trying to comfort her. The snake slithered away, and Lizzie sighed with relief.

"Man, that thing was ugly," Gordo commented.

"Oh Gordo, you saved my life! That thing could have bit me or something!" Lizzie said, and then hugged him. Gordo felt like he was floating on air.

"You're welcome," he said dreamily, "Anything for you," he slipped out.

Lizzie looked at him strangely. "Uh, thanks Gordo".

"I mean, I just wouldn't want you to get hurt," he said, trying to correct himself.

After they had walked some more, Lizzie was beginning to wonder what time it was. She casually grabbed his wrist to look at the time.

"Oh Gordo, it's almost 5:30! We're going to have to start heading back," she said.

"Ok," he said, "Wow, those clouds are dark, I hope we don't get caught in rain."

"Me either," Lizzie said. She was terrified of thunderstorms.

They turned around and started going back.

"Gordo, I don't remember seeing that tree," Lizzie said.

"How do you know?" he asked.

"I observe things well, we did not pass that tree," she said.

"Well, maybe we turned wrong," he suggested, "Let's try going down that other path we saw earlier."

By now, it was starting to sprinkle.

"Oh no! We're going to get stuck in a storm!" panicked Lizzie.

"Don't worry, it'll be ok," Gordo reassured her.

Gordo's POV:

Man, I don't recognize anything aoround here that looks familiar. I don't want to worry Lizzie, but I think we're lost.

End of POV.

Now the rain was really starting to pick up and a heavy wind was starting to blow.

Sam, Jo, and Matt had gone into a tent to get out of the stormy weather.

"Oh Sam, Lizzie and Gordo aren't back yet and it's storming! Go find them!" Jo said.

"I'm sure they're ok honey," Sam said.

"No they're not!" she started crying.

"Don't worry Mom, you'll still have me if Lizzie dies or something," Matt said.

"Matt!" Sam yelled, "Don't scare your mom."

"If they're not back in ten minutes, I'll go search for them," Sam told Jo.

"Gordo, we're lost aren't we?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, actually, yeah, we are," Gordo said.

"This is SO not good! It raining and freezing out here and we're lost!!" Lizzie yelled.

"Well, at least there's not a tornado or an earthquake or something," Gordo said.

"Not helping Gordo," Lizzie complained.

"Well, we're going to have to find some shelter or something since the thunder is beginning to pick up pretty bad," Gordo said.

"There's nothing around here," Lizzie said, discouraged.

"I'm freezing!" Lizzie whined.

"It's going to be fine Lizzie," Gordo reassured her. He hugged her and rubbed her back, trying to keep her warm.

"Thanks Gordo," Lizzie said, smiling at his face.

"Hey look! A cave!" Lizzie pointed out.

"Oh good!" Gordo said. They ran towards it and went in.

"Sheesh, it's small in here," Lizzie said.

"At least we're safe from the storm now," Gordo said.

The cave altogether was about the size of an average walk-in closet and they were far enough from the opening of the cave not to get wet.

"It sure looks violent out there," Gordo put in.

"Mom must be so worried," Lizzie put in.

"Yeah, hopefully it will clear up soon," he said, knowing perfectly well by the looks of the storm that there was no chance it'd be clearing up anytime soon. He secretly wished it would last a long time.

(A/N: Ok, so the Lizzie/Gordo romance is starting to heat up a little. Click the Go button to leave me a review! :-))