By Gina Jones
"Ponch, I don't want to talk about it," Jon Baker growled from across the table.
Officers Jon Baker and Frank Poncherello had taken their lunch break at a small outdoor burger joint and had been arguing ever since they had placed their orders. While disagreements seemed to plague these two partners on a regular basis, this one was definitely the loudest.
Looking around at the filled tables that surrounded their location, Ponch leaned toward his partner and whispered, "Hey! Cool it. You're making a scene."
Jon laughed in spite of himself. "Well, that ought to shock Joe," he said, then grimaced. "Perfect Jon Baker, throwing a temper tantrum in public." He sighed as he looked at the burger in his hand and then dropped it on the table.
"What's going on?" Ponch asked, concerned. "I've never known you to get as upset as you did, before."
"I did blow up, didn't I?" Jon asked, avoiding his partner's eyes. "I don't know. It just seems that everyone we stop, lately, has a grudge against us. I guess I've just had my fill of their attitudes."
"We all get that way," Ponch said, smiling. "Maybe you just need a break."
Jon ran his hand through his hair and sighed again. "Yeah," he said, softly, "maybe I do."
*****
Jon tossed the backpack into the cab of his truck and looked around. The sun was just beginning to rise and it was his favorite part of the day. Quiet. Peaceful. That's what I need, he thought to himself and remembered the conversation he had had with Sgt. Joe Getraer, just a few days prior.
"Sarge, I need a few days off," he said, simply, as he sat across from Joe in his office.
"Jon? You okay?" Joe knew that Jon wouldn't ask for time off unless he really needed it.
"Yeah, I'm just burning out," Jon said, clasping his hands together. "I just really need to get away for a while. You know, sort some things out."
"Sure," Joe said, nodding, "I think I can let you take this weekend off, if you want. Say, Thursday through Sunday?"
"That would be great!" Jon said, relieved. He didn't like asking for favors. He stood, ready to leave.
"No problem," Joe said, standing as well. "Just get some rest and relax. Go somewhere quiet and peaceful."
Quiet and peaceful was just where Jon was headed. He had talked to a couple of his riding friends and they had suggested a place in the mountains that had quite a few riding trails as well as great areas for camping. He hopped into his truck, started the engine, and was on his way.
*****
Jon reached the ranger station just after noon, Thursday. He had stopped by the stable where he kept his horse, and had loaded her into the rented trailer. Stopping the truck, he grabbed his backpack and canteen, and went about getting Grey out of the trailer and saddled.
Finishing his task, he tied Grey's lead to a nearby tree and walked inside the ranger station in search of a trail map. He was met, almost immediately, by the camp ranger.
"Hello, there," the man said, extending his hand. "Did ya decide to get a jump on the crowds this weekend?" He smiled, mischievously.
Jon inwardly groaned at the thought of a lot of people advancing on this area. He had wanted nice and quiet. If he wanted crowds, he could have stayed in LA. "Are you expecting quite a few visitors?" he asked, nervously.
The ranger laughed, "No. No sir. I was just kidding. The real season hasn't started yet. You should have plenty of time alone, up there. In fact, I only know of one or two others that are hiking up there right now." He wiped his hand on his jeans and then extended it toward Jon. "Name's Tom Laxson."
Jon smiled and shook his hand. "Jon Baker," he said. "I've got my truck and horse trailer parked outside. Are they okay where they are or should I move them?"
Tom peered out the door and said, "Nah. They're fine where you've got them. Like I said, it's off-season, so the park won't be too busy. Need a trail map?"
"Yes," Jon said, taking the paper that was offered to him. "Thanks. I guess Grey and I should be on our way, if we're going to make camp before sunset."
"Enjoy yourself," Tom said as Jon left the station.
*****
Jon had assembled his tent and started a campfire by the time the sun sat in the west. He placed a pot of coffee over the flames and then went to check on Grey.
"It's beautiful, isn't it Grey?" Jon asked, rubbing the horse's nose while gazing at the last rays of sunshine as they washed over the sky. "Just what I was looking for. Tomorrow, we'll take that trail up the east side of the mountain, and then ñ" he paused, thinking to himself. Why worry about plans? "Then, we'll just see what happens." He gave Grey another quick pat and then walked back toward the campfire.
Jon poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down, leaning back against a fallen tree. He gazed up at the stars and watched them fade in and out as the smoke from the fire wafted over them. He sighed, and took a leisurely sip of coffee, listening to the crickets and other creatures as they settled down for the night.
After finishing his cup of coffee, and part of another one, Jon stretched and decided to turn in. Dousing the flames, he gathered up his food supplies and stored them away from any animals that might come into the camp overnight. He walked into the tent, and lay down inside the soft sleeping bag he had brought. Within minutes, Jon was dreaming; lulled to sleep by nature's melody, softly singing outside.
*****
As dawn approached, Jon stirred from his slumber and tossed his covers aside. Pulling on his jeans, he grabbed his boots and stumbled outside, ready to begin another day. First order of business, he thought to himself, is to get some fresh water. The afternoon before, he had found a clear stream, located just to the west of him. Grabbing his canteen, he strode off toward the cool, clean liquid.
Once he had reached the stream, he drank heartily and then filled the canteen. He looked up from his task as he heard a noise come from his right. He glanced around, alarmed, but only saw a beaver, gnawing on a branch, upstream. Too much time in the city has made you jumpy, he scolded himself as he placed the cap onto the canteen and returned to the campsite.
By nine a.m., the campsite was secured, the fire doused, and Jon and his horse were on their way up the east side of the mountain. The sun had decided to show it's good graces by giving them a gloriously bright morning. Any chill that had been in the air, overnight, was quickly dissipating, leaving only a mild spring day behind.
Jon advanced up the mountain at a leisurely pace. It's been far too long since I've done this, he thought as he glanced at the beauty that surrounded him. The early spring had allowed the area to be plush and full of color. The wildflowers that were bunched up, here and there, wafted their sweet fragrance along the trail.
As Jon rounded a bend in the path, he quickly stopped the horse, hearing a cry for help. "Whoa, girl. Whoa," he said, pulling on the reigns. He concentrated on listening for any further cries. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to face it. There, in a pasture not far from him, was a figure riding a horse ñ a horse that looked to be running, out of control.
"Come on, Grey," Jon ordered, tapping the horse with his legs. "Let's go."
Jon rode as quickly as he could toward the pasture. As he neared the horse, he could see that the rider was a woman, and that she was frantically trying to stay in the saddle. He attempted to get up beside her and to slow the wayward animal. Just as he reached her, the woman's horse turned sharply to the right, and then bucked, throwing her off of its back.
Jon dismounted quickly and ran for the still form lying in the grass. As he reached her, she began to softly moan. "Don't move, Ma'am," he said, placing a hand upon her head to keep it steady, "you could be hurt."
The woman began to take a few deep breaths and then her eyes flickered open. "I'mÖnotÖhurt," she said between breaths, "justÖgotÖtheÖwindÖknockedÖout ofÖme."
Jon relaxed, slightly, at the sound of the woman's fairly strong voice. "Are you sure?" he asked, tentatively.
"Yeah," she said, trying to sit up, "it's not the first time I've been thrown, and I'm sure it won't be the last." She held up her hands, silently asking for a bit of help getting to her feet.
Jon smiled as he helped her to stand, but it quickly faded as the woman stood for only a moment before crumpling back toward the ground. Jon grabbed her around the waist as she went down, cushioning her fall with his own body.
"Whoa," she said as she placed her hand upon her forehead. "I shouldn't have tried that, I guess." She looked up into the blue eyes of her hero and smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry," she said, not breaking eye contact with Jon, "I think I just stood up too fast."
"Are you sure that's all it is?" Jon asked, concern etched upon his forehead. "I mean, are you sure you're not hurt anywhere?"
The woman nodded. Realizing she was sitting on this stranger's lap, she became suddenly shy. "Yeah, just give me a minute." She held out her hand. "I guess I should introduce myself. Jenny Newland."
"Jon Baker," he said, softly shaking her hand. He shifted his weight slightly as he asked, "Want to try this again?"
"Yeah," Jenny said, moving off of his lap and into a kneeling position. She grasped both of his hands with hers as he helped her up. She noticed he wasn't letting go of her hands, and smiled up at him. "I think I'm fine, now."
"Oh," Jon said, flustered, "I'm sorry." He released his grip and stepped back from her. God, she's beautiful. They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Jon looked around and announced, "I think you've lost your mount."
"What?" Jenny said, looking around, as well, for her horse. "Well, she was a rental from the stables at the bottom of the mountain. My guess is she's probably halfway home by now."
"You're probably right," Jon agreed.
He shifted his weight, nervously, from foot to foot, trying how best to say what he was thinking. "IÖuhÖguess you can ride with me back to my camp. We'll never make it to the Ranger Station by nightfall."
"I suppose you're right," she said, as she looked over toward Jon's horse. "She's a beauty. I can see that you take good care of her."
Jon smiled and helped Jenny onto Grey's saddle. He swung up behind her and they began their trek back down the trail.
Jenny soon began to relax, enjoying the rhythm of Grey's canter, and the melody of Jon's voice. She sighed as she said, "It must be nice to live up here where you can ride any time you wish."
Jon laughed, heartily. Seeing the confused expression on Jenny's face, he explained. "I only wish I lived here. I'm on a long weekend. I live in L.A."
Jenny smiled widely as she leaned back into Jon's arms. "InterestingÖI live in Los Angeles as well."
"You're kidding!" Jon's voice betrayed the nonchalance he was trying for.
"Nope. I've lived there for about six years now."
"And before that?" Jon couldn't resist finding out more about this lovely lady.
"Before that, I lived in MontanaÖnear Billings. That's where I learned to ride."
"I'm originally from Wyoming. I just moved to LA about ten years ago."
Jenny smiled again. "HmmmÖinteresting." She leaned back and enjoyed the warmth radiating from Jon's torso as they ambled down the mountain.
*****
As they reached Jon's campsite, both Jon and Jenny were reluctant to lose the physical contact they had so enjoyed during the previous hours. Sitting up slowly, Jenny waited as Jon dismounted, and then held out his hands to help her down from the horse.
"Why, thank you, kind sir," she said and then giggled.
"Any time, my lady," Jon whispered and then bent in a mock bow.
Jenny spotted the pile of firewood, and campfire site and suggested she make some coffee. She grabbed the canteen off of Grey and then shook it, noting that it was almost empty.
"I'll go get some more, down at the spring," Jon said, brushing dust off of his jeans. He flashed her another smile and added, "I'll be right back."
"I'll be waiting," Jenny responded, placing pieces of wood inside the ring of stones.
Jon trotted off toward the water supply, whistling as he went. Well this has definitely turned out different than expected. Different, but niceÖvery nice.
As he filled the canteens for the second time that day, Jon's thoughts wandered, thinking of the young lady he had just met. Ideas of moonlit strolls, horseback rides on the beach, and lazy days spent together in each other's embrace, filled his mind. He smiled, daydreaming of the many wonderful ways he could enjoy being with this woman.
A twig, snapping not far from his position, brought him back to reality. Capping the last canteen, Jon stood and looked toward the direction of the sound. "Who's there?" he called out.
The only reply was a bird's song, in the distance. I swear, I've got to get out of town more often, he thought, deciding what he had heard was nothing but Mother Nature doing her work. Jon grabbed the filled canteens and walked back toward camp, anticipating learning more about his new acquaintance.
When Jon returned to his ñ their campsite, he was surprised to see a roaring fire already started inside the rock circle. He noted a pot already heating, atop the flames.
Jenny stood as she heard him approach and smiled at him. "I hope you don't mind, but I rummaged around and found your supplies. Stew okay?"
"Sounds delicious," Jon said, licking his lips involuntarily.
"Great," she said, relieved, "it'll be ready in a few minutes. Care to start the coffee while I grab the plates and forks?"
They worked together, in silence, as their dinner completed cooking; each lost in their own thoughts. As they sat down with their meal, they continued to ask questions, learning more and more about one another.
"What do you do in L.A., Jenny?" Jon asked, munching on a cracker.
"Well," she paused, then looked up into Jon's eyes and giggled, "I bet you think I'm going to say actress! Well, I'm not. I'm an executive secretary at a law firm."
"Really?" Jon said, truly interested. "I'm sorta in the same line of work."
"You're not a criminal, are you?" she joked. Her grin widened.
"No, no," Jon chuckled. "I'm a CHP officer."
"No way!" Jenny gasped, as Jon nodded. "Wait! You aren't the Jon Baker that works with Frank Poncherello, are you?"
Jon's heart sank as he heard his partner's name. Don't tell me she's one of Ponch's girls. Taking a deep breath, he admitted, "Yeah, he's my partner. Do you know him?"
"Only by reputation," Jenny said, and watched as Jon's eyes regained their sparkle. HmmmÖinteresting. I think he's falling for me. "I live in the same apartment complex as Barry Baricza. He's told me all about the Perils of Poncherello, and his trail of women. How do you put up with that?"
"It's not easy," Jon admitted. "Actually, part of the reason I came up here was to take a break from Ponch. I'd never tell him that, of course, but sometimesÖ" he let his voice trail off.
"I know," Jenny said, as she gathered up the dishes, and rinsed then with water from the canteen. Placing the plates near the fire, to dry, she sat back down beside Jon, whose arm was resting lazily along the fallen tree.
They sat in companionable silence; both enjoying the sights and sounds that surrounded them, and lost in their own thoughts. Slowly, Jon inches his arm lower until it rested upon Jenny's shoulders. He placed his hand upon her arm, and began to slowly, almost unknowingly, caress it.
Jenny turned her face toward his and gazed into his eyes. "Jon," she began, but her words were suddenly stilled as Jon lowered his head toward her and began to softly kiss her.
After a few blissful moments passed, Jon backed away and sheepishly apologized. "I'm sorry. I never should have done that."
Jenny, her senses slowly returning to normal, smiled sweetly and responded, "Why not?" as she placed her hand behind his neck and pulled him, again, toward herself.
*****
Jon awoke during the early morning hours to find that his left arm was stubbornly refusing to follow the rest of his body into a sitting position. Looking beside him, he found Jenny sleeping softly; her face turned toward him. He smiled at the memory of he and Jenny's lovemaking.
Slowly he slid his arm from beneath her and began to get dressed. As he was buttoning his shirt, he heard a noise coming from the campsite, and peered from the partially opened tent flap. His stomach tightened at what he saw, and his professional mindset began to overtake him. Turning quickly, but silently, he grabbed his backpack and rummaged around for what he needed.
Jenny, awakened by the movement near her, opened her eyes just as Jon removed his gun from the pack. She gasped, surprising Jon with the sound.
"We've got company," Jon whispered, pointing outside the tent. "No matter what," he advised, staring intently into her eyes, "you stay in here."
Jenny nodded, dumbfounded, as he attempted to open the tent flap without making any sound. As he completed the job, he rechecked his weapon and then burst forth, into the dim morning light.
"Freeze," he ordered, aiming the gun at the two men that had been ransacking their belongings. He advanced toward them as they stood and faced him, their hands in the air.
"Hey, man," one said while glancing at the other.
"Do you mind telling me what the hell you are doing?" Jon asked, anger in his voice.
"Just lookin," the man said, beginning to grin. "We didn't think you'd notice, with what you and your lady were doin."
Infuriated, Jon stormed toward the man, not noticing that the other looter had moved so that he was behind him. "Why you son of a ñ"
Jon failed to complete his expletive as the second man jumped him from behind, knocking Jon's gun out of his hand and sending it, skittering, toward the tent. The first man joined in the melee as Jon struggled to regain control of the situation.
Suddenly, a woman's voice yelled over the noises caused by the skirmish. "Hold it, right there."
All three men looked toward the voice and saw Jenny holding Jon's lost weapon. Her grip was tight, and her aim did not waiver as she asked Jon if he was okay.
Jon stood and grabbed the rope off of Grey's saddle. Quickly tying both men to a tree, he then walked toward Jenny, who still had the men in the gun's site. As he approached her, he could see her lower lip quivering, and her hand beginning to tremble. Slowly placing his hand over hers, he carefully pried the weapon from her grasp. "You, okay?" he asked softly.
Jenny continued to stare at the two men, who were now quietly discussing their situation between themselves. She nodded, silently, in response to Jon's question.
Jon realized that the adrenaline that had carried Jenny through the ordeal was quickly wearing off, causing her to go into a mild type of shock. He led her toward the log near the campfire site, and sat her upon it. Grabbing a blanket from his pack, he wrapped it around her and then sat beside her, pulling her into his embrace. "You did a great job," he whispered into her ear.
"Thanks," she mumbled, settling back, into his chest. "I was so scared," she added, her breath still shuddering slightly.
"I know," he said. "I still get scared, and I've been doing this for a living for years."
Jenny turned to face him. "I don't know how you do it," she uttered.
"You just do," he mumbled into her hair as she turned back around in his arms. He took a deep breath and then added, "You know we can't just leave them like that."
"So what are we going to do?" Jenny asked.
"Well, I don't want to leave you here alone with them, so what if you take Grey, and ride down to the Ranger Station for help?"
Jenny sat up, much to Jon's disappointment, and turned, again, to face him. "Okay, but you're sure you're going to be alright?"
Jon smiled and kissed her on the lips. "I'll be fine as long as you come back to me."
"I promise," Jenny responded, huskily.
*****
Jon returned to CHP Headquarters with a bounce in his step and a tune on his lips. He only stopped whistling when he walked into the briefing room for morning roll call.
Ponch, uncharacteristically early, was seated at the table waiting for him. When Jon slid into the empty seat next to him, he turned and studied his partner. "Looks like ya had a good weekend, Partner."
Jon's only response was a slight nod and a grin.
Ponch was gearing up for an all out inquisition when Sgt. Getraer walked into the room. Throughout the morning briefing, Ponch fidgeted, waiting impatiently to find out what had happened on Jon's mini-vacation.
Jon watched Ponch out of the corner of his eye and enjoyed the show. He wants to know, so badly, what went on, I think he can taste it! Too bad he won't be getting the full story.
As the meeting came to a close, Jon stood, attempting to retreat from the room as quickly as possible. Ponch quickly changed that plan by grabbing Jon's arm and gazing at him with a pleading look. "Come on, spill it," he said, emphatically.
"What do you want to know?" Jon asked, fighting the urge to smile. "I went to the mountains, and rode the trails. End of story." Except for meeting a beautiful woman that I want to see a lot more of, beginning tonight.
"That's it?" Ponch said, disappointedly.
"That's it, Partner," Jon said. "Just a simple weekend getaway."
"The Getaway" ©1999 Gina Jones. "CHiPs" and its characters © Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement of any copyrights or trademarks is intended or should be inferred. This is a work of fiction, and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.