After staring at him for several moments as if he’s lost his mind, I finally flip the switch. The night wraps around us. Slowly, my eyes adjust. Thick clouds have stretched thin in one spot, and the stars shine boldly through the gloom.
As I look at them, Jack’s hand slides into mine. His skin is warm and rough, and I smile as I wrap my fingers through his.
He leads me farther down the path. The breeze is scented with rain, and the aroma blends with pine needles and fallen leaves. Somewhere distant, a coyote howls. Its lone cry is soon joined by others.
“This is what it’s like.” Jack motions to the stars. “When there are no lights for miles.”
Together, we watch the sky until the clouds merge.
With my hand still in his, Jack walks me back to my tent.
“Sleep well,” he says.
“You too.”
After he leaves me and my lantern safe and sound for the night, I crawl in my sleeping bag and immediately drift off.
When I wake, I find the clouds that covered the sky last night continue to churn this morning. They’ve dropped low, and fog spreads over the nearby lake. With my coffee in hand, I sit curled in a camp chair, writing in my notebook, waiting for breakfast.
Amber and Hudson are off near the edge of the campsite, arguing quietly. Nicole has managed to herd Jack away from the group, and he’s untying a knotted rope from one of her tent stakes.
After last night, I can’t say I’m terribly worried.
Peter sits in the chair next to me, a mug of coffee in his hands. “Tell me the history between you, Hudson, and Amber.”
I glance from my writing. “What’s to tell?”
He smiles and stretches his long legs out. “Well, you obviously know each other, but I haven’t seen you say two words to Hudson, and now Amber won’t talk to anyone.”
Peter’s eyes follow Amber, and I glance at the couple. Hudson stalks toward the horses, packs in hand, leaving Amber looking like she’s going to cry.
“Hudson and I dated.” I look back at my notebook. “He cheated on me with Amber. Now we’re all pretending to get along.”
Peter murmurs an acknowledgment and takes a sip of coffee.
I pretend to be engrossed in my notes. “What’s the story behind Jack and Nicole?”
“Nicole’s had a crush on him forever, but nothing ever came of it. He started dating her best friend toward the end of eleventh grade. I don’t think she ever got over it.”
I wince. “Did he know she liked him?”
“Do you think she’s subtle?” Peter cocks his head to the side and raises an eyebrow. “But Jack never strung her along, and he didn’t mean to hurt her. He and Elizabeth always had a thing for each other.”
Elizabeth: Eliza.
My stomach churns. Nonchalant, I ask, “Does she still live around here?”
“Elizabeth?” Peter nods. “Sure. Her family lives just outside Silverton, not too far from Jack’s family’s campground.”
It doesn’t mean anything. So what if he does a few occasional repair jobs for the girl he dated in high school? He’s only catching raccoons and building garden beds.
Peter helps himself to more coffee. “So, you and Jack, huh?”
My cheeks get hot. Unable to help it, a foolish smile spreads across my face.
“I’m glad,” Peter says. “It took him a long time to get over Elizabeth.”
“She was the last person he dated?”
Peter nods. “She ended up getting back together with her ex-boyfriend. It took Jack a while to get past it.”
I think about it, not sure how to respond. Perhaps that’s why Jack wanted to make sure Hudson and I were truly finished—why he was so adamant about it.
But Elizabeth and her boyfriend must have broken up again at some point because Jack said she doesn’t have anyone to call.
Maybe she wants him back. And I’m leaving in less than a month.
Greg calls Peter over to carry more wood for the fire, and he excuses himself.
The smell of sausage gravy makes its way over to me, but I’m not hungry for once.
I stand, toss my notebook in the camp chair, and leave to walk the perimeter of the lake. I’m halfway around when it starts to drizzle. I yank up my hood and walk faster. By the time I’m almost back, it’s flat out raining. I jog through the wet weeds, and the bottoms of my jeans grow muddy.
The others stand gathered under a canvas canopy, and all the chairs and camp tables have been dragged underneath as well. The fire hisses in the rain, its flames almost extinguished.
Sadie runs out to greet me, unconcerned about the downpour. She barks once, and together we rush to the others. Once out of the rain, Sadie shakes, much to the chagrin of the crowded group of campers.
“Sadie!” Sara calls to the dog, and then she apologizes multiple times.
Sadie, unconcerned, trots toward her owner and sits next to her chair.
Jack laughs because I got the worst of it, and I’m already soaked. I smile back, though I’m still a little uneasy about what Peter told me.
But what right do I have to be jealous? None. Absolutely none.
He hands me a mug and a plate of food. “I got you more coffee.”
Instead of black, which is how I’ve been choking it down, the coffee is a luscious, creamy beige. I take a sip and close my eyes in ecstasy. “Where did you find the cream and sugar?”
“In the dry goods box.”
He says it like it’s no big deal, but to me, it is.
We finish our breakfast under the shelter of the canopy, and by the time we’re done, the rain has let up. The sun breaks free of the clouds, and light reflects off the droplets clinging to leaves and tree branches.
“When we reach the lodge tonight, we’ll need to pitch our tents so they can dry out,” Henry instructs. “But for now, let’s break camp and get on our way.”
As the others disperse, I look through the chairs. One should have my notebook in it.
“What are you looking for?” Nicole asks.
“A notebook. Have you seen it?”
“Nope. Sure haven’t.” She says it just a little too casually.
She wouldn’t have.
I make my way through the wet grass to the spot my chair was sitting before I left for my walk. There, discarded on the ground, is my notebook. I pick it up and wipe away the rain and bits of weeds with my shirt.
“That’s too bad,” Nicole says from behind me.
Flashing her a big smile, I say, “No harm done.” I hold it up so she can see there’s no damage. “It’s waterproof.”
Chapter Nineteen
I don’t know who’s more relieved to see the lodge, me or Petunia. She trots along at a nice pace, happy to keep up with the others.
“They’ll give her grain,” Jack explains from next to me.
Petunia wants grain; I want a shower. I’ve been assured the lodge has lots and lots of lovely, steamy, running water.
A huge, grassy pasture stretches to the back of the lodge. Early evening sunlight turns the valley gold and gleams off the horses already grazing.
The lodge is a large structure, painted red with white trim. A matching gazebo sits in the front, and walkways and flower beds surround them both. The mountains rise in the background, making everything appear especially picturesque.
I practically fall from Petunia’s back when we reach the stable. A teenage boy comes out to greet us. He’s probably close to Liv’s age, and he looks a lot like Peter—probably a brother or a cousin.
“I’ll take her for you.” The boy clips a lead on Petunia. “Do you want me to bring your packs to your room?”
Yes, you do that. I’m just going to go shower for an hour.
“No, that’s all right. I can manage them.”
It just seems wrong to make him do all the work.
He smiles wide. “I’m Sean.”
“Kinsley.”
Jack steps next to us and rests his arm on the boy’s
head, grinning. “You want to carry my bags in?”
Sean rolls his eyes and leads Petunia away. “I think you can handle your own, Jack.”
Jack lifts the heaviest of my packs over his shoulder, adding it to his own. “Let’s go find our rooms.”
The lodge isn’t as fancy or new as Sandy and Allen’s place. But even though the hardwood floors are old and scuffed, they shine just the same. In the center of the back wall, there’s a huge, brick fireplace. I would love to curl up in front of it and write.
We’re greeted at the door by a woman in jeans and a sleeveless button-up shirt. Her dark hair is back in a sleek ponytail.
She makes me feel scruffy.
“Jack!” She pulls him in a hug despite the fact that he must smell like horse, dirt, and campfire smoke—like I do. Then she stands him back and looks him over, just like an affectionate aunt would. “I didn’t believe them when they said you were on the ride.”
“Hi, Miss Mindy.” He grins like a young boy.
This must be Peter and Nicole’s mom. She turns her attention to me, her eyes bright.
“And you are…” She purses her lips and cocks her head to the side like she’s trying to place me. “Kinsley?”
“That’s right,” I answer, surprised.
Of course, she must have known the same way Henry did. I’m the only single on the ride. Jack doesn’t count, I’ve figured out. He’s practically family—and will be actual family if Nicole ever gets her way.
“You two must be tired. Follow me, and we’ll get you to your rooms.”
She leads us up a staircase. At the top, there’s a hall that wraps around the entire perimeter of the lodge. It’s open in the middle and looks out over the bottom floor.
Mindy pulls a key from her pocket and opens the door nearest us.
“This is yours, Kinsley.” She turns to Jack and tosses his key at him, which he catches with ease. “You’re in your usual room.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
Mindy excuses herself, and I walk in my room. Jack trails behind me with the rest of my stuff. He sets it in a corner, next to a chair.
The bed’s covered in an old-fashioned, floral quilted bedspread that’s tucked into a farmhouse style headboard. A vase of fresh wildflowers sits on the sturdy dresser in front of the mirror.
It’s cozy, but right now there’s only one thing I want.
“You promised hot water,” I say to Jack. “Where can I find it?”
He points to a door I assumed was a closet. “Through there.”
In the room? That’s a luxury I didn’t expect. I open the door. The bathroom is small, just a little counter, toilet, and shower, but it will serve my purposes perfectly.
I wave him away. “You may leave now.”
He leans a hip against the bed frame. “Don’t I get a tip?”
“Sure.” I look through a basket of tiny toiletries on the counter. “Don’t get in the way of a woman and her shower.”
Jack chuckles, and I realize I may have opened myself up to all sorts of comebacks.
Being the gentleman he is, he doesn’t go there. “Don’t be too long. Dinner’s at six.”
“Mmmhmm.” I sniff the shampoo, mostly ignoring him.
Laughing, he closes the door on his way out.
The water is bliss. For how wonderful it feels, the little sputtering shower might as well be a tropical waterfall. My muscles ache from the ride, but I feel good.
It hits me that I’ve done all this by myself. Sure, Jack’s here, but he wasn’t in the tent with me. He didn’t ride the trail for me. I did all that on my own.
I run Hudson’s words over in my head, about how stagnant I am, about how I’ll never go anywhere or do anything.
He’s wrong.
Once I’m out of the shower and dressed, I pull out my notebook. It’s five-thirty. I have thirty minutes to write—and I will write. Because that is who I am, whether Hudson likes it or not, whether the rest of the world thinks I’m foolish.
Someday, I will be published.
At six, I wander to the dining room, which is directly off the kitchen.
We’re all tired and fairly quiet at dinner. Exhausted after I eat, I excuse myself early and flop on my bed. I’m almost asleep when I realize I should get under the covers. I barely crawl in before I’m out.
It’s the best night of rest I think I’ve had in my entire life. I don’t usually sleep well the first night in a different bed, but after two nights on the hard ground, this is a luxury.
When I wake, I stretch, listening to the birds chirp outside my window as I stare at the ceiling.
I straighten my sheets when I finally get up because I’m not sure if the little lodge offers housekeeping. I’m thinking they don’t, and if they do, the task would probably go to Nicole. Since I don’t want to find a snake in my covers, it’s better to do it myself.
I open the curtains and look out at the mountains. We get to spend the whole day here, lounging around, doing whatever we please. I’m looking forward to it.
Once dressed, I go downstairs to see who else is up. Mindy, Peter, and Sean sit at the huge kitchen table, joined by Sara and Dan.
“Morning,” I say.
Mindy stands, already reaching for a mug and carafe. “Coffee?”
I’m relieved to see the cream and sugar sitting in plain sight, and I nod. They chat while I doctor my cup.
“Where are Claire and Mark?” I ask.
“They’ve already eaten and have headed out on a hike.”
Peter laughs when I cringe. How could anyone get up early after the last two days?
Jack comes down the stairs, looking far better than any man has a right to look after roughing it. He motions for Sean to scoot over and sits next to me.
He helps himself to coffee and turns his gorgeous eyes on me. “Sleep well?”
“Like the dead.”
A timer goes off, and Mindy opens the oven. Out comes a cheese-laden breakfast casserole. She dishes us each a slice and tops off our coffee.
Once Jack has finished two pieces, he turns to me. “What do you want to do today?”
I know he came on this whole trip because of me, but it’s still nice to have his undivided attention. There was so much to do on the trail ride; he often helped out as an honorary trail hand.
Nicole finds a chair and scoots up to the table. Her makeup and hair are perfect. It also looks like she had a dresser full of clothes waiting for her because she’s not rumpled and wrinkled like I am. I tried to steam my shirt by hanging it in the shower this morning, but it didn’t work.
Having heard what Jack just asked me, Nicole says, “Oh, Jack, Dad was wondering if you’d help him fix the fence while you’re here.” She smiles at me. “Morning, Kinsley.”
The girl is vicious.
I look down at my plate, losing my appetite.
“I promised today to Kinsley,” Jack says. “But I’ll drive up next week if he needs the help.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Peter shakes his head. “I can help Dad.”
The conversation continues around me, but I’m struck by Jack’s words. He said no. Granted, it was a nice, polite no with the promise of future help, but it was still a no.
And he did it for me.
Having eaten his fill, Jack turns to me. “Let’s go for a hike. There’s this great lake not far from here.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Peter jokes.
Nicole jumps in, saying, “We should go too, Peter.”
Mindy narrows her eyes at her daughter and shakes her head. “I need some help putting up the peaches Mrs. Landry brought us from Palisade yesterday. Since you’re here, Nicole…”
Nicole looks like she’s about to argue, but then she brushes her hair behind her ear and nods.
Amber joins us. She looks uncomfortable.
“Morning,” I say to her.
She looks up and flashes me a surprised smile. “Why, good morning, Kinsley.”
Peter abandons his half-finished breakfast to pull a mug from the cupboard. He fills it with coffee and then hands it to Amber. She thanks him and sits across from us.
“Where’s Hudson?” Jack asks, thinking he’s being polite, I’m sure.
Amber’s smile flickers. “Oh, he’ll be down soon, I suppose.”
Peter watches her, a strange expression on his face—like he wants to say something helpful, but he doesn’t know what.
The air at the table grows awkward, but Amber shrugs it off and helps herself to the casserole.
“Mindy, this looks amazin’.” She motions to the room. “I just love what you’ve done with this place.”
The conversation picks up again slowly.
Jack pushes away from the table, thanks Mindy for breakfast, and sets his hands on the back of my chair. “You want to take some coffee with you?”
“Oh, I couldn’t—”
“Of course you can!” Mindy laughs. She opens one of the cupboards, rummages around for a bit, and then pulls out a disposable travel cup. She slides it to me. “Help yourself.”
Once I’m ready, Jack offers me his hand. The only time we’ve held hands was outside our tents, two nights ago. This is a very public announcement. Is he ready for that?
Jack raises his eyebrows, waiting, and I slip my hand in his.
“Don’t be late for the cookout tonight,” Mindy reminds us as we leave. “We’ve invited a few friends, so it should be a lot of fun.”
Jack promises we’ll remember, and then we walk out of the lodge, hand in hand.
Yesterday’s storm long forgotten, the sun shines from a bright, blue sky. The morning air’s still cool, but it promises to be a warm day.
We walk down Henry and Mindy’s very long driveway, and chipmunks dart across the road in front of us. The sun heats wildflowers in the meadow. Their earthy aroma fills the air, reminding me of summers past.
I take it all in, locking it in my memory.
Eventually, we reach the main road and soon take another. And then another after that.
After we’ve walked for what must be several miles, I ask, “Where exactly is this lake?”
Jack gives me a wry look. “I’m not going to get lost.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
Chuckling, he pulls down another road. This one is narrower, intended for nothing wider than a four-wheeler.
[2015] Just the Essentials Page 15
