Page 5 of Brave Horizons (Barrington Billionaires #19)
TOPEKA
Topeka woke up, the warmth of Alex's arms around her, and realized she had moved closer to him in her sleep. The small tent left little room for personal space. She quickly pulled away, relieved to see Alex still asleep.
Topeka carefully extracted herself from the sleeping bag, trying not to wake him.
She quietly unzipped the tent and stepped outside.
The crisp morning air was a stark contrast to the warmth inside the tent.
She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and the lingering embarrassment of waking up so close to Alex.
As nervous as she was about the wildlife, this made her even more frightened.
Against her better judgement she quietly stepped from the tent and zipped it closed behind her.
The air was cool. A different kind of crisp than she was used to back in Texas.
She hesitated to appreciate it though. How could she appreciate something that was taking the place of what she once loved?
Of what she’d never get back. Her life was gone.
So what if it was beautiful here? It wasn’t hers.
Alex stirred inside the tent, and Topeka heard the sound of the zipper as he emerged, stretching his tall frame. He gave her a drowsy smile, his hair tousled from sleep.
"Morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep. "You’re braving the wilderness on your own. That’s promising.”
Topeka shrugged, trying to hide her discomfort. “It could have been worse.”
“So you didn’t sleep well?” He frowned a bit as he wiped at his eyes.
“Better than I thought really. No traffic noise. No sirens. And the sleeping bag was comfortable.” She eyed him closely to see if his expression changed. If he’d woken up and realized she was curled against him some time in the night. Either he hadn’t, or his poker face was solid.
They spent the morning setting up the rest of their camp, arranging supplies, and preparing a simple breakfast. Alex showed Topeka how to make a small fire, and they shared a meal of oatmeal and dried fruit, sitting on a couple of logs they had found nearby.
It was fascinating how much thought and detail had to go into everything.
There were no modern appliances to quicken the process.
What she imagined camping to be was nothing at all like this.
But the remoteness gave a sense of safety and comfort she hadn’t been feeling for quite some time.
How could anyone find them out here? It seemed impossible.
As they ate, Alex pointed out different features of the landscape, telling her stories about past camping trips. He’d come here with his parents when he was young. Then with a couple of girlfriends over the years.
“Women willingly came up here?” Topeka asked as she curled her mouth into a smile. “They signed up for this?”
“Being in my company is so good they were more than willing to come rough it in these woods. It’s romantic.”
“It’s rustic. That’s not romantic.” She shook her head and took the last bite of her oatmeal. There was something rewarding about eating a meal cooked the long way.
“Walking under the stars, sitting by a campfire. Come on. Even being curled up together in a tent. It’s very romantic.”
Her cheeks blazed pink at the comment and she stood abruptly to turn away. Busying herself with the bowl in her hand she quickly changed the subject. “Where do we put this food so it doesn’t draw animals?”
“I’ll show you. Then we’ll do a bit of target practice and make sure you’re good to carry a weapon. That might make you feel more at ease here. But first I’ll show you the lay of the land.” He handled all the food and packed it safely away before waving her toward the woods.
Topeka felt a bit skeptical as Alex led her toward the river. She had seen plenty of beautiful landscapes in Texas, and she doubted the Pacific Northwest could offer anything all that impressive and different. Still, she followed him, mostly because she didn’t want to be alone at the camp.
The path was narrow and winding, with overhanging branches and a thick carpet of fallen leaves and moss.
Alex walked confidently, moving branches aside for her and making sure she didn’t trip over any roots.
Topeka tried to keep her skepticism at bay, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit impatient. How unique could a river be?
As they neared the clearing, Alex turned to her with a smile. “Close your eyes for a second,” he said playfully.
Topeka gave him a dubious look but complied. She felt his hand gently guiding her forward, the sounds of the forest growing louder around her. The soft rush of water grew more distinct, and she could feel the coolness of the water’s proximity.
“Okay,” Alex said softly. “Open your eyes.”
Topeka opened her eyes and gasped. The sight before her was beyond anything she had imagined. The river, with its crystal-clear water, wound gracefully through a lush, verdant landscape. The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting a shimmering light on the water’s surface.
But it wasn’t only the creek that took her breath away.
Beyond the water, the land sloped upward to reveal a stunning vista of the mountains.
Their snow-capped peaks stood majestically against the brilliant blue sky, their rugged beauty softened by the early morning light.
The mountains seemed to go on forever, each ridge and peak more breathtaking than the last. Wildflowers of various colors dotted the landscape, adding splashes of red, yellow, and purple to the scene.
Topeka felt a lump form in her throat as she took it all in. She had never seen anything like this in Texas. The sheer scale and beauty of the Pacific Northwest landscape were overwhelming.
“Wow,” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from the view. “You weren’t kidding.”
Alex watched her reaction with a satisfied smile. “I never kid about beauty.”
Topeka nodded, still mesmerized by the scene before her. “I guess this is where you bring all the women to get them to fall in love with you?”
“Are you falling in love?”
“With the view, yes.”
They stood in silence for a while. The sound of the moving water, the rustling of the leaves, and the distant calls of birds created a symphony of nature that was both soothing and invigorating.
Topeka felt a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Right there, right in that moment, no one was trying to kill her.
She wasn’t seeing the flashes of the victims her father had killed. Her mind was calm.
A far-off pop of a gun had her knees buckling and sent her to the ground. Habit. Or a traumatic reflex. Her palms were in the dirt, her knees soaking up the morning dew. She was frozen until Alex knelt and put his hand on her back.
“Hunters,” he said quietly. “Far off. Miles. It echoes through the canyons. No one would find you here. And if by some insane miracle they did, you’d be fine.”
“Fine?” she asked, tears trailing down her cheeks. “My father is furious. They are professionals. You don’t know these men.”
“These men don’t know me.” Alex lifted her back to her feet and turned her palms toward the sky so he could dust them off and check if she was cut.
A branch snapped behind them. They both turned to see a graceful doe stepping cautiously toward the water.
Its large, dark eyes were alert, and its ears twitched, listening for any sign of danger.
Topeka held her breath, afraid to move and scare the deer away. Alex put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and whispered, “It’s okay. Just stay still and watch.”
The doe lowered her head to drink from the creek, her movements delicate and fluid. Topeka marveled at the beauty and serenity of the creature. There was something almost magical about seeing such a wild animal up close, going about life in this untouched wilderness.
Alex leaned closer and spoke softly, “Deer are astonishing animals. They’re always aware of their surroundings, always on the lookout for danger. But they’re also incredibly resilient. They know how to survive and thrive, even when things get tough.”
Topeka nodded, her eyes never leaving the doe. “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
Alex continued, “You know, deer are often seen as symbols of peace and gentleness, but they’re also symbols of intuition and vigilance. They trust their instincts and find their way, no matter what.”
Topeka glanced at him, understanding the parallel he was drawing. She felt a connection to the doe, a creature constantly alert and cautious but also graceful and strong. “I guess I need to be more like that,” she said quietly. “Trust my instincts and keep moving forward. ”
Alex smiled warmly. “You’ve already got that strength in you, Topeka. You’ve come this far, and you’re still standing. That’s no small feat.”
The doe finished drinking and lifted her head, looking directly at them for a moment before turning and disappearing back into the forest. Topeka watched her go, feeling a sense of calm wash over her.
Another pop of gunfire in the distance echoed around them. This time she stayed on her feet. This time, she stood tall.