Page 68 of Colton On Guard
Grinning back, she wondered if he knew her entire body flushed. “You know, I might be able to be convinced to do this again,” she mused. “With the right incentive, of course.”
His laughter echoed off the rocks. “Look.” He pointed. Above them, an eagle wheeled, beautiful against the bright blue sky. She’d grown up seeing the majestic birds, but for some reason out here, the sight hit differently. To her surprise, tears stung her eyes.
Keeping her hold on JB, she quickly wiped them away. Though she’d felt raw ever since realizing she’d simply traded one stalker for another after moving here, the emotion felt like a different kind of vulnerability. Was she ready to take the kind of risk she’d sworn she’d never take again? Did she dare to trust Parker with her heart?
Completely unaware of her thoughts, Parker stopped and turned to face her. “Up ahead, the path looks like it ends at some boulders,” he warned. “It’s a good place to stop and rest, as long as you watch out for snakes.”
She started. He’d said that so casually. “I think I’ll pass,” she said. “Since I’m not a fan of snakes, I’d rather just get to our camping area.”
“I get it.” He smiled at her before moving forward. Though he loved his large family, both immediate and extended, being out here with Genna and the dogs felt like another kind of family togetherness. Both wholesome and intimate. He could definitely get used to this. He wondered what Genna thought, but decided it would be better not to ask.
Finally, the incline started to level out. “We’re almost there,” he told her, glancing over his shoulder.
“Good,” she replied, huffing and puffing just a little. She wiped at her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’m getting to the point where I’d been thinking about telling you I need to rest.”
“Not too much longer, I promise.” Though he wanted to pick up the pace, he stayed steady. “We keep a little storage building up here with supplies like a cook stove and folding chairs. And if whoever camps up here last has firewood left over, it’s stored in there, too.”
“Interesting.” She seemed to be struggling to catch her breath. “But why not store your tent there, too? Seems like it would be less to carry.”
“There’s a spare tent in case it’s needed. But we all have our own tents, and I prefer to bring mine. You’ll like it, I promise.”
“I’ll like it when we can stop hiking,” she grumbled, shifting JB in her arms. “My little dog has gotten heavier.”
This made him chuckle. “A few more yards.” Unable to contain his eagerness, he moved ahead.
Her pace slightly slower, she followed.
Genna didn’t want to be a party pooper, but she clearly wasn’t as fit as Parker. He hiked for a living, while her exercise routine consisted of riding her Peloton bike. She’d always consideredherself in pretty good shape, but this uphill hiking took things to another level.
“Here we are,” he announced, turning a slow circle with his arms outstretched. “My favorite meadow.”
More of a clearing than a meadow, the grassy area sat nestled in between a rock wall on one side, forest on two others, and the sloping hill that led to the cliffs on the fourth. There was more than enough area to pitch a tent, build a fire pit and set up some chairs. A small, weathered wooden building had been built near a grove of trees. Close to the place they’d stopped, someone had already made a stone fire pit, the circle large enough for a decent fire.
“I should’ve brought marshmallows,” she impulsively said.
Glancing at her, he grinned. “I did.”
Unable to keep from smiling back, she sighed. “What about bears?” she asked, slightly nervous.
He looked up. “As long as we don’t keep food out, they tend to leave us alone. The shed comes in handy for that, too.”
“Food.” She swallowed. “I didn’t even think to pack any of that. What did we bring to eat? And please don’t say we’re going to forage for berries and mushrooms and edible plants.”
“You stole my line,” he teased. She loved the way the sun made his blue eyes sparkle. “I thought we’d fish for our dinner and eat from the endless bounty that nature provides.”
Dismayed, she stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?”
He held her gaze, expression serious. “It’s fun and easy, I promise.”
Though she had a feeling she’d be going hungry tonight, she reluctantly nodded. “I guess I’ll just have to trust you.”
“If you weren’t carrying JB, I’d hug you right now,” he said. Which made her want to set her little dog down, which she wouldn’t just yet. She wanted to thoroughly check out the areafor snakes and any other kind of menace, before letting JB set her little paws on the ground. On a leash, of course.
“Maybe later,” she said. Then, as he tilted his head and drank her in with his eyes, she amended her statement. “Definitely later.”
“I’ll say.” Setting his pack on the ground, he began removing what she guessed must be the tent. “Do you want me to help you set up?” she asked.
“Sure.” He continued unpacking. “By the way, I was kidding about foraging for our meals. I brought food. Most of it’s in cans, which the bears can’t smell. Nothing fancy, but enough to fill our bellies. And if we catch any fish, I can clean them and fry them up.”