Page 8

Wyatt

T he next day, the young couple, Rebecca and Jake Southerland, request a fishing trip.

The creek that runs through the property is always a good bet for a wonderful day trip.

Although, at this time of the year, and after the rain we’ve had, it’ll seem more like a river, but still alright to fish in.

There are plenty of trout and maybe even a bit of salmon.

As with all the chartered excursions, I promise that we’ll bring back whatever we catch and have Doris cook us all up a feast. Nothing satisfies quite like a meal you caught yourself, I feel.

However, the best part about taking the guests on these excursions is the time to myself.

Sure, the guests are with me, but they don’t pay me any attention.

They are almost always on a honeymoon, with eyes only for each other.

Honestly, it’s not like anyone is breathing down my neck at the lodge, but there’s something about being in nature that always makes me feel settled, at peace.

Maybe it’s the way the wind whistles through the trees?

Or how the rushing water thunders over boulders laid down thousands of years ago as the ice and glaciers melted and receded to the north? Whatever it is, I love it.

My heart races with excitement over the prospect of the day trip into the backwoods of the property.

I’ve already packed the equipment we need onto the two quads.

Jake assures me he has plenty of experience driving one, but just in case, I pack all the essential stuff onto mine.

He’ll have his hands full with his wife clinging to his back while they make their way deep into the forest. In addition to the fishing rods, tackle, extra food, and clean water, I pack a rifle.

There are bears still lurking around looking for their last meal before hibernating, and they’ll be hungry.

Not to mention the bobcats, lynx, wolves, and cougars that inhabit the area.

Plenty of meat-eating predators out here that would be more than happy to snatch you up and have you for dinner.

Double-checking my personal bag, I see a package of condoms. I laugh as I remember why I put them into my camping bag in the first place.

Months ago, there was a group of coeds that booked Wildwood and wanted to go camping.

The way they’d been flirting with me had been driving me crazy all week, and I thought to myself at the time, it’s totally inappropriate to have sex with a guest, but it’s been forever, and I have needs too.

I laugh again and shake my head. How that trip turned out was insane.

Not only was the entire group of women lesbians, but the one dude they brought along was gay.

Not that anyone’s sexual orientation is my business or concern, but I had been sure one of them was going to hook up with me.

As if being watched, I look over my shoulder at my closed bedroom door and shove the box deep inside my bag and shrug.

Never know what’ll happen, I suppose. I mean, I nearly ended up making out with the gay guy on that trip.

He was handsome, sure, but there was something about him that made my stomach jumpy.

Never in my life have I considered myself gay, but also…

not straight either. It never really occurred to me to think too deeply into my own orientation.

Even as a teen, I would get hard looking at girls, but also at some of my friends who were male.

That was normal, right? It wasn’t really a sexual thing… was it?

What the fuck am I even thinking about this for?

This is not the time to delve into my inner-most needs and desires.

I’d better get my head screwed on straight, or I’ll screw something up, and one of the guests will get hurt, and I couldn’t have that on my conscience.

I grab my bag, sling it over my shoulder, and march out of my room and down the hallway to the front door.

Waiting for me patiently are the Southerlands.

I wave as I approach and smile. The two of them are the cutest couple and will be completely out of their element in the wild.

Rebecca, with her long red hair, fully done makeup, designer coat, and boots.

Jake, with his brown man-bun perfectly quaffed, his leather driving gloves, and faux fur-lined boots.

This is going to be fun.

I reach out my hand. “I know we’ve seen each other around, but let me formally introduce myself. I’m Wyatt James, and I’ll be your guide on this little day trip deeper into the forest.”

Jake and Rebecca shake my hand and each smile from ear to ear. It’s so cute.

“I’m Jake, and this is my new bride, Rebecca,” he says. “We’ve been waiting for this rugged excursion our entire lives, right honey?”

Rebecca giggles. “For sure, babe.” She tosses her hair to the side. “As long as it’s not too rugged.”

Both of their smiles sober a touch. I can tell they are nervous. It’s going to be my job to reassure them enough to have fun, but not too much so that they do something stupid and get themselves killed. Never a good way to end the honeymoon with one of you going home in a body bag.

“Please follow me, guys,” I say and head out the front door. Of course, I help them with their bags and secure everything to the quads before we can get officially underway.

I am going over the safety features of the quad when Doris bursts through the front door carrying a picnic basket. The way she has it slung over her elbow, I can tell it is chock full of goodies.

Out of breath, she makes it down the stairs and to me faster than I thought her short legs could carry her. “Take this along for refreshments,” she says and smiles at the guests. “Some of your preferences are in there as well, including a few extras.”

I heave the basket onto the back seat and secure it. “From the weight of it, there’s probably enough for an overnight trip if needed.”

Doris giggles and playfully swats at my arm. “You all have fun, and I’ll have dinner ready for when you get back.” She looks at her watch. “Are we still on for eight o’clock tonight?”

Rebecca and Jake exchange looks and then nod their agreement.

“Eight o’clock it is, Doris,” I say.

“Perfect. You all have a lovely time, and if you bring me some fresh fish, I’ll have it cooked up as an added treat for this evening’s meal.”

“Sounds lovely,” Rebecca says.

Doris waves as she slips back inside the lodge, leaving us to our checklist. I continue to go over the dos and don’ts of operating the equipment, show them exactly where we are headed on the map, and then hand each a helmet.

The look on Rebecca’s face is priceless. She hasn’t thought about wearing a helmet, and she is worried about her hair. While she hesitates to put it on, I say, “Don’t worry. The helmets have all been sanitized.”

She slowly puts the helmet on and buckles the chinstrap. Jake doesn’t bother to undo his man-bun before donning the helmet, but he is more eager to get underway than his wife.

“Are we all ready?” I ask.

Jake straddles his seat and turns on the quad.

Rebecca sits behind him and grabs ahold of him around the waist for more stability.

He gives me a thumbs-up, and I start my own engine.

Within minutes, we are down the trail behind the lodge and zipping by trees, raspberry and blueberry bushes, and beautiful brush that will soon be leafless and barren once the first snow falls.

Up ahead is a tricky spot in the path, so I slow to a stop. Jake pulls up alongside and says, “Is everything alright?”

I nod. “Sure, but I need you to go really slow and controlled through this next spot. It’s tricky and narrow. Do you see to the left? There’s a little embankment that has more than once taken a rider down.”

Rebecca looks behind them and back at me. “If it’s not safe, should we really be doing this?”

“It’s not unsafe if you keep control of the quad. I just wanted to give you both a heads up before we reached it.” I turn and point down the trail. “The tricky part is only a few hundred feet, and then it’s smooth sailing from there. Are we good to go?”

Jake and Rebecca exchange looks. It’s clear she is the only one worried, and she says nothing. Jake nods and revs the engine, much to Rebecca’s dismay. She smacks him on the shoulder, and he laughs. “I’m only kidding.”

I lead the way through the tight space to ensure that Jake doesn’t go too fast by accident.

Nothing can ruin their honeymoon faster than tumbling down a rocky embankment, breaking their legs, or worse on the way down.

Once we are through, I pick up the pace, and they easily keep up.

I toss a glance back at them every now and then to make sure they are having a good time.

The wind blows through Rebecca’s long hair, sticking out from under her helmet, and obscuring Jake’s view.

He has to keep swatting it out of his way so he doesn’t crash.

Her whoops as they go over a few dips in the path make me smile; she’s finally relaxed and has started to enjoy herself.

We arrive at the fishing area about thirty minutes later. It’s not too long of a trip, but it’s far enough to be out of range of most cell phones. Once there, I point to the trailhead for the path that leads down to the water’s edge. “We’ll leave the quads here and walk the rest of the way.”

Rebecca jumps off the back of the quad and pulls off her helmet.

Her hair is a mess. She runs her hands through it several times to try and tame it back into submission but fails.

Finally, she gives up and puts it in a ponytail.

Jake’s man-bun is equally as disheveled.

He reaches for a flask on his quad, opens it, and takes a long drink.

With a satisfied sigh, he looks around at the natural beauty and nods his appreciation.