Page 16 of Under the Northern Lights

Gage’s mother returned with the drinks, and Reed went up to the drawing pad to start the round. A little less than an hour later, the women were cheering their victory.

Gage looked at his father and brother with a dumbfounded shrug.

“What just happened?” Reed said in clear confusion.

“We just won,” Julia announced. “And Aurora is tonight’s champion.”

“She’s good, son,” his father said. “Anyone that can guess your sister’s misshaped cotton swab on a stick was a matchstick deserves the winner’s crown.”

“Looked more like a half-eaten cotton candy to me,” Reed grumbled.

Julia sent a scowl in their direction. “Aurora figured out what it was. That’s all that matters. And she guessed Mom’s drawing too. And all she had was a bunch of stars and a curly mustache.”

Gage looked at Aurora. “And how is that even possible? You got spaceman from that?”

She shrugged. “Stars are in space. And men have mustaches. Made sense to me.”

Reed groaned, rolling his eyes.

“If Reed hadn’t taken so long to draw his pictures every time, we might have stood a chance,” Gage pointed out.

His brother’s gaze swung in Gage’s direction. “Art can’t be rushed.”

“When there’s a timer going, it can,” their father chimed in.

Aurora loved sitting there listening to their playful post-gameplay chatter, watching Gage’s family’s antics.

This was what she’d grown up with. And proof that she’d made the right decision in giving her engagement ring back.

Love was out there. She just hadn’t found it yet.

But Gage’s parents clearly had, as had her parents and her sister.

Knowing that gave her hope of someday finding her own heart’s connection.

“Morning,” Gage greeted, his voice low, when Aurora stepped quietly into the main lodge. “You’re up early.”

He sat alone at the big table in the main lodge, drinking what Aurora guessed to be coffee. “I guess that makes two of us,” she replied softly and then glanced around. “Everyone still asleep?” She kept her voice low as she crossed the room.

“Dad and Reed took a group out fishing this morning, and I’ve been out back working on the gas fire pit on the patio. It’s having some issues with its igniter. Mom and Julia are in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast.”

She sighed, disappointment pulling at her mouth. “I wanted to say my goodbyes to your family before they began their busy day.”

He smiled. “Early-riser breakfast for guests scheduled to go out fishing this morning was at six. I ate with Dad and Reed before they left. There’s a second breakfast at eight for our remaining guests if you’d like to stick around and have a bite before starting your day.”

“I had one of the granola bars from the complimentary snack basket in my cabin and a water from the drink selections your family stocked in the fridge, so I’m not really hungry.”

He nodded.

“I’ll stop by to see them before we leave for Juneau. When they’re not busy feeding their guests. I suppose your father and Reed won’t be back in time from fishing for me to see them before I go?”

He shook his head. “Probably not. We’ll be flying out before they’re scheduled to return.”

She frowned. “Please tell them goodbye for me. Hank too.”

“I will.”

“I had so much fun playing games with your family. Even with Reed, who I’m not sure I’ve forgiven yet for scaring the daylights out of us.”

“He did do that,” Gage agreed. “I know Julia really enjoyed having you here. Especially when you girls showed us who ruled the game roost.” He smiled. “I appear to have met my match.”

Aurora laughed. “I had help. Your mom and sister were so good.”

“You weren’t so bad yourself.”

“Thanks. I had a lot of practice growing up. Julia reminds me so much of my sister, Jade.” Who Aurora found herself missing very much. But Jade had a life of her own now. A husband to make new memories with.

“I’m glad you had fun,” Gage said.

“I’ll let you get back to your coffee. Would you mind very much if I sit by the fire to warm up for a bit?”

“You don’t even need to ask,” he told her.

“The lodge amenities are for our guests as well. In fact, the company is welcome. I’m used to being in the midst of a loud, somewhat nutty family, guests coming in and out of the lodge, and flying people to and from the island.

With the exception of when fishing season here comes mostly to an end, and life slows down a bit. ”

“You’re welcome to join me and finish your coffee over by the fire if you like.” Pulling off her knit hat, Aurora stuffed it into one of her pockets before removing her jacket.

“I might just take you up on that offer.”

She settled in and moved to warm her hands by the fire.

Laying her clothes out near the wood stove in her cabin the night before had helped to dry them out. Only her flannel shirt, which was of a thicker material, was still slightly damp. She’d taken care of that with the hair dryer she’d found in the cabin’s bathroom vanity.

“I can add some wood to the fire, if you’d like,” Gage said, pulling Aurora from her thoughts.

“No, this is good. I’m warming up already.” She rubbed her hands together. “It was chillier out than I expected this morning.”

“Only going to get colder now that winter is setting in,” Gage said as he settled onto the sofa behind her.

Hands feeling less stiff from the cold, Aurora turned from the fire to find him looking her over with a grin.

Immediately self- conscious, she looked down to see what he found so amusing.

Had she misaligned her shirt buttons in her hurry to get out and get sunrise shots that morning? Nothing seemed askew.

Aurora lifted her hands, fire-warmed palms up. “What’s so amusing?”

Gage shook his head, tempering his grin. “Sorry. Not amusing.”

“Then what?” she demanded with a frown.

“I was just thinking that for a city girl, you look like you could have stepped right off the page of one of those outdoor magazines you sell your work to.”

She folded her arms across her chest and arched a brow. “So, what you’re saying is that I remind you of an elephant trampling down the vegetation in the savanna?”

“What?”

“Or maybe a mountain goat scaling steep cliffs in the Rockies?”

He shook his head. “Not even close. I was referring to the pages in travel magazines and brochures where the pretty girl in casual hiking gear sways readers into traveling to whatever destination she’s advertising.”

Aurora felt a heated blush creeping up her neck and it wasn’t from the fire behind her. “Hardly.” She laughed. “I’m just a girl who likes to be prepared for whatever outdoor environment my work takes me to.”

She turned back to the fire so he wouldn’t see the small smile creeping across her face. Pretty. Dressed in faded denim jeans, well-used waterproof hiking boots, and a burgundy and gold plaid flannel shirt. Funny how one simple word could make a person’s whole day instantly brighter.

Aurora turned and walked over to join Gage on the sofa.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee or some hot tea?” he asked.

“No, thank you. The fire in the hearth did its job.” She bent to grab her camera bag.

“I’m guessing you don’t go anywhere without that?”

She sat upright and set the bag on her lap. “You never know when that next great shot is going to happen. Like this morning when I caught a whale breaching the water in the distance from where I stood at the end of the dock.”

“That is an incredible moment,” Gage replied. “I didn’t realize you’d ventured down to the docks this morning.”

She nodded. “I woke up early and felt the need for some fresh air, so I went for a walk. And before you say anything, I promise I was vigilant in watching out for Little John.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I’m thinking Big John is more fitting, by the way.”

Gage looked at her questioningly.

“I managed to capture a few really amazing shots of the sun’s morning glow on Little John’s backside as he scrambled away across the grassy area just beyond the larger guest cabins.”

Gage’s face, definitely a shade lighter than it was when she’d arrived at the lodge, pulled down into a frown. “Lucky for you he wasn’t running the other direction.”

“I had my bear spray at the ready just in case,” she assured him. “That and my treadmill-strengthened lungs.”

“Running wouldn’t have done you any good if Little John had charged you.”

“I know that,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Did the man think she was completely uneducated when it came to wilderness survival knowledge?

“I was referring to my lungs being exercise-strengthened and ready to release ear-splitting screams, should it come to that. Whatever it would have taken to deter Little John from having me for breakfast.”

“At least you had a plan,” he said, and Aurora could tell he wanted to say more but held back.

“I’m hoping to check out a little more of the island before we leave for Juneau this afternoon. Could you suggest a place to go, time permitting, that would offer the best nature shots?”

“You’d need to stand and turn in circles for that to happen.”

She looked at him questioningly.

“Everywhere you look on Conley Island, there’s some part of nature that draws you to it. Animals, flowers, waterfalls, gently flowing rivers ...”

“A northern paradise to be sure,” she agreed.

“I wish I had more time to experience it all, but I don’t,” she said with a frown.

“That being the case, if you could point me in the direction of the nearest river where guests like to fish, I would really appreciate it. I’m still on assignment for World Adventures Magazine, and my remaining time here on Conley Island is quickly running out. ”

“How about after breakfast I take you to a few spots I think you’ll like in one of our utility task vehicles? There will be a little bit of hiking involved once we get to where we’re going in the UTV, but you’ve got the right footwear on for it,” he said, his gaze dropping down to her booted feet.

“It’s really sweet of you to offer up more of your time, but I’m not about to take you away from the responsibilities you have here at the retreat. I took up enough of your time yesterday.”

“You didn’t take it,” he stated. “I gave it. And until I get you safely back to Juneau, you are my responsibility. That being the case, are you sure you wouldn’t like a slice or two of toast before we go?

I’d hate to have you hungry enough to eat Little John for breakfast should your paths cross again. ”

Oh, that witty little sense of humor of his , Aurora thought, smiling inwardly as she shook her head. And here she’d believed his grin to be his most charming attribute.

“I think Little John is safe.”

“A granola bar and a water,” Gage repeated with a husky chuckle. “I’m thinking Little John had better keep right on running in the opposite direction.”