Page 34 of Under the Northern Lights
“I was only kidding,” Aurora said, her laughter filling the air.
“I can’t have you going home thinking I’m not the sure-footed mountain goat I claimed to be,” Gage told her with a grin. Thankfully, the rain was light and the ground far less slick. His mother would never let him hear the end of it if he and Aurora ended up covered in mud again or worse.
“You’ve definitely proven yourself today.”
Gage slowed his gait as they neared the dock where the boat Reed would be taking them out on was waiting.
His brother looked up from the rope he was coiling, his eyes widening beneath the hood of his raincoat. A slow smile spread across his face. “What are you?” he asked. “The island taxi service?”
“Only for special guests,” Gage called back as he carefully lowered Aurora to her feet on the wet dock.
“It was a do-over,” Aurora explained as they made their way along the dock. “Gage needed to have his pride restored.”
“Truth,” Gage said with a chuckle as his brother reached out a hand to help Aurora onto the boat.
“The boat’s ready to go,” Reed announced. Then his gaze took in Aurora’s altered rain gear. “Only you could make an oversized raincoat and pants look fashionable.”
“It’s all in having the proper cuff-folding technique for both pants and jacket sleeves,” she explained with a grin. “Today I am attempting the fold-under to keep the rain from pooling in my pants.”
After a short safety briefing from Reed, they pulled away from the dock.
“Any word from Hank?” Gage asked.
“Fish are biting. Vick, Mario, and his boys hope to get a full day of fishing in before they leave tomorrow,” his brother replied. Then he looked at Aurora. “You haven’t met them because they prefer to cook at their cabin. Mario brought his teenage sons for this fishing trip.”
“I’ll bet the boys have enjoyed being included in this trip. I came across them on my walk one morning.” She looked at Gage. “So it appears you’re going to have a full flight out in the morning.”
Gage nodded. “Last of our guests for the week leave tomorrow.” He wished it were going to be just him and Aurora on the flight to Juneau, but it was his job to shuttle guests back and forth, which meant that wasn’t going to happen. So he’d set up this private fishing outing with his brother’s help.
Aurora moved to stand at the side of the boat, arms crossed in front of her.
“Cold?” Gage asked as he stepped up beside her. There was a bit of a breeze, mixed with the misting rain, making it feel chillier than it actually was.
“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “Just trying to take it all in. I’ve only really seen these waters from the plane flying in from Seattle and then from your plane. It’s a whole different view when you’re on a boat right in the middle of it all. The rain-dappled water. The snowy mountain peaks.”
A loud whistle sounded from behind them.
They looked to see Reed pointing off to the other side of the boat, just ahead of where they were. “You might want to aim your camera that way,” he called out as he slowed the boat.
“Oh, Gage, look!” she exclaimed, frantically scrambling for her camera as she hurried over to the opposite side of the fishing boat.
He followed right behind her, prepared to catch Aurora should she slip on the wet deck in her haste to get another perfect shot.
When they reached the rail at the front of the boat, Aurora quickly aimed her camera in the direction of the pod of whales Reed had caught sight of.
They were breaching, spouts of water bursting upward as air released from their blowholes mixed with the surface water just above it. Always a sight to behold.
“Those are humpback whales,” Gage told Aurora as she snapped pictures of the natural spectacle the boat would soon be passing.
“This is so incredible! I don’t even care if it’s drizzling out today, or that the water isn’t as calm as it could be,” she assured him, the awe clear in her voice. “I got to see whales! A whole school of them.”
“That’s what’s known as a pod of whales,” Gage explained. “You’re catching the tail end of them. By the end of September, they’ll be migrating to warmer waters. Some traveling as far as Hawaii before returning to Alaska sometime in April.”
She smiled up at him. “There you go again. You know so much about everything. It’s like having my own personal tour guide along with me on this trip.” She brought up her camera to snap another shot of the beautiful creatures as they continued their journey.
Gage stood watching, thinking about how intricate and amazing nature was. And how beautiful Aurora was when she was lost in her photographic passion for it all.
Aurora sighed. “It’s moments like this that make you forget all about the weather and just appreciate everything around you. From the emerging tails of passing whales to the pine-covered mountains with their snowcapped peaks visible through the light mist of the falling rain.”
“You know,” Gage said, “I grew up with all of this a part of my everyday life. But when I’m with you, I better understand the saying about living vicariously through someone else. You make me feel like I’m experiencing all of this for the first time.”
“I’m so happy I’ve been able to do that for you,” she said, looking up into his eyes.
She had no idea how much her coming into his life had done for him.
“We’re going to drop anchor up ahead and see if we can’t turn you into a fisherman,” Reed called out from where he sat at the wheel.
Delight written all over her face, Aurora hurried to wipe her camera off before returning it to the waterproof bag. “That would be fisher woman ,” she corrected with a grin.
Reed laughed. “My bad.”
“Your brother reminds me a lot of Emmy,” she told Gage. Reaching out, she braced herself on the aluminum railing as the boat picked up speed again.
“I’m sure he’ll appreciate knowing that he reminds you of a woman,” Gage said with a chuckle.
Aurora rolled her eyes. “He reminds me of Emmy because they are both artistic. He has the same snarky sense of humor. And he says whatever’s on his mind, even if he has to backtrack after the fact.”
Gage nodded. “That would be Reed. Truth is, I thought the same thing that evening I spoke to Emmy during our walk to the main lodge.”
“Thankfully, she didn’t try and track me down when she was questioning your trustworthiness. Can you imagine if those two ever joined forces to torment us?”
The boat slowed to a stop.
“Looks like we’re at our spot,” Gage told her.
Reed came over to join them, carrying a rod. “Weather’s clearing up. Should be a good time to fish.”
“I’m so excited for this,” she told him.
“I used to have a bright pink fishing pole I fished with whenever my family went camping when I was a little girl. But the minuscule fish I would catch back then wouldn’t even qualify as bait for some of the ones I’ve seen caught by your family, and your guests, in that album on the great room’s coffee table. ”
“Maybe we can add one of your catches from today to our ‘Big Catch’ photo album.”
“Count on it.” Gage joined in as he took the rod Reed had brought over for Aurora to use.
“I’ll leave you to help Aurora get her line cast in,” Reed told him. “I’m going to go grab a pole and drop a line of my own.”
“We’ll cast from the rear of the boat,” Gage told her, leading Aurora in the direction Reed had gone, only he moved to the opposite side of the boat.
Aurora listened intently as Gage instructed her on the weight he’d added to the line to get it to drop down and stay at a good depth. He told her about the lure they were using and how to cast it.
“Now, let’s get your line in that water,” Gage said once he’d finished going over the basics. “Come on.” He motioned for Aurora to come stand close to him. “I’ll help you with this first cast.”
Together, they cast her line out into the water, and then he instructed her on how to place the base of her rod into one of the mounted holders along the rear side of the charter boat.
“Thatta girl,” Gage said as he stepped away. “Now, we wait.”
The tip of the rod bowed down seconds later and then bounced back up. Aurora looked at Gage in a panic. “Surely I don’t have a bite already.”
He chuckled. “I’d say you do.”
The rod’s shaft curved more sharply.
Aurora let out a startled shriek.
“Wait’s over,” Gage said with a grin. “Time to reel your catch in.”
“Way to go, Aurora!” Reed cheered from where he had cast his line in.
“What do I do?” she asked, eyeing the holder.
Gage moved to stand behind her, instructing Aurora on how to reel her catch in, assisting her when needed.
As the caught fish neared the boat, Gage took a large net and scooped it out of the water.
Pulling it free, he removed the hook from its mouth and then held up the coho, or silver salmon, as it was also known, for Aurora to see.
Reed let out a low whistle. “That’s a beauty!”
“Hold on,” she said excitedly, pulling her camera from its bag. “I have to get a picture.”
“Oh no, you don’t,” he told her. “Your catch. Your picture.” He held the fish out.
Her eyes widened. “You want me to hold it?”
His brows lifted. “You have no fear of crossing paths with a bear in the woods, but you’re nervous about holding a fish up for a picture?”
“A very big fish,” she corrected him with a sheepish smile.
Reed snorted.
“Come on, Aurora,” Gage said, “you live your life on the edge with all your photographic adventures. You can do this. I’ll take a picture so you’ll have it to remember your first big catch in Alaska.”
After a long hesitation, she sighed. “Okay, I’ll hold it. But you had better take the picture quick.” She handed her camera over to Reed to hold until Gage made the transfer.