CHAPTER ONE
Elora
Click,snap!
I focused the camera and snapped a picture, then another, and another.Wow, the views are amazing.
As I walked farther up the path, my camera snapped over and over, the colors growing more vibrant as I moved deeper into the woods of the mountain. Seeing nature in person wasn’t comparable to only seeing pictures, which was why I wanted to come here and capture it all, hoping to bring it to life for others.
I spent my childhood in a bigger town, about an hour outside of Appleridge, and closer to the more populated cities. While our leaves changed every year, it wasn’t the same stunning beauty as up here. I wanted to catch it before the season ended. What I needed most right now was a few good shots for my portfolio.
Leaves crunched beneath my boots as I forged ahead, photographing everything around me. I wanted to capture every moment, every pretty tree, every fallen leaf, and burn them into my memory for years to come.
I pulled out my phone and tapped out a text to my best friend, my mom.
Emilia: It’s so gorgeous here! The colors are stunning!
Mom: I so wish I were there with you! Send me lots of pics!
Emilia: will do!
I flipped over to the camera app, snapped a few pictures for her, and sent them through text right away.
Tucking my phone away, I followed along the path, taking pictures as I went.
The sun shone bright in the sky, warming the chilly air, and a few hundred feet ahead of me sat a large, beautiful-looking cabin. I’d only run into trees so far, so a wave of excitement ran through me.
It looked like something out of a storybook. The gorgeous wraparound porch stood out to me the most, with lanterns swinging in the gentle breeze, along with a couple of rocking chairs and a porch swing.
The impressive log work blew me away, and my curiosity piqued at what the inside might look like.
I brought my camera up to my eye and adjusted the zoom and lens before capturing a few good shots.
Without getting close enough to be trespassing, I changed my angles and snapped more shots.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath, still taken aback by the sheer beauty of it.
Did a family live inside? Or maybe a couple hiding away from the world? Or perhaps it was a hot mountain man like I heardlived in these types of towns. But what were the chances of that happening? Probably slim to none.
As I lowered my camera, I took out my phone once more, needing to send a few pictures to my mom. She’d appreciate its beauty as much as I did.
“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” A loud voice boomed around me, and my body stiffened, fear coursing through me.
The front door to the cabin was now open, and a very big, very beefy guy stood in the entrance, filling up the entire doorway. His flannel-covered arms were crossed over his chest, and his stance looked angry, almost menacing.
I swallowed hard, still unable to breathe.
“Excuse me? I asked you a question.”
It was like I’d forgotten the English language.
My mouth went dry, my brain malfunctioned, and no words formed.
The sexy, brawny man closed the door behind him and strode toward me, each step more forceful than the last.
I should’ve turned and gotten out of there. Done anything to defuse the situation. Instead, I stood there like a deer in headlights.
The closer he got, the more my insides twisted. He must’ve been at least six feet tall, with tight jeans and a form-fitted flannel button-down shirt, a buzz-cut haircut, and a thick, full light brown beard that I desperately wanted to run my fingers through. If I had to guess, I’d say he was older than me, a few white hairs popping through his beard.
