Oscar sat on a boulder and took a swig from his water bottle. "Fall is the season of romance, my friends," he proclaimed, sweeping his arm out to encompass the vibrant foliage. “I dare you to be uninspired.” Megs rolled her eyes, and Oscar caught the motion. His eyes danced. “What, too dramatic for an actor? I thought this would be a safe place.”
Melissa adjusted the straps of her small backpack. “You’re safe with me. Be as dramatic as you want.”
Oscar smiled, then flicked his eyes back to Megs. “Places like these, they’re for dreamers.”
What was it with this guy? Was he truly this romantic at heart, or was he putting on a show? Either way, there was something charming about his commitment. Megs lifted her water bottle and took a sip. Oscar leaned back and lifted his face to the sun. Then, a few minutes later, he stood and led them back onto the path toward the train.
Leaves crunched under their feet as they walked. It didn’t take them long to reach the trailhead where they’d started.
“I know it’s only eleven-thirty, but I’m starving.” Layla wrapped her arms around her stomach.
“I think they have snacks in the—” Megs stopped when she noticed the small crowd gathered on the train platform. “Are the doors not open? I thought it was heading back to town at noon.”
Oscar approached a man in grease-stained overalls standing off to the side of the main group, and Megs hurried forward to listen. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Train's broken down. Don't know how long it'll be before we can get 'er up and running again."
Sixteen
Gideon watched Megs'panic rise as Matt relayed the news to the rest of their group.There was an issue with the train and they hadn’t diagnosed it yet. Typically a problem like this was resolved within a few hours.
Megs clenched her fists and spun toward the trees. He knew exactly what she must be thinking. Tonight was the last night of her certification course. That class started at five-thirty. If it took a few hours to resolve the issue with the train, then forty-five minutes to return to Sugar Creek and another half hour up to Champlain, she’d barely make it on time. If the issue got resolved, and if it didn’t . . .
“I have a class tonight.” Megs spun around and spoke to Matt while the others chatted amongst themselves.
“What kind of class?” Matt asked.
“A certification course. It’s my last night. I can’t miss it.”
The image of Megs slumped against the bricks next to the doors of the school flashed through Gideon’s head. If she missed her last class, he doubted they’d be willing to make another exception.
Matt unzipped his jacket. “What time does it start?”
“Five,” she answered.
Gideon frowned.Was it starting early because it was the last night?
Matt nodded. “That should be plenty of time. I doubt it’ll take as long as they say.”
Gideon turned to Alli. “I’ll be back in a second.” He walked to the information desk and waited behind a couple venting to the woman in the booth about how they hadn’t planned to stay long at this altitude, then he stepped forward when they finally walked toward the gift shop.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked.
“Just wondered if there were any trails that go down to the main road. The one we crossed on the train.”
She perked up when she realized he wasn’t there to complain about the broken down Rambler and grabbed a map. “There are a couple, actually.” She spread the paper between them and circled two trailheads that picked up just below where they were standing. “Both of these cross the road, but there isn’t a town there if that’s what you were hoping for. Closest one is another two miles down the road.”
Gideon thanked her and took the map, then walked back to their group near the trees. He frowned when he didn’t see Megs standing next to Matt anymore. Alli looked at him questioningly, and Gideon held up a finger, then approached his friend.
“Is Megs all right?”
Matt nodded. “She’ll be fine. Just took a minute to herself in the trees.” Gideon turned, and Matt put a hand on his shoulder. “She said she wanted to be alone.”
Gideon bristled. “I think she’ll want to see this. Might help.” He stalked off before Matt could offer to come along. Ever since Alli mentioned Matt being interested in Megs, Gideon noticed everything. The way Matt always looked to Megs first after making a jokeor complimented her on everything. Matt was nice, but notthatnice.
Meanwhile, Alli was doing the same to him. He didn’t want to give her the wrong impression, and he’d have been lying to himself if he said he didn’t enjoy the attention. If it was every girl's dream to have their favorite teacher fall for them, it was every guy's dream to meet up with an ex and have them still be obviously interested.
"Hey,” Gideon called out when he saw Megs leaning against an aspen trunk.
