He rapped on the glass again.
I buzzed down the window.
“We’re about to leave.”
“Hi, Deputy Bobby.”
He winced and rubbed one eye.“Get out of your car.”
“Funny coincidence, I’m not here for the hike—”
“Out.”
I got out of the car.
Deputy Bobby gave me a very cop-like assessment and said, “Did you eat two muffins?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Officer.”
He rubbed his eyes again.“All right.Here we go.”
I trudged over to the group, mostly because Deputy Bobby was careful to stay a step behind me in case I got any crazy ideas, like trying to make a run for it.The hikers numbered fifteen now, counting me and Deputy Bobby, and they were all friendly—men and women in middle age, who welcomed me with smiles and nods and the occasional handshake.Nobody screamed, “Murderer!”Nobody fainted.I realized, too late, I hadn’t paid attention to their names, and as we set off on the hike, I decided the only safe thing to do was hang back to walk alongside Deputy Bobby.
I’d been right about the day: clear skies, warming nicely, but with a wind ripping through the stands of spruce and fir that made me glad for the jacket.I was learning—slowly.The air smelled like moss and resin and damp soil.The massive sitka spruces creaked and rolled their branches.Ferns and bracken hissed in the breeze.It was too crisp and too bright and too beautiful not to feel awake and alive and happy.I figured the muffins and latte probably hadn’t hurt.
When I glanced over, though, Deputy Bobby was stifling a yawn.
“You look beat.”
“Thanks.”
“God, no, I just meant—are you okay?”
“I’m tired.”
“But you still came to the hike?”
“I like hiking.”
I raised my eyebrows.“I can tell.”
After a moment, he gave me a crooked look.I let a smile slip out.
“I’m sorry,” he said.“I worked third watch, and I spent half of it dealing with angry messages and trying to explain why being too tired is a valid excuse not to go to a party.”
“Oh,” I said.
“West really wants to go.”
That part, I’d figured out myself.
“I’m sorry,” I said.“I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Deputy Bobby made a strange noise; it took me a moment to recognize the little scoff as a kind of laugh.
“Do you want to talk about it?”I asked.
“No.I want to hike.And I want to enjoy this hike.In silence.And then I want to go home and sleep so I can go to this stupid party.”
