“It’s not my sense of adventure I’m worried about.”She stepped on another boulder that was wet.She felt her foot slip, but she maintained her balance before stepping down on the rocky trail.“It’s keeping my feet dry.I didn’t bring another pair of socks.”She had brought a jacket but nothing else.She might have to add that to her essentials list.
Carson’s eyebrows shot up over the rim of his glasses.“Shit, I didn’t think about that.I just thought this would be more fun than walking along the trail.We can get back on the trail.”He started heading back across the stream, but she looped her hand around his bicep and pulled back to stop him.His bicep felt like granite under her hand, hard and unyielding.
He was far stronger than her and could have pulled from her grip, but he stopped going in the direction of the trail.
“Carson, it’s fine.I told you before, I won’t melt in the water.My boots are waterproof.I was only giving you crap.Lighten up.”He glanced down at her hand still wrapped around his arm.
Allie slowly retracted it and stepped away.She gripped her backpack straps to help remind herself to keep her hands to herself.Her palm felt warm from his touch, which had everything to do with the man and not the heat of the sun.Her stomach started doing that fluttering thing again.
“You seem to know a lot about this trail,” she mentioned as she led the way, though she had no idea where she was going.She was just following the water.Carson said it dead-ended into a waterfall, so she just had to follow this up.It wasn’t a bad hike.She’d been on more strenuous hikes and even rock-climbed a few times.
“I’ve been up here a couple of times.My friends and I do hikes like thisevery once in a while.”
“I can see why, it’s really nice.”
“If you like this, then just wait.”
“For what?”She glanced over at him as he came up beside her.
“For this.”Allie looked to where Carson pointed ahead.She stopped in her tracks.“What do you think?”Carson asked, hands planted on his hips as he looked around.
Allie was in awe.It had a high craggily wall face with trees dotted all around it and in the center, a waterfall cascaded down into a pool that flowed down the stream they had followed in.“It’s beautiful.”Several hikers were already there admiring the view and taking photos.
Allie wandered around trying to take it all in.It was like walking into a little slice of heaven.She saw people with helmets and climbing gear standing near the edge of the waterfall.One person manned the belay line as someone climbed up the rock face.
Allie was jealous.She’d love to get that much closer to the waterfall and see what was on the other side.Next time she came here, she’d pack her gear.
Allie looked out for a flat spot and headed for it, setting her bag down and taking things out.“What are you doing?”Carson asked, coming up next to her.
“I packed us a picnic.”She laid out the blanket and started setting out the food.It wasn’t anything fancy, just sandwiches and chips.Theyhad both packed water bottles, so she didn’t pack anything extra.“Join me.”She patted the spot next to her.
Carson set down his pack and sat next to her.The waterfall was in front of them.It provided the perfect scenery.“I packed, ham, turkey, or both.I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”
“Turkey is fine.You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.I had snacks for us to share in my bag.”
Similar to MREs?No thanks.She’d rather starve.“It’s just sandwiches and chips.It’s not like I packed a banquet feast.I figured we could use a decent meal before our descent, and it is lunchtime.”After a few minutes of eating, Allie asked, “Is it true Sandy beat you up as a kid?”
Carson’s features pinched, and he groaned as if in pain.“Does shetell that story to everyone?It was supposed to be a secret.”
“So it’s true?”Allie gasped, totally shocked that Sandy could get the drop on someone like Carson.True, it was when they were kids, but still.
“That’s not exactly how it happened.”
“Care to set the record straight?”
“It’s not that exciting of a story.”
“I’m not going anywhere?”She nudged him in the arm with hers.“Come on, you can tell me.I won’t think less of you if you got beat up by a girl.Even if it was Sandy, who is a foot shorter than you.”
“Beat up is the wrong word.Taken by surprise is more like.”Allie waved him on to continue.Carson sighed heavily.“There were two girls fighting.I decided to intervene.The girl took offense to my interference, so she kneed me in a not-so-nice place in retaliation.There was no beating me up, she just caught me off guard.”
“Sandy was this girl?”Allie questioned, dumbfounded.She knew her friend was fierce, but she didn’t peg her for a knee-jerker because someone was trying to break up a fight.
“Yep, Sandy apologized afterward, and we’ve been friends since.”
“Wow, Sandy makes it sound cooler, but I’m glad you became friends out of it.How old were you?”
“Thirteen, I think.”Wow, barely a teenager and already coming to another person’s defense.He was meant to be a soldier and help others.
