Currently, she exercised with energetic boys and two girls.Despite the steep hill they were tackling, the kids chattered with each other, trading jokes and insults and scarcely puffing.They impressed Maia because she was feeling the burn and running out of puff.
A flash of black in her peripheral vision had her head swiveling.She blinked but didn’t spot whatever had caught her eye.Must’ve been a rabbit or another animal.Henry had told her wild goats lived in this area.
“I see the obstacle course,” one boy hollered.
The pace increased a fraction, and again, the kids amazed Maia.Levi had proudly told her their team hadn’t lost a single game since they’d started training with her.
“I thought you might’ve turned back,” Maia said, panting.
“No!”the boys and girls shouted in unison.
She grinned.“Let’s see if the obstacle course sorts you out.”
“Nah!”Levi boasted.“We’re as fit as you.”
They jogged down the hill and climbed the gate into the obstacle course paddock.
“Dad said they’re gonna have another zombie run soon,” a girl said.Her black ponytail bobbed up and down with each step while her green eyes flashed excitedly.“We could have teams of kids.”
“Yeah,” a boy shouted.
“I’m sure you could,” Maia agreed as they approached the spaced tires.They’d done the course before.Twice, in fact, and it made a change from continually running.Maia loved the challenge of the obstacles as much as the kids.“Who wants to go first?”
“Me!”Everyone shouted at once.
Maia had experienced this before and had a strategy.“Today, the shortest person goes first.Line up in height order.I guess that means I go last,” she said, laughing.“No photos of me messing up the obstacles, guys.”
“Nah!”a short boy shouted, placing himself at the front of the line.
“We don’t have a phone,” Levi cried.
Despite their lack of height, the kids had a natural athleticism that they applied to each obstacle.She’d struggled with a couple.Never mind.Optimism spurred her onward.This time, she’d ace them all.
“Right,” Maia said once the kids stood in a line.“Our last time over the eight obstacles was over an hour.Let’s see if we can beat that today.Once I say go, I’ll start everyone at five-minute intervals.Remember, if anyone is having trouble, ask for help.We’re a team.Ready, steady, go!”
The first boy raced off like the wind.Five minutes later, the next kid—a girl—sprinted toward the tires and navigated them without hesitation.One by one, the kids started until she was on her own.Gleeful shouts rode on the wind, making her smile.These kids made training fun when, in the past, some days had been a grind.
Maia glanced at her watch and waited ten minutes before starting.Her legs were longer, and she should catch the kids easily enough.She sprinted for the first obstacle and ran through the tires, carefully placing her feet.She scanned the area, looking for the kids, but they’d scampered through the trees toward the next obstacles, and she grinned on seeing flashes of red, blue, and yellow in the distance.Their laughter floated toward her, and she ran with a broad smile.
The next challenge was a giant rope web pegged to the ground for the competitors to crawl beneath.Maia smiled ruefully.Her mature curves were not as suited to slithering along the ground beneath the woven obstacle.
It was slow going since her butt dragged along the rope barrier.She hit a muddy puddle, and frigid water soaked into her clothes.She bit back a curse, forcing her mind to tropical beaches and warm seas.It was her happy place when the frigid Otago chill nipped at her face and limbs.
Maia got stuck again and had to back up before progressing forward.At last, she clawed from under the webbing and jumped to her feet.She ran, steadily jogging up and down inclines.
She increased her speed to a sprint when she reached the flat and kept up this pace until she reached the next obstacle—a wall with a rope webbing.With a leap, she grasped the rope halfway up the wall and started climbing.Her warm muscles worked to haul her body upward.All those hours in the gym had helped her upper body strength, and right now, she was thankful for the habit of physical toil.At the top, she searched for the kids and spotted one or two running along the path through the trees.This wasn’t the regular obstacle course route, but the water crossing wasn’t safe during the winter, and Gerard had suggested dodging the trees, stones, and branches on the path was an acceptable contest.
Now that she’d spotted the kids, she thought she’d made up time and was catching them.She flung herself down the other side, ran along a gravel track, and down another incline before reaching the flat paddock.The native trees, on the other side, were her goal.
“Hurry, Maia is catching us.”
She grinned, her competitive streak urging her to hurry.
The grass was spongy beneath her feet, and mud splattered up to coat her legs.Her close-fitting top clung to her skin with an unpleasant dampness as she raced across the paddock toward the trees.
The kids had gone silent, and she slowed to listen.She frowned because they were usually a noisy bunch.Were they playing a trick?Maia scanned the area and spotted nothing out of place.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, and the cheer drained from the day.A shiver ran through Maia, but she forced herself to focus on her surroundings.The last thing she needed was an injury.
