"What if she doesn't want me to kiss her? I mean, what if she really only does want a friendship?"
Chris shrugged. "Maybe she's not thought of the possibility of anything else. It may take her time to readjust her feelings, Matt. Like I said, don't rush things. Start doing things together, outside of meeting at the Rock, just the two of you. Get to know each other on another level."
"You know, all of this sounds really good, but I'm not exactly a great cook," he said. "I may run her off just by preparing the meal."
"I'd offer to help, but if I could cook, I wouldn't spend damn near every night eating Dave's crap."
Matt was silent for a moment, then looked up and waited until Chris looked at him. "You know, Hatcher's been talking to her a lot lately. He never paid her the time of day before, but it's like he knows I'm interested so he's making this some kind of competition."
"Hatcher is a bastard. And people around here know it. I wouldn't worry about him, Matt."
"Yeah, but women just fall all over him."
"Hell, you look at him from a distance and he's gorgeous. I'll be the first to admit he's one of the most handsome men I've ever met. But you get close and look into his eyes and they're just empty. And then you get to know him and find out what a bastard he is and you really know the meaning of 'beauty is only skin deep.'"
"You're probably right."
"Can you name one person around here who he's friends with?"
Matt shook his head. "No. He usually eats alone when he comes to the Rock. Other than flirting with the women there, he doesn't really talk to anyone."
Chris slapped his shoulder once. "Right. So don't worry about him, will you?"
They sat in silence awhile longer, one of them occasionally stirring the fire but they were both lost in thought. Chris let her mind drift to Jessie Stone, wondering what she was doing tonight. Sitting alone in her cabin, thinking of her father, no doubt. Or Annie. Why did she really come back here?
It was early afternoon the next day when they came upon the backpackers. The two groups had joined up and all were accounted for. The only problem was an annoying blister one of the women had developed and Chris offered to wrap it for her. Matt radioed Roger and they headed back, leaving the backpackers to finish their hike alone, but only after Matt had sufficiently teased Chris. The woman with the blister was a cutie and she had scribbled her name and phone number down and shyly slipped it into Chris's pocket.
At twilight, they were still some six miles from the trailhead, so they camped again, this time near the creek. They fell asleep listening to the water softly tumble over the rocks and down into the canyon. Chris thought it was the most peaceful night's sleep she'd had in weeks.
They took their time over breakfast the next morning, making it back to the station by noon. She and Matt gladly accepted Roger's offer of an afternoon off, even though the weekend crowds were starting to come into town.
"Ellen's cooking tonight. Why don't you come over?" Roger offered.
"No, thanks. I think I'll stay in and keep Dillon company. Maybe next time."
Chris was tired after two days on horseback and two nights sleeping on the ground. She took a long, hot shower and for the first time, wished there was still a tub. A long soak would do wonders. She was drying off when her cell phone rang and she walked naked into the kitchen to answer.
"McKenna," she said.
"It's Annie. I missed you last night."
"Oh, Annie, I completely forgot. We were out on the South Rim the last two nights. I just got back today."
"Is everything okay? Anyone hurt?"
"No, no. We were just checking on some backpackers coming from Tahoe." She changed ears as she walked back into the bathroom to finish drying off. "Listen, can we make it tonight?"
"Of course. As long as you don't mind leftovers."
"Annie, your leftovers are better than my cooking any day," she said. "I'll be there at six."
Chris hoped Annie didn't bring up Jessie tonight. If there was one person Chris wanted to tell about Jessie being in town, it was Annie. She parked in her usual spot under the juniper and went inside after a brief knock. She had been joining Annie for dinner at least once a week, sometimes twice, ever since Roger had introduced them. She looked forward to their visits and the chance to eat a good vegetarian meal that was something other than Dave's surprises or her own pitiful attempt at cooking.
"Chris, I'm back here."
Chris now knew that was her studio. Annie had two walls knocked out of a corner room and glass installed and it offered her great views of the mountains and trees around her home. She did most of her painting there. Chris made her way back, exclaiming over how much Annie had finished in the last week.
"You're almost done," she said, inspecting the painting Annie was working on. It was of Sierra Peak, the most prominent landmark in the area. It was to be a gift for her.
"Not quite. A few more days, perhaps."
"It's beautiful, Annie." Annie told her that she had never given one of her paintings away and Chris was honored to be the first.
"Thank you, Chris, but I sometimes wonder at your judgment. You like the one I did of the elk and we both know they look more like cattle than elk," she said and they both laughed.
Before dinner, they took their wine to the back deck and watched the squirrels. Annie asked about the backpackers and Chris rattled on, bringing Annie up to date with the happenings in town, all the while keeping Jessie's name at bay. It wasn't until after dinner that Annie brought her up.
"I got my monthly newsletter from the book club and Jessie will have a new one out by Christmas."
"Really?"
"This will be number seven, by my count."
"I've only read four," Chris said.
They were quiet for a moment, then Annie said, "You know, sometimes I have half a mind to just call her up. If I thought it would do any good, I would. But I'm sure she's working through sixteen years of built-up hatred. Maybe if I ever get one of her books where the mother doesn't die, I might take a chance."
"I wish you could, too, Annie. It shouldn't be this way between families."
"What about your own? You've never mentioned them."
Chris grinned. "We don't exactly speak."
"And you're giving me advice? Shame on you."
Chapter Twelve
On her way to the Rock the next morning, Chris again passed Jessie jogging and again she stopped.
"Where have you been?" Jessie demanded as she leaned on the Jeep's door.
"South Rim Trail, in the backcountry."
"Searching for?" Jessie prompted, a grin slashing across her face.
"Backpackers."
"Find them?"
"Of course." Chris thought Jessie was much prettier than her picture revealed, if that were possible. Her eyes weren't quite as lifeless in person.
"You're not working today, are you?"
"Yep."
"It's Saturday."
"My turn," Chris explained.
Jessie nodded. "Where will you be?"
"I'm in the office this morning. Then I'll just be making the rounds, probably end up at Lake Trail this afternoon."
"Maybe I'll see you there, McKenna. I've been wanting to get in a little fishing."
With that she ran on and Chris watched, her eyes lighting on the back of muscled thighs. She finally realized she was still sitting in the middle of the road and she drove off, honking once as she passed Jessie.
After a quick lunch of cheese and crackers, Chris filled her water bottle and headed out to Lake Trail. The ranger station had been busy that morning and she knew that Lake Trail was the easiest and therefore, would be the most crowded. The cabins were full for the weekend, as was the lodge. Bill and Peggy had rented out all of their bikes and the dirt roads around town were crowded with hikers and mountain bikers alike. The beautiful late summer weather continued, bringing with it people from the city yearning for the outdoors. She stopped at the trailhead, glancing at the sign-in sheet. Six people in one group; there goes the wildlife, she thought. Another two; bird watchers. They should've started earlier. A group of four, two of them kids. Jennifer Parker. Chris smiled and looked up. Fishing? Two other names were listed below, but Chris scarcely noticed as she closed the lid and headed off down the trail. She hadn't expected Jessie to be here already. She had planned on making Lake Trail her last stop but because of the crowd, she thought she better make a quick run through before heading out to Fire Lookout.
It was almost a half-mile to the lake, then the trail followed the shore and connected back to the start, about two miles total. The Lake Trail cutoff, which hooked up with Ridge Trail, was about a mile into the hike. She walked briskly, coming upon an older couple with a poodle on a leash. She nodded and smiled, then barely got out of the way as the poodle decided to attack. She rolled her eyes as the couple pulled the barking poodle down the trail, disrupting the quiet of the lake for miles around.
Chris kept an eye out along the shore. She spotted Jessie at the first turn, standing by herself out on the point, expertly casting a fly rod. She watched for several minutes before walking up.
"Any luck?"
Jessie turned around and smiled. "Hi, McKenna. I'm afraid not. And I was hoping for fresh trout for my dinner."
"Then the luck's all with the fish," Chris said.
"And here I was going to invite you to dinner."
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