In what seemed like only seconds, it felt like we were in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The house was out of sight around a bend in the path, and as the sounds of wildlife echoed through the thick trunks, I picked up my pace to make sure Niko didn’t leave me behind. I didn’t really think he would do that, but one can never be too sure.
“Hiking through the woods? That’s your idea of an adventure? I didn’t even put on any bug spray!” I said peevishly. Honestly, who did he think I was, Daniel Boone?
“Right chest strap in the zipper pocket, princess.” He said over his shoulder, “And yes, I do think this will be quite the adventure. Now, why don’t you trynotwhining like a little baby, and attempt to enjoy the great outdoors for a bit? Or… are you not strong enough to handle a little physical exertion?”
I didn’t miss the devious little smirk in his voice, but his goading worked. I would be damned if I couldn’t keep up with him, hike or no hike. Growling in defiant brattiness, I reached up to my backpack strap and found the pocket he indicated. Sure enough, there was a smallspray bottle of insect repellant in it. I quickly applied it to myself, annoyed that he had so easily anticipated my complaint.
We walked in a somewhat peaceful silence for a few minutes, and I couldn’t help but take in the natural beauty around me. Despite the hot stillness of the air beneath the tree canopy, these woods were quite lovely. Birds chirped and sang as they flitted from tree to tree, and squirrels darted along branches and up trunks, chittering angrily at us when we got too close to their territory.
“Watch your step here, Maddy. We’re headed up this incline, and it gets a little rocky.” Niko said about thirty minutes into our hike, indicating a hill in front of us. I could see the path rising at an angle along the slope. About halfway up, I could see rock formations jutting out of the hillside, making fantastic shapes that almost reminded me of fortress walls. The path seemed to cut between them, growing somewhat narrow in a few places.
“Come on, Niko, isn’t it time we turned back? I’m getting all sticky and sweaty. I’ll admit the woods are pretty, but in the middle of summer, it’s like being in a sauna.” I knew I was whining like a spoiled brat, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t done this much physical exercise in I didn’t even know how long, and my legs were already complaining at me. Niko turned and saw me stopped at the bottom of the hill, and crooked a finger at me expectantly.
“Come on, princess. It’s just a bit further, I promise. Or are you going to admit that you can’t keep up?” Heraised his eyebrows, adopting a fake look of concern. “Does the little baby need a nap before she can go any further?”
“Like hell, I do,buddy. I can hike every bit as long as you can. You just watch.” With renewed vigor, I marched right up that hill and passed him, not even deigning to spare a glance in his direction. His low, triumphant chuckle only served to spur me on even faster. Had he successfully goaded me into continuing once again? Sure. Was I going to admit it to him? Not on your fucking life.
I hiked doggedly up the hill, passing between the rock formations without even really noticing them. Niko called out after me. “Maddy, wait up! You should really let me lead, you don’t even know where — Maddy!” I ignored him, marching straight up the path.
“What, little boy can’t keep up?” It was my turn to goadhimfor a change. See how he liked it. I smiled to myself as I heard him growl from behind me.
Niko caught up to me right as I crested the top of the hill, and grabbed my backpack from behind, halting me in my tracks. Not that I needed the help. I stood stock-still, my jaw dropping open for a moment as I took in the sight that greeted me.
Spread out below me was a scene straight off of a postcard. This side of the hill ended about five feet ahead of me in a cliff face about twenty feet high, although I could see the path winding down to the left where the cliff tapered off. At the bottom of the cliff was a pool of water about fifty feet across, and so clear I could see all the way to the bottom. It was surrounded on two sides by the cliff and hillside, and on the other two sides bysmooth, time-worn rocks down at water level. I could see a stream exiting the pool on the far side from where we stood, disappearing off into the woods out of sight. All in all, it was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen.
Silently, allowing me to take in the majesty of this place, Niko led me down the path and around to where the rocks edged the water. All I could do was stare as I saw from this vantage point that the water had carved its way under the cliffs a bit, making a shaded overhang along that edge. It was magical, like something out of a story.
“Now, tell me this isn’t better than your stupid Instagram feed,” he said, throwing his backpack on the ground and arching his back to stretch tight muscles. I felt the same urge, but stretching was the furthest thing from my mind as I took in the gorgeous little lagoon of a swimming hole set amongst rock outcroppings.
“Niko…” I trailed off, feeling the prick of tears sting my eyes as I took in the sight.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” He asked. There was no arrogance, only pride in the property he owned. “Definitely better than Instagram,” he chuckled.
“Obviously you have never seen my Instafeed, but whatever. Yeah… it’s pretty,” I shrugged off with feigned nonchalance.
“It’s one of my favorite places on the property. The pool is fed by a spring, so it’s nice and cold, even in the middle of summer.” He sat down on a nearby rock, pulling his backpack with him and grabbing a water bottle from the side pocket before tossing it my way. “Heads up!”
I caught it with ease, immediately opening it to take long, chugging gulps. I was thirsty beyond belief.
“It’s so hot today,” I complained, feeling the sweat pool at the small of my back and bead against my forehead as I ran the cold bottle over my skin to cool me down.
“It wouldn’t be so hot if it weren’t for the humidity,” he shrugged.
“Spoken like a true Missourian,” I scoffed with a roll of my eyes.
I plucked at my shirt after removing my own backpack, feeling the fabric stick to my skin in a sweaty, almost sickening way. Then I got the most brilliant stroke of genius.
Crossing my arms in front of me, I pulled my tank over my head, followed quickly by my sports bra.
“What the—? Maddy, are you really doing this again?” he whined.
“Hush.” It was a command, one I knew he would not obey, but I paid him no mind. I was a woman on a mission. I tugged at my leggings, pulling them down my legs along with my underwear as I kicked my shoes off. Once all of my clothing was removed, I made a run for it.
“Maddy!” He shouted, but I was long gone by the time the words left his lips. I dashed along a flat rock that jutted a few feet into the water and took a running leap off the edge, hitting the water in a cannonball.
The water was perfectly clear, and cold enough that it almost took my breath away. Where I’d landed was deep enough that when I came back up to the surface and put my feet down, I was submerged to the chest.
“What are you doing?” he shouted from the bank.