Page 69 of Tattered and Torn

“That’s what the guns are for,” she says.

I nod. “And bear spray. That’s probably the most effective deterrent in case one shows up.”

“Would you like to hike around the lake?” I ask when we’re done with lunch.

“What about the horses? Is it safe to leave them alone?”

“We won’t be so far away that we can’t see and hear them. If they get spooked, we’ll know.”

After we remove all traces of our meal, we start off around the lake. The path is a bit difficult in places, with fallen logs and branches barring our way. When Gabrielle steps up to cross a log, I offer her a hand, steadying her when she loses her balance.

We see all sorts of wildlife on our hike—rabbits, snakes, lizards, and deer. Gabrielle jumps every time something slithers across the path, or when we hear loud splashes coming from the lake.

“It’s just the fish,” I tell her.

Turtles bolt at our approach and disappear into the reedy shallows. Bullfrogs serenade us with their deep croaks.

We take our time, pausing periodically to stand and gaze at the mountain peaks in the distance.

“I didn’t realize I was so out of shape,” Gabrielle says when she notices she’s having to stop to catch her breath a lot.

“It’s the elevation,” I say. “You’re not accustomed to it. The air pressure is lower up here. Hey, if you start to feel sick, let me know, and we’ll take it easy.”

We hold hands the last leg of our hike. Here the ground has evened out some, and it’s easier going.

When we reach camp, I feed the horses while Gabrielle heats up a pot of beef stew and wraps some rolls in foil and sets them on the grill to heat. Looks like we’re having stew and warm rolls with butter for supper, along with chilled soft drinks.

“Why does everything taste better when you eat it outside?” Gabrielle asks as we sit around the fire and eat.

That evening, after we clean the dishes, I stoke the fire and check the animals to make sure they’re safe and comfortable. They all seem pretty relaxed, which is reassuring. Horses can smell predators from quite a distance, and these three seem at ease.

I stroke Zeus’s neck. “You let me know if there’s any trouble, all right? And keep an eye on the others.” Odin and Sal are both asleep on their feet.

Zeus whinnies as he butts his nose against my chest.

As darkness falls, we sit by the fire, quietly relaxing, while the insects serenade us.

Gabrielle holds my scarred hand on her lap and gently strokes it. Linking our fingers, she sighs. “I’m sorry you were hurt.”

“Thanks, honey. But look on the bright side. If it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have met you.”

She smiles, but it’s a sad smile. Then she cups my face and leans in to kiss me.

Her lips are soft and cool on mine, gently coaxing them open. Immediately, my body responds, and I have to shift in my seat to make room for a growing erection. Is it too early to suggest we go to bed? Right now, all I can think about is getting her onto that bedroll.

When Gabrielle yawns, I suggest we call it a night. I bank the fire, and then we both get ready for bed.

“I’m not going in there alone, not even to pee,” Gabrielle says, staring into the pitch-black woods.

I bite my lip to keep from smiling. “Do you want me to go with you?”

She contemplates that idea for a moment, balancing privacy with safety. “I think you’d better.”

“Okay.” I bring a flashlight with me, stand a few yards away, and give her some privacy while she takes care of business.

She returns to camp while I pee, and then we wash up and crawl into the tent. I turn on a small battery-operated lantern and set it on the floor in the corner. It provides just enough light that we can see what we’re doing.

She’s sitting on our sleeping bag, her legs crossed, watching me. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” I ask.

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