breathing.
Massive rocks flanking Kate arched up from the ground and rose far above her head, leading to the tunnel. She glanced at the other end of the small, rectangular hole and filled her lungs with air. I can handle this. There’s light shining through at the other end.
Smooth stones pressed against her kneecaps as she knelt down on the ground. She spun her camera around to rest on her back as she made the mini trek to the other end. Her dry palms scraped along the dusty ground.
“I can do this. I can do this,” Kate whispered. The brown stone walls brushed against her shoulders as she inched along. She lifted her feet up attempting to keep them clean and free from scraping along the ground behind her, placing more pressure on her knees.
Everyone else on the tour cleared the tunnel. Her heart thumped in her chest and sweat built up on her temples and under her arms. Claustrophobia had never posed a problem for her before, but it appeared to be right now. Her body felt torn. Part of her wanted to crawl into the fetal position and freeze while the other half wanted to race to the end of the tunnel.
Sunlight warmed her face as she neared the end. As quick as Will’s hand appeared in front of her she grabbed it and stood upright.
“Have a problem in there? You took a little longer than most. You’re welcome to wait here if it’s too much for you.”
“Nope. No problem here.” She darted her vision away from him and slipped her quivering hands behind her back, forced a smile, and turned to walk away before he figured her out.
Her fear washed away as she approached the cliff dwellings, replaced with the onset of awe. The ancient ruins looked like a hidden fortress of burgundy-colored sand castles still intact from two thousand years ago. A series of multilevel rooms, carved from the massive rocks, filled the concave structure. In the distance, she could see lush juniper and pinyon pine growing for miles below the rim rocks.
Will’s voice boomed in the background, giving the details of the Anasazi Indian tribes that once roamed the area.
The tribes had occupied the dwellings for centuries. Hundreds of years ago children must have ran in and out of the buildings chasing each other, much like today. There was breathtaking scenery in every direction.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Will said, stirring Kate from her thoughts.
“I never would have guessed this was hidden back here. People lived here, roamed through here, and died here.” She tried to keep her mouth closed, although awe seemed the word of the moment.
“I’ve been down here hundreds of times and the view gets me every time,” he added.
Kate nodded. The breeze fluttered through wisps of her hair.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Will said.
“What’s that?” Kate turned and faced him.
“Do you want to have dinner with me tonight?” His voice cracked. “Ya know, like a date.”
“A date, or like a date?” Kate teased. Her smile grew across her face.
Will adjusted his hat and smiled. Kate figured he fidgeted with his hat every time he got nervous.
“Sure. I would like that.” She looked around to see if any of the other tourists were watching. Inside she wanted to do the happy dance. That would have to wait.
“Meet me at the parking lot when the tour is over. We can go from there,” Will said.
“What about my car?” Kate asked as she brushed a bit of the pale brown, fine sand off her hands.
“It’ll be fine. Give me the keys and I can get one of the guys at the visitor center to drive it back—if that’s OK with you. You can ride to town with me and avoid all those twists and turns you’re so fond of.”
She dug the keys from her pocket and laid them in the palm of his hand. Before, she never would have given someone her keys. But she trusted Will. He dropped them in his pocket, walked back to the ruins, and began his speech again. Her date turned and winked and chill bumps popped up on her arms. I
Massive rocks flanking Kate arched up from the ground and rose far above her head, leading to the tunnel. She glanced at the other end of the small, rectangular hole and filled her lungs with air. I can handle this. There’s light shining through at the other end.
Smooth stones pressed against her kneecaps as she knelt down on the ground. She spun her camera around to rest on her back as she made the mini trek to the other end. Her dry palms scraped along the dusty ground.
“I can do this. I can do this,” Kate whispered. The brown stone walls brushed against her shoulders as she inched along. She lifted her feet up attempting to keep them clean and free from scraping along the ground behind her, placing more pressure on her knees.
Everyone else on the tour cleared the tunnel. Her heart thumped in her chest and sweat built up on her temples and under her arms. Claustrophobia had never posed a problem for her before, but it appeared to be right now. Her body felt torn. Part of her wanted to crawl into the fetal position and freeze while the other half wanted to race to the end of the tunnel.
Sunlight warmed her face as she neared the end. As quick as Will’s hand appeared in front of her she grabbed it and stood upright.
“Have a problem in there? You took a little longer than most. You’re welcome to wait here if it’s too much for you.”
“Nope. No problem here.” She darted her vision away from him and slipped her quivering hands behind her back, forced a smile, and turned to walk away before he figured her out.
Her fear washed away as she approached the cliff dwellings, replaced with the onset of awe. The ancient ruins looked like a hidden fortress of burgundy-colored sand castles still intact from two thousand years ago. A series of multilevel rooms, carved from the massive rocks, filled the concave structure. In the distance, she could see lush juniper and pinyon pine growing for miles below the rim rocks.
Will’s voice boomed in the background, giving the details of the Anasazi Indian tribes that once roamed the area.
The tribes had occupied the dwellings for centuries. Hundreds of years ago children must have ran in and out of the buildings chasing each other, much like today. There was breathtaking scenery in every direction.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Will said, stirring Kate from her thoughts.
“I never would have guessed this was hidden back here. People lived here, roamed through here, and died here.” She tried to keep her mouth closed, although awe seemed the word of the moment.
“I’ve been down here hundreds of times and the view gets me every time,” he added.
Kate nodded. The breeze fluttered through wisps of her hair.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Will said.
“What’s that?” Kate turned and faced him.
“Do you want to have dinner with me tonight?” His voice cracked. “Ya know, like a date.”
“A date, or like a date?” Kate teased. Her smile grew across her face.
Will adjusted his hat and smiled. Kate figured he fidgeted with his hat every time he got nervous.
“Sure. I would like that.” She looked around to see if any of the other tourists were watching. Inside she wanted to do the happy dance. That would have to wait.
“Meet me at the parking lot when the tour is over. We can go from there,” Will said.
“What about my car?” Kate asked as she brushed a bit of the pale brown, fine sand off her hands.
“It’ll be fine. Give me the keys and I can get one of the guys at the visitor center to drive it back—if that’s OK with you. You can ride to town with me and avoid all those twists and turns you’re so fond of.”
She dug the keys from her pocket and laid them in the palm of his hand. Before, she never would have given someone her keys. But she trusted Will. He dropped them in his pocket, walked back to the ruins, and began his speech again. Her date turned and winked and chill bumps popped up on her arms. I
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