majestic view in the background. The whipping wind tugged on Hanna’s ponytail and shirt, cooling her off. Micah hurried the group, reminding them they had to make it back to the CMC site before dark.
The descent was easier and provided a beautiful view. When they reached the campsite, they repeated last night’s rituals, and soon they were relaxing around a campfire while darkness closed in around them. All the water Hanna had drunk during dinner was having its effect, and nature’s call beckoned. The area outside of the fire’s light was an ambiguous black hole. Why hadn’t she thought to go before night fell?
For a moment she considered asking the ladies if one of them needed to go, but decided against it when she realized they might think she was afraid of the dark.
She slipped quietly away, flicking on her flashlight when she reached the shadowed edge of the campsite. As dark as it was, she wouldn’t have to go far, at least. Leaves and gravel crunched under her feet. Insects ceased their chirping as she invaded their space. Off in the distance, an owl hooted. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. Mentally, she knew there was nothing out there, but the vast darkness beyond the ring of the flashlight terrified her. When she finished, she scurried back to camp,then settled once again on her log, waiting for her heart to settle.
The Thompsons turned in, followed by the Schaeffers. Once again, she and Micah were left alone at the fire.
Hanna brought out the marshmallows. “Want some?”
“Sure.”
They found sticks and began skewering them. It took Micah twice as long to roast his because he held it above the flames, rotating it until it was golden brown. He teased her about her preference for charred marshmallows, and when one of his caught fire, he brought it to her.
“Thanks.” She slipped it carefully off the stick.
He sat on the log next to hers. “How long have you worked at Higher Grounds?”
“Three years. I dropped out of college when Gram needed help, and I’ve been there ever since.”
The firelight washed his face in a golden glow, settling softly on the uppermost planes and casting shadows in the cradle of his cheekbones and jaw line. “Are you the only grandchild or just the only one who could help at the time?”
“I have two sisters. But Natalies married with two little ones, and Paula works full-time. Not that I minded helping out. I love the mountains, and Higher Grounds is like a second home to me. How did you become a climbing guide?”
“When I first joined my church, the singles took a guided trip up Grand Teton. I went along and haven’t stopped climbing since.”
“Any brothers or sisters?”
He looked away, toward the heat of the flames. His jaw twitched.
She remembered he had a foster father and bit the inside of her mouth. He might not want to talk about family.
“A little sister.”
She searched her memory for another subject, but the churning wheels turned up nothing. The awkward silence stretched longer, becoming more natural as time passed. Finally, Micah asked about her church, and once again they were chatting.
Time rushed by as they sat in the fiery glow of the light talking and getting to know one another. Micah didn’t talk much about himself until she asked him about his foster father, and then he opened up about his foster family. She didn’t know anything of his life before that point, and he skirted around his early adulthood.
She was reluctant to turn in, but as the fire died low, she knew she needed to get some sleep before dawn crept up on them.
Hanna hurried through the woods, her eyes searching frantically for safety as she heard footfalls behind her. The steps neared. She broke into a run. Branches clawed at her skin, tore at her clothes.
Please, God, help me!
The bells of Saint Jude pealed in the distance.
He grabbed her from behind and dragged her deeper into the woods. His hand clamped over her mouth. She kicked at him, flailing her
The descent was easier and provided a beautiful view. When they reached the campsite, they repeated last night’s rituals, and soon they were relaxing around a campfire while darkness closed in around them. All the water Hanna had drunk during dinner was having its effect, and nature’s call beckoned. The area outside of the fire’s light was an ambiguous black hole. Why hadn’t she thought to go before night fell?
For a moment she considered asking the ladies if one of them needed to go, but decided against it when she realized they might think she was afraid of the dark.
She slipped quietly away, flicking on her flashlight when she reached the shadowed edge of the campsite. As dark as it was, she wouldn’t have to go far, at least. Leaves and gravel crunched under her feet. Insects ceased their chirping as she invaded their space. Off in the distance, an owl hooted. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. Mentally, she knew there was nothing out there, but the vast darkness beyond the ring of the flashlight terrified her. When she finished, she scurried back to camp,then settled once again on her log, waiting for her heart to settle.
The Thompsons turned in, followed by the Schaeffers. Once again, she and Micah were left alone at the fire.
Hanna brought out the marshmallows. “Want some?”
“Sure.”
They found sticks and began skewering them. It took Micah twice as long to roast his because he held it above the flames, rotating it until it was golden brown. He teased her about her preference for charred marshmallows, and when one of his caught fire, he brought it to her.
“Thanks.” She slipped it carefully off the stick.
He sat on the log next to hers. “How long have you worked at Higher Grounds?”
“Three years. I dropped out of college when Gram needed help, and I’ve been there ever since.”
The firelight washed his face in a golden glow, settling softly on the uppermost planes and casting shadows in the cradle of his cheekbones and jaw line. “Are you the only grandchild or just the only one who could help at the time?”
“I have two sisters. But Natalies married with two little ones, and Paula works full-time. Not that I minded helping out. I love the mountains, and Higher Grounds is like a second home to me. How did you become a climbing guide?”
“When I first joined my church, the singles took a guided trip up Grand Teton. I went along and haven’t stopped climbing since.”
“Any brothers or sisters?”
He looked away, toward the heat of the flames. His jaw twitched.
She remembered he had a foster father and bit the inside of her mouth. He might not want to talk about family.
“A little sister.”
She searched her memory for another subject, but the churning wheels turned up nothing. The awkward silence stretched longer, becoming more natural as time passed. Finally, Micah asked about her church, and once again they were chatting.
Time rushed by as they sat in the fiery glow of the light talking and getting to know one another. Micah didn’t talk much about himself until she asked him about his foster father, and then he opened up about his foster family. She didn’t know anything of his life before that point, and he skirted around his early adulthood.
She was reluctant to turn in, but as the fire died low, she knew she needed to get some sleep before dawn crept up on them.
Hanna hurried through the woods, her eyes searching frantically for safety as she heard footfalls behind her. The steps neared. She broke into a run. Branches clawed at her skin, tore at her clothes.
Please, God, help me!
The bells of Saint Jude pealed in the distance.
He grabbed her from behind and dragged her deeper into the woods. His hand clamped over her mouth. She kicked at him, flailing her
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