Chapter 11 Hunter
Saturday December 8, 8:52 a.m.
Hunter got out of his truck at Icicle Ridge Trailhead for the day’s group adventure hike. The same trail where he had rescued Rosa the week before. But the image of her on the mountain had been replaced with the one of her in the restaurant last night.
An image he wished he could forget.
A few cars had already pulled up and parked near his truck and people were getting out. There were going to be about eight to ten people today. Another car was coming up the road–it looked familiar. Wait, was that Rosa’s car?
Hunter pulled the list of hikers up on his phone. The day before he had only checked the number, not the names. Yep, there she was. Rosa Flores. He shook his head.
Before last night, he would have been excited to hike with Rosa. But when he had left work to run the deposits to the bank drop and saw her with a guy in the restaurant, his feelings for her were as frozen as the weather outside.
How could he have been so blind?
Tuesday night at the school stage, Rosa had told him: “I just don’t know how much I have to give to another person right now.” Yet, there she was, at the restaurant with someone else, holding hands, an intimacy between them. So, was Rosa being honest or not?
Apparently not. Looked like she had already moved on. Or maybe it was a guy she knew from before. Hunter guessed the latter. Good-looking guy, probably from Seattle. Hunter and Rosa had locked eyes through the window, and he’d immediately looked away. But the image of Rosa with that other guy was etched into his memory.
And right now that same guy was getting out of her car. Really, Rosa? You’re bringing a guy to my group hike?
His heart sunk. Maybe Hunter didn’t know her as well as he thought he did. Of course he didn’t. How well could he really know her, when they had only met a week ago? Plus, he knew Rosa was a flirt–she was pretty open about it.
Hunter hoped this guy wasn’t her boyfriend she hadn’t bothered to mention. And if this guy had stayed overnight, had he stayed at her place? No, Hunter. Stop thinking like that.
His body stiffened and a tightness gripped his chest. Rosa had told him she didn’t know how much she had to give to someone else–or maybe she just meant Hunter. The thought was crushing. He had decided to risk getting to know her, and it quickly went wrong.
Dating as an adult was too complicated. Hunter should have trusted his gut and not let himself develop feelings for her. That had definitely been a mistake.
Rosa and the city guy approached, gathering with the others who had met up at the sign. It was almost time to call roll. Hunter avoided meeting Rosa’s eyes, but he noticed she wore the same pink coat, and this time wore her new winter hiking boots she had bought at his shop.
Something on her boots caught his eye. What was that? Pi nk laces? He shook his head. Of course Rosa would do that. He almost smiled. Almost.
Hunter couldn’t help but glance up. Her arms were folded, and she stayed a good couple of feet away from the guy. Hunter swallowed. Maybe that meant something, like they weren’t as romantically involved as they appeared the night before.
He shook his head. No, he wouldn’t let her off the hook that easily, give her another chance. He was done hoping. His heart was closed–again.
“All right everybody, welcome to today’s adventure hike. After I call roll, we’ll go over some safety rules, and we’ll be on our way.” Hunter went down the list and called each name, then he got to the last two.
He cleared his throat. “Rosa Flores.” She raised her hand as she looked at the ground.
“Brad Wolfe.” City guy raised his hand, his black leather gloves matching his thin city jacket and city boots. Hunter usually tried to give people the benefit of the doubt, but he gave the guy twenty minutes before he turned around and went home.
“Today’s hike is about two and a half miles in, the same back out. If you don’t want to go the full two and a half miles, you may turn around at any time. You all signed the release form, so this is just a reminder that I’m your guide, not your rescue crew, though I will help out if the situation arises.” A few people chuckled.
“Be smart on the trail. As for rules, number one, be familiar with the trail.” He pointed at the sign. “Number two, stay on the trail. Most accidents while hiking happen when you go off trail. The weather looks good and we haven’t had snow since Sunday, so the trail should be visible and not treacherous.”
Last Sunday, as Hunter had driven away from the trailhead, he was thankful for the snow. Without it, Rosa wouldn’t have needed rescuing. But today? Hunter wasn’t sure.
“Another rule was to bring proper gear, which was included in your instructions, so that was up to you. I see some of you brought poles–smart. Okay, any questions?”
He scanned the group, including Rosa, who stole a glance at him and mouthed. “I’m sorry.”
Hunter blinked rapidly, shaking his head to let go of the distraction. Sorry? He wasn’t able to let Rosa repent nor get on his good side right now.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll point out a few landmarks along the way. We’ll take regular breaks so don’t worry if you fall behind. The best advice for hiking is to go at your own pace. All right. Let’s have a great hike. Ready? Let’s move out.”
The group started the journey, the first part of the trail was fairly flat, but soon it began to incline. Hunter moved ahead at a strong pace, though he checked behind him periodically to make sure he wasn’t too far ahead of everyone. Rosa and Brad were toward the back, Brad saying something to Rosa, but Hunter couldn’t hear.
A couple of young women caught up to him, and one smiled at him. “So, how long have you been doing these hiking groups?” She was blonde and cute, but too young for Hunter.
“Probably since I was your age.”
“Oh,” the girl replied.
Okay, maybe Hunter wasn’t being friendly enough. These were paying clients, and he wanted them to have a good time. But how could he shake his bad mood? He cleared his throat. “I’ve lived here all my life, so I’ve been coming up here since I can remember. What about you? Where do you like to hike?”
The girl smiled again. “Anywhere. Everywhere. My bucket list is to hike every national park.”
Hunter nodded. “That’s a good goal.” He turned around, noticing the group had dispersed somewhat. A few feet ahead Hunter stopped. One by one, the group members also stopped, talking amongst themselves while they waited. But there were still two people missing. Hunter stretched as tall as he could, peering down the trail.
Uh oh. Rosa and Brad had stopped on the trail and were facing each other, their arms flailing. This was a first. He’d never seen anyone fighting during his group hikes. Should he intervene?
After a few seconds, Rosa turned and noticed the group had stopped. She pointed at them while staring into Brad until he finally shrugged. Then Rosa took off up the trail. Brad stayed put, fuming with his hands on his hips.
Rosa reached the group and stopped, her eyes glancing around, her cheeks flushed. Hunter felt himself wanting to go to her and hold her. But no. He was done with that. He didn’t want to get hurt again. Brad finally made his way up and joined the group a few feet away from Rosa.
“All right folks, we’re coming up on a more intense incline, so take your time. Use your glutes and quads and core. Deep breaths will help give more oxygen to those big muscles. It’s a great day for a hike. Let’s move out.” Hunter turned back up the trail and walked, wondering what was going on between Rosa and Brad. While trying not to think about it.
They made their way up for another ten minutes or so to where the ridge emerged, showcasing a beautiful view of the valley below. A few people stopped and took photos, so Hunter slowed a bit. Glancing behind him, he noticed Rosa was in the middle of the group, while Brad was at the back.
Hmm. Interesting. It was possible Hunter was wrong about whatever was going on between Rosa and Brad. They certainly weren’t getting along right now. Hadn’t Rosa been patient with Hunter? Should he… No. He shook his head. Dang it, Hunter, stop. You’re done. She’s moved on. You should, too.
After several more feet, Hunter stopped. “I want to tell you a story about this spot right here,” he pointed. Rosa bit her lips and folded her arms. Hunter stuffed his hands in his pockets. “During a snowstorm, a solo hiker slipped off trail and almost went over the edge here. Thankfully this person was able to grab onto that tree right there and hold on for dear life and yell for help. I happened to be hiking close by and pulled this person to safety.”
Hunter swallowed. His heart wanted to say something else, but he went with his logical brain instead. “Sometimes even though you start out a hike okay, things happen. If it snows while you’re out, assess your situation. If you’re not familiar with the trail or if you run into dangers, turn around immediately. When the risk is too high, it’s totally not worth it. Safety first.”
Rosa offered a weak smile at Hunter, his heart deflated. She must have read between the lines about not taking risks–t hat he never should have let Rosa into his heart . Why had he been so blind in thinking that Rosa would be different? That she was worth the risk?
Hunter led the group the rest of the way, talking to each member except for Rosa and Brad, who were easy to avoid as they hung back from everyone else. Along the way, he pointed out different types of trees, how the mountains formed, and local wildlife. A few hikers asked questions about how this trail differed from others in the area.
“This is actually my favorite hike,” Hunter added. “On a clear day, you get a unique perspective of the whole valley below. On a snowy day, you can barely see the trail at all. But that’s life, right?
Finally, they reached the turn-around spot.
“ You’ve all done a great job today. N ice work. Now that you know the way up, the way back will be easy. But never take hiking–or life–for granted. Go ahead and follow the trail back. I’ll take up the rear to make sure everyone makes it back safely.
Brad took off immediately, leaving everyone behind. The rest of the group kept a good pace back, while Rosa slowly fell behind. Hunter’s heart beat faster the closer he got to her. He didn’t want to talk to her. But it was unavoidable.
She glanced back at him. “Hey.”
He cleared his throat. “Hey.”
“Can we talk? I need to apologize. For bringing Brad. It was a bad idea.”
That was an understatement. “So, who is this Brad?”
She fell into step beside him. Hunter focusing on her pink shoelaces.
“He’s my boss.”
Interesting dynamic. He wanted to ask what their relationship was, but he didn’t want her to offer more information than she was ready to share. “Rosa, a re you okay?” Despite keeping his romantic feelings closed, he truly did want her to be happy. But she didn’t seem happy.
She let out a shaky breath, and she looked down as she clasped her hands together. “Apparently he’s had feelings for me for years but never said anything. He showed up after school yesterday and wouldn’t leave until I went to dinner with him. That’s why I was with him last night.I felt trapped. When I saw you through the window–I felt awful. I’m so sorry.”
A chill of hope and dismay swirled through Hunter . So, Brad wasn’t a boyfriend. But what was he now? Hunter wasn’t sure what to say . Or if he wanted to know.
“He stayed at a hotel last night, but insisted he spend the morning with me. Of course, he hates the outdoors, but thought if he made this grand gesture of doing what I wanted, then he could convince me to come back to Seattle with him. Leave all this behind. But I—”
“You know, Rosa, you don’t owe me an explanation. We’re not together. Remember? You just wanted to be friends.” Hunter bit his lip. His words stung him inside, and he was sure he stung her too. But they were true. She had dictated how their relationship was going to go, and this was the result. As cold as that felt inside.
Rosa stopped, staring out over the ridge. “I did say that, didn’t I?” She shook her head. “I told you I wasn’t ready to give myself to someone else.” She stared forward, seeming to be in a trance. “And that’s true. I don’t have feelings for Brad.” Rosa glanced at Hunter. “Not at all.”
He stopped and waited, and not just because he was the hike guide. His heart melted. A tiny, tiny bit.
She turned toward him, her eyes wet. “You know, I came here to figure out my life. And all I’ve figured out is I don’t know anything. I’m seriously messed up. And I don’t know how to fix any of it.”
His heart hurt for Rosa. This strong woman, unsure of herself, was hurting, and he couldn’t rescue her. Could he? He took a few steps toward her. They locked eyes. Was it possible for him to help her but not fall in love with her? Was it worth the risk?
He closed his eyes and extended his arms. She stepped into them and he wrapped them around her. She leaned her head in, crying on his shoulder. Hunter held her close. “It’s okay. You don’t have to figure everything out right now.”
She sniffled, then stopped. “Keep going. I need more Hunter wisdom.”
“Oh, uh. Okay. So, you’ve only been here what, a week? You hiked. You somehow managed to put pink onto your hiking boots.” She laughed, and the sound warmed him even more. “You got a job as a sub. That’s pretty darn good, don’t you think?”
Rosa took a deep breath. “Yeah.”
“Plus, you got rescued off the side of a mountain. That’s a pretty cool story. And you go t to meet me.”
She giggled, then hit him playfully on the back of the head.
“After the rescue, I was so impressed that you just played it off. And that after your first day of subbing, you acted like what you did wasn’t a big deal. But all of it is a big deal. You’re stronger than you think, Rosa Flores.
They parted and Hunter raised his eyebrows. “So, are you okay?”
Rosa wiped her eyes. “Yeah. Thanks. I needed that. You’re pretty good at pep talks. At making me feel like I’m okay just the way I am.”
He smiled at her. Even if their relationship never became more than this–pep-talking each other–he could maybe live with that. He liked spending time with her.
She started walking down the trail and Hunter joined her. Eventually they passed by their rescue spot again. Rosa pointed at it. “Thanks for not telling the group that I was the one you rescued. But do you really believe in playing it safe? Never taking risks? No jumping off roofs?” She playfully elbowed him.
He smiled. Hunter’s head told him that Rosa was just flirting–he shouldn’t read too much into it. Would his heart listen? “I don’t know,” he said seriously. “The older I get, the harder it is to bounce back after getting hurt.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Uh, yeah. I guess that’s true.”
“It just seems like no matter how hard we try to protect ourselves, stuff still happens.”
“So what, just not take risks ever again?” she asked. “Is that better than potentially good stuff happening?”
Hunter mulled that over while they continued down the mountain. He had been trying to protect his heart the past two years, and yet he had opened it up to Rosa. Had the risk been worth it? He wasn’t sure. “I honestly don’t know. Which is why I try to take life one step at a time.”
Rosa looked up at him, her eyes softened. “In the best gear Bavarian Boots has to offer .”
The comment caught him off guard and he snickered. “With your own Rosa flair.”
She glanced at her boots. “Like the pink laces? I couldn’t handle all black. Too boring.”
“Like me?” Now he was being playful. Oops.
“No, no, no, you are not boring. Sure, you play it safe. But I’d describe you more as–calming. Like, even though you don’t have everything figured out, you still keep a watch out and make sure everyone else is okay.”
He rubbed the right side of his beard . Huh. That was spot on, actually. His heart melted a tiny bit more. Rosa had a way of getting under his skin, in a good way.
“Which brings me to a question. A request. I…I don’t feel safe around Brad right now. He’s been really demanding. Which is fine when he is my boss and I am just doing work tasks at the office. But now he’s acting like I owe him for everything he’s given me. Like romantically owe him.”
Yikes. That wasn’t good. He tensed a little. “You want me to beat him up?”
Rosa giggled. “No. Just, uh, give him a ride back to his car? The hotel is in town, not too far from your shop. If that’s okay. I mean, I totally understand if that’s too awkward but maybe because you’re like a mountain man with a beard, and you’re the hiking guide, he’ll behave himself and–”
“Rosa.” As cute as she was spilling her thoughts, he got the message.
“--yes?”
“It’s fine. I can give him a ride. Not a problem.”
“Really?”
He smiled. “Yeah. It’s okay. I want you to be safe. And I want this guy to go home.”
Rosa snorted, covering her mouth with her pink gloved hand. Finally, she stopped. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Yes, what Hunter said was funny, but he meant it. He wanted this Brad guy to get the heck away from Rosa. She deserved to be treated like a queen.
The trail leveled out and group members waited at the sign. Hunter reached them. “As promised, I have a coupon for Bavarian Boots for all of you. Hope to see you around and enjoy Leavenworth.” He grabbed an envelope from his truck and handed out coupons to everyone, except Brad, who shook his head.
All the other group members headed to their cars and piled in, and Rosa was taking deep breaths as she stood near the driver’s side of her car.
“Are you going to unlock it, or do we have to freeze out here?” Brad growled at her.
Hunter approached from behind Brad. “Actually, Rosa asked if I could give you a lift into town. Which hotel is it?”
Brad jerked his head sharply to Rosa. “You what? Seriously?”
Rosa looked up to the sky, as if willing the heavens to make him stop. “Yes. Go home, Brad. I’m staying.”
His jaw tense, Brad stared at Rosa “You ungrateful–I can’t believe you’re treating me like this after all I’ve done for you.”
Tears welled up in Rosa’s eyes. By this time, everyone else in the group had left; only Rosa’s car and Hunter’s truck remained . Hunter clenched his fists, fighting the urge to punch the guy causing her pain.
“If I get in this guy’s truck,” Brad said, “you can say goodbye to your job, too.”
Rosa’s face morphed from scared and sad to vindicated. “Good. GOOD. I was going to quit anyway. I don’t love you, Brad. I never did. I couldn’t love someone who only loves money and himself and thinks the world owes him a favor. And by the way, you’re a terrible boss. You are demanding, inconsiderate and selfish. Oh, and guess what? I love teaching. The kids love me. And at the end of the day, I’m actually happy.”
She unlocked her door, jumped inside, then the click of the lock sounded. Hunter smirked. Good job, Rosa. She drove away, leaving the two men behind watching her leave.
Hunter opened the door of his truck. “ Welp, you can either get in the cab or hop in the back. Your choice.” Hunter hopped in and started the engine.
Brad finally stormed to the passenger side and got in. It was only about ten or fifteen minutes back to town, so Hunter hoped Brad wouldn’t feel compelled to talk. Based on appearance, the guy seemed to be successful, but Hunter had never seen anyone so miserable. Clearly, money and corporate achievement weren't the ticket to happiness.
They pulled out of the lot and down the side street before turning onto the main road. “For the record, that girl was a lost puppy when I found her.”
Hunter just stared ahead. A what? The man was comparing his pink, fun-loving Rosa to a dog? And calling her “that girl” like she meant nothing?
“I gave her everything, and this is the thanks I get. Unbelievable.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes, Hunter fighting the urge to let loose on this guy. But he knew it wouldn’t do any good. And pretty soon he’d be out of Rosa’s life forever.
“It’s that hotel, up there on the right,” Brad said as he pointed.
Hunter pulled into the parking lot and put his truck into park. “Just a word of advice,” he said as Brad took off his seatbelt and grabbed the door handle. “ A woman is like a mountain. You can’t change them. They change you .”
Brad raised an eyebrow, then let out a bark of a laugh. “Uh, okay.” He shook his head as he opened the door then closed it behind him.
Hunter drove home thinking about how Rosa had changed him in only a week. Perhaps taking risks could lead to heartache. But so did being carefu l . No matter how much he had protected Megan, she still died. But hadn’t the journey been worth it? Yes. He wouldn’t trade their life together for the world.
Like a hiking trail, a relationship had all sorts of twists and turns. Falls and near death experiences, even. But it didn’t mean you had to stop. Because the journey could be beautiful. Even if it was a little dangerous.
But that all depended on Rosa. She had given him some signals on the mountain just now, but was that just flirty Rosa who needed Hunter to rescue her? Or did it mean something more?