Chapter 16
L auren leaned over the counter in the lodge, her phone open to a zoomed-in photo she'd taken earlier that morning. The bird had been perched on a branch near the lake, regal and still, its feathers catching the light like burnished copper.
"I thought it was a hawk," she said, turning the screen toward Avaline. "But it looked... bigger."
Avaline squinted, then smiled. "That's a golden eagle."
Lauren blinked. "Seriously?"
"They nest up in the highest trees around the lake. You're lucky to catch one that close to the water. They tend to do their fishing at pre-dawn or dusk during the summer, when the campers get out of the water."
Lauren stared at the photo again, suddenly seeing it in a new light. The curve of the beak, the depth in the eyes. It wasn't just a bird. It was regal.
"What else lives around here?" she asked.
"For birds." Avaline leaned forward on her stool and hummed in thought. "You've got your osprey, kestrels, the occasional peregrine. You'll also hear the Black Capped Chickadee whistling. If you listen, it says, 'cheeseburger'."
"No kidding?" She laughed. "I'll have to pay better attention."
"This morning, I saw something better than birds."
Lauren perked up. "What?"
"A momma moose with twins." Avaline pushed her glasses back up on her nose. "They were drinking from the lake as I walked from my cabin. The babies are so cute and all legs, I swear. It doesn't matter how many times I see a moose...which is often around here, I get excited."
Lauren's jaw dropped. "Will they come back?"
Avaline shrugged. "Wouldn't hurt to look out in the early morning. They like the quiet. They have sensitive ears to compensate for their poor eyesight. You might catch them if you wait patiently for them as soon as daylight happens and be really quiet."
"I'm so excited. I saw a moose in Missoula when I was younger. That's the only time I've seen one." Lauren smiled, tucking her phone away. "I'll be out there with coffee and crossed fingers tomorrow."
"You might want to keep an eye out for big horn sheep up on the ridge at the far side of the lake. I haven't seen any, but Cord mentioned there's a herd that comes over onto this side of the mountain," said Avaline.
"I'll definitely keep watch—"
The door creaked open behind her, and both women turned.
A woman stepped inside. She was probably in her late thirties, with sun-kissed skin, her tight jeans tucked into boots, and a purple tank, her eyes scanning the room as if she were searching for something.
"Can I help you?" Avaline asked.
"I'm looking for Mac. It's personal." The woman tossed her long brunette hair. "Is he around?"
Lauren's breath caught.
Avaline nodded slowly. "He's probably at the house."
"I'll walk over." The woman smiled. "Thanks."
Lauren's curiosity flared, sharp and sudden, verging on jealousy. The woman was gorgeous, closer to Mac's age, and had an appealing style that was evident in the way she walked and talked.
She murmured a quick "Thanks" to Avaline and slipped outside, her steps quick and quiet.
She reached the edge of the path just in time to see Jetter sprint toward the woman, arms flung wide. The woman caught him, laughing as he wrapped himself around her, as if he hadn't seen her in years.
Jetter was mature for his age. An experienced boy in the wilderness. But right now, he was a twelve-year-old who couldn't contain his excitement.
Mac followed his son at a slower pace. His face softened as he reached them. He pulled the woman into a hug. Lauren swallowed the lump of emotions in her throat. The embrace was long, familiar, and came freely.
Her heart sank.
She didn't know who the woman was. Didn't know what the woman meant to Mac. But the way he held her, the way Jetter clung to her, it was apparent that she was important to both of them.
Lauren turned before anyone could see her, her chest tight, her steps fast.
She walked back to her cabin, the golden eagle forgotten, the moose twins a distant hope.
A wave of homesickness hit her. She wanted to go where she belonged.
Lauren hefted her backpack higher, outfitted with her camera, tripod, and phone this time, and hiked the ridge trail again.
Her boots crunched over pine needles. She told herself she was getting fresh air and hopefully some random photos she could use on social media when she returned to civilization in eight days.
The golden eagle had been a pleasant surprise.
She'd have to do more research when she got back to her apartment and find out more about them.
It was hard enough coming up with the proper hashtags to sway the algorithm and get her videos shown, but it was even harder when she wasn't familiar with the wildlife.
She kept a faster pace, now that this was her second trip up to the ridge.
But really, she was trying to outrun the image of Mac hugging that woman.
She didn't know who she was. Didn't know what she meant to him. But the way Jetter had run to her, the way Mac had held her, landed like a stone in Lauren's chest.
She reached the overlook, deciding not to go all the way up to the ridge, and sat on the flat rock, staring down at the lake.
The water shimmered in the late morning light, peaceful and indifferent to the turmoil going on in her head.
She tried to focus on the birdsong, the rustle of wind through the trees, the distant hum of campers laughing near the water.
None of it helped.
She'd let herself believe something was happening between her and Mac. Some great love affair during her vacation. But it was over as soon as it had started.
Maybe that was Mac's style. He had hordes of women camping each summer to pick from. Lucky him, as soon as she left, he could move on to someone new.
She swiped through the photos on her phone, stopping when she got to the ones with Mac or Jetter in them. Usually, she took pictures and videos to provide content for other people. That's what brought in the money. But during her stay, she'd taken photos of her life, her interests, her dreams.
And all it was going to do was bring her heartbreak.
She should never have allowed herself to get involved with Mac. Now every time she looked at one of the pictures, it would hurt all over again.
The sun had passed the area directly over the lake and headed to the other side. She stayed out longer than she meant to, letting the sun warm her shoulders, letting the ache settle into a dull heaviness she couldn't shake.
By the time she returned to the campground, the shadows were stretching across the pathways. She went straight to the restrooms and then walked to her cabin. She kept her pace steady, not in the mood to talk to anyone.
And then she saw him.
Mac was walking toward her from the lake, his shirt damp, a coil of rope slung over one shoulder. He looked tired.
Their eyes met. She forced a smile.
"Busy day?" she asked.
He nodded. "Some kids thought it was a good idea to take out the rope railing on the way to the outcropping of rocks."
"Oh, bummer." She gestured toward the lake. "Any sign of the moose?"
"Not today."
She nodded, pretending that was the end of it. Pretending she hadn't seen him with someone else. Pretending she hadn't spent the day trying to forget the way he'd kissed her like he meant it.
Mac dropped his gaze to her bare legs. "You been out hiking?"
"Just needed to clear my head."
He looked at her for a long moment, like he wanted to say something. The silence between them was different now.
"I'll see you around," she said, turning toward her cabin.
She could feel Mac watching her go, but she never looked back. It was better if she kept her distance. She already hurt enough.