2. Hiking
TWO
HIKING
Our morning shower was a soothing conclusion to the intense night of playing with Paige. When we got out, she dried off and then quietly went next door to change into hiking clothes. Before drinking two large cups of water, I don my sneakers, shorts, and a tee shirt. I paused to stretch my arms, legs, and core with dynamic movement. I’m sore in places I haven’t felt in years, but it’s not unpleasant.
The crisp morning air chills me as I drop down the cabin steps. A sunny forecast keeps me from going back inside for a light jacket. Besides, we’ll be hiking along the hilly trails. I know I’ll warm up once we get moving. A creaking door draws my attention to Paige exiting her cabin. She is dressed similarly. A flannel shirt is unbuttoned over her tank top, and I can’t help seeing the outline of her nipples, implying she’s gone without a bra. Staring at her walking toward me, I can’t stop myself from focusing on her modest orbs bobbing under her top.
“I enjoy your focus, Kurt,” Paige says with a mischievous grin. “I also like it when you look in my eyes.”
“Can you blame me?” I ask, shifting my gaze to her eyes as she walks into my open arms. I hug her close, then drop my hands and squeeze her firm ass, eliciting a soft moan in my ear.
“We’re hiking, right?” Paige asks as she reluctantly backs away.
“Yeah, right,” I reply, taking her hand. “Which way to the trail?”
“Follow me.” Paige heads off around the loop away from the pool area and the lodge.
Gravel crunches under my feet as I hurry to catch up. She sets a quick pace, and I’m soon warm and starting to sweat. She looks over her shoulder and grins when she realizes I can’t keep her pace. She shakes her head as she pauses to wait for me.
“So this is a leisurely stroll,” Paige teases. She turns and matches my speed when I catch up but continues teasing. “You’ll have to kick it up a notch to reach a hiking pace.”
“Gimme a break,” I sigh. “I’m out of practice, and this is supposed to be a relaxing weekend.”
“It’s cool,” she says, taking my hand and weaving her fingers with mine. “I don’t mind going slower. It’s nice to be outside in nature.”
“And not ten thousand degrees, which is why I don’t get out much in Texas.” I look around at the towering pines and the soft carpet of needles. The sky beyond is blue with a few fluffy clouds. “I prefer this. I’d be more active if I didn’t live in a furnace.”
“I don’t know how you live there,” Paige says. “You should think about a change of scenery. If you travel so much, does it matter where you live?”
“I guess not. I just settled there when I started because DFW is such a large hub. I can get to either coast nonstop without much trouble.”
“That makes sense.” Paige pauses. “I don’t mean to hassle you, Kurt.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve been stuck in a rut and need to rethink things. Both you and Leah have helped me see that a change might be good.” I squeeze her fingers, smiling at her. “I live a very regimented lifestyle, and I’m not sure I want to continue with it.”
We pause as we walk, letting go of our hands, and I try to pick up my pace now that I’m warmed up. Paige matches my pace without saying anything, but talking at this pace isn’t easy. Paige looks ahead, then points at the rise we’re approaching.
“Past that ridge, the trail smooths out,” Paige says. “It’ll be pretty level until we get near the lake.”
As I scan the woods where the path weaves, another familiar feeling itches in the back of my mind. “I think I used to camp near here. My family used to camp up along the McKensie every summer.”
“Yeah, this lake is the headwaters for that river. It was formed by a volcanic explosion thousands of years ago.” She takes on a thoughtful tone as she explains. “It opened up an artesian spring and then dammed up the valley. The lake is crystal clear. You can see trees still on the bottom near the lodge.”
“Yeah, that’s familiar,” I agree. “The lake doesn’t allow motor boats, and the water is always freezing. Right?”
“Bingo.” Paige grins. “It’s not too far. The trail circles the lake and has a little place to picnic near the spring.”
“Sounds good,” I say, then pick up the pace again now that we have a goal.
As we hike, I think about the memories around the lake. My grandparents always camped in a camper in the back of a pickup truck, then in a large RV as they got older. Things get more familiar after we pass along a ridge that follows the shoreline of a narrow lake. The water is deep blue as we wind down some switchbacks to reach the lake’s level.
“There is the lodge I remember,” I say, slowing to catch my breath. “We’d rent cabins sometimes, but I mostly remember campers or tents.”
“Yeah, it’s a cool place,” Paige says. “The county maintains the lodge, and we know some people that can get us into the cabins during the off-season. It’s fun to rough it when there are ten feet of snow, and you’re stuck in a log cabin with only a fireplace for warmth.”
“You and I have very different definitions of fun.”
“C’mon, Kurt. You don’t want to be snowed in, trapped inside a cozy cabin with Leah and me?”
“When you put it like that…” I laugh.
The trail continues past the lodge and cabins and twists to the east. Paige points when we reach a fork in the path.
“Keep to the right,” Paige says. “The spring isn’t far now.”
We cross a sturdy, well-maintained log bridge that crosses a small creek that feeds into the lake. We’re back in the forest, and I lose track of where the lake is as we wind around the trees, walking on a red dusty trail.
“There.” She points to a bench along the side of the trail. “We can take a breather. I think we can get down to the level of the spring. The water is so pure and cold.”
“Why is the trail so red?” I ask, kicking the crunchy soil.
“It’s pumice,” Paige explains. “Crushed volcanic rocks. It’s all over the place.”
Lowering onto the bench, I wipe my brow and pan around. She’s right. The reddish and gray rocks lie scattered along both sides of the trail. Paige pulls a water bottle out of her pack.
“Don’t just sit there; help me fill the bottle.” Paige points to a break in the bushes on the other side of the trail. “It’s through there. It’s kinda frowned upon, but I’m thirsty.”