1. Corinne #2
I’m with you, ma’am. This man is mancandy incarnate, and I’ve only seen him from the back.
I might have to wear shades to see him from the front.
Unfortunately, I can’t see him from this angle unless I move a few feet aside and openly gawk.
It crosses my mind, but I calm myself down.
He’s with his daughter, for god’s sake. He’s married.
Ugh. Go figure. The first time I have had this kind of visceral reaction, and it’s with someone completely off limits.
Jade returns a few minutes later. “Table’s ready for you.”
She guides me to a small table at the front, next to the window. I slide onto the chair, completely oblivious to the restaurant decor as I stare at the mountain range in the distance. “This is perfect. What mountains are those by the way?”
Jade slides the menu in front of me as I set my camera down on the table. “Whispering Winds.”
Immediately, I feel my cheeks flush. Yup… that makes sense.
Jade snorts. “Don’t worry. I asked Marge that same question. Sat right here too. She still gave me the job, so… it all worked out.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, glancing at the menu.
“First time in Whispering Winds?”
“I’ve passed through a couple of times on my way to the Cherry Ridge Farm. I’m here for a wedding in a few days.”
“Guest or the photographer?” She nods at my camera, and I smile.
…Until Mackenzie jumps to mind.
“The latter.” I try not to sound too grim, but from the expression on her face, it seems I wasn’t all that successful.
“Difficult bride?”
As if on cue, my phone vibrates in my purse, and I glance at it. My blood pressure’s already rising. I’ll be sweating pretty soon if that thing keeps ringing.
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“Well, I have the perfect thing to keep your mind off it. You don’t have a gluten allergy by chance, do you?”
I narrow my eyes as I turn to meet Jade’s gaze. “No…”
“Great!” She claps her hands once. “I’ll be right back.”
Jade excuses herself, and my phone buzzes with a voicemail. At least it’s not a rambling voice memo sent over text. Those are always my favorites.
I sigh, watching as Jade speaks with a woman perched on a stool at the counter. I wonder if it will be some of that cobbler I hear so much about. A dollop of vanilla ice cream. That could take my mind off Mackenzie. Maybe?—
I swallow hard. That mountain man… Maverick?
He’s staring right at me. Good lord, he’s handsome.
Rugged. A beard so thick I’m surprised birds haven’t nested in it.
I can’t see the color of his eyes from this distance, but I feel their intensity all over my body.
Even when he finally turns, smiling and talking with his daughter, I can still feel the aftereffects.
My entire body is tingling. Hopefully, it’s not a stroke…
I glance at Candy. “What? He started it.” I swallow hard, looking out the window as I slide my hands over my arms. Goosebumps. Again. Remind me to book an appointment with my doctor. There’s clearly something wrong with my body.
I take a few centering breaths and focus on the mountains. The drizzle hasn’t turned to rain, so maybe I’ll be able to head up there after lunch. I could use the fresh air. It feels a little humid in here, thanks to?—
“Jade tells me you’re a photographer,” a woman says gruffly, jolting me out of my head.
I turn and find a short, stout woman who’s barely taller than me, even though I’m sitting, scowling at me.
Her hands, perched on her hips, look like they’re made out of leather.
Short, wispy gray strands of hair fly out at all angles—the rest are begrudgingly held back in a red bandana that matches her flannel shirt.
Jean shorts. Well-worn, hefty boots. No nonsense face.
I think I’d rather take one of those mountain men in a bare-knuckle brawl over this woman any day of the week.
I swallow. “T-that’s right.”
I glance past her, hoping to catch Jade’s eye, but she’s focused on another table.
“That’s wonderful!” she says, her resting scowl dissolving as she slides into the chair across from me. “I’m Marge, owner of the Hungry Hiker, but I really think of myself as a creative type like yourself.” She turns toward the dining room.
“Oh, oh yes. I see that. You’ve got a real... creative flair. A unique taste I’ve never seen anywhere else.”
She beams at me, and I can’t help but smile back.
“Well, I won’t take up your time. I wanted to drop off our signature dessert since Jade is busy.”
“Thank you,” I say, finally looking at my plate. This slice of cake is hefty —five layers at least.
“Roy’s Hazelnut Hiker.”
I take a bite and— “Wow…” I mutter reflexively, the taste of heaven still dancing in my mouth. “Thank Roy for me because that is amazing!”
Marge smiles, fingering the locket around her neck. “Will do.”
I can’t help but take another glance at the mountain man. He’s still smiling, laughing with his daughter. Completely oblivious to the creeper daydreaming about him from across the room.
I sigh, turning to the mountain view again.
Maybe I’ll find a single mountain man out there.
“Are you sure this map is accurate?”
I stare at the “map” in front of me. Much like the “FREE STICKS” sign, the map is scrawled on the back of a kid’s menu. Thankfully, Marge has been kind enough to sketch out her map with a ballpoint pen rather than a crayon this time.
But it’s not exactly helpful, even with her included notes.
Look for George Washington’s nose and take a right. A hard right. If you pass the roaming band of chipmunks, you’ve gone too far. And it’s probably too late. Anyway…
Marge huffs, hands on her hips again. “Of course it is.”
I swallow, risking a glance at Jade, who slowly shakes her head side-to-side. I’m not sure if that means she’s staying out of this one or if she agrees with me.
“Well,” I mutter, running my fingers along the map. “Thank you both for all your help and advice.”
My mug of tea starts rattling, and I glance at Jade. She smiles, nodding to Maverick and his daughter as they walk toward the door.
“Never seen a mountain man before?”
I shake my head. “Never.”
“Well, they’re mostly harmless.”
I consider pushing her, but decide not to, glancing back at the map. I’m sure there’s probably a warning about mountain men here somewhere.
Keep your distance. Do not, under any circumstances, approach. If one approaches you, do not look him in the eyes lest he take a liking to you and decide you’re his. But if you’re into that kind of thing…
A shiver races through my body. I think I might be, but I’m not entirely sure. I’m not exactly experienced, tending to keep to my comfort zone, which is why I’ve been making a concerted effort to leave my comfort zone. Hence, this multi-day detox and excursion into the mountains.
And the temporary tattoo on my wrist: You Only Live Once . I still haven’t drummed up the courage to tattoo my body, so I’ve settled for a pack of motivational tattoos I bought off Etsy for a few bucks.
“I’ve got one last thing for you,” Marge says before reaching behind her and then setting a small paper bag in front of me. “A parting gift.”
I glance at it. “What is it?”
She makes a show of reaching into the paper bag, tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth. Finally, she sets the first object down. “Bear mace. Keep it strapped to your person at all times.”
“Okay, will I?—“
“Bear whistle,” she interrupts, slamming it down on the table.
Unfortunately, it shatters. “Don’t make them like they used to, but don’t worry, I always keep a spare.
” She reaches into her apron and then slides a more stout whistle in front of me.
I’m not sure why Marge carries a bear whistle on her, but I don’t want to ask.
“And most importantly,” Marge says, reaching back into the bag.
I’m half afraid she’s going to whip out one of those crazy, jagged knives the size of my forearm, but instead, I’m pleasantly surprised but also confused when she places a donut in front of me.
“A bear claw.”
“Am I supposed to chuck it at a bear if I come across one?”
“Oh god, no. That’s for you. And these are for the chipmunks.” Marge taps the bear mace. “Don’t let their chubby, chittering cheeks fool you. They’re vicious little things, and they roam in packs. No quarter. No prisoners,” she mutters as her eyes go a little hazy.
I glance back at Jade, and she nods her head solemnly.
“They’re a different breed here, that’s for sure.
It took me a while to get used to them, but Marge is right.
I carry a pack of trail mix as a peace offering.
I don’t even open the bag. Just toss it and run because they’ll shred it themselves.
They don’t usually catch me before I get back to my car.
” She pauses for a brief moment. “Usually.”
That’s totally reassuring.
“Bear mace. Pain and suffering. It’s the only language those little—Oh, hello Millie!” Marge shifts into a saccharine tone as she kneels down to greet a kid. She’s holding a couple of painted rocks—a bright green one that resembles a frog and a rainbow one with a horn and bristles attached to it.
“I brought something for you,” she says.
“And I know just that place for it,” Marge says, placing her hand on her back and guiding her away.
I watch as Marge takes the rocks, inspects them, and then places them on a wooden crate, overstuffed with other knick-knacks and attached to the wall.
The decor is beginning to make a little more sense, and I’m becoming rather fond of it. This place has a little bit of everyone from Whispering Winds in it. Marge takes the little girl to the counter, where she receives a slice of cake the size of her face as her payment.
Jade slides onto the chair in front of me, placing Marge’s arsenal back into the bag. “You might want to wait until tomorrow. I know it’s cleared up, but we’re supposed to get another storm soon. I’ve been stuck on the mountain in a rainstorm, and it’s not pleasant.”
I rub my tattoo. “I only have a few free days, and I’d like to spend as much of them as I can taking in the sights.”
Jade shrugs. “Just make sure to head back at the first sign of a drizzle. Storms can pick up steam quickly. Might not make it to the wedding with a working camera if you do.”
She nods to Candy, and I can hear her begging me to stay in her case, where it’s nice and warm. Dry.
“A little rain won’t hurt her. She’s weather sealed.”
Mostly. I’m not sure if I want to test it before the wedding, so Jade has a point. But so does my tattoo…
She slides a piece of paper to me. “Well, here’s my number in case you get lost. Reception’s a little spotty, depending on where you go.”
I smile. I’ve only been in town an hour, and I’ve already made a friend. “Thanks. And I promise, I’ll be careful.”
Jade smiles, tucking that stray curl behind her ear again before pushing up from the table. “I expect to see some pictures when you get back.”
“Of course.”
I never thought I’d like living in a town like this, but I’m coming around to it, thanks to Marge and Jade. And I’m coming around to the idea that I can tackle this mountain, chipmunks and storms be damned.
With bear mace in one hand and a bear claw in the other, I don’t see how I could fail.