Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
“ N ow hold it steady, like this,” Darrow demonstrated, casting his line with practiced grace. The late afternoon sun glinted off the lake’s surface, catching in his peripheral vision. “See? ‘Tis simple as breathin’ once ye get the feel of it.”
He glanced around at their merry group spread across the shoreline. Professor Manning had settled into a camp chair with his ever-present historical tome, though he kept looking up to watch their fishing lessons with scholarly interest. The Michaels family had claimed a sunny patch of grass, their picnic blanket dotted with sandwiches and drinks while their teenage girls actually seemed to be enjoying themselves for once. Even Claire and Miles, the honeymooners, had wandered over to watch the impromptu fishing class.
Sophie frowned at her tangled fishing line, which somehow resembled a cat’s cradle more than fishing gear. “I think my rod is defective.”
“The rod’s fine,” Darrow said, exchanging an amused look with Wyatt. The ranger had been finding more excuses to stay around the lodge lately, even when he wasn’t required to squire Sophie around. It warmed Darrow’s heart to see the man finally letting his guard down. “Though I’ve never seen anyone manage to wrap a line around their own ponytail before.”
“I’m talented that way.” Sophie attempted to free her hair, only succeeding in making it worse. “This is definitely not making it into my ghost hunting highlights.”
Wyatt set down his own rod and moved to help her. “Here, hold still now.” His fingers worked carefully through her auburn strands, untangling the line with surprising gentleness.
Darrow’s chest tightened with familiar emotion as he watched them. It reminded him of his early days with Whitney, when every accidental touch had felt like lightning. The ranger who’d been so determined to remain professional was now finding reasons to be near Sophie at every opportunity. Whitney had mentioned just that morning how she was convinced there was something there between them.
“There,” Wyatt said softly, freeing the last strand of Sophie’s hair. His hands lingered a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back.
“My knight in shining flannel.” Sophie’s cheeks were pink, and not just from the autumn chill. “Though I still say this is harder than it looks. Maybe I should stick to EMF meters and aurora watching.”
“Everything’s harder than it looks until ye learn the way of it,” Darrow said, his Irish lilt stronger with the memory. “Why, I remember when I first tried fishin’ with a modern rod. Nearly took my eye out.”
“Only at first?” Whitney called from where she was arranging their picnic spread. The sight of her still made his heart skip, even after all these years. “Just last year you hooked my favorite sweater and tried to drag me into the lake.”
“Sure now, that was an accident!” He winked at her, enjoying the way her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Whatever you say, love.” Whitney’s knowing smile made his heart warm, as it always did.
From his vantage point, Darrow could see young Taylor Michaels actually put down her phone to watch Sophie’s next attempt at casting. Even her younger sister Mia had perked up, likely hoping for another entertaining tangle.
Sophie attempted another cast, this time managing to get the line in the water without incident. “Ha! Take that, physics!”
“Well done,” Wyatt said, and Darrow didn’t miss the pride in his voice. “Now you just have to?—”
“Oh! Something’s pulling!” Sophie’s eyes went wide as her rod bent. “What do I do?”
“Reel it in slowly,” Wyatt moved behind her, adjusting her grip on the rod. “Keep the tip up...that’s it...”
Darrow reeled in his own line, more interested in watching this development than catching fish. Wyatt’s hands covered Sophie’s, guiding her movements as she fought with whatever was on her line. They’d been spending all their time together and something had shifted between them. The careful distance Wyatt had tried to maintain with everyone was crumbling.
Claire clutched Miles’s arm as they watched from their blanket. “Oh, I hope she catches it!”
“I think I’ve got it!” Sophie called out as a small trout broke the surface. “Look! I actually caught something!”
A cheer went up from their assembled group. Even Professor Manning set aside his book to applaud.
“Sure and ye did,” Darrow grinned. “Though I’m thinking something else might’ve been caught as well.”
Wyatt shot him a warning look over Sophie’s head, but didn’t move away from her. The man was falling hard, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
“What do you mean?” Sophie asked, distracted by her prize.
“Just that some things are worth gettin’ tangled up in.” Darrow caught Whitney’s eye, remembering their own courtship. “Speakin’ of which, did I ever tell ye about the time I caught a fish bigger than meself?”
“Oh no,” Wyatt groaned. “Not the sea monster story.”
“It was no monster! Just a very large...well, I never did figure out what kind of fish it was exactly.”
“Because it got away?” Sophie asked, watching as Wyatt carefully released her trout back into the lake.
“They always do in his stories,” Wyatt said dryly.
“Sure and every word is true!” Darrow protested, warming to his tale. “There I was, off the coast of Scotland...”
As he launched into his story, the group gathered closer, settling onto blankets and chairs. Whitney passed out more sandwiches and drinks, moving with the same grace that had first captured his heart. He watched Sophie settle back against a fallen log, her shoulder brushing Wyatt’s. The ranger made no move to put space between them, his usual stern expression softening as Sophie laughed at all the right moments in the story.
Even the Michaels teens seemed drawn in, their earlier teenage aloofness forgotten as they listened. Professor Manning had produced a notebook, likely recording local folklore, while Claire and Miles cuddled closer on their blanket. As Darrow finished his tale about the monster fish that got away, the conversation drifted to other natural wonders.
“Speaking of magnificent sights,” Sophie said, her eyes bright with excitement, “the auroras have been amazing this week. Last night’s display was the best yet.”
“Almost like they’re trying to tell us something?” Darrow suggested innocently, earning another warning look from Wyatt.
“Don’t encourage her,” Wyatt said, but his tone held none of his earlier skepticism.
The afternoon passed in a comfortable haze of stories and laughter. If Darrow threw in a few more tales about Scotland and unlikely romances, well...sometimes people just needed a little nudge in the right direction. He’d been nudged by that wee witch Soni once, after all, and look how well that had turned out.
And from the way Wyatt kept looking at Sophie when he thought no one was watching, that direction was becoming clearer by the day. Whether the ranger wanted to admit it or not.
Whitney caught his eye and smiled knowingly. She’d seen it too. Sometimes love needed a helping hand, and who better to provide it than someone who’d found his own happiness in the most unexpected place?
The late afternoon sun painted the lake in gold, and Darrow’s heart swelled with contentment. These were the moments that made life worth living—good company, better stories, and the promise of love in the air. Even if some people needed a wee bit more convincing than others.