When we were finished, he insisted I remain sitting while he cleaned up, hung our trash from a tree to keep bears away, and then loaded a small pack with water and protein bars for us.
When he was finished, he led me away from camp, setting a leisurely pace through the forest. Here and there, we passed small markers on trees, but they weren’t arranged to be followed. After he’d consulted a compass four or five times, I started to get concerned that we might get lost, but I kept my mouth shut. He was still walking tall, his face a mask of confidence, so I forced myself to trust him.
As we walked, I relished the cool, damp air filling my lungs. Being out in the forest heightened all my senses.
For example, I couldn’t help but notice the absolute glory that was his ass in those Carhart pants as he climbed the rocky hill. It was round and thick and, dare I say, biteable?
The most infuriating part was that he’d been a perfect gentleman since we arrived. Other than a hand to help me over fallen trees or out of my chair, he hadn’t even touched me. It was as if he knew that experiencing him in the woods, in his natural habitat, was so sexy he didn’t even need to flirt.
I stumbled over a rock but quickly caught myself.
“Eyes on the trail, Dragonfly,” he called over his shoulder. “You can stare at my ass back in town.”
With a roll of my eyes, I huffed. We were ascending now, the terrain steeper and the vegetation changing, signaling that we were at a higher elevation.
I focused on the trail, letting my body experience the journey. The scents of pine needles and moss were strong and soothing. My limbs felt strong and capable, and my brain felt energized.
I’d traveled all over the world and investigated every type of forest. I was no stranger to nature. It was my job, after all—though the trees were technically JJ’s territory—but this forest was so much more. Livelier, richer, greener. Was it because it was Maine? My home?
Or because these were my trees?
Yes. It definitely wasn’t because of the very capable lumberjack who was confidently leading me through the woods.
“Up here,” he said, pulling himself up onto a rock ledge. Once he was up, he lay on his stomach and reached out to me.
As he helped me settle beside him, I took in the view and gasped.
Holy shit.
We were on a rocky plateau. The forest stretched out behind us, but directly ahead was a valley.
Vast and wide, with a small stream flowing down the middle.
And filled with wildflowers.
A riot of colors and sizes, the flora blanketed the valley, reaching all the way to the lake where we’d landed earlier.
Along the periphery of the valley, small trees grew, but the vast majority was filled with colorful flowers and scrub. White, yellow, and orange, with dots of purple as well, growing in all directions, some short and some tall. It was strange and wild and beautiful.
“Here.” He handed me a monocular.
I held it up to one eye, focusing it and enjoying the view. “What is this place?”
“There was a devastating wildfire here in the seventies.”
“Ecological succession,” I said, putting the pieces together.
“Yup. The land, plants, and wildlife grew and evolved after the devastation of the fire.”
“And created something different.”
“And beautiful.”
He stepped close and draped an arm over my shoulders as we gazed out at the valley below.
It hit me, in that silent moment, the impact so powerful it took my breath away.
Deadly, destructive fire had laid waste to this place. But it grew back stronger, yet forever changed.
“There are no roads. This is totally inaccessible. A secret paradise borne out of a tragedy.”
I looked up at Gus, letting a small smile slip free. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
He nodded. “It’s your land. Well, part of it I’m not sure where the boundary is, but most of what you see here is yours.”
We sat on our ledge, sipped water from the same bottle, and continued to take in the beauty in front of us.
“I know you don’t trust me yet,” he said softly. “It’s okay. I will do everything I can to earn it. But I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I’ve done wrong in my life.
“This baby is a blessing. It’s the beautiful field of wildfires blooming in the wake of the mess we made as kids.”
My heart lurched. He was right.
I nodded as tears stung my eyes.
“I know how lucky I am,” he said. “And I’m not going to take any of it for granted. Just let me prove it to you.”
Chapter 22Gus
