by Stacy Monson
“Chion.”
“A cheeon,” she enunciated. “She’s so adorable. And she has the cutest name. Lula. Want to hold her?”
The young man blinked as Lula was thrust into his hands, then held her up for inspection. She stared back at him, wide-eyed. “Well, you sure are a tiny thing. That’s the littlest nose I’ve ever seen on an actual dog. You can’t weigh five pounds soaking wet.”
“Five very fierce pounds.” Mikayla laughed, accepting the dog when he held her out.
“I believe it.” He winked and Mikayla’s heart thumped.
“Dawson! Check this out!” The boys waved from the rocks on the far side.
“Nice to meet you, Lula.” He stroked Lula’s head then lifted a smile to Mikayla. “And Lula’s mom. I’d better get back to work to keep them from falling off the mountain.”
The girls had wandered away, so Mikayla settled back at the base of the tree and watched Dawson join the boys. He was relaxed and cheerful as they bantered, keeping an eye on the girls who sat chatting and admiring the view of the lake below. Solidly built, a bandana tied over dark curls, his aura of strength was offset by the gentleness she’d seen in how he’d handled Lula.
He called the group together at the far side of the plateau. They sat in a haphazard circle listening to whatever he was saying. He had an easy command of their attention, making them laugh, asking questions and then listening intently. Conversation flowed among the group, then they quieted and bowed their heads.
Ahh. A church group of some kind. Elbows on her knees, Mikayla propped her chin in her hand and turned her attention to the lake. An interesting twist to the trail guide idea. Using nature to talk about faith. Or was he using faith to talk about nature? She knew a lot about nature, but nothing of faith. It hadn’t been part of their family except for holidays and an occasional wedding or funeral. And Sunday mornings had their own sacred ritual—fishing with Dad in sun, rain, snow or ice.
Now, with the mess her life had become, it was doubtful faith in a God she couldn’t see would change much. Her vision blurred and she blinked against the sting. Maybe if she had something like that to hold onto, she wouldn’t feel adrift in this ocean of anger and uncertainty.
The group finished their prayer and started back toward the trail, the girls waving farewell. Mikayla waved back and watched them disappear into the woods. For them faith was probably real. For her it would just be a crutch, a way to get through a tough time. That didn’t seem right. Either you believed it or not. She rubbed her eyes and sighed. She’d always relied on herself. And Dad. She couldn’t just manufacture faith in something she’d never understood and expect it to give her answers.
She’d focus on accomplishing what she set out to do, the way Dad taught her. There wasn’t time for spiritual musings, not now anyway. Maybe someday. She’d keep her mantra at the front of her mind—show no weakness, rely only on yourself.
Pushing to her feet, she dusted off her jeans and called Lula from her wanderings. She wouldn’t see any wildlife on the way down following the noisy church group and their cute leader. She smiled and started after them. She’d rather look at him anyway with that curly hair and long lashes over smiling brown eyes. If she hurried, she could catch up…
Twenty minutes into the downward climb, she found them gathered at the side of the path. The leader was on a walkie-talkie while several girls crouched beside the brunette with the ponytail.
“Hey, guys,” Mikayla greeted them as she drew closer. “Something wrong?”
“Hannah tripped and hurt her ankle,” came the jumbled response from the group.
Kneeling beside Hannah, Mikayla held back a grimace at the sight of the swollen joint.
Tear-reddened eyes looked up at her. “Is it…b-broken?” Hannah hiccupped.
“Hard to say, honey. Definitely sprained. An x-ray will show what’s wrong when we get you down the mountain.”
“B-but how?” Tears spilled over. “I can’t even s-stand up.”
Mikayla laid a gentle hand on her arm. “We’ll wrap your ankle so it’s stable, and then the others can help you.”
“Hey,” came Dawson’s voice. “Thanks for stopping.”
Mikayla glanced up with a nod. “No way would I just go past Lula’s favorite new friend. Speaking of which…” She unhooked the front pack. “How about if Hannah watches Lula while we get her ankle wrapped?”
She ignored the lift of his brow as she slid out of the pack, Lula still snug inside, and leaned toward Hannah. “Could I ask you to hold her for a minute, hon?”
Hannah held out shaking arms, and Mikayla slid the straps of the front pack up to her shoulders. “Thanks. This way she won’t get lost while we get you ready to head out. Sound good?”
Hannah nodded and buried her nose in Lula’s fur. Mikayla stood and followed Dawson a few steps away where he faced her.
“Thanks again for stopping. I’ve radioed ahead so there’ll be an ambulance waiting. Once we get her set, a couple of the guys will help her get down.”
“I have a few things in my backpack that might help.”
He didn’t hide his surprise. “For splinting?”
“Among other things.”
“That’s great. I’ve got a few things as well. Can you start getting her leg stabilized?”
“I can.”
Before she stepped away, he thrust out a hand. “I’m Dawson, by the way.”
“Mikayla.”
His smile revealed a dimple at the corner of his mouth as he released her hand. “Thanks, Mikayla.”
“Glad to help.” She returned to Hannah and knelt beside her, pulling a rolled newspaper, small blanket and cloth strips from her backpack. “Hannah, let’s get your ankle wrapped up snug. That will keep it protected and make you more comfortable. Can you lift your leg a bit so I can slide this blanket under it?”
“I don’t… It hurts,” Hannah whimpered.
“I know, hon. Here, I’ll help you. Just up a bit.” She deftly slid the blanket under the girl’s leg. “There. Perfect.”
Dawson joined them, and they worked quickly to complete the wrapping. Hannah’s sniffling stopped once the injury was set, and she managed a smile when Lula licked her cheek.
“Why don’t you head down with the rest of the group,” Mikayla suggested in an aside to Dawson, “and I’ll hang back with the boys who are going to help Hannah.”
Fists on his hips, he frowned. “I don’t like leaving part of the group behind.”
“I get that, but there’s no point in all of us creeping our way down,” she countered. “It’ll be way past dark at that rate. Get the other kids down and then, if you need to, head back up to check on us.” Not that she needed checking up on, but she understood his reluctance to leave part of his group with a complete stranger. “We’ll work our way down slowly.”
He unclipped the walkie-talkie from his belt and handed it to her. “You can let me know your progress. Zeke knows how to work it.”
Mikayla pressed her lips together against a swift retort. He wouldn’t know she did too. “Good. We’ll see you at the bottom.”
Dawson relayed their plans to the group and prayed over Hannah’s injury and for safety for all of them before hurrying off with five of the nine kids. Zeke and another boy had fashioned a surprisingly effective crutch for Hannah and stayed protectively beside her as they started down, a third boy behind them.
In the front pack now fastened securely on Hannah, Lula proved to be a wonderful distraction, licking Hannah’s face and snuggling against her neck. After making introductions, Mikayla kept the conversation going as they moved carefully down the rugged path, asking about each of them, their group, and Dawson.
They took turns responding. They were participating in an adventure camp, learning how nature and faith connected, developing leadership skills, and getting to spend lots of time outdoors.
“Daws is amazing,” Zeke said. “I want to do what he does when I’m done with school.”
&n
bsp; “And he’s cute,” Hannah added with a wan smile.
Mikayla winked at her, then steered the conversation to what they’d learned about leadership.
While Peter walked ahead, Zeke and David alternated giving Hannah a piggyback ride when the path allowed it, helping them make better progress than Mikayla expected. As sunlight faded and the path darkened, she pulled a small headlamp from her backpack, silently thanking Dad for his insistence she always keep it handy. Mugging for the group, she fastened the strap proudly on her head, handed a smaller flashlight to David, and took the lead, leaving the boys’ teasing comments behind.
The walkie-talkie crackled to life occasionally, and Zeke provided an update. After situating the group at the trail head, Dawson was on his way back up. The chatter dwindled as they continued their downward climb, and Mikayla shared a few more stories of her journey. When Dawson and a medic appeared with two large flashlights, relief pulsed through her tired limbs. She and the boys stood to the side, watching the brawny medic use a specialized harness to put Hannah firmly on his back.
A cheer went up in the distance as they emerged from the darkness into the blinding lights of a waiting ambulance. The kids, along with what looked to be Hannah’s parents, rushed forward to surround her with welcoming chatter and hugs.
After removing the headlamp they all now admitted had been necessary, Mikayla collected Lula and the front pack, gave Hannah a quick hug, then stepped out of the way. As activity buzzed around the teen, she trudged toward her car, aching for a warm bath and a comfy bed. She’d settle for something to eat from a drive-through and her toasty sleeping bag.
“Wait!”
She turned and paused as Dawson jogged toward her.
“I can’t thank you enough,” he said, offering his hand again. “You were a Godsend, that’s for sure.”
She shook his hand. “I don’t know about that but you’re welcome. It was a pleasure getting to know the kids.”
“So how did you know how to do that?”
“I was a trail guide in college, and most recently was a columnist for Outdoor Experience magazine. And I’ve had a lot of outdoor readiness training.”
“Really?” He cocked his head as he studied her then grinned. “That’s cool. Well, this hike didn’t exactly go as planned, so I’m thankful you were there.”
“Glad I could help.”
“Daws, they’re ready.” One of the boys waved from across the parking lot.
Dawson waved then turned back with a smile. “Mikayla, right?”
“Right.”
“That’s pretty. Thanks, Mikayla. Hope to see you around.”
She’d be on her way home before that happened. “See ya.”
As he jogged toward the waiting kids, she climbed into her jeep and headed toward town and the nearest drive-through. That had been an unexpected twist to a much-needed hike. Dad would be proud. The thought sent loneliness zinging through her, and she pressed the gas pedal a bit harder. His emails had become the encouragement she needed to keep going.
~ 18 ~
Morning sun warm on her back, Mikayla sipped the iced mocha Violet had brought her with a cheerful greeting. When she’d set out on yesterday’s hike, she’d looked forward to clearing her head and reveling in the stunning mountain beauty before continuing her search for Kenny. The encounter with Dawson’s youth group had been an unexpected bonus. The satisfaction of splinting Hannah’s ankle and helping the group back down the mountain had filled her sleep with dreams of past adventures.
“Well, good morning!”
The male voice startled her, and she looked up into smiling brown eyes framed by thick eyelashes. “Hey. Good morning to you. How’s Hannah?”
Dawson dropped into the opposite chair. “No break, which was great news. But she’ll be keeping that leg elevated for a few days, so she won’t be able to finish camp this week.” He leaned his elbows on the colorful ceramic tiles. “Thanks again for your help.”
“I was happy to. Any friend of Lula’s is a friend of mine.”
His answering chuckle sent a flutter of delight across her skin. “I was glad you had that pipsqueak along for protection against bears and mountain lions.”
Mikayla straightened with feigned indignation and whistled. The pipsqueak raced out of the shop, and Mikayla pointed at Dawson. “Sic him, Lu!”
Lula leaped into his lap and joyfully licked his face. Mikayla rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say lick him, I said sic him.”
Dawson laughed as he tried to fend off her lightning quick movements. “Okay, okay. I give!”
Mikayla called, and Lula pranced across the table and into her lap. “Lula! Where are your manners? That wasn’t polite. No walking on the table.”
“Now I’ve seen everything. A guard dog that doubles as table décor.”
Mikayla shared his laughter. “We’re a multi-purpose team.”
“Dawson Dunne! I’m amazed to see you out of the woods on a weekday.” Violet joined them, hands on her broad hips. She turned to Mikayla. “This young man spends most of his days leading groups up, down, over and around the mountains. We only get to enjoy his presence on weekends when he comes into town for supplies.”
Dawson stood and shared a hug with the older woman, then grinned at Mikayla. “This is one of my most favorite people in all of Colorado.”
“She’s become mine too.”
“Good choice.” He settled into his chair. “Vi, could I trouble you for a large regular?”
She set a hand on his shoulder. “Of course you can, honey. I heard about your long night at the hospital.”
He raised an eyebrow at Mikayla. “No secrets around here.”
“You spent the night at the hospital?” she asked as Violet returned to the shop.
He shrugged. “Just until Hannah was sleeping. Made us both feel better.”
Mikayla sipped her drink and studied the young man. Who did something like that?
“So.” He met her gaze and her cheeks flushed. “I actually came into town to find you.”
“Me?”
“You mentioned you’d been a trail guide. And I’m in desperate need of hiring someone. One of my guys fell rock climbing two weeks ago and broke his leg. I’ve got some overnight trips coming up, and they can’t happen without two guides.”
“It’s just the two of you?”
“I’ve got eight people working with me, but we’re already crazy busy, so none of the other staff are available to fill in for Bucky.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Bucky?”
He chuckled as Violet returned with a large to-go cup. “On the house, hon,” she said, then smiled at Mikayla and turned toward new customers.
“I love that woman’s heart,” he commented, then grinned at Mikayla. “Bucky has been his nickname forever, I guess. It came from—”
“His teeth?”
“The fact that he gets bucked off a horse every time he tries to ride.”
She stifled a laugh. “That’s terrible!”
“Actually, it’s pretty funny. They see him coming and go crazy because they know it will be a wild ride. He’s not careless,” he added, “just a little…energetic, I guess.” He sipped his coffee. “He’s been banned from most of the stables around here just because it takes a while for the horses to settle down after he’s been there. He’d make a great rodeo clown, but he’s afraid of bulls.”
Mikayla met his gaze, trying to decide if he was serious, then joined his laughter. “I’m curious but not sure I’d want to meet him.”
“He’s a character. So back to why I was looking for you. Any chance you’re looking for a job? We pay pretty good, as guiding goes, and it would be steady work. You’d probably end up working mostly with me, however, so that might affect your decision.”
She could think of worse things. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here.”
He relaxed in his chair. “Can I ask what brought you to Winter Park?”
“I’m looking for someon
e.”
“No luck so far?”
“So far no, but I just got into town.”
He nodded, seeming unfazed by her evasive answers. “Vi knows everyone, so she’s a great place to start. I’d be happy to help, though I know a fraction of what she knows.”
“You grew up here?”
“Colorado Springs. I moved up here ten, twelve years ago. Needed a change.” His gaze became distant. “Turned out it was exactly where I needed to be. Met some great people, got involved in guiding, and found my calling.” His phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket. “Sorry. I need to take this.”
She waved him away with a nod, relieved to have a moment to digest his offer. He paced slowly as he talked, nodded, and laughed. He was cute, cheerful, and seemed sweetly genuine. She could use a friend like him. Someone who loved being outdoors as much as she did, who wasn’t afraid to work hard. And who seemed to truly care about others. She’d work with him in a heartbeat if she didn’t think it would distract her from what she’d come to do.
He returned to the table, slipping his phone into his back pocket, then he pulled a card from his shirt pocket. “I have to get back to camp before the next crew heads out. Here’s my card. It’d be great if you decided to work with us, at least for the summer.” His hopeful smile sent a tingle down to her toes. “Pray about it and let me know.”
Mikayla watched him climb into a dusty black pickup, lifting a hand in response to his wave. She had no clue how to pray. If she did, it would be about finding Kenny so she could stop thinking about him.
The brilliant afternoon sun sat above the mountain peaks when Mikayla parked in the crowded resort parking lot. Anticipation pulled her from the car. Perhaps the energy thrumming through her was from sharing coffee with Dawson, or the easy rapport she’d developed with Vi. Answers seemed so much closer now. Or maybe the thinner air was affecting her thinking.
She settled Lula in her carrier, slung the backpack over her shoulder, and set off for the slope. As she’d experienced at other resorts, locating workers was half the battle. She followed the whine of a distant chainsaw up and around the mountainside until finding three men clearing branches.