The Country Gentleman

by Amberlee Day

  “Perfect for me,” Kenzie said. “I’m glad things have worked out for you.”

  “They have. Sometimes life does that, I’ve found. Sacrifices are required, but wonderful gains can come from it too, if you’re looking for them.” They weren’t nearly to the pond yet, but Shawna suddenly stopped, her head cocked. “Did you hear something?”

  Kenzie pulled out the bear spray she always had with her in the woods, just in case, and listened. Somewhere in the distance came the sounds of machinery, so far off she could barely hear it. “Oh, that’s probably just one of the barges going through the Sound,” she said.

  “Are you sure? I would have guessed a truck, or some kind of equipment. Chainsaws, maybe.”

  Kenzie laughed. “No, not here. It’s crazy how sound carries. Sometimes you can hear the trains across the water.”

  Shawna’s face scrunched with surprise. “The ones that run by the ferry terminal on the other side?”

  “Yep. Weird, huh? And that’s got to be at least five miles across the water.”

  “I guess. But I still think that sounded like something much closer.”

  Kenzie shuddered. Trucks in her beloved woods, and harvesting? Not a chance. Not here. Those big deforestation scars she sometimes passed on the Olympic Peninsula flashed through her mind, and no matter how much she quickened her pace, the ugly images wouldn’t leave.

  Saturday morning, Burt’s hiking club members were fewer in number than normal, but most showed up, ready to brave the wet weather. Pacific Northwesterners didn’t let a rainy day get in the way of their plans, Kenzie included. If she did, she’d never venture outside.

  As Kenzie wanted to look her best at hiking club now that she had Peter to look forward to, she chose her attire carefully. Even though she’d be covering it all with her raingear, if he did somehow see her outfit, he’d see her new green microfiber shorts and a pink V-neck moisture-wicking shirt, something worthy of a sporting goods catalog cover.

  And, as it turned out, he did get to see her without her raingear. Kenzie had an early-morning text from Peter asking Kenzie to drive to the trailhead with him and Paige. She jubilantly accepted.

  Kenzie drove to Paige’s cute purple house to meet up with them. The rain hadn’t started yet, so she parked the jeep and carried her boots, backpack, and raincoat with her to the door. If she’d dosed her veins with a steady flow of Diet Coke that morning, she wouldn’t have felt more keyed up. How had she let five days go by without seeing Peter?

  Note to self: Clean up my schedule, and get Peter in there!

  If he missed her too, and wanted to see more of her, that is. Kenzie nibbled a nail. She certainly hoped he’d missed her.

  On the doorstep, she struck what she hoped was a subtle pose, bending one knee and twisting slightly to the side like a photographer had taught her once. She wanted to look her best. But when she knocked on the door, no one answered. Feeling silly, she switched her position around a bit, but her backpack slid off her arm to the porch. She was kneeling to retrieve it when the door opened, and she stood up to Peter’s sexy eyes smiling at her. The air was suddenly charged, and the urge to drop everything and kiss him flooded her. Lest she act on it, she froze like a scared rabbit.

  The best part was, Peter looked like he felt the same way.

  Kenzie eventually exhaled. “Hi.”

  Taking the backpack from her hand, his eyes holding hers, he echoed, “Hi.”

  He didn’t invite her in right away, but Kenzie didn’t notice. The electric attraction stirring between them like a force of nature kept all her attention—that, and steadying her breathing. Peter had missed her, and seeing him again filled her soul.

  They must have taken too long, because suddenly Paige was there pushing past them out the door. “Okay, I’m ready. Hi, Kenzie. Love your top.”

  If Paige saw the way Kenzie and Peter looked at each other, she didn’t say anything on her way to the truck. Kenzie was glad, and when Peter had the door shut and took her hand, she nestled it into his, a perfect fit. The smile he gave her back completed the connection.

  Peter’s truck suited him: newer, clean to the point of spotless, and a good transport to backcountry trails. Paige insisted Kenzie sit up front.

  “I’m still tired, anyway,” Paige said, yawning. “I might just take a nap.”

  Peter scoffed at his sister, sharing a disbelieving smile with Kenzie. “A nap? Since when do you nap?”

  “Since when do I have to get permission?” Paige was already buckled in and scrunching up a sweater to use as a pillow. Peter shrugged at Kenzie and held the door for her to climb in.

  As Peter started the car and headed for the highway, Kenzie struggled for something to talk about. Work? No. Favorite music? Nah. When fat raindrops began to hit the windshield, she settled on talking about the weather. “Looks like we’re definitely going to get to hike in the rain,” she told Peter cheerfully. Twisting around toward Paige, she added, “Think you’re up to it?”

  But not only had Paige closed her eyes, her chest steadily rose and fell.

  “Whoops, she really did go to sleep,” Kenzie whispered.

  “Really?” Peter glanced back. “I wonder what she was doing last night. She’s been grumpy ever since I got to her house this morning. Hopefully a nap will help. And you don’t have to whisper. Paige can sleep through anything.”

  “That must be nice. I’ve gotten so used to sleeping alone in the house, every little noise wakes me up anymore.”

  “Not me. I’m dead to the world when I sleep. Unless there’s a storm,” Peter said.

  “What kind? Wind or thunder?”

  “Any. When we were kids, I’d lie awake thinking of all the things that could go wrong—like, could the wind rip off our roof, or would lightning strike me if I was inside the house—and Paige would just be sleeping away. Made me crazy. At least one of us needed to be awake to think of these things.”

  Kenzie grinned, picturing Peter as a little boy. “You were scared of thunder. That’s sweet.”

  He laughed, deepening his voice for a manly effect. “Well … any self-protecting individual is scared of thunder. Clearly, thunder and lightning are Mother Nature out to get you.”

  “Oh, clearly!” Happiness bubbled up in her again. Even talking about the weather was fun with Peter.

  “You mean to say that you aren’t afraid of thunder?” Peter asked.

  Kenzie settled back in her seat, studying Peter’s profile as her answer settled into her mind. “My mother taught me to love thunder and lightning.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. And rain. We never complained about the rain at our house. Rain’s what makes it green, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. My mom said that lightning was sometimes just a package deal with rain. Storms were to be celebrated, and rain was always a gift. ‘Falling grace,’ she called it.”

  “Falling grace?”

  “Mmhm. A freely given gift fallen from the sky.”

  Peter’s eyes were on the road. They’d reached the bridge leading to the bigger peninsula, and the view opened up to include the canal and verdant, evergreen-studded landscape at the base of the Olympics. He nodded. “I like that. Falling grace. Remind me when we get soaked hiking today to tell Paige not to complain, Kenzie says it’s grace, and say thank you.”

  Kenzie giggled. “Don’t bring up my name. You’re not getting me in trouble.”

  “No? What fun’s that?” Peter’s eyes sparkled, and Kenzie had to fold her arms to cover up the shiver of happiness buzzing through her.

  Oh, Peter Olson! I don’t know where this is heading, but I like it. Whatever this is.

  The hike was indeed as hard as Kenzie had remembered, and as wet with falling grace as the weatherman had predicted. Peter and Kenzie at least started out high on energy, and talked and laughed for the first part of the hike. Paige indeed slept the entire drive there, but the farther they hiked, the more Paige drooped. Kenzie asked her if she’d had a late night, but Pa
ige insisted she’d slept nine hours.

  It wasn’t long before they all needed to save breath to get them up the steep elevation. Burt took pity and stopped for a break after the first laborious half mile. Kenzie was glad for herself, but especially for poor Paige. The young woman definitely lacked the energy needed for the hike. As soon as Burt stopped, Paige plopped down onto a rock like it was a lifesaver. Peter helped her get water from her pack.

  “Are you doing okay?” Kenzie asked her. “I’d say you’re a little knackered.”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Paige said. Despite the exercise, she was pale, even a little green. “I’ve been fighting a bug all week, but I thought this morning I’d feel better once I got going.”

  “Do you want to eat something?” Peter asked. Kenzie was impressed with how attentive he was.

  But Paige only shook her head no. “I really just want to lie down. Isn’t that crazy? I think I slept all the way here.”

  Kenzie suddenly had a thought. Normally she only carried granola bars in her backpack, but today she had some jerky. She took out a small bit. “Try some of this.”

  “I don’t think my stomach could take it,” Paige said, apology in her eyes.

  “You don’t have to eat it. Just put it in your mouth for a minute. The salt might help.”

  Paige was a good sport and gave it a try. They sat quietly for a few moments. Peter and Kenzie exchanged glances, and she was pretty certain they were thinking the same thing. Paige wasn’t going to be able to finish this hike. They needed to turn back.

  Burt had been watching his charges from a distance, but now approached the group. They all wore awkward, drippy raincoats and ponchos over their clothes, but Burt looked as comfortable in his as if he were a duck in a downpour. “How is she doing?”

  Peter explained Paige’s lack of energy, and their need to turn back.

  Burt looked askance at Kenzie. “Normally that would be my cue to take the whole group back, but I don’t usually have hikers who already know the trails as well as you do.”

  “Sure,” Kenzie said. “I know the way back. You go ahead and take the others, and we’ll see you next week.”

  Burt didn’t need to be told twice. After wishing Paige well, he gathered the remaining hikers and disappeared up the trail.

  “Do you mind not going?” Peter asked Kenzie, worry in his eyes.

  “Are you kidding? I’d rather make sure Paige gets safely back down the mountain.” Which is true, but staying with you is a big old YES bonus.

  They gave Paige more resting time before beginning the journey back. The muddy ground didn’t help, but she curled up on the rock the best she could, pulling her rain poncho over her face. Peter crouched against the rock’s side, giving his sister a little extra space to rest her head on his lap.

  Kenzie sat nearby, close enough that Peter could enjoy her beautiful skin and expressive eyes. He appreciated Kenzie’s sensitivity to Paige. Without acting put out or even bored, she waited patiently for Paige to feel up to moving. In fact, she seemed to absorb the peaceful, meditative time there, even with the rain.

  When Peter realized Paige’s breathing had settled into a steady rhythm, he sent a worried look to Kenzie. “She’s sleeping,” he whispered, suddenly concerned that something was seriously wrong. “On a rock.”

  Kenzie frowned. “I don’t know Paige well, but she seems like she’s normally pretty healthy.”

  “She is. This hiking club was her idea. Normally she runs, goes to the gym, does yoga. She eats better than I do.”

  “And this isn’t like her?”

  Peter shook his head.

  “Hm. How long has her husband been deployed?” Kenzie asked.

  Peter had to think. “He was gone by Memorial Day. Almost a month.”

  Kenzie nodded, raised her eyebrows, and looked expectedly at him. Peter couldn’t guess what she was thinking, and he felt a little daft. What would Josh’s absence have to do with Paige being sick? He’d been gone before, and while Peter knew she missed her husband, she didn’t normally have a reaction like this.

  “I don’t think it’s because she misses Josh,” he said. “She’s used to him being gone. That’s partly why she wanted to join hiking club, keep active. Gives them a lot to talk about when they facetime.”

  “That’s nice.” Kenzie nodded.

  “They share all kinds of things, little details about their day. Military couples get used to it, especially once they have—”

  He read the acknowledgment on Kenzie’s face when the other shoe finally dropped.

  Wow.

  It was a minute before Peter was ready to form words. “Are you thinking—” He swallowed. “—that Paige might be …”

  He was a grown man, and the words shouldn’t be hard to say, but they were. Kenzie smiled at his awkwardness, but he still felt stupid.

  “Would that be a bad thing?” she asked.

  “No, she just never said anything, and I hadn’t thought about it.”

  Paige stirred just then. She didn’t open her eyes, but her voice was more rested. “Hadn’t thought about what?”

  Peter met Kenzie’s gaze. “Nothing. Just wondering how you’re feeling.”

  Sitting up, Paige stretched. “A bit better. I think that jerky helped. That, and the nap. I’ve been so tired lately.”

  Peter looked at Kenzie in amazement. How had she known? Maybe it was a woman thing.

  “I think I’m ready to head back,” Paige said. “Thank you both so much for not leaving me.”

  “Well, Peter wanted to,” Kenzie teased, “but I said no way. Never leave a good woman behind.”

  “A man, maybe,” Paige joined in, a little less energetically.

  “How are your legs?” Peter asked. “Wobbly?”

  “I’ll be fine,” his sister answered. “The trip’s all downhill from here, so it can’t be too bad, right?”

  Peter knew better than to answer that, and it wasn’t long after they started out that Paige’s gait was unsteady again. All downhill tended to be harder on the legs than uphill, especially for someone who was struggling. When she refused to stop and rest, Peter gave her his arm for support, and Kenzie took her daypack.

  The rain had lessened, but Peter estimated they were about halfway down when something else halted them in their tracks. Kenzie saw it first, probably because she was more familiar with hiking the Olympics.

  A white mountain goat with black eyes and spiky horns stood a few yards off the trail, defying gravity by holding still on the slippery wet gravel. It was about the size of a smaller black bear, but its lighter color made it appear smaller. And less dangerous, somehow.

  Kenzie’s reaction to it told him otherwise. “We need to back up,” she said, “slowly. Keep your eye on her.”

  “Is it dangerous?” Paige asked. “He’s just looking at us. Maybe we can pass.”

  “No,” said Kenzie, taking Paige’s hand and leading her and Peter into a slow retreat. “It’s a female, and we don’t want to get any closer. Count her feet.”

  “There are extra,” Peter said, understanding her concern. “There’s a baby on the other side of her.”

  “Yes. Goats are pretty shy most of the time, but nanny goats with babies tend to be more protective.”

  They shuffled back slowly, not wanting to take a tumble. When the nanny finally decided to move on, both goats continued on their climb straight up the hillside, leaving the switchbacks to the humans. Peter, Kenzie, and Paige watched and waited for a few moments to let the animals make their slow escape.

  “Another day, I’d have pulled out my camera,” Peter said.

  “Then we’ll have to come back again, when Paige is feeling better,” Kenzie said.

  “That would be awesome.” Paige yawned, and resumed her careful descent. “But wow, right now I could do with another nap.”

  Chapter Eight

  Saturday evening, Kenzie texted Peter and was relieved to learn that Paige felt better af
ter sleep and eating saltine crackers. Kenzie didn’t ask if Paige was indeed pregnant, but she smiled thinking that Peter’s sweet sister might have a baby on the way. The look on his face when he realized Kenzie’s suspicion made her tingle with happiness, and she wondered what it would feel like to see that same mix of boyish terror and delight on Peter’s handsome face again.

  Tuesday came, and Kenzie sat in a fundraising committee meeting, wondering how in the world she’d let even a day pass without connecting with Peter. She’d told him Saturday that she had some busy days ahead, and not hearing from him must be his way of supporting her work. She frowned. If she didn’t hear from him by lunchtime, she’d text him.

  “Everything okay, Kenzie?” the committee chair asked her. He must have noticed her frown, so she summoned a bright smile.

  “Perfect,” she said. “Love the ideas.”

  She couldn’t get her mind off of Peter, however. As the meeting ended and she gathered her things to leave, a text arrived.

  Peter! She dropped back into her seat to read it, her heart flying.

  Peter: You were right, Paige is expecting a baby.

  Kenzie: That’s wonderful!!

  Peter: It is. She’s pretty low energy and under the weather. No more hiking club for now.

  Kenzie’s heart sank. This up-and-down made her feel sick herself. Did Peter mean no more hiking club for either of them if Paige couldn’t come?

  Peter: For Paige, that is. I’m ISO a new hiking buddy. Know anybody?

  Kenzie giggled, just as a new group came in to claim the conference room. She scooped up her things and hurried down the hall to a lounge, sitting down with an emotional plop.

  Kenzie: Not sure, but I’ll ask around. Do you have a type in mind?