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“Men,” Ida says, rolling her eyes.
“He had his hands on you,” Chase says.
“And in about two seconds, I was going to tell him to take his hand off me. What are you up to?”
“I’m here to collect my girl.”
I frown up at him. “I’m sorry. I can’t leave for a while yet.”
“Well, yes, you are my girl, but I didn’t mean you. I thought I’d pop in and get Lily and take her home with me.”
And just like that, I get all gooey. “That’s really sweet. She’d like that.”
“I figured I’d fix her dinner, and she and I can stretch out on the couch together.”
I laugh as I hook Lily up to her leash, and when Chase takes it from me, he leans in to kiss me.
“I’ll see you in a few hours.” I grin up at him.
“We’ll be waiting.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHASE
“So, you said you wouldn’t camp,” I say as I shift the truck into park and grin over at Summer, “but that you would hike.”
“Sure, I’ll hike.” She frowns out the window. “Where are we, anyway? I know we’re on the ranch property, but I don’t think I’ve seen this spot.”
“We’re actually not too far from the lake, that way.” I point to the right and get out of the truck, open the door behind the driver’s side, and start gathering some gear. “I want to show you some of the property on foot today.”
“Okay.” She grins and hops out, opens the door opposite of me, and starts changing her footwear from flip-flops to the trail shoes she brought along.
We dropped Lily off at Paula’s for the night, since it wouldn’t be safe to take her with us today. Not only shouldn’t she hike that far, given that she has a flat face and would overheat, but there’s wildlife out here, and I don’t want to take any chances with the little dog.
“I put on sunscreen before we left the house,” Summer says as she sets a hat on her head. “You told me to bring the trail shoes, so I figured we’d be outside.”
“Good idea.” With the backpack full of water and snacks, along with some emergency supplies, on my back, I close the truck door and circle around to her. “You ready?”
“Ready.”
We set off on a path into the woods that my family has used so often over the years that it’s become a bona fide hiking trail. This is a great five-mile hike, with some pretty views, and my mom uses the path to find huckleberries in the summer. In fact, I have a couple of empty containers in my bag to hold the sweet purple berries because when Summer sees the motherlode, she’ll want to pick some.
So will I.
She looks amazing today. She chose wisely, with long jeans—that way she won’t get scraped up by the brush on the trail—and a T-shirt. Her hair is down under the Bitterroot Valley ball cap that she likely got from a gift shop in town.
She may not typically spend a ton of time in the woods, but she’s quick, her footsteps sure on the path, and she looks like a pro.
“Did you mention before that you don’t hike often?” I ask her.
“I don’t love the great outdoors,” she admits with a wince. “I know. I live in Montana, and I should love it, but it’s dirty out here, and there are bugs, and it’s just not my favorite. The view? Yes. That’s my jam. But sometimes, getting outside in nature is good for you. It feels good today, and I’m excited to see where this trail leads.”
“You won’t be disappointed,” I assure her, thinking of the view that I’m leading her to.
“Holy shit, Chase, there are huckleberry bushes!”
I grin as she pauses on the trail and starts picking berries. “Too many for us to eat.”
