I laughed. The idea of this rugged mountain man picking peaches with me at the Southern Belle Peach Farm sounded like a dream.
My friends would goinsaneif I dragged a perfect specimen like him home.
“It’s a date, Boone.”
His eyes sparkled and hooded over. “I’m going to hold you to that. But first, we’ve got to get you to one side or the other. Now, are we going forward or heading back? You’re in charge, Katie-Peach.”
“I can’t move at all. I’m stuck.” My fingers were trying to dig into the surface of the mountain, my feet holding on to the tiny ledge supporting them.
“If youcouldmove, which way would you want to go?”
The panic that had been subsiding started to rear back up, and I finally admitted defeat. “I just want to go home,” I whispered.
The expression on his face didn’t change. If he was disappointed in me, he didn’t show it. “Okay, we’re going to go home.”
Then he went into immediate action, climbing the face of the rock like a mountain goat until he was right next to me.
Quietly he said, “I’m going to climb over you, okay, Katie?”
I gave him a quick head nod, and then he was in motion again. I didn’t know how someone as big and strong as him could move with such grace. He reached past me and gripped the mountain, then slid his body right over mine. I forgot to breathe for a moment because he felt so good.
I felt his warmth on my back, and the subtle scent of wood-smoke filled my nostrils. The man smelled like a fresh forest on a cold winter’s day. I gulped in the scent greedily, trying to soak up the essence of him.
Then, just like that, he was on the other side of me.
“Okay, Katie, look at me.”
I shifted my head so that now instead of looking forward I was looking back the way we had come.
“See this grip? This is the spot you held before you found yourself in this pickle. Can you reach out and grab it for me?”
I shuffled my feet closer to it, trying to will myself to do it.
My heart was galloping out of my chest. But meeting his eyes one more time gave me the strength I needed.
Certain I was within moments of a potential fall, I leaned to the right and grabbed the handhold.
Everyone erupted in cheers and clapping. Everyone except Boone. He was my steady rock, warm eyes holding me safe.
Quietly he said, “Good girl. Now the footholds.”
And just like that, he walked me step by step through every move back down to solid ground.
When my feet were firmly planted on the ground again, I wobbled my way straight towards him and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you.”
His surprise wore off quickly, and he wrapped his strong arms around me. “It’s okay, Katie. You’re okay.”
I’d never felt so safe before in my life.
I just let myself stay there, wrapped in his arms, while everyone watched on.
After a minute, I felt self-conscious and pulled myself away.
He rumbled, “You and I are going back to the trailhead. The others will go on. I’m going to talk to Jameson for a second. Rest up before we head out.”
As I watched him walk over to the other guide, Lauren came up behind me and whispered in my ear, “Maybe you should climb that mountain man instead of the mountain.”
I looked at her in shock, then started laughing. After the vocal performance she’d put on the night before, I felt comfortable saying, “That sounds like agreatidea. Got any tips for how to make it happen?”
