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“I don’t think I broke it. Probably just twisted it.”
“Alright. Let me help you over to the grassy area where it’s a little softer.” He lifts me to my feet, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and his around my waist he takes me to the grass.
“I have a cold pack in my bag,” he says.
He gets the pack out of his bag and squeezes it until it makes a pop sound, then he shakes it. Carefully uniting my hiking boot, he slips it off, then places the cold pack on my ankle. He’s so gentle with me when it matters.
“Does that feel ok?” he asks, holding the pack so it doesn’t slide off.
“Yes. Thank you. But now how am I going to get back? Can you call anyone?”
“Not from up here. I’ll have to give you a piggy back ride down.”
My eyes grow wide. “Ummm, I’m not exactly light.”
“I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, but regardless, I’m carrying you back. Best to stay off it.”
“Fine,” I say, agreeing with him.
Once everyone has had their fill of the view, we start the trek back down. Chris and I holding up the rear.
“I’m sorry.” I feel bad that this is how he’s ending his day. Having to carry me because I didn't watch where I was walking.
“You really don’t need to apologize. Like I said, I’ll take any excuse to touch or be close to you.”
I put my forehead to the back of his head while my cheeks burn with bashfulness.
“Don’t you hide, now. I’ve seen and touched it all.”
He turns his head as far to the side as it will go. His smile is wide and those dimples are pulling me to him. I kiss his lips as best I can from back here and then wrap my arms tighter around his shoulders.
We walk like this the whole way back, only once taking a break.
“Oh wait,” I say and spur up slightly from his back. I grab my binoculars and try to find the flash of blue I just saw.
“There. Oh, my God. The Stellar's Jay. Oh. There he is,” I squeal. He’s so cool looking. Half black and half blue with a crown on top of his head.
“Yeah, let me see,” Chris says so I hold the binoculars to his eyes and point them in the direction I was looking
“You see him?” I ask.
“All I see are leaves,” he laughs.
“Oh, shoot. He flew away.” I take the binoculars from his eyes.
“No worries. I live here, I see them all the time.“
“Not me jealous. Not at all,” I say under my breath.
We continue the walk back to the buses. The drive back to Columbus Falls seems longer than the drive here. I sit with Chris on this old school bus they used to shuttle hikers in and out. His hand rests on my knee and I rest my head on his shoulder, not caring anymore what anyone thinks.
Backatthehotel,Chris and Paul gather everyone in the parking lot. That way I can sit in the passenger seat of the van.
“This has been an amazing trip, and I hate to see it end. Tomorrow you will have a day for yourself to explore, or if you booked your flights early, there will be a shuttle to take you to the airport.” This is from Paul, then Chris steps forward.
“If you would like, I have reserved us space at the local diner, and afterwards, I would love to buy everyone a round at the New Atlas bar. But fair warning, if you are sensitive to taxidermy, I wouldn’t suggest coming to the bar. It isn’t called the dead animal zoo for nothing.”
A few people laugh and others look at each other, some with high disapproval on their faces. Guess they won’t be there.
