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“So then if the two witnesses weren’t mistaken, he came back here to search for the jewelry? If that’s so, he must have been involved in the robberies.” Nate finished eating his waffles.
Kayla sighed. “Then we might be having company.”
“Peter will have additional patrols out here justin case the guy surfaces. The reports still might be a false alarm. The man was wearing a billed cap and mirrored sunglasses, and it was hard to make out his features on the video they had of him. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“I agree.”
“So what’s our schedule for today?”
“We spent the whole day in yesterday. I shifted late last night, so I’m good for not shifting.” She thought Nate was so sweet to always ask her what she wanted to do first. “Do you want to choose?”
“I’ve enjoyed everything that you’ve scheduled for us so far. You’re great at planning. Nicole was always the one who was planning our trips and excursions when it was just the two of us going places.”
“All right, well, if you ever want to choose something to do, just let me know.”
“I will. So where are we going?”
She smiled. “Okay, let’s make this our four-mile trip up to Hidden Lake. It’s not supposed to rain until much later, so we’ll be back before then. It’ll be cold up there, snowy even, but I want to do it, don’t you?”
“Absolutely. I was hoping you would want to. Since you were sleeping as a wolf for a good amount of time, you most likely won’t have the urge to shift. But if you do, I’ll carry your pack, and we’ll head back.”
“That’s what I was thinking too. We could playchicken-foot dominoes when we get back. Okay, let’s get ready before the day gets away from us.”
With hiking packs on their backs, they were soon on their way to the lake. She was excited about it. She’d never taken the time to go there, and she’d seen pictures of the aqua-blue water that reminded her of the Caribbean waters. In winter, Hidden Lake would be frozen, but even now in summer, the water would be cold.
“I’m so glad we’re doing this together. I’ve always wanted to, but I have been so busy. And…well, truthfully, I really wanted to do this with you. That makes it really special,” she said.
He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you waited. I haven’t been to Hidden Lake either. I can’t wait to see it. With you. Even just making the hike up there will be beautiful.”
On the hike, they walked past silver and gold mines and abandoned equipment that had been left there when the mines had closed. She looked over the valley. Alpine wildflowers filled it—pink mountain heather, subalpine heather, glacier lily, purple lupine. It looked like a fairyland. Off in the distance they could see the swinging bridge they wanted to go to that crossed a river.
It was a great hike—steep, and they’d get a wonderful workout.
“Do you want to go swimming when we get back?” she asked.
“Yeah. Sure, that would be great. By the time we return, we’ll be hot and ready for a swim.”
They took a break to get some water, and she took pictures of the valley filled with flowers. “This is just beautiful. I’ve seen some of the photos Jake has taken while up here, but it’s even more vibrant, more real in person.”
“I agree. Seeing it from this vantage point is beautiful. When we were walking on the trail through the valley, it was spectacular, but way up above like this, it’s really amazing.” He took a picture of both of them with the valley of flowers as a backdrop.
Then they continued on their way up the mountain. She was beginning to think if she was running as a wolf, she could manage this so much easier. She wasn’t in as great of shape as she thought.
When she slowed down, he took her hand. “Are you getting tired?”
She laughed. “Yeah, you?”
“It’s a long, steep hike.”
“Well, that makes it all the more worthwhile.” She wasn’t quitting for anything. Even if it started raining. Well, maybe if it did, they’d be forced to return. At this height, there was no shelter if lightning started, and they’d stand out too much. But no storms were due in for the time being.
“It does. And being with you up here makes it doubly special,” he said.
“I guess you don’t want to carry me if I get too tired.”
He chuckled. “You know I would do anything for you.”
“I’d turn wolf first.”
