Last Summer(37)

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Nathan roughly unzips another pocket and pulls out the medical kit, his motions abrupt. He seems angry, and Ella thinks he probably regrets showing her his spot. The location is secluded, personal to him. He spends a great deal of time reflecting here. Next time he visits, he’ll think of her and her complaints about her aches and pains.

Popping the aspirin cap, he drops two tablets in her hand.

“You seem upset. Did I do something?” she asks.

He doesn’t answer, only puts away the medical kit.

“The hike wasn’t my idea.” She downs the aspirin with water.

“Drink more,” he orders. “You need to stay hydrated.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” She salutes him with the water bottle and drinks until Nathan seems satisfied. Still kneeling, he looks at the ridge across the valley. He doesn’t move, even when Ella finishes the water and holds out the container for him to put it away.

“Knock, knock.” She mock knocks the air in his line of vision. “Anyone home?”

He hangs his head and swears, scratches at the scruff on his jaw. He then zips and shoulders the pack, standing. He looks down at her with remorse. “I owe you an apology.”

She frowns. “For what?”

“I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t have brought you out here, not this far. You aren’t acclimated.” He yanks on his knit cap and pulls it over the top of his ears. “I’m a professional. I expected too much of you. I shouldn’t have pushed you to go this far.”

If he could kick himself in the rear, Ella is sure he would. He looks miserable.

“For the record, you didn’t push me. I could have said no. You didn’t force me to come out here.”

“I didn’t give you much of an option.”

“True. But a good part of my job is getting to watch the people I interview in action. There isn’t much to watch when we’re sitting across from each other at a table. You made our day more interesting. I’m a little light-headed and sore. No biggie. I can manage.”

“Still, it just proves . . .” He stops and glances away. He looks at his watch. “We need to head back. It’s getting late.” He starts walking. The dogs scamper ahead, leading the way. Ella doesn’t budge.

“Hey, Donovan!” she calls after him. “Proves what?”

He swings around, walking backward. “That my head isn’t in the game.” Turning back, he continues on.

“Is that why you quit Off the Grid!?” she hollers.

“Get moving, Skye. The sun doesn’t stay up for anyone. You don’t want to be walking this trail as it gets dark.”

No, she doesn’t. The unmarked path and white landscape make it too easy to get lost in the diminishing light.

She jogs after Nathan and the dogs through protesting muscles, falling into step behind them. Soon the aspirin kicks in and she feels looser. They don’t talk much on the way back. Nathan seems to be in a funk so she lets him stew and keeps her attention on the ground. A twisted ankle would ruin their day. She’d be stuck out here, cold and alone, while Nathan ran back to his house to call for help. Or worse, he’d have to carry her. How humiliating.

Pressing fingers to her windburned cheeks, she glances at the sky. Clouds drift slowly overhead. The toe of her boot catches on a root. Stumbling, she bumps into a boulder. Ouch. She rubs her arm.

“Ella,” Nathan snaps. Suddenly in front of her, he waves a hand in her face. “Pay attention.”

She blinks, glancing up at him, her movements slow and lethargic.

He says a few choice words, then pats his pockets until he finds a smashed protein bar. He tears off the wrapper.

“Eat this. You need fuel.” He waits until she finishes. “Better?”

A rush of sugar hits her system. “Much, thank you.” She didn’t finish her sandwich earlier. She’d been too distracted asking questions and listening to Nathan.

“The altitude messes with you. Why didn’t you tell me you felt dizzy?”

She shakes her head, holding on to the tree for balance. “Not dizzy. Not anymore. Just tired and shaky.”

“Doesn’t matter. Think you can walk now or do you need to rest more?”

“No, I’m good. Let’s go.”

They resume walking. The sun sets earlier at their elevation, and soon the bright orb is hiding behind trees until it disappears, dousing the sky in pinks and lavenders. It’s almost 5:00 p.m. when they make it back to Nathan’s, and by the time the trail opens onto his property, Ella wants nothing more than to enjoy a hot bath and to pee in a toilet. How in the world did she backpack five days straight?

“All right if I use your bathroom before I leave?” she asks.

The shadow of a frown touches his forehead. “Don’t go.” He steps close to her so that she has to tilt her head back to look at him. “I mean, you shouldn’t drive just yet. Rest. Have dinner with me.”

Ella glances at her car and back. Her stomach growls. She’s hungry, and if she stays, they can put in another couple of hours toward the interview.

“Sure, I’ll stay.”





CHAPTER 15

Nathan moves about the kitchen prepping a dinner of steak, potatoes, and asparagus. He changed into worn jeans and a green flannel shirt. A shock of hair, rich like damp wood, drapes his forehead as he bends over the steaks, seasoning the rib eyes. He hums along to the music playing in the background, the Doors’ “Light My Fire,” seemingly lost in his own world and obviously used to living alone. Ella doubts he entertains much company up here.