Where You Are

Peak District National Park

Jesse

I made Birgitta slow down.

She'd practically given me permission. She had taken my hand and I was doing my best to hold her back. I wanted to enjoy this hike, not hurry through it. I had a feeling she could have walked it in half the time it actually took us.

It was easier once the ground levelled off and we weren't climbing a thirty-degree incline anymore. I remembered this bit of the hike. The first bit was the hardest, now we could just slow down and enjoy the scenery.

'Oh my gosh, what is that?' She pointed to the ground where a large hedgehog had just waddled across the path.

'Wild hedgehog,' I told her.

'There's a such thing as a wild hedgehog?' She asked, continuing to walk, though a bit gingerly as if afraid of stepping on stray creatures.

'Yeah,' I scoffed. 'Is there such a thing as a domesticated hedgehog?'

'Yeah!' She laughed. 'That's the only type of hedgehog I know, I guess I should have realized they were wild at some point.'

'They're practically an invasive species here,' I told her. 'Do people really keep them as pets in Canada?'

'Some,' she shrugged. 'I only knew one girl who had one when I was in elementary school. It was cute.'

'Cute,' I scoffed. 'They'll rip apart your garden if you let them! What do else to people keep as pets in Canada?'

'Pretty normal things, I'd say,' she laughed. 'Cats, dogs, fish...'

'Would you ever get a cat or dog?' I asked her.

'Hmm...' she paused. 'No, because I work twelve-hour shifts and that's too long for a dog to go without going outside. And I travel too much, I don't really know anyone who'd look after a cat or dog for me if I went away.'

'Would you like one?' I asked, more trying to make conversation than anything.

'I wouldn't mind a dog,' she said. 'But I only have a little apartment, too. If I got a dog, I'd like it to be a big one, so I guess it's out of the question. What about you?'

'Well, same as you, I suppose,' I replied. 'I'm away too much to look after a pet. Small flat as well. Maybe if I had a house with a garden and someone nearby to look after it while I was away.'

'I like Australian shepherds,' she grinned at me.

My heart leapt. Were we hypothetically discussing a future pet?

'I like beagles,' I told her.

'Aw, beagles are cute!' She said with a grin. 'Did you have a beagle as a kid?'

'No, we had a couple cats though,' I answered. 'Mum got a Yorkshire terrier after we all moved out.'

'A yorkie?' She laughed. 'What's its name?'

'Treacle,' I said with a grimace. She laughed again.

'That's a very British name for a dog,' she said.

'We are in Britain,' I winked at her.

'So you keep reminding me,' she grinned and my heart leapt again.

Birgitta

Jesse insisted on taking me out for supper after the hike. Even though I told him I was happy staying at the Airbnb and cooking for ourselves, there was no changing his mind. And, I had to admit it was kind of sweet having someone who was determined to take me out. So after we'd both showered and changed out of our sweaty hiking clothes, we set out.