Saving Grace

Chapter 10: Colt

The woods were dense, which was making for a frustrating hike. We were constantly stepping over rocks or tree limbs, or dodging leaves on branches. Add in the constant searching for animals and any sign of familiarity, it was sure to be a long day.

I heard the crinkle from a wrapper next to me, and saw Grace breaking apart a granola bar. She smiled up at me and handed me a piece. I gladly took it.

"Actually sharing with me today?" I quirked my eyebrow and smirked.

"Well I figured if I didn't, you would take another unoffered bite anyway." She teased.

"How absolutely correct you are... Ma'am." Winking, I shoved the granola in my mouth. I chuckled at her eye roll and we kept moving. 

"So, what about you? What's a secret that you have?"

I turned my head in her direction to see her eyeing me with curiosity.

"A secret?"

"Yeah, I told you one of mine. Now it's your turn."

"So what, this is like a, 'I'll show you mine if you show me yours', kind of thing?" I chuckled. "Do you wanna see mine Grace?"

She scoffed, but the blush that quickly formed gave her away.

"Come on. Tell me something. I need to keep my mind off our current predicament."

I stopped walking and she stumbled into me. My hands reached out to catch her fall. I held her arms as she placed her palms on my chest to steady herself. She looked up at me with those startled doe eyes of hers, searching my face.

 "You were right."

She narrowed her eyes and pulled back slightly but her hands still rested on my chest. "About what?"

"I haven't been in a real relationship in years. I don't date. Not anymore."

Her eyes widened in surprise and a look of shock and then perhaps embarrassment flashed through them. She shook her head. "I shouldn't have said that Colt. I'm sorry."

"Yes, you should have. Don't ever apologize for sticking up for yourself."

She stared at me in disbelief. Her eyes darted back and forth across my face in a type of curious scrutiny. She looked as though she was at war with herself before she spoke again.

"Why? Why don't you date?"

I released my grip on her, my fingertips lightly trailing her skin as I did, and backed up. Shaking my head, I motioned for us to keep walking. "That's a secret for another time."

About an hour in, we came to a clearing. Grace stepped out into the open field of wild flowers and faced me with a look powerful enough to knock me on my ass. Her eyes had a childlike glint inside of them as she threw her arms up and spun around.

"It's gorgeous out here! Can't you feel it Colt?" She asked, as she let her hair down to fall around her shoulders.

"Feel what?"

"Freedom!" She yelled, as she took off running.

"Grace! Grace, you can't just run off alone in the middle of the wilderness!" I yelled after her.

"Then you better hurry and catch up to me!" She called back, giggling as she twirled through the tall grass.

I looked around to survey our surroundings. The field was wide open with the woods encircling it. In the background, you could see part of  the mountain rising up toward the sky as if its' only goal in life was to kiss the clouds. God, was it beautiful. There seemed to be no sign of wildlife, at least the threatening kind. I looked back to the stubborn woman dancing in the sea of flowers that painted the grass with the most colorful hues. God, was she beautiful too.