Saving Grace

Chapter 12: Grace

We continued on our journey, but the realization that we may not find our way back anytime soon, or at all, was heavily weighing on my mind. But the piercing look in Colt's eyes when he said he would save me, made me believe in him all the more. I knew, without a doubt, that he would do everything in his power to get us back.

I was extra jumpy at any sign or sound of wildlife. Colt, noticing, stayed close to my side. I would catch myself staring at him in both appreciation, he was still shirtless afterall, and curiosity. He had managed to get me to open up about a few details of my life, but he seemed to evade any question I threw at him. I was surprised when he shared that little piece of himself about not dating. But he shut down after that. There was still so much we did not know about each other, and I found myself wanting to know everything.

"So, do you normally get your customers lost on these trail guides?" I teased.

He chuckled. "No, this will be a first for me. Of course, I don't normally have customers quite so...stubborn either."

"Says the most stubborn man I know."

"I'm not stubborn."

"Ah, right, you're just hard headed."

"Exactly." He winked. "Besides, I haven't done many of these guides. I've just been helping out while Hank's out."

"Hank?"

"Yeah, he's out on leave. He's the main guide. Also who you would have rather been with right now. He wouldn't have gotten you so lost."

"Hey." I reached out and touched his arm. "I'm glad it's you I'm stuck out here with. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else." It was true.

He held my gaze with such a powerful force, I felt as if I would crumble underneath his mere stare. He went to say something, but stopped himself, shaking his head and smiling instead. We continued walking.

"So if you aren't the main guide, what is it you do?"

"I'm a rancher. My dad's ranch will be mine someday, and I help run it. When I'm not doing that, I help out with whatever my mom needs at the lodge."

"Whatever your mom needs? So, what is it your mom does at the lodge then?"

"She owns it."

"Wait, she...she owns it? Wow, I didn't realize. That's impressive!" I praised. "Although I may have to give four stars instead of the full five on account of almost being eaten by a bear and chased by a moose."

He started laughing. "I don't think she would blame you. But, yeah, her and my dad started it up about ten years or so ago."

"So you ranch and do endless jobs at the lodge? You must stay busy. What is it you do just for you?"

He glanced at me and then looked ahead again.

"I stay busy."

He walked slightly ahead, and by his vague answer, I could tell he had no intention of elaborating.

****
It was now the afternoon of our second day trek, and my phone battery was at the end of its life. It held up impressively though, but I guessed that's what happened when you weren't constantly on it. We had been walking since early morning, and if we had been finally going in the right direction, we would be seeing some kind of sign of that soon.

Colt stopped and looked around. There was a mountainous hill formed with a lot of large rocks to the left of us and he walked over to it.

"I have an idea. Maybe we can climb this. It goes pretty high up, it might overlook the trees, and I can look if I see anything recognizable. The hike will add some time to our trek, but it looks like it flattens out, so it shouldn't be too hard of a climb. Plus, it might be our only option right now."