Page 10 of Maple Kissed by the Mountain Man

The sky had cleared completely overnight. A vast, deep blue stretched over the peaks, and the pale morning sun was just beginning to hit the highest ridges. There wasn’t a single cloud over the east. If the weather held, Maggie would get her photograph.

Then she wouldn’t have a single reason to come back.

I should have been relieved.

Instead, a black, foul irritation was already clawing at my chest before we even reached the trail head.

She adjusted the heavy leather strap of her camera around her neck. Her backpack was on perfectly this morning. “How long do we have?”

“Forty-five minutes.”

“Before the light changes?”

“Before we turn around and march back down.”

Maggie stopped dead on the dirt path. “You said I could take pictures.”

“For forty-five minutes.”

“You said I had an hour yesterday.”

“I did.” I crossed my arms and waited. She did not disappoint.

“That means I get another hour today,” she argued, stepping closer.

“No, Maggie. It doesn’t.”

“Of course it does. It’s an hour daily pass until I get the shot.”

“That isn’t what I offered.”

“You should have been more specific with your legal terms.”

“I was specific.” She jabbed a finger at my chest.

“No, you said one hour. You didn’t say one single hour visit for the remainder of your natural life on this mountain.”

I turned on my heel and started walking up the incline. I shot a glance over my shoulder. “I didn’t control the clouds yesterday, Bennett.”

“You probably would if you could, you broody giant.”

“Move faster.”

Maggie muttered something dark under her breath.

“What was that?”

“I said, thank you for your overwhelming generosity, Ford,” she called out sweetly.

“No, you didn’t.”

“You can’t prove it.”

I kept my eyes fixed on the trail before she caught the faint twitch at the corner of my mouth.

She stayed right on my heels this time, even moving up next to me with the trail allowed. Too close. Every few steps, the soft fabric of her sleeve brushed my arm. Her breathing grew heavier as the trail steepened, but she refused to ask for a break.

I noticed that, too.