Page 16 of Close to Heaven

Six

Avery’s legs were already burning by the time she trudged up the hill to Jax’s cabin. Even though she was an experienced hiker, she hadn’t gone as much since she’d moved to Knoxville. She climbed the steps to his porch, unsure if she’d be able to keep up with him.

As she raised her hand to knock, the door opened, and Jax and Smoky were standing there.

“Hey,” he said. Smoky greeted her by thumping his long black tail against the wood floor.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“I saw you coming up the hill.”

Did he see how many times I had to stop to catch my breath? If she had trouble traversing a paved road, how was she going to fare on a narrow dirt trail?

He and Smoky stepped outside, and he turned to lock the door.

She noticed his expensive backpack and hiking boots and realized how serious he took this. In contrast, her boots had seen better days, and she’d forgotten her backpack in Knoxville, so all she had was a flimsy drawstring bag.

He turned. “All set?”

“Let’s do it!”

He gave her a funny look, and she realized how that might have sounded. “Lead the way,” she amended.

She followed him across the driveway and onto a dirt path cut into the woods. She noticed it was well worn like he used it often.

“Did you clear this trail yourself?” she asked from behind him.

“Me and Cody,” he replied without turning around.

“What about Dakota?”

He chuckled. “The only way we could get her out here was on piggyback.”

Avery laughed. Even though his sister had been born and raised in the mountains like the rest of them, she seemed perfectly content in the city. She suspected Jax felt exactly the opposite.

As the trail started to climb, their conversation ceased. Avery didn’t have the extra breath to talk, but Jax didn’t seem to mind. Soon they came out of the dense woods and were surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountains.

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “How about a water break?”

“If you want to,” she said casually, though she was dying for a rest.

They stopped at a rock outcropping, and Jax let go of Smoky’s leash and removed his backpack.

“Won’t he wander off?” she asked as the dog disappeared behind some trees.

“He’ll come right back when I call him.”

Avery plunked down on the nearest rock and pulled a bottled water out of her bag. In the meantime, Jax took out an insulated water bottle, flipped open the top, and took a long slug. He was still standing and didn’t look the least bit fatigued. In contrast, strands of hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, and her legs were shaking from the climb. Still, she refused to show any signs of weakness.

They drank water and admired the views while Smoky rustled around nearby.

“I forgot how peaceful this was,” she said.

“Um-hmm.”

“Do you come up here a lot?”

“Yeah.”