By Your Side by Candace Calvert

Author:Candace Calvert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Romance
ISBN: 9781496403650
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2015-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

“Good sandwich,” Macy told him ten minutes later, wondering if Fletcher had noticed the hunk of roast beef she’d tossed to the marmots. He’d politely insisted on sharing the food from his pack. Admitting she was a pescatarian—ate fish, but no other meats—might seem ungrateful. Besides, he’d probably think she meant Presbyterian or some other religious affiliation. Why on earth had she mentioned that her first trip to Yosemite had been with a church group? She swore she saw hope in the man’s eyes. Going to church had been more about pleasing Nonni than trusting God, but that’s the last thing she wanted to discuss right now. “How are you doing with that veggie wrap?”

“It’s . . . great.” Fletcher wiped a stray alfalfa sprout from the corner of his mouth. “Grilled tofu and seeing Half Dome—a day of firsts.”

“You’re a good sport,” Macy told him, meaning it.

“So are you.” He glanced at a trio of begging marmots. “After that taste of your roast beef, Larry, Curly, and Moe will be craving Texas brisket.”

Macy’s face warmed.

Fletcher raised his barely nibbled wrap, smiled. “I should have guessed we might like different things.”

Macy returned his smile and shrugged. “But we’re in total agreement on—” she swept her arm across the amazing view—“all of this.”

“We are.” The sun was drying his clothes, but the awe in Fletcher’s expression looked like it was there to stay. He laughed.

“What’s funny?”

“I don’t know. I was thinking about those last six hundred steps up here.” He glanced toward the steps. A young couple had just reached the top. “I kept hoping I wouldn’t embarrass myself by coughing up a lung. And then I noticed how those steps, with all the mist, seemed to rise up and disappear into a cloud. It was like Moses climbing the Mount.” Fletcher’s eyes crinkled at the edges again. “Only a miracle would keep a bush burning anywhere near that waterfall.”

Macy smiled. “Only you would bring God up the Mist Trail.”

“Nah . . .” Fletcher looked out toward the expanse of towering granite. “I’m sure he was here first.”

And I’m sure we couldn’t be more different.

“It’s like what we were talking about the other night,” he continued, reverence in his deep voice. “You can’t see something like this without trusting in a plan way beyond human design.”

Faith. Again.

Macy searched for a way to change the subject, but Fletcher did first.

“So . . . how many guys have died trying to follow you up here?”

Macy laughed. “None yet. I mean, you’re the first person I’ve hiked it with. I’ve always gone alone.”

His eyes held hers for a moment. “I’m honored then.”

“No problem,” Macy told him, embarrassed. She shouldn’t have admitted that. Shouldn’t have given in to the foolish urge to invite him. A man who packs roast beef and God. “I sort of owed you for the dinner, anyway.”

“You don’t owe me. I enjoyed it. It’s not every day I get to see a vegetarian attack a salmon like a grizzly bear.”

“Pescatarian,” Macy corrected, lifting her chin.

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