His Helper - Part 3: A Hand, A Hope, A Hike by Bink Cummings

Author:Bink Cummings [Cummings, Bink]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

Through a worn dirt path, I’ve carved out with the help of my trusty old boots and a machete, I take the lead in our adventure. That’s been the plan since I woke this morning, a nervous bubble bouncing in my gut at the thought of spending my day with Beck, away from work, away from normalcy. Here we are, him at my back, watching my ass as he said he would while I show off my forest. Well, it’s not mine. Not most of it, anyhow.

Taking a swig of water from my Camelbak, we climb a steep hill, the same hill I’ve scaled hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. We weave through incredible, centuries-old trees with flourishing canopies, casting beams of light to the forest floor through their leaves. Birds sing overhead. Pops of color burst from plants around every corner—of the most beautiful violets, yellows, and whites. This is where I come to commune with life. With nature. This is where I feel a little less alone.

A squirrel chases another up a tree, chattering the adorable way only squirrels know how.

The brook I’ve fished in, time and time again, babbles the purest symphony as we come upon it. I step on a wide, flat rock, then another, following the same path I’ve taken many times before. To let Beck know it’s safe, I wave him on without looking back, in fear of what I might do if I acknowledge his presence. Though I sense him there, feet behind me, his breath heavy, as if he hasn’t hiked this far in ages.

I’ve never trekked with anyone before. Which, I guess, shouldn’t be much of a surprise, considering I’ve never done much of anything with real people before.

Jumping from the final rock onto the stone shore, I smile way, way up at my favorite place in the entire forest. It’s just up ahead. Literally. Beck doesn’t know it yet, but this will be his favorite place in the forest when we arrive.

Kicking my footholds covered in fresh dirt from the last rain, I scale the steep hill. My fingers dig into the damp, chunky ground as I use it for support to get up this last bit of our hike.

“We’re climbing this?” are the first words Beck speaks.

“It’s not far,” I call over the forest chatter.

He snorts as if he doesn’t believe me.

To be fair, it isn’t the easiest ascent. If you fall, you will roll or bounce down the hill, and it won’t feel good. I know from experience. Getting back down is far easier than going up. This is a beast, but the payout is worth it every time. For a strong man like Beck, I’m not worried. He can handle it.

Halfway up, my handsome companion’s grumbles suffuse the air in much-needed humor. I stifle a laugh as I ascend to a giant boulder locked into the hillside. It’s a perfect place to rest before we finish the last leg of our hike.

I readjust my backpack and take another swig of water as I sit on the top of the boulder and breathe.

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