Love's Healing Power by Margaret Daley

Author:Margaret Daley [Daley, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: New Beginnings, Book 1
Publisher: Margaret Daley
Published: 2019-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Tess really wished she had asked where they were going to camp. In the middle of a mountain range wasn’t her idea of a most ideal place to spend her weekend. But then she should have realized they would probably camp in the Rockies, since Denver sat at the foot of them. When she was around Mac, she sometimes forgot to think straight.

Adjusting her backpack, she followed Mac along the trail that would take them to their campsite. The excited voices of the children penetrated the morning silence. The scent of pine and earth saturated the air with a soothing aroma that seeped into Tess and eased her distress. The crystal-blue sky with not a cloud in sight promised the day would be a beautiful one. She listened to the snap of twigs and leaves beneath her boots and to the laughter of one of the girls ahead of her and felt content for the moment. She had always loved the mountains. Maybe she could put her memories behind her and enjoy the weekend for what it was—a time to get to know Mac and Johnny better.

Johnny’s warm greeting when she’d climbed into Mac’s car had given her hope. Mac was doing something right because she had never seen the child so happy, relaxed. His skin looked healthy, and his eyes were bright. Mac was a good father and deserved a household full of children. If Mac adopted Johnny, how would that affect her?

“Look, a hummingbird,” one of the girls said, pointing toward a tree.

Tess paused to watch the tiny bird move its wings so fast it was hard to see them. It hovered for a few seconds then darted off. As she turned her gaze toward the trail, out of the trees came a deer, soaring across the path and bounding into the thick brush on the other side.

Not a word was spoken for a full minute as though everyone was waiting for another deer to cross, then all of a sudden, every child began to talk and gesture toward where the deer had disappeared into the forest. A cool breeze stirred Tess’s hair as she marveled at the grace of the animal and the beauty about her. She loved the outdoors and used to call it God’s playground.

“I hope we see a bear,” one of the older children said at the front of the line.

“I want to see a wolf.”

“How about a mountain lion,” Johnny added to the list.

Tess thought of those animals, and her eyes grew round. “Mac, are you prepared if we do?”

“Chances are we won’t. Don’t worry. Probably the biggest animal we’ll see is that deer.”

“I hope you’re right. While all three of those animals are beautiful to look at, I prefer steel bars or glass between me and them. I know my limitations and how fast I can run.”

“Running away from your problems isn’t the best solution. They’ll only follow you and take you down,” he whispered to her. Then in a louder voice he said, “Let’s keep moving.

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