Breaking Bonds by Ari McKay

Author:Ari McKay [McKay, Ari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63533-151-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

CARTER leaned against the rail that surrounded the top of the observation tower at the peak of Clingman’s Dome and felt the tension easing off his shoulders as he looked out at the lush green trees below and the rise and fall of mountain ridges beyond. Although it was chillier up here than it was where they’d started six thousand feet below, it was a clear day, so neither clouds nor fog impeded the view, for which Carter was grateful. This was what he wanted Liam to see.

They’d started their day with a drive to Cataloochee, and Carter had timed it so they’d gotten there early enough to see a few elk stragglers, although most of the herd had already gone into the woods for the day. Cataloochee was a prime spot for camping and fishing, but they had only driven around. Carter would have loved to take Liam to see some of the waterfalls and hike some of the trails in the state park, but their time was limited, so he had to content himself with a whirlwind tour of some scenic hotspots.

After leaving Cataloochee, Carter had driven along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a while, then headed to Clingman’s Dome. They parked at the large visitors’ parking lot, and Carter issued a playful challenge for Liam to walk the half-mile trail up to the observation tower. Even as steep as the trail got, neither of them had any trouble reaching the top.

“What do you think?” Carter asked, glancing sidelong at Liam. Even though Liam claimed he wasn’t a city boy, that didn’t mean he enjoyed the same kind of outdoor activities that Carter did or that they found the same kind of views inspirational. But one look at Liam’s face told him all he needed to know. Liam gazed out on the vista with a stunned expression, and he sighed, not looking at Carter as he answered.

“I thought the view from the Overlook was beautiful, but this….” He shook his head. “Words fail me. It’s like standing at the top of the world.”

“I’m not sure how it manages to make you feel powerful and humble at the same time, but it does,” Carter said. “Or at least, I feel that way. Coming up here has a way of putting things into perspective.”

Liam turned to look at Carter, a smile on his lips. “I was just thinking the exact same thing. I thought the view from some of the skyscrapers in New York was pretty spectacular, but it’s got nothing on this.” He paused, waving his hand toward the valley spread out below them. “It’s like you can see the works of man are transient. This view would have been the same a thousand years ago.”

“People have been born, lived, and died thousands of times over, and yet these mountains are still here.” Carter drew in a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs, and released it slowly. “I find coming here is a good way to help refocus my priorities.

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