Chapter Four
Falcon
Dark clouds gather in the distance, and an uneasy feeling creeps over me. A storm is brewing. With any luck, it’ll go further north and spare us, but if it doesn’t… I shake my head. Doom scenarios are not my thing. Taking everything one step at a time is, and right now, we have to cross the river at Bear’s Creek. It’s fairly wide but doable on a sunny day. Too bad that big droplets of rain are already starting to fall. The weather report didn’t mention anything about a storm, but I guess that’s life in the mountains. You have to take every hour as it comes.
Iris gives me an uncertain look as she steps on one of the rocks at the river's edge.
“Just follow my lead,” I tell her.
I take a few steps into the cold water to show her how, but my heart lodges in my throat when I realize the current is much stronger today than on other days.
“Wait,” I shout, a second too late.
Iris is already ankle-deep in the water, losing her balance. Without hesitating, I rush toward her, my survival instincts kicking into overdrive. I reach out and grab her hand, pulling her safely against my body. The water keeps swirling around us, but I stand my ground. I sure as hell won’t let anything happen to Iris.
“Are you okay?” I ask her over the roar of the river.
She nods, but her eyes are wide with fear. She trembles beneath my touch, and I tighten my grip so she knows I’m not letting go. I’ll keep her safe, no matter what.
“We need to keep moving,” I say, gaze flicking to the darkening sky above us. “A storm is brewing, and I’m afraid it’s coming straight for us.”
She swallows. “A storm?”
“I’m afraid so. I checked the weather this morning, and there was no mention of bad weather, but storms can be fickle, unpredictable things.”
“Nature’s a force to be reckoned with, right?” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I will keep you safe, Iris,” I promise her.
For some inexplicable reason, I can’t stand the thought of losing her. I want her to be at my side. Not just today, but… forever. The thought makes my knees wobble while the powerful current of Bear Creek’s river tugs at us. Determined to stand my ground, I shut any thoughts of a future with Iris out of my mind and concentrate on the river crossing in front of us.
“Hold on to my hand,” I instruct her.
“Are you sure we’ll make it?”
“Yes. We will make it across. Together.”
“Okay.
I give her an encouraging smile, and her shoulders relax. She grips my hand extra tight, and we wade through the water and the slippery rocks. What was I thinking, scouting this trail with her? It’s all routine for me, but for her, this is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve already decided I won’t be offering this route as a beginner’s hike, but I would like to include it in our expert hikes.
I flick my gaze up again. The clouds look more ominous with every passing minute. Was taking Iris here a mistake? I easily could’ve brought her home with me instead of here. She would’ve been safer in a house than out here in the rugged mountains. And sure, she was afraid of being found, but what are the odds of that? It’s not like the cops would knock on every door to see if a runaway bride was hiding in there.
Right before we reach the other side of the river, the rumble of thunder echoes around us. Damn it. There’s no escaping this storm now. I should’ve known better than to put her safety at risk.
I pull Iris up the muddy riverbank. “Everything okay?”
She nods. “I am.”
“Good. I’m afraid we don’t have time to rest. We have to find shelter before it’s too late. There’s a clearing not far from here. I’ll pitch the tent, and we’ll wait out the storm.”
Iris follows me with her head held high and her sneakers completely soaked. I admire her determination. Not many women would be as courageous as her, weathering a storm with a guy they only just met.
It only takes us fifteen minutes to reach the clearing where I can put the tent up relatively safely. By now, the rain is pelting down on us. I throw my pack on the ground and pull out the tent. It’s a small, lightweight trekking tent, big enough for two people. I always take this one with me because it sleeps both me and my gear. I’m sure Iris and I will find a way to squeeze ourselves and everything I’m carrying inside.
I pitch the tent as fast as I can. With practiced movements, I secure the stakes and tie down the rainfly, doing my best to shield us from the worst of the storm.
As the wind howls and the rain lashes against the fabric of the tent, I glance over at Iris, who is shivering and watching my every movement.
“Can I help?” she asks, fear lacing her voice.
I shake my head. “I’m almost done.”
With one final adjustment, the tent stands firmly on the ground. I quickly unzip the entrance and tell Iris to come inside. I throw my backpack inside, hoping not everything is soaked. The thought of facing the night without dry blankets sends a shiver down my spine. Hypothermia is no joke.
I zip the tent closed, relieved we have a roof over our heads to shield us from the downpour outside. The space is cramped, but I couldn’t care less. Being this close to Iris feels inexplicably right, as if there’s nowhere I belong but next to her.
“Thank you for keeping me safe,” she says with a warm smile.
“Are you kidding me? I’m the one who got you into this situation in the first place.”
She frowns. “What do you mean?”
“I should have never taken you up the mountain. We should’ve stayed in Bearclaw Ridge. With a storm like this, the valley is much safer.”
“No way. This is not your fault, Falcon. I was the one who wanted to run further away, remember?” She’s silent for a few seconds. “You know, all that hiking gave me a lot of time to think. I’ve realized that I never truly loved Joshua. I think I loved the idea of him, and even that wasn’t real, as it turns out. He’s a cheater and a liar. I’m glad we never…”
“You never what?”
“Well, never had sex. When he suggested that we wait, I thought it was romantic. Now I know he probably didn’t love me either. Whatever the case, I’m relieved I didn’t give my virginity to him.”
Fucking hell. She’s a virgin? It’s like music to my ears.
She misinterprets my surprised look. “I know, pathetic, right?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think it’s pathetic. Unless you think I’m pathetic, too.”
“Stop joking, Falcon. I get that you’re trying to make me feel better, but it’s unnecessary.”
“I’m dead serious. I’ve never had sex with anyone. I don’t believe in one-night stands either.”
“So you’re telling me that a hot, considerate, adventurous, sexy guy like yourself has never had sex?” she asks with a frown. “How is that even possible?”
I laugh. “You think I’m sexy, huh?”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “That’s all you heard me say?”
“I can’t hear so well with all this rain pelting down on us,” I reply with a grin.
“Do you think it’ll be over soon? And what if lightning strikes?” she asks, the worry creeping in again.
“We’ll be safe. We’re not the tallest objects around.”
She shivers and wraps her arms around her body.
“Come here. I’ll keep you warm,” I tell her. “If you don’t mind me touching you.”
She licks her lips. “I don’t mind at all.”
She shuffles closer, and I wrap her in my arms.
“This feels so right,” she says with a content sigh.
Her head leans against my chest, and I can’t help but smile like a goof. I knew I was right all along. Right here in my arms is exactly where Iris belongs. Finding her behind my kayaks wasn’t a coincidence. It was fate bringing us together.
And now that I’ve found her, I’m never letting her go.