Ella walked the short distance to the library Monday after school. The air was crisp—it had snowed this morning—but the sun was out. Between the walk and the sun, her spirits lifted. She pushed open the door to the library and stepped through the anteroom with the brick floor and storage for snow boots and coats to the second set of doors to the library proper. The smell of ink, paper, and old books never failed to soothe her. It was like coming home to old friends.
She passed displays of local artists and slowed to peruse the new-releases table. Aggie Gilchrist had a new cozy mystery out, Death Comes Calling. Anne usually had a copy put back for her. That would be delightful tonight in front of her fireplace.
A group of kids she recognized were whispering at the tables around the corner. Several others slouched at the computer stations. She didn’t immediately see Anne behind the circulation counter, but that wasn’t unusual. Ella headed toward the section on California and then to the few books on camping, hiking, and traveling.
She’d pulled one off the shelf and was flipping through it when a voice startled her.
“I thought I saw you come in. I was in the back.” Anne slipped her arm around Ella’s shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. “What are you looking for? Rewriting the Gold Rush Days play?”
Ella slipped the book back on the shelf and turned. Anne wore a camel-colored wool jacket belted at the waist, mocha skinny jeans, and dark knee boots. Her shoulder-length blonde hair hung in beachy waves, a contrast to Ella’s light-brown long bob. Anne’s attention to style busted any librarian stereotypes.
“No, I’m looking for something to do over spring break. I was thinking camping, but not by myself. Maybe one of those places that has those cute, retro Airstreams.” Her shoulders dropped. “Then again, maybe I should spend it rewriting the Gold Rush play. We’ll be starting auditions and rehearsals not too long after the kids get back from spring break.” It was the big, end-of-the-year production for the fifth graders, and a few would also play parts in vignettes performed during Gold Rush Days in August.
Anne nodded toward an alcove near the circulation desk where a few small tables were set up. This was the only place she allowed food and drink to be consumed in the library. “I brought in some oatmeal-chocolate-chip cookies. How about a few with some tea, and we’ll figure this out.”
Ella followed her. They often sat here planning a reading challenge or after school program. “Good idea. But first, we need to talk about the spring break reading plan.”
Soon with a few cookies and steaming mugs of tea in front of them, they reviewed what they had planned and tweaked a few things. Even though Ella wouldn’t be around to help, she was invested in the kids of this community.
Anne said, “I think the camping plan has real merit. When was the last time you got away?”
“Evan came up at Christmas, and we went skiing.”
“In town. Across the lake.”
Ella conceded. “True. But Lucas—” Why did she care what Lucas thought? He was out of her life. As out of it as one could get in such a small town.
“Lucas what?” Anne’s eyebrows raised.
“Did you know he was engaged? Of course you did. Everyone did but me.”
Anne swirled her mug. “I don’t think everyone knows. But what does he have to do with anything?”
Ella told of her encounter with him last Saturday. “He shouldn’t have anything to do with it. I just keep thinking about what he said when we broke up, that I’m predictable and comfortable like an old sweatshirt. Not adventurous. And he wanted adventure.”
Anne scoffed. “Lucas likes the idea of adventure. Not actual adventure. But that’s beside the point. What do you want?”
Ella shrugged. “I’ll admit I’ve been in a rut lately. I have my routine, and I like it. But…” She spun her mug. “I don’t even know. It’s like something’s missing. Or… I think I want to challenge myself in some way, a way I don’t normally. Nothing academic. And I don’t want to run a marathon or anything like that. But I used to love being outdoors. I have great memories of that. And now I don’t do anything unless Evan comes up or Mom wants to go on a hike.”
Anne pursed her lips, gaze steady on her. “I have an idea. Better than the Airstreams, I think.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Holcomb Springs Outfitters runs hiking and camping trips here locally. I know they have one that covers the Holcomb Springs Trail where it branches off the Pacific Crest Trail.”
Ella suppressed a sigh. So much for avoiding Reese. But if she didn’t come up with a plan, Amanda was going to drag her off to Palm Springs. They’d play endless rounds of card games with her parents and eat dinner at four thirty.
Anne’s gaze narrowed. “What?”
Ella went for nonchalant. “Nothing. Sounds like a good idea.”
“Uh huh. You don’t seem convinced.”
This time Ella let out the sigh. “You knew Reese Vega is back in town, right? Helping out Raul.”
Anne nodded.
“So it’s likely Reese is leading the trip, not Raul.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“It’s not.” She picked up cookie crumbs and popped them in her mouth. Only that she was hoping to avoid him until he left again.
“Didn’t you both grow up here?”
“He and his parents moved up here when he started high school. Raul and his older sister, Rachel, were already out of college and on their own. Reese is three years older than me, so we only were in high school together one year.”
Anne nodded, her gaze steady. When Ella didn’t say anything, she said, “You’ll be safe with him. You’ll have a great adventure, prove Lucas wrong about you, and have a good memory of your trip. At least head over there and check it out, see what your options are.”
“True.” She could at least do that. Research. She was good at research. “My life is just so ordinary and…nothing special. Not that I need to be special, but I just have a very comfortable routine in a very comfortable town where I know everyone. I just want to shake things up a bit.”
Anne touched her hand. “You are not ordinary. You are a key part of our community. What would we do without you?”
Ella shrugged. She didn’t know what to do when people said things like that to her. She was just doing what any person would do.
As the silence stretched, Anne said, “Wait here.” She grabbed up their empty mugs and plates.
A camping trip with Reese. What would that be like? There would be other people there. He might not even remember her, probably wouldn’t. There was no way he could know she’d had a crush on him back when he’d been the distant, older bad boy. So different from her. Maybe that’s what she had found appealing. Then again, she did have an encounter with him that made her think the bad boy image wasn’t all there was to him. She shook her head. It’d been twelve years. Neither of them were the same people.
Anne returned with a small, leather-bound volume tied shut with a leather strap, a folded map, a guide book to hikes in Holcomb Springs and the San Bernardino National Forest. And the latest Aggie Gilchrist novel, Death Comes Calling.
“These should be just what you need. Something to read tonight.” She smiled as she slid over the Gilchrist book. “A book on the area from someone who has hiked all the trails and talks extensively about them, a map so you can visualize what the guidebook is talking about, and most importantly” —she tapped the leather cover— “a journal, so you can record what God wants to show you on your trip.”
Ella covered Anne’s hand. “You’re so thoughtful. Thank you.”
“Just make sure you tell me all about it. Maybe you’ll be like Clarissa Miller when she went camping and stumbled on a mystery in The Finger of Death.”
Ella laughed. “Usually I prefer to live vicariously through books. But it might be time to change that this spring break.”
Anne gave her a mock stern look. “Head straight over to the Outfitters, okay? I know you. You’ll overthink it and talk yourself out of it.”
Ella shook her head. “Okay, okay.” But she had been toying with doing exactly that. She hugged Anne goodbye and gathered up her new treasures, then headed back to the school to pick up her Subaru Forester. The Outfitters was technically within walking distance, but the sun was slipping behind the trees, and it grew decidedly cooler.
She thought about Anne’s words, contrasting them with Lucas’s. What did she want? And would adventure help her find it? She didn’t know, but she’d start like she did whenever she had a problem to figure out. She’d fact find.
* * *
Reese worked through the inventory at the back of the Outfitters shop, half keeping an ear open in case too many customers came in and Raul needed his help. But otherwise, Raul was much better with the customers than he was, though he’d do in a pinch.
Right now a father and son were talking to Raul about a spring break four-wheeling trip over the Gold Fever Trail, an overnight campout, and a little gold panning. The rumor was no one had found the big motherlode, and plenty still went looking for it. The kid had to be about ten, young enough to still enjoy time with his dad and old enough to be capable of doing a lot of activities.
He thought back to himself at that age. He had a few good memories, fishing with Dad and Raul. It made him feel important to be included, one of the guys. To have his dad proud of what he could do. Too bad there weren’t more memories like those.
The bell above the door rang, and Reese leaned out.
The dad waved Raul off. “Go help them. Liam and I want to look at some of these trip maps.”
Raul nodded. “Holler if you have questions.”
A guy Reese wouldn’t have pegged as the outdoor type came in with a woman, also not the outdoor type based on her spike-heeled boots. What could they want? Maybe they were in the wrong shop. He shrugged and went back to the inventory. The shop was moving into the busy season, transitioning out of winter sports into spring and summer. They could still get another snowstorm or two, so they had to keep a little of everything in stock.
The bell rang again, but Reese was in the middle of counting sleeping bags. Either Raul could handle it or they could wait.
“Ella, what are you doing here? Leading story time or something?” Sounded like the non-outdoorsy guy.
“Ms. Sommer!” The boy’s voice. “Are you going on a campout too?”
“Hey, Liam. I’m not sure. That’s what I’m here to find out.”
The boy told her all about the trip he and his dad were planning.
But Reese’s mind spun. Ella? Sommer? Maybe there was more than one. Not that unusual of a name. Though it was a small town. He had to start over on his counting.
“That sounds exciting, Liam. You’ll have fun. I can’t wait to hear about it when you get back from spring break.” Her voice was the same, maybe a little deeper, and it kicked him straight in the chest.
At moments he’d wondered if she still lived here, if he’d run into her. Reese tossed down the clipboard and moved out of the back room.
“You? Camping?” This from non-outdoorsy guy.
“Why not? Why are you here?” Ella’s arms were crossed, and she shifted her weight, giving a small smile to the female companion.
“Sophie and I are reserving kayaks for spring break.”
Reese raised his eyebrows. The lake would still be cold in two weeks. He hoped they were good enough not to tip over and get dunked.
The man shook his head. “Camping? That’s not like you at all.” He tugged the woman with him closer. “We like to bond over the outdoors.”
Wow, this guy was a jerk. Reese had an urge to wipe the smug look off his face.
A satisfied smile crossed Ella’s face. “Maybe you just don’t know me that well. I’m thinking about hiking the Holcomb Springs Trail.”
She was? Huh. Raul was back helping the father and son check out. Reese didn’t let himself think about it; he just moved. In a few strides, he stood next to Ella and put a hand on her shoulder.
Her head jerked up, and her eyes widened.
He gave her a wink. “She’ll do just fine. She’s a real trooper on these hikes. I’m looking forward to her help with the other hikers actually.” He squeezed her shoulder, hoping she’d get the hint. Hoping she’d remember him and not think him a creeper.
Her mouth dropped open a bit. “Uh, yeah. Sure. If that’s what you need.” She gave an overly bright smile, recognition in her eyes. “You know me, always happy to help.”
Reese caught Raul glancing over at them and frowning. He’d probably thought Reese’s TBI was making him delusional. He certainly wasn’t sure what had possessed him to start this farce.
The man stared at Reese and then glanced at Ella, uncertainty crossing his features. “You never mentioned…”
Reese stuck out his hand. “Reese Vega.”
The man reluctantly took it. “Lucas Slater, and my fiancée, Sophie Graff. How do you know Ella?”
Reese turned on his charming grin. But inside he was scowling. Lucas. He had a bad history with guys with that name. “Ella and I go way back, don’t we?” He slid his hand further along her shoulders, feeling her stiffen under his touch. So maybe he was overplaying this. Not like he had a lot of experience.
But she smiled up at him and nodded. “We do.”
Lucas seemed unconvinced. “She never mentioned you before.”
Reese didn’t know what to make of that, but clearly there was some history here.
Ella lifted her chin. “I didn’t tell you everything. Just like you didn’t tell me everything.”
Raul stepped over. “Are you all set? Ready to reserve those kayaks?”
Lucas gave Reese then Ella one more look. “Sure.” He and Sophie followed Raul over to the counter.
Reese took Ella’s arm. “Let’s go look at the map of where I’m thinking we’ll go this time.” His voice loud enough to carry to Lucas.
Ella gave him a look but went with him over to the huge map on the wall.
Reese pointed to something on the map and lowered his voice. “Who is that guy?”
“Ex-fiancé.”
Reese’s head whipped around. “Really? He doesn’t seem your type.”
“How would you know what my type is? I haven’t seen you in what—”
“Twelve years.” The words came too fast. He wished he could bite them back.
Her gaze was steady on him, with a curious lift of her eyebrows.
He shrugged. “You just didn’t seem the type to let other people’s opinions determine your actions.”
Raul’s “You’re all set” carried over to them. Lucas and Sophie turned, giving them a slight wave before heading out.
Reese dropped the pretense of looking at the map. “So why are you here?”
“What I told Lucas. I want to see about an overnight hiking trip during spring break.”
He raised his eyebrows but before he could say anything, Raul spoke up. “Here’s our book that shows the different trips. What are you thinking?”
Ella moved over to the counter.
Reese was slow to follow. In his rush to defend her from Lucas, her words hadn’t really sunk in.
“This one.” Ella pointed to something in the book Reese couldn’t see. Hopefully one of the day trips Raul could lead or Cory Grant, who he called in during the busy seasons.
Raul nodded. “Good choice. We’ve got a group of friends already signed up. You’ll fit right in.” He finished getting Ella signed up.
Strangely, Reese felt at a loss standing around awkwardly. He didn’t want to hover over Ella’s shoulder, but he didn’t want to head back to the storage room either. He moved to a display and began straightening things that didn’t really need straightening. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Raul frowning at him.
“You’re all set. We’ll see you bright and early the morning of the hike. All the information is in this packet.”
Ella thanked Raul then turned and waved at Reese. “Thanks for earlier. With Lucas.”
He nodded. “See you around.” He gave a half wave as she headed out the door. Once she was gone, he headed over to the counter. “Which trip did she pick?”
“The big one.”
Reese didn’t believe him, so he pulled the computer screen over toward him. There it was. Three days and nights on the Holcomb Springs Trail with Ella Sommer. He scrubbed a hand over his face.
Raul grinned and smacked him on the shoulder.
Yeah, he wanted to smack something, all right.
* * *
Ella threw her tote bags on her counter and started a pot of tea before calling Amanda. “I did it.”
“Did what? Wait, you made plans for spring break.” The excitement in Amanda’s voice contrasted with the swirls in Ella’s stomach. She wished she could feel as enthused.
She explained about running into Lucas and Reese’s response while she prepped her tea. Felt like a cinnamon-orange spice kinda day.
“Man, that’s a lot of Lucas sightings in a short period of time. But you knew Reese was working there.”
“Yes, but when I first came in, I didn’t see him. I hadn’t expected to see Lucas and Sophie either.”
“So Reese is leading your hike, right?”
Ella moved to the whistling teapot and turned it off, filling her mug with steaming water. “I assume so. Raul didn’t say, but I would think it would be hard on his knee. That’s why Reese came back. Though I know there’s another guy that works there part-time when they get busy, so that’s a possibility too.” She sipped her tea. Hot but perfect. “Regardless, there will be other people around. If Reese does lead it, it’s not like we’ll be alone. Raul said a group of friends had already signed up.”
“Still, it was awfully nice of him to come to your rescue with Lucas. Wouldn’t be the worst thing to spend time with a guy like that.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” Ella responded automatically, not really thinking. Her mind went back to one other time when Reese had rescued her. She was sure he wouldn’t remember. He was a senior; she was a mousy freshman. But his remark about her not letting other people’s opinions determine her actions surprised her. “I’d better let you go. It’s time to get dinner. Mom will be home soon. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Amanda congratulated her again before hanging up.
While Ella pulled out her container of pre-prepped frozen stew, she couldn’t help but think about Reese’s words. How did he remember who she’d wanted to be at fifteen when she still hadn’t figured it out yet?
She brushed them off. It was a lucky guess. Reese probably barely remembered her. Plus, he’d be leaving again, a fact she needed to keep front and center.