Page 69 of A Cup of Autumn
Something in his chest shifted. Something he’d never felt before. “T-thanks,” he croaked.
He followed her in silence. Birds chirped from the trees. Twigs snapped beneath their hiking boots. The higher they went, the sharper the scent of pine in the air became.
Keaton kicked a pebble. He imagined a troll getting hit and tempers flying. A fight would ensue. Nasty and for reasons that made no sense to anyone but trolls. That might work. “Do you mind if we stop for a minute?”
She did.
He pulled out a journal and pen. He wrote down ideas. Glimpses of what he saw around him and in his mind. He listed something from his other four senses. Satisfied, he tucked the items back into his pack’s front pocket. “Thanks.”
Raine beamed. “That’s what we’re here for. Ready to see the falls?”
“Lead the way.” The falls would be the icing so to speak. A morning out there with Raine and scenery breathtaking enough to spark his creativity. It didn’t get much better than that.
They continued up the path at a fast pace.
“When do you have time to work out?” he asked.
“I don’t.” She didn’t slow. “Who needs a gym when I’m on my feet all day? I lift bags of coffee beans and other supplies. It keeps me in shape.”
“I used to belong to a gym in L.A. That was my down time.”
“There’s nothing like that in Silver Falls, but Summit Ridge has a few places. The university, too.”
Maybe he should have taken the barista job when she offered. If he had, he would be getting paid to work out. The best part was he would spend all day with Raine.
Rushing water sounded nearby. “We must be getting close.”
“We are.” The trail switched back. “It’s just around the next bend.”
His family had mentioned the falls once he’d brought them up, but he was happy to be there with Raine.
The water became louder. Keaton rounded the bend to see a huge waterfall cascading over rocks at the top and splashing up in a sea of mist and foam at the bottom. The gray rocks gave the water an almost silvery glow.
Mesmerized, he stared. “Silver Falls.”
If the waterfall didn’t inspire him, nothing would.
A family of four stood on the bridge closer to the water.
“It’s not as impressive as Multnomah Falls in Oregon, but we’re proud of Silver Falls.”
“Someone was since they named a town after it.”
“Yep.” She pointed to a bench. “Sit and take it all in. See if inspiration hits.”
It already had, but he wasn’t sure if it was being out here or being with Raine. Maybe she was his muse.
And maybe he was getting caught up in the moment.
This was a hike, not a date or even a practice one.
“I will.” He took a seat on the bench. A breeze carried mist toward him and wet his face. Not much, but just enough to make him feel alive. “What are you going to do?”
She had her phone out. “Take some photos.”
Keaton focused on the falls, letting everything fall way. Soon he was writing page after page of notes. Some snippets of dialogue. Lines of description. The words flowed, and the scene giving him trouble made sense now.
Keaton wrote until he had nothing left to put on the page. He closed his journal.
