Page 43 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
“Sounds good.” I had been seriously slacking on my exercise since arriving at the outpost. I had been taking daily walks in the meadow but they weren’t nearly as rigorous as the spinning and Pure Barre classes I had taken in the city. A hike sounded like a refreshing activity and a good way to burn a few extra calories.
Beau drove us down the two-lane road until he stopped at the base of a hill. Separating the truck from the incline was a creek gently flowing through the trees. It wasn’t wide, maybe four feet across. We both climbed out of the truck and walked to the water’s edge. He stepped over the creek with one large stride. I had to take a running leap to clear the opposite bank.
“Up we go.”
I nodded and let Beau start off first with Boone at his side.
The trail he followed wasn’t much more than a footpath and I was forced to walk behind him for the first half of our hike. But as we approached the top of the steep hill, our path leveled and I joined him at his side.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” I was breathless but smiling. My lungs and legs were burning but it felt great to work up a sweat.
“The rest is pretty easy.” Beau wasn’t straining a bit. To him, this was probably like a stroll through the mall, not that I could imagine him ever setting foot inside a mall.
We walked easily for a while. I did my best to keep my footing even as I watched birds fly above us through the trees. “I’m going to miss seeing fireworks on Independence Day but at least we get to see some beautiful things today.”
“I’d take this over fireworks any day of the week.”
“Does Prescott have a big firework show?” I asked.
“They do all right for a small town. Now that Michael is the fire chief, he’ll be supervising it this year. I’m just hoping they don’t have a wreck. The guy in charge of buying the fireworks has a tendency to go a little crazy.”
“You’re not missing anything on my account, are you?” He was so dedicated to his family, I worried he’d regret missing his younger brother’s big night.
“Nope. I’m glad to be away from the madness. Michael will be fine. He doesn’t need me hovering over his shoulder.”
“What about a hot date? Are you missing watching the fireworks with someone special?” I couldn’t help asking. The words slipped out so quickly, I didn’t have a chance to think them through.
Did he have a girlfriend? We’d been around each other for months now, but maybe he’d found someone. Maybe that was the reason for the distance and boundaries he’d put between us.
“Come again?” Beau looked down at me with furrowed brows.
“You’re not missing a date, are you? Because I’m fine here on my own if you need to get back.”
He grinned and shook his head. “I’m exactly where I want to be. The only date I have is with you, the steaks I brought for dinner, the bottle of Crown Royal for dessert and the cribbage board.”
My wide smile stretched my lips to their fullest. “Okay.”
“Though I am going to miss seeing Coby watch the fireworks. Well, if he can stay up that late. Maisy thinks he’ll fall asleep before they start.”
“I hope he makes it.”
“Me too.” Beau smiled down at me and I saw mine flashing back through his mirrored shades. It wasn’t the first time I had thought how lucky Coby Holt was to have such an incredible uncle. Beau’s own children would be blessed with a wonderful dad.
“You said you wanted kids. How many do you think you and the future Mrs. Holt will have?”
Beau chuckled. “There’s the reporter. I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“She’s been taking some time off to write a couple of books. Now answer the question before she’s forced to get pushy.”
“Pushy? I don’t believe it. I bet most people tell you whatever you want to know.”
“For the most part.”
I was lucky; interviewing others had always come easy. I tended to build a quick rapport with my interview subjects, and the question-and-answer dynamic would develop naturally and without force.
Until Beau. He seemed to like making me work for my answers.
