Page 27 of Return to Me Always

"I'll have a go first. Show you how it's done. Then I'll come back for you and help you step on if you need it."

Holy shit.I'd been swimming all my life. But this... this was insane. "It's okay. I'm good. You go ahead." I was determined not to show how freaked out I actually was.

He stared at me for a long moment before stepping onto the wire, still wearing both backpacks. I worried that all that extra weight would throw him off, but he just glided across like it was nothing to walk along a freaking wire bridge. At the other side, he took off the packs and started back.

"Stop!" I shouted. "I can do it."

He nodded then made a motion with his arms to step on. Taking a deep breath, I did just as he had done, starting with my hands first. The wire felt strong and sturdy.

Okay. Not too bad.

With one foot, I stepped onto the bottom wire. It was so damn wobbly.

Another breath. The other foot.

The two wires shook, out of sync with each other, and my clenched hands flung forward, making me almost lose my balance and fall in. But I kept my feet planted on the low wire and righted myself.

Oh, dear God. Breathe, Kat. Breathe.

I shuffled one foot forward and slowly glided the other one. Then, I moved my arms, repeating the process over and over and over. Water splashed at my feet as it rushed past, making me woozy and lightheaded.

Keep going. Breathe.

I shuffled again. And again. And again.

"Almost there," Tyler shouted over the noise of the river.

The same words from my dream!

I wobbled, one foot slipping from the bridge, nearly plunging into the water. But I caught myself just in time and forced it back on the wire.

Breathe.

Slowly, I found my rhythm once more, first moving my legs and then my arms, finding that perfect balance to keep me going. Several more feet, then strong arms surrounded me and helped me down. I looked up into Tyler's face, and his smile nearly knocked me down again.

"You did it, lass."

My knees almost buckled with relief, but I managed to hold myself up. "Piece of cake."

Tyler laughed as he reached into his bag to pull out a chocolate power bar. "Here... to keep your strength up."

"Thank you."

As Tyler loaded up his packs and started off again, I munched on my snack, glancing back at the roaring water.

I did it!Take that, river!

***

After hours and hours of slick muddy trails, the sky darkened even more, and Tyler led me to an actual structure that looked like a cabin not far from the trail.

"What's this?" I asked.

"A bothy."

"A what?"

"It's like a free cabin," he explained, standing a few feet from the door.

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