Page 53 of Return to Me Always

"Oh, so you both know how to live off the land?" I teased. "Is that what you're saying? Catch a fish with your bare hand?"

"Sure. Tyler can do anything, right?"

Tyler rolled his eyes, but I would never bet against the guy. After everything he'd already done, I really believed he could do practically anything.

As we finished our snacks, the breeze began to pick up. So freezing cold rain, misty mountains, and now wind that seemed to be coming from all directions. How was that even possible?

I trudged onward, hoping for some sort of relief from the weather. But none came. Hours passed, and the wind only grew stronger, hurtling the rain against me like a million tiny bullets.

"Don't worry, Kit Kat. There's a bothy ahead for the night," Ben called out to me after a strong gust almost pushed me to the ground.

"Soon?" I asked, hopeful.

He laughed. "Eventually."

And boy, eventually was right. An eternity later, after crossing through a remote glen, I finally spotted a lonely, red-roofed bothy way in the distance poking out occasionally from the fog, and that was all the motivation I needed to speed up.

"Whoa, look out," Ben said, "Kat's like a horse running to the barn."

I laughed, but I didn't slow down. "Thanks for comparing me to a horse."

As we approached the bothy, Ben and Tyler were deep in discussion just like before with the river, and I knew something was up.

"Ben's going to go ahead to see if anyone's there first," Tyler said to me once I reached his side.

My heart sunk to my frozen toes. That hadn't occurred to me. What would we do if someone elsewasthere?

While Ben went inside, Tyler and I held back, both of us standing there, not saying anything, that weird awkwardness still between us. Thank goodness Ben didn't take long, and a few minutes later, he returned to our little huddle.

"So, yeah, there is someone there."

A groan of frustration escaped me.

"But it's a couple," he continued, "and they seem like they just want to keep to themselves."

I waited to see what Tyler and Ben would decide. This whole bothy business could be so strange. Sure, it might be fun with a big group surrounding a roaring fire, sharing food and liquor and stories. But Tyler and I couldn't exactly be social right now.

"I assume they're just taking up one of the rooms, right?" Tyler asked.

"Right. And I explained that my friends were feeling a little sick."

"Well done, mate." Tyler clapped Ben on the back before turning his attention to me, smiling softly. "I bet you're ready to get out of this weather."

All I could do was nod. Ever so gently, Tyler put his hand on my back as we walked the last few steps to the door and entered into a hallway with a small room on either side.

Ben led us inside the empty one that had a wooden bunk bed platform, fireplace, and bench, plus a door that could be latched shut. What a relief to be out of the wind and rain.

"Good news. I made a wee trade," Ben said, pointing to the fireplace. "A slow-burning log for a small bottle of whiskey."

"Brilliant, mate."

"This place usually doesn't have any firewood since there are no trees around," Ben explained.

"Ah, well, I think we got the better end of that deal," I joked.

"Don't worry, Kat," Ben said. "That wasn't the last of my whiskey. I always carry extra."

I couldn't help laughing. "Great. I think I might take the night off, though."

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