Page 87 of Keep On Loving You

“I know,” Andy said. “And I really am sorry. Things kind of spun out of control last night and that’s why I’m here.”

Kane dropped his arms and considered Andy. “What do you mean?”

Krysta looked between them. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m not sure,” Andy answered honestly. And took a step forward, confident that Kane would at least hear him out before he kicked him out of his shop.

“It’s Kat. I think she went on her overnight hike, but I have no idea where she might have gone. I need your help.”

His sister shot him a look, but Kane ignored it. “You don’t know where she went?”

Andy shook his head. “I’m hoping you do.”

The other man nodded and pulled out a map book from below the counter. “I suggested two different spots that would be good for a solo overnight.”

“A solo overnight?” Krysta’s mouth fell open. “Kat? She went on a campout?” She chuckled and shook her head. “No way. Kat hates camping. I tried to get her to go with me a few years ago and…”

She trailed off when she realized Andy and Kane weren’t laughing.

“Oh shit.” She nodded. “She really went?”

“Yes,” Andy said. “At least I think she did. Her bag was gone this morning and…well, last night was a bit of a…” He looked at Kane. “Let’s just say it only got worse after you left.”

Kane let out a low whistle and returned his attention back to the book in front of him. “Here.” He pointed to a spot on the map. “This is the first spot. Farmer’s Ridge. It’s only about six kilometers in and it has a gorgeous view of the valley. And this…” His finger trailed across the page. “Is the second spot I suggested. White Swan Lake. It’s a bit of a longer hike in at eight kilometers, but the lake is super pretty and tranquil.”

“Oh, White Swan is gorgeous,” Krysta said. “I’d go there.”

“I agree.” Kane nodded. “I don’t think she was very excited about the extra distance,” he said. “But Kat did seem to like the idea of camping next to a lake if she had to do it.”

“And she did have to do it,” Andy muttered under his breath.

“Are you going to join her?”

Andy looked up from the map. More than anything, that’s what he wanted to do. He’d run the entire eight kilometers if that’s what it took to get to her. But he couldn’t. He shook his head. “No,” he said after a moment. “That’s not an option. Besides, she’ll only be gone for one night. So maybe I’ll go to the trailhead.”

“Well, that’s good, because she has all the gear she needs, but the storm that’s coming in will be a doozy.”

In his head, Andy was already working out the logistics of canceling his flight to Switzerland and staying an extra few days. He’d have to talk to Symon and— “Wait. What did you say?”

Kane shook his head. “I said that she has all the gear she should need and?—”

“No.” Andy stopped him. “About the weather. What did you say about a storm?”

Kane pulled his phone out and opened the weather app. “There’s a huge storm forecasted.” He turned it to face Andy. “But it’s not rolling in until tomorrow night, so in plenty of time for her to pack up and get back down the trail before it hits.”

Andy scanned the weather report for himself and finally nodded. “Okay, that’s good. She’ll be back in lots of time.”

“As long as she doesn’t love it and decide to stay an extra night.” Krysta laughed, as if the very idea of it were ludicrous. Which it was.

“Yeah. I don’t think we have to worry about that,” Andy said. “One night, and she’ll be back.”

The equipment Kane had sold her was easy to use, and it didn’t take long once Kat made it to White Swan Lake to get her tent set up and her sleeping bag unrolled.

She even went for a little walk and found the stream that fed into the lake to fill up her water bottles. She dropped the water purification tablets in the way Kane had shown her and let it sit the required amount of time before drinking.

It was late afternoon before she got hungry and pulled out the little stove with a fuel canister that Kane assured her would heat up water in less than a minute to rehydrate her not-so delicious-looking camp meal. It was yet another thing he’d been right about. After Kat had a full belly and had settled in on a large rock overlooking the peaceful lake, she couldn’t help but admit that maybe a backpacking trip wasn’t so bad after all.

Kat would have guessed that the quiet and solitude would become oppressive and overwhelming. She was so used to being surrounded by people, or the constant connectionof her phone and all the distractions of modern life. When was the last time she took the time to justbe?

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