Page 79 of Everything We Give

She waves and packs up the picnic.

A short while later, my memory chip loaded with images, I join Aimee. I show her some of the photos on my camera display, unable to contain my excitement at capturing them.

“It was a good day,” Aimee says when we start walking downhill. “I’m glad you found what you were looking for.”

Not everything, not yet. But maybe that’ll happen on Tuesday.

I wrap an arm around Aimee’s waist, ready to embark on the next leg of our adventure.

Early the next morning, I check out of the inn while Aimee chats with Catherine on the phone, updating her on our plans. We’re driving to the coast for breakfast and will catch our flight this afternoon, landing in Boise late the same day. We’ll spend the night there before venturing to my dad’s place. Lacy didn’t give us a time to meet, just said that she’ll be there on Tuesday. So we’ll be there. Early. This will be my first visit home since before I graduated from college. It’ll also be the first time I’ve seen my dad since Las Vegas.

Aimee ends her call and pulls up the handle on her roller. “Ready?”

“Yes.” I pick up my bags and, leading us to the front door, catch Reese sitting alone in the dining room. She waves for us to wait.

“Hold on a second,” I tell Aimee as Reese makes her way over. I left her three text messages and two voice mails last night. I apologized for threatening to pull the photos to sabotage her article. I told her we’d found one of the herds and that I wanted to show her the pictures. She should have been there. She would have loved them. She never replied, which told me her heart isn’t in this feature, not like mine is. I worry the article won’t capture the essence of the relationship between the village and the herd, and that it may cast a negative light on the ancient festival.

“Hi,” Reese says in greeting. Her gaze slides from me to Aimee and back. She hitches her hands in her back pockets. “I was hoping to catch you.”

Aimee crosses her arms and inches closer to me.

“What’s up?” I don’t bother to put down my bags or ask whether we should sit.

“You found the horses.”

“We did.” I take the car keys from my pocket and jiggle them.

“When’s your flight?”

“Late afternoon. Why?”

“Would you take me there? If you don’t mind.” She glances at Aimee.

“Can’t. We have plans today,” I reply.

“No, we don’t.” Aimee uprights her roller.

I look at her. “We don’t?”

“He’ll take you,” she says to Reese, then rests her arm on my elbow. “Go work on your assignment. Get the story you want.” She looks at me and I catch her meaning. I have three hours to pitch Reese my perspective. Three hours to win her over. Aimee pats my arm. “I’ll wait here.”

I make a show of looking at my watch. “If we’re doing this, we do it fast.”

Reese nods. “Thanks.” She looks at Aimee. “Thank you.”

“You better make it worth his while.” She kisses me. “See you in a few hours.”

Reese and I hike hard. I have my camera out, telephoto lens, stand, and remote attached. I’m ready to go. The herd wandered off yesterday so I’m anticipating we’ll capture them at a distance.

We quickly reach the crest of the hill where Aimee and I spotted the herd yesterday. They aren’t nearby or where they ventured off toward yesterday evening. It’s cool and misty. Sunlight pierces the white veil, and given any other day, it would make for some cool photographs. But, no horses.

I shove back my sleeve and glance at my watch. I’ve got two hours before I need to be back at the inn. “Sorry, Reese. I have no idea which direction they’ve gone; otherwise, I’d walk you that way.”

“You don’t owe me an apology. I’m the one who’s sorry. That wasn’t the most brilliant introduction I made with your wife.”

I press my mouth into a flat line. “It wasn’t one of your better moments.” I turn around to head back downhill.

“Hey.” She reaches out to stop me. “Let me make it up to you. What can I do?”

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