Page 28 of Barn Burner
“Somewhere equally as beautiful as those lakes we just passed but will be less busy this time of year.” He meets my eyes briefly before focusing back on the road. “It’s not much further. Another thirty minutes or so.”
We’ve been on the road for over two hours when Jesse takes the pull-off and parks his truck in a small parking area.
“Wow,” I whisper, leaning forward to take in the incredible sight before me. The lake is a gorgeous turquoise blue surrounded by glaciers. “It doesn’t look real.”
He turns off the engine and twists in his seat to face me. “Feel up to taking a walk? You can get some better views from the shoreline.”
I flash him my widest grin. “Hell yeah!”
It’s a short walk from where we parked to the lakeside. When we have to move at various points to allow for other people to walk by, Jesse places a protective hand on my hip or the base of my spine. The simple touch sends a rush of heat through my veins.
I end up stopping a few times as we walk, taking in the breathtaking views and trying to capture such beauty with my camera. And not just the beauty of the lake. I snap candid shots of Jesse as he walks, the strong lines of his shoulders and back, capturing how the brim of his hat and the surrounding pine trees do nothing to dim the colour of his eyes.
The way the corners of his lips quirk in a smile when he catches me taking his photo and how those eyes soften for me.
I can’t be the only one feeling this magnetic pull between us. He might not be a man of many words, but his eyes hold so much expression. I can tell what he’s thinking with just a simple look, and the way he’s been looking at me recently…
I might be foolish, but somehow, I don’t think I’m going to be the only one losing a piece of themselves when the time comes.
“This is Bow Lake,” he announces when we reach the shoreline, and my mouth drops open as I take everything in. “I know it’s not the most beautiful of the lakes around here, but there’s a nice hike up to the Bow Glacier Falls. We’re not really equipped to do it today, but we can try and come another day if you want.”
I tug my bottom lip between my teeth, biting down on the flesh as my eyes begin to sting. He remembered that this was my plan before my car decided to go up in smoke. He knew I wanted to be outside. To see nature. To be able to experience views just like this one. And the fact he’s taken time out of his day to do this for me says more than he could ever realize.
Stepping forward, I take both of his hands in mine and lean in close enough my face is shielded by the brim of his hat. “Thank you.”
One corner of his mouth twitches in a small smile. “It’s nothin’.”
“No, it isn’t nothing. This is just… This is all…” I trail off, unable to find the words to articulate exactly how I’m feeling, so I give my head a slight shake. “This means a lot to me, Jesse, so thank you.”
He responds by pressing his lips to mine and squeezing my hands. When we pull apart, I let him go to lift my camera. “Can I take a photo of us?”
His eyes bounce between mine for what feels like the longest ten seconds of my life, and then he nods. We turn our backs to the lake. Jesse steps behind me, looping his arms around my waist and rests the side of his head against mine. I hold the camera up and smile—really smile—allowing all the happy feelings that are currently powering my being to show through in my expression.
When I’ve taken about a hundred, Jesse steps aside and holds his hand out to me. “Come. There’s something else I want to show you.”
12
Brayden
Once we finish at Bow Lake, we return to Jesse’s truck and continue up the Icefields Parkway to Peyto Lake. This one is a longer, steeper walk from the parking lot to the Bow Summit viewpoint, but when we get to the top, the view is so surreal. So breathtaking, it has my steps falter.
“Wow…” I gasp as I take in the view before me. “I… Holy shit, I don’t think I can find the right words to explain how fucking beautiful this place is…”
“It’s quite somethin’,” Jesse agrees, stepping up beside me against the railing. “They say the shape of the lake looks like a wolf’s head. You see?” He traces the outline of the lake with his finger, pointing out the ears, nose, and body. Lush green pine trees cover the base of the mountains and surround the body of water. The depth of the forest almost makes the turquoise blue of the lake pop even brighter.
“It’s so blue…,” I say, then huff out a laugh at how ridiculous I sound. “I’m sorry. I just… I can’t get over how beautiful it is. It doesn’t seem real.”
He tilts his head curiously. “Do you not have places like this at home?”
“Yeah, we do.” I nod. “The Scottish Highlands is one of my favourite places to go, or Wales. And the Lake District has the largest natural lake in England, but I guess you never really appreciate the beauty when it’s so readily available, you know? I’ve always been more excited about places outside of the UK rather than what was pretty much on my doorstep.”
“Sometimes I think that’s just how it is in life,” he says, resting his forearms against the wooden railing. “It takes time to learn to appreciate our surroundings.”
I mirror his position. “Are you speaking from experience?”
“Somewhat, yes. Growing up, I knew the ranch was going to be my life. I was out helping my dad when I was four years old, but I never truly appreciated the beauty of it all until about six or seven years ago when I saw it through a different lens.”
“I can just imagine a mini Jesse running around in his little cowboy hat.” I grin playfully.
