Page 55 of Reckless Chances
Chapter 21 – Emma
Years earlier, if someonewould’ve told Emma she’s be staving off hangovers with a hike she would’ve laughed in their face. Now, she inhaled in the cool mountain air and felt her head growing clearer with every step she took along the well-worn pathway.
The day she hiked with Serena had awakened a new passion within her. There was something meditative about walking in the woods, something magical about the moment she emerged from the treeline to the alpine meadows filled with wildflowers.
“One step in front of the other,” she said to herself as she made her way along the pathway. She was disappointed that Jenni wasn’t interested in joining her on the hike, but at the same time was enjoying the solitude. She paused at the bench at the fork in the trail and traced her fingertips over all the initials that had been carved in it over the years. She took her water bottle from her backpack, sipping at the cold water while she watched the meadow come alive as the sun rose higher in the sky. She shoved the water bottle back into her bag beside the canister of bear spray that Charlie had given her that first night he walked her home. She checked her phone, there was no service on the trail, but she brought it for photos and more importantly, a clock. She shoved the phone in the pocket on her yoga pants, disappointed that she didn’t have time to continue up the trail, it was time to turn around and get back to town.
As she started her descent, she heard a rustle in the trees and the hair went up on the back of her neck. “Hello?” she felt ridiculous, shouting into the bushes. She paused and listened, and when she didn’t hear the rustling continue, she walked away slowly, on high alert for any strange sounds. She gasped as a squirrel chattered. She held her hand to her chest, trying to calm herself down. “It was just a squirrel, Emma.” Her words were calm, but her voice was shaking. She shook her hands and then picked up the pace. Maybe she wasn’t ready for solo hiking just yet, but for the next few minutes, the only sound she heard was her boots crunching on the dirt path beneath her.
Then she heard it again. The rustle.
She froze. She wasn’t a naturalist or an experienced outdoors person, but she knew that whatever was crashing through the woods was bigger than a squirrel. A lot bigger. “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no,” she repeated as she stepped backward, her eyes trained on the woods. She wanted to look away, to pretend she hadn’t heard the cracking of small trees as something big stepped on them, but she was transfixed.
“Emma.”
A voice snapped her out of her frozen state, and she wondered if fear made people hear things, or hallucinate as they did in the desert. She didn’t know whether to turn and look or keep her eyes trained on whatever was hiding in the woods, clearly stalking her.
“Emma.”
It was louder this time. Real. She turned and saw a figure approaching.
“Charlie,” she screamed. There was no mistaking his silhouette, even though he was hundreds of feet down the trail.
“I have to talk to you,” he shouted.
The rustling resumed and Emma’s terror returned. “Charlie. There’s something in the woods.” She pointed.
He was already jogging, but after she shouted, he picked up his pace. “Don’t run.” He waved his hands wildly as he approached.
“I won’t,” she whispered. Unsure if Charlie could hear her, worried that whatever in the woods was listening.
“Walk backward, slowly. Get out your bear spray,” Charlie yelled. Emma started taking steps backward, the gap between her and Charlie slowly closing until he was right behind her. He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re okay,” he whispered.
Emma whimpered. “Charlie, I’m scared.”
“Where’s your bear spray?” he asked.
“In my pack.” She held still while Charlie unzipped the backpack and pulled out the canister. He stepped in front of her and held the bear spray in his right hand while maneuvering her out of the wind with his left. They both stiffened when the crashing and cracking resumed, getting louder.
“He’s coming closer,” she whispered.
“They’re more scared of us.”
“Then why is he coming closer?” Emma could feel the tears rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks. She was shaking all over, her body tensed and ready for flight or fight – or freeze – which is what she was currently doing.
“Walk away, slowly,” Charlie whispered. He took a step back, still staring into the woods. Emma stayed behind him, mirroring his slow and purposeful steps.
The leaves on the trees at the edge of the clearing starting to shake and Emma screamed as a flash of brown and gray leaped from the trees. She squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed onto Charlie’s shoulders, waiting for teeth to sink into her neck, or a paw of claws to swipe at her. She felt Charlie shaking, but opened her eyes when she realized that he was laughing. She stood on her toes and peered over his shoulder. Sitting on the path in front of Charlie was a dog. She would’ve thought it was a wolf, but the bright blue collar gave him away.
“It’s a frickin’ dog.” She felt all the fear drain from her body, along with it all of her energy. “I need to sit down.”
“Here.” Charlie rested his hand on her lower back and guided her to the bench.
The dog followed and when Emma sat down, he licked her hand. She sighed and patted its head. He rested his head on her knee, staring at her with one green and one blue eye. “You scared the crap out of me, dog.” She scratched his ear.
“His name is Timber,” Charlie said. “He’s one of the best escape artists in town. He probably followed you the entire way.”
With the imminent danger gone, Emma let out a sob. “I’m so embarrassed. I was so scared.”
