Aly had taken this day to spend some quality time with her young son, Evan. She had planned a picnic and had chosen a location off the beaten path where there would be lots of nature trails and discovery zones near a twisting creek.
She loved the Canadian wilderness and was so glad to have moved to Canada after her husband's death. She became melancholy at the thought, and shook her head to clear the memories out of her mind. *Look ahead... not back..* she kept telling herself. *Think of Evan..*.
The day was quite beautiful and Evan was playing over near the water and was trying his hand at skipping rocks... or so he thought anyway. She smiled as she watched him playing in the sunlight. Rays from the sun fell on him, picking out the golden highlights in his auburn curls. He had just turned eight and was truly a joy to her. He had adapted rather well following the sudden death of his beloved father... well over two years ago. *Don't go there...* she told herself sharply. It was time to move on.
Rising to her feet she slowly walked over to where he was playing and stooped down to select a small stone herself and skipped it across the water with an experienced hand.
Evan turned to look at her and his eyes shone with admiration. "Wow Mommy!! That was killer!!"
Aly laughed and tussled his curls and tried to show him how to hold the rock and toss it just so... so that it skipped as light as air over the ripples in the creek.
The two of them tossed stones for a short while longer before heading back over to have a bite to eat. They sat munching silently on their sandwiches and enjoying the scenery and sounds of nature around them. Evan finished his lunch a little too fast and Aly watched him curiously out of the corner of her eye while sipping the last of her water. He jumped up and scurried over to the edge of the small clearing where she had spread their blanket for lunch. Bending over near a rotting tree stump he reached down for a stick and began poking at something.
Aly decided she had best investigate before he poked something he ought not to be poking!!
Coming to a stop beside the young child she noticed what had attracted his attention. There was a small lizard near the base of the stump and how Evan had spotted it... she'd never know! Rolling her eyes she told him that they had best get on with their nature walk before it got to be too much later.
Evan joined his Mother with a smile and helped her to stow their picnic items and blanket back into the trunk of the car.
Taking a small fanny-pack and water bottle, the two set out on their hike.
***********
He seemed to be getting more accomplished today than he had originally thought. As his ax flew through the air he chopped the wood and split the logs with a well-practiced hand.
His dog was playing nearby with a ball he had brought from home for him. He watched Hasard play and a smile creased his handsome face, and formed small lines at the corners of his emerald green eyes.
Placing the ax to rest beside him he swiped his arm across his brow to brush away the sweat that had collected there. Taking a look around he inhaled deeply, enjoying the combined scent of the woods and the nearby creek. Roy looked around at the awesome displays of nature that were offered everywhere... the leaves had fallen somewhat and covered the ground like a colored carpet... the trees, so tall and majestic, pointing towards the heavens... the sight of the small pool nearby where the creek curved near the bank into an eddy...
His attention turned back to Hasard who had stopped playing and stood with his ears pricked looking intently into the woods... listening.
Off in the distance Roy heard an unusual sound... he couldn't quite place it. Then he heard voices floating on the air to him as if from faraway. He mused that there must be some nature lover's on the other side of these woods hiking on the nature trails that were cut throughout the thick forest.
He reached for his water bottle that was nearby and uncapped it to take a mighty swig. Throwing his head back he drank his fill and placed the bottle back onto a stump. He cast his eyes back to where the water formed a small pool and had a thought...
Whistling for Hasard, the dog turned towards his master and bounded towards him, tail wagging happily.
Sitting on a stump Roy removed his sturdy work boots and socks, placing them on the ground. Standing once again he grabbed the hem of his Tshirt and pulled it off over his head with an impatient hand. Adding it to the pile along with his well worn jeans, he strode purposefully towards the pool of water and dove in, head first. He angled his body carefully to avoid hitting the bottom of the rocky creek bed, and set off across the pool towards the edge of the calmer water.
The coolness of the water took his breath away, but he acheived the result he was after... he was cooling off. Hasard leaped into the water as well and started to paddle after Roy as he bagan cutting through the still water with strong, determined strokes. He reached the edge of the pool where the water from the creek began to pick back up with the current and he tread water there for a moment, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. He turned towards Hasard who was splashing back to the small beach and he laughed as the dog climbed out and shook his coat heartily. Hasard laid himself in a sunny spot and eyed Roy who was laughing at him from the water.
"Hasard...You big Baby!! The water isn't that cold!! It feels wonderful."
Hasard rolled the other way in a deliberate snub to his master and Roy smiled to himself and plunged back into the water for a final dip before heading back towards the beach to finish up his work. He swam a short way under the cool water and broke the surface once again... just as he saw an alarming sight...
Looking towards the bend in the creek up ahead, he saw a child being rushed through the creek in the grip of the current. The child was trying desperately to keep his head above the water and was calling out and flailing his arms wildly for something... anything.... to grab onto.
Without a second thought Roy set out across the rushing water in an attempt to intercept the child's watery travels and pull him back to the shore. Being a very strong swimmer he closed the distance to the young child easily and managed to grab ahold of his clothing.
"Hey!! Hang on there... I got you!!"
The child threw his arms around Roy's neck and he managed to get the
both of them back to the edge of the shore line. Staying in the shallows of the small pool he stopped long enough to check to see if the child was truly alright.
"Yes sir. I think so anyways."
Roy laughed and ran his hand across the dampened curls on the boys
head and the two of them began to climb out of the creek and onto the beach.
At that very moment Roy was startled by Hasard's barking and the
sound of a woman screaming...
Aly had no idea how it could have happened. They were just walking
along the trail and enjoying the time together, seeing what they could
see and taking great pleasure in spotting the occasional small creature
scurrying through the underbrush.
Evan had spotted a small fox squirrel and with a small squeal of boyish
glee he loosened himself from his mother's hand and bounded off after it.
Aly called after him to slow down and be careful... to no avail. Thinking him quite safe she meandered along at her own pace keeping a sharp eye out for Evan ahead of her on the trail. She could hear him crashing through the underbrush in hot pursuit of the frightened animal.
She let her mind drift as she smiled at her son's energetic youth. John had so enjoyed their time together, as father and son. He used to take great pride in each of Evan's small accomplishments during his short lifetime.
She remembered once when the two of them went on a fishing trip and
caught only an old boot, but John had showed of their *catch* with all
the gusto and pride as if it had been a 20 pound rainbow trout!! He even had the ridiculous thing *stuffed* and mounted as a trophy and put it on display in their den. Aly smiled sadly to herself as she remembered boxing the thing up for the move North. Evan had cried and made her promise not to throw it away. *Daddy caught that...* he would say, the tears shining in his eyes.
She plucked a leaf from a tree and began shredding it mindlessly along
the path as she tried to force her thoughts in other directions... *Think ahead... Not back...* she kept telling herself and she needed to heed the advice. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes she resolved to move forward... at all costs. *Goodbye John...* she thought to herself.
She was coming to a thicker part in the path and she could hear Evan
up ahead. Throwing the remnants of the tattered leaf down in front of
her she began to push the vines aside and make her way through the
thicket. She spotted her young son on a small rise up ahead and just
as she lifted her arm to call out to him, he turned, and then disappeared from her view.
Trying not to panic, Aly surged through the remaining brush and ran to
the spot where her son had been just a moment before. Stopping abruptly she saw that she was standing on a small outcropping of rock and earth that seemed to be hanging out over the rushing creek below.
Evan would not have been able to resist such a temptation and she scolded herself sharply for not being more observant and careful with him in this unfamiliar place. Spotting him below in the water she yelled down to him to try and catch onto something. The last thing she remebered was the look in his eyes... completely terrified and panicked... right before the current swooshed him along in its wake.
Aly's heart stopped.
Trying in vain to keep her son in view she began running along the creek's edge in hot pursuit. She could hear his cries for help coming from up ahead, just around the next point. She was so intent on watching the water that she didn't notice the ground give away sharply and she lost her footing and stumbled down a small slope. Barely taking the time to swipe at the dirt on her jeans she continued running and rounded the bend just in time to see the heroic rescue of her son by a strange man.
She held her breath as the man swam through the rushing water with
long, smooth strokes and grabbed onto Evan's shirt. The two of them
hesitated but a moment before the man had control of the situation and
was headed back to the shore. She saw them take a brief rest in the
shallows and he looked to be speaking to Evan.
As the two of them clambered out of the water, she screamed when she
saw blood trickling from a cut on Evan's brow. The man turned abruptly
towards her with mild shock and surprise apparent on his face. He saw
what he thought to be a wood sprite barreling down on them with a look
of concern and relief shining forth from her violet eyes.
*Wow!!* He thought to himself.
Hasard started to bark and bounded over to her but Roy called him back
with a heated command... and the dog took to heel obediently.
Aly ran to her son and fell to her knees beside him, all but forgetting the dripping wet man standing by her side. With a quick glance up at him she noticed his eyes... those deep emerald green pools... staring down at her with a twinkle in them. And those small lines... they formed at the corners of those gorgeous eyes as he smiled at her.
Shaking herself back to reality she began to run her hands over her son
to check for cuts or scrapes. Evan looked up at Roy and rolled his eyes.
"Sheesh Mom!! I am Okay!! Roy saved me!! "
Aly sat back on her heels and looked at her son sharply. With a mother's critical eye she could see that indeed he was truly alright. A bit shaken she was sure, but unharmed nonetheless.
Rising to her feet she became aware of an odd sensation at the back of
her neck. Turning she saw the man named Roy staring at her with a
heated intensity. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the well formed physique, strong legs, well sculpted abs, little droplets of water clinging to him from his recent swim... the full lips... high cheekbones... the hair curling against his brow wetly. And those eyes.... she could feel herself drowning in their depths. He stepped closer to her and extended his hand.
"Hi there. You must be Evan's Mom. I am Roy. Very nice to meet you."
Aly lifted her hand and he grasped it and she felt the shockwaves rocket through her body. Feeling slightly giddy all of the sudden she just smiled and introduced herself as well.
"Nice to meet you as well... Roy. You can call me Aly."
"Aly... I like that... different... unusual. Aly."
The way he said her name with his unusual accent set her pulses racing.
Feeling herself blush from head to toe she pulled her hand reluctantly from his grasp. Roy smiled at her and turned to retreive his clothing and to get dressed. Aly found herself watching him covertly as he shrugged into his jeans and T-shirt, which clung to his damp skin as if they wanted to become a part of him.
Turning her attention back to Evan she realized that he had been
watching this whole exchange with avid curiosity. Giving him the *Mommy evil eye* she laughed with him and hugged him tightly.
The two of them walked over to Roy who turned to them with a smile and
whistled for Hasard, who bounded over to them and sniffed them with a
dog's curiosity. Aly laughed and patted his head as Roy introduced him.
"Aly... Evan. Meet Hasard. Hasard... Aly and Evan!!"
Aly felt lost all of the sudden. Turning towards Roy she found him watching her yet again. She looked down uncertainly and he stepped closer to her and reached a hand under her chin to tilt her face upwards again. He reached around her with his other arm and held her loosely.
She stood uncertainly in his embrace and raised her eyes to his slowly.
What she saw there broke down the last of her defenses and she closed
her eyes as he lowered his head and brushed his lips across her cheek.
Placing a tender kiss on both of her cheeks, he pulled back again and
gazed into the violet depths of her eyes. He reached up and pushed a
wayward lock of hair behind her ear and smiled a slow sensual smile at
the sight of the blush creeping up her cheeks at his touch.
"Now we are properly introduced." he said.
Aly looked at him with wonder. Who WAS this man??
The two of them stayed that way for quite a while, talking and laughing
as Evan and Hasard played near the woodpile Roy had been stacking.
As the afternoon waned, the group piled into Roy's Jeep and set out
in search of Aly's vehicle, on the other side of the woods.
With a smile and a feeling building in her that she had not felt in along time, Aly looked out the window and thought to herself... *Nothing like jumping in...head first*.
( End....or is it??)