The Trek

Notes ▼

Prompt for July 17th: plant, feather, gate.
Word Count: 300.
"Winner for 7/17 and prompt for 7/18"  

"Land sakes!" Jody brushed cobwebs out of her face as she slipped under drooping pine branches past an enormous granite boulder. "Paul, what were you thinking, hauling me up here? You know I'm not an outdoorsy girl."

"I promise it's worth it, hon. Just keep going. Don't touch that plant, it's poison ivy!"

"Ugh!" Jody scowled. "Honestly, if I didn't know better I'd suspect you're abandoning me here like Hansel and Gretel."

Paul laughed in such a warm and easy way that Jody couldn't help laughing too.

"I'll show you I'm tough…" she giggled, annoyance replaced by enthusiasm. "The overlook is only a mile away. I'm getting there first!" She ran a few steps ahead up the stony, sloping trail.

Paul stopped to pick up a colorful quail feather. As he admired how the shimmering colors mutated when he held it at different angles, a cry echoed.

"Help!"

He dropped the feather, running to catch up with her. She lay on her hands and knees in the path.

"My ankle!"

"I'm sorry!"

He checked her right ankle and helped her up.

"It's only a sprain. I'll be fine." She held on tightly to him as they made their way up the hill.

At the summit, a stone gate led to a scenic overlook. Jody's jaw dropped as she admired the sweeping view of spruce trees and soaring peaks. An eagle circled high above them. Wildflowers caressed her ankles as butterflies fluttered through.

"Paul, this is breathtaking…"

"Yeah…" he hesitated and stared at the ground, then got down on one knee, pulled out a ring box and looked into her eyes. "I wanted this to be special, but I ruined it. Will you marry me even after…?"

Jody's blue eyes widened. She threw her arms around Paul.

"Of course I will."