Page 1 of Mountain Reclaiming

Chapter One

Ashlynn

“Auntie Ash, look at this!” my five-year-old nephew Barry squeals, waving a Lego creation in my face.

“I see, buddy, that’s pretty cool,” I observe, attempting not to grimace from the ringing in my ears.

“Auntie Ash, will you help me put this wedding dress on my Barbie?” my six-year-old niece Heidi asks.

“Of course. Here.” I take the doll from her and struggle to wrestle the thing into the puffy, filmy material without ripping it. My eye twitches and I bite back a groan, knowing between it and the ear ringing a headache is sure to closely follow.

“Here ya go, munchkin.” I hand the doll back to Heidi. My heart swells when she throws her arms around my neck.

“Thank you. You’re the bestest auntie ever. I’m so glad you’re here with us now.”

She skips to her room where she’s been playing with her dolls, completely unaware of the arrow she just shot through my heart. I missed so much time with them when they were younger. The only reason I’m here now is because fate intervened. The timing of being laid off, my lease ending, and my sister’s husband walking out on her and these two coincided a little too neatly.

When I talked to Paisley on the phone, I could hear how much she was floundering with suddenly being a single mom. Since I no longer had a job tying me to the city, I offered to stay with her and help while I figured out my next steps.

Now that I’m living with them, I can absolutely understand why my sister was struggling. My niece and nephew are energetic kids who are always on the go. Add to that coming to terms with her marriage ending with little warning and having to figure out how to pick up the pieces, and it’s no wonder she was overwhelmed.

“I’m back,” the woman herself announces, coming in the door from the garage, arms loaded with sacks of groceries.

“Oh, thank God,” I mutter as I heave myself up from the couch and shuffle into the kitchen to help put things away. I arch a brow at the load of bags she drops on the butcher block countertop. “Is there a reward I’m not aware of for carrying everything in one trip? I could’ve helped.”

She scoffs. “The reward is not having to make multiple trips.” She glances up and circles her forefinger in the air at me. “What’s going on here? Your eye is twitching.”

I press the first three fingers of my right hand into said eye. “I think I’ve got a headache coming on. I love your spawn, but they’re a lot.”

She grins. “Yeah, they are, but you can’t help but love ’em. And you’re the best sister in the entire world for coming back to help me with them. Hey, why don’t you go do something? Get out of the house for a while and take a break from us.”

I purse my lips. “I’m fine. You’re the one who needed a break.”

She nods. “And I’ve been getting one with you being here. Hell, I just got back from a trip to the store by myself. That’s like a fricking vacation when you’re a mom. Seriously, why don’t you go for a hike? It’s a beautiful day. You haven’t been out on any of the trails you used to spend so much time on when you were in high school. You can take my car.”

Getting out in the solitude of nature does sound amazing after being cooped up with them for the last several weeks. It’s been an adjustment to go from living on my own to being surrounded by three other people constantly—two of whom bicker like crazy.

“Alright, you’ve convinced me. I’m going to go change.”

“Great. I’ll make you a lunch.”

I pause in the hallway, glancing back at my sister. “You’re the bestest sis. Thank you.”

“Pfff, no you’re the best. Now go get changed.”

A groan falls from me as I collapse on a fallen log next to the river, my muscles weeping with relief. When Paisley suggested the idea of a hike, it had sounded fabulous. What I’d failed to think about was I hadn’t been hiking in years. Living in the city and working all the time didn’t have me getting out on the trails like I had growing up.

Between my underutilized muscles and woefully inadequate endurance, I’m one tired puppy. I’m already sore, and I can’t begin to imagine what I’m going to feel like tomorrow.

Shrugging off my pack, I dig out my water bottle and gulp several long swallows. Once my heart is no longer attempting to burst from my chest and I can breathe without sucking wind as if I’ve been chased three miles by a ravenous pack of jackals, I actually have the wherewithal to appreciate where I plopped down.

It’s a breathtaking spot along the river off the trail up to Echo Lake. The water meanders by, sedately lapping at the small pebbled beach here before bending and continuing down the mountain. Moss covered boulders are strewn about the banks on either side of the river. Pine trees mix with alders to offer shade, and wildflowers dot the sunny banks with purples, reds, and white.

I inhale sharply as I’m assaulted by a memory of a spot so very similar to this from long ago. My brows pinch as I glance around. It’s quite possible this is the very spot. Had I somehow subconsciously made my way back to the place which held memories I had tucked away long ago?

It has been years since I let myself think about the boy who was my first crush. He’s the one I spent my time hiking with. I would’ve done anything he asked me to be with him.

Cash Perry had been a gangly fourteen-year-old who drew my attention like no other boy had until then. After getting assigned as biology partners our freshman year, we became the best of friends. He was out of my league as a football player, and I was a shy, overweight bookworm, but he continued to find me in whatever classes we had together. Which in a small school meant there were many.