Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Chapter Nine
Poppy woke up as the sun rose. She wanted to take more pictures of all the beauty around her. Even though she’d hated her job and the financial struggle, photography was still her passion. After pulling on one of Wilder’s oversized sweaters, she grabbed her camera and headed out the back door.
She took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. This was paradise.
Poppy settled carefully on her stomach near a big wood pile at the edge of the forest. She zoomed in on a spiderweb, intricately decorated with morning dew. The pictures would turn out amazing. Then she took some shots of wild mushrooms with the perfect shades of light from the rising sun.
The songs of birds grew louder as time passed. She shifted up into a sitting position and crossed her legs. Maybe if she was quiet enough, she’d get some pics of the wild birds around them. There were so many colorful species. As she scanned the trees with her zoom lens, she froze. Poppy lowered her camera and looked toward the trees to her right.
It was him.
Wilder.
He was squatting there, watching her, a look a pure adoration on his face. She’d never felt so special or wanted at that moment.
“Were you spying on me?” she teased.
He stood up and started walking toward her.
“The forest likes you.”
She smiled when he offered her a hand, then helped her to her feet.
“We’re getting to know each other,” she said.
When she left in the morning, he’d been sound asleep beside her in the bed—or so she’d thought.
“You have so much passion for the land I love.”
“How could I not?” she said. “Everything I look at amazes me.”
“And you like to take pictures.” He nodded to her camera.
“I don’t know why. When I see beauty, I want to capture it forever. I always see things through the eyes of my lens.”
He used a finger under her chin to tilt her head up.
“What I’m looking at is even more beautiful than the rarest wildflower.”
Why was she blushing? Especially after everything they’d done together the past couple of days. She wanted to tell him he was blind, but she wasn’t going to put herself down anymore. So, she kept quiet, savoring the way he looked at her. Although she was hoping for a kiss, he didn’t make a move.
“There are so many things I want to show you,” he said. “Beautiful things I think you’d love as much as I do.”
“I’d love to see them.”
“Are you okay hiking?”
She shrugged. All she could remember was the terrifying hike to escape the poachers, but she was up for creating better memories. “I think I can handle it.”
“We should leave right away. The views are better in the early morning.”
They spent the next little while getting dressed and packed some food in a backpack Wilder wore. He’d fashioned her a walking stick perfect for her height.
She followed him out the back door, and he had to tell Fester not to follow them. As always, the dog obeyed him without fuss. There was still dew on the long grass, leaving wet marks on her boots. As they entered the forest, it was like stepping into a different world. The light filtering down from the forest canopy cast shades of green over everything. If felt like walking into a fairy tale. He wasn’t moving fast like that first day. It was more leisurely and enjoyable.
“How far is it?” she asked.
“Not too far. Just at the ridge ahead.”
She asked to stop a few times to take pictures, and he was always patient, waiting until she was ready to continue.
Once they got to the ridge, she saw exactly what he was talking about. The valley below stretched out for what seemed like forever, a blanket of green forest with a lingering mist giving it an ethereal glow.
“I feel so small,” she said.
Everything was put into perspective with views like this.
He chuckled. “This is ancient shif—. This is ancient land. It must always be protected.”
“Like you protect the animals.”
“From those who would harm them.”
“The humans,” she added because she knew it was what he was thinking.
“The poachers,” he said. “Not all humans are bad.”
He put his arm around her, pulling her close. Wilder leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. Nothing else, just a quiet intimate moment. “Aren’t you going to take your pictures?”
Honestly, all she could think about was the warmth of his arm and how she was falling in love with him. She never wanted to leave this place. It felt like a completely different world from the one she’d left behind.
She smiled against his lips. “I’ll be taking a lot.”
Wilder suddenly froze, his head turning to the forest.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“Nothing. Take your pictures.”
Poppy looked to the trees but saw nothing, so she got her camera ready and headed over to the edge of the ridge where she got to her knees to take photos. It was too bad there was no money in nature pictures because all of these were going to be breathtaking. People only wanted drama, gossip, and the next big thing.