After a short breather he straightened up, took a deep breath and continued to plod up the grade. When he got to the top of the pass, he kept watch for the small petroglyph of a peace symbol that had been scraped into a boulder as a marker. He finally spotted it and stepped off the trail. He pulled out his compass and checked the heading. He snapped it shut, dropped it into his pocket, sighed and slowly headed off up the mountainside.
He was tired. The last time he had been this way, 20 years before, it had been different. He and his wife had made the entire hike in less time than it had taken him today to get to the top of the pass. As he plodded along, he thought about her: about the hikes they had done, about her dark auburn red hair, about her laying nude on the grass in the meadow where he was headed, a sly grin on her face as she crooked her finger at him, beaconing him to her.
As he hiked, half his mind was on the terrain, avoiding rocks, making sure each step was solid on the steep mountain slope and just putting one foot in front of the other. The other half was filled with 25 years of memories. He finally came out of his memory induced walking trance as he recognized the rock wall, the last obstacle between him and the meadow.
He stopped only long enough to catch his breath, then began to climb the 20' almost vertical wall. When he finally pulled himself over the top he stopped and surveyed the small isolated pocket in front of him. He stood at the edge of a tiny meadow covered in grass and wildflowers, with bushes along the tiny stream that flowed down one edge. The land sloped gently upward away from him for a hundred yards. At the far end he could see the water from the spring-fed pool glistening in the sunlight at the base of another rock wall.
He trudged on to the pool and stopped at the edge. It was just like it had been the last time he was here. A tiny waterfalls fell from a spring hidden in the rocks, splashing into the crystal clear water of the pool. The grass of the meadow grew right up to the edge of the water. It was green and soft underfoot. Anyone who saw it would have sworn it had been groomed like a lawn. Frank knew that in way it had been groomed. The deer and mountain goats loved the lush grass around the pool and kept it grazed short. On the far side of the pool was a flat sandy area backed by the rock wall and just big enough for a couple of tents.
Frank walked around the pool and stopped on the sand, looking it over. There was a ring made from cracked, fire-blackened rocks. Frank could tell it hadn't been used in quite some time because grass had covered the fire area inside the circle. He groaned as he unbuckled his hip belt and swung his pack off, leaning it against the rock face.
It was late summer and even at this altitude it was very warm. He was hot and sweaty, so the first thing he did was kneel next to the pool and splash water onto his face. The first time he had done that, many years before, he expected the water to be cold, thinking it should be because it came down from the glacier up the mountain. It wasn't. The spring was fed by the melt from the glacier but was also mixed with water from a hot-spring deep inside the mountain, so it was very warm. He finished washing the sweat from his face then stood and looked at the sun. It was two finger-widths above the mountain top. He knew he would be in shadow shortly so he decided to get his camp set up and firewood gathered before it was too dark for him to do so. He worked steadily and had his tent up and bed laid out in short order. He pulled the hatchet he carried out of his pack and headed back down to a grove of stunted Alpine firs he had passed just before he got to the rock wall. He cut enough dead branches for several fires, thinking he would cut more the next day, then carried what he had cut back to his campsite.
When he was done, he laid a fire in the pit but didn't light it, preferring to wait until dark. He stood and quickly took off his sweat-stained clothes, pulled a bar of soap out of his pack, picked up his cooking pot and without hesitation stepped into the water. The pool was only waist deep. Frank began to scrub his clothes on the rock shelf at the edge of the pool as he stood in the warm water.
Done scrubbing them, he scooped up water with his cooking pot and used it to rinse his clothes on the grass at the edge of the pool. When he was finished, he laid them on a rock and with a sigh, fell backward into the water. He floated in the pool, staring up at the sky thinking about his wife, their life together and how he was now all alone.
After ten minutes he climbed out, soaped himself, then used his pot to rinse his body. When he was through, he sat on the rock ledge at the edge of the pool his legs in the water as he let the droplets from his bath evaporate from his skin. By the time he was dry the sun had dropped well behind the mountains and he knew it was time. He pulled the plastic container out of his pack and slowly walked to the middle of the meadow. He unscrewed the lid and looked at the contents.
"We're here." He said, "Like you wanted."
In the fading purple light of deep sunset, a tear slid down his cheek as he began to toss handfuls of the contents into the air. The air had been still, but as he tossed the first handful a breeze sprang up and carried the gray dust out over the meadow. Five times he tossed handfuls into the air and five times the breeze scattered the dust over the meadow. He held the last small handful for a long time before casting it into the air. A breeze flitted past his ear before gathering the dust and gently spreading it over the meadow.
"I know it took me six months but since you died the day after Christmas, I had to wait for summer to bring you up here. I love you." He whispered as he turned and carefully walked back to his campsite, unable to see clearly because of the tears filling his eyes.
He hadn't put on clothes because no one else was around and the chill of the evening wouldn't set in for a while. He lit the fire and went about making a meal. After he had eaten and cleaned his dishes, he sat staring into the fire, his mind once more full of thoughts of his wife and the pain of losing her. The sky was ablaze with stars, but he didn't want to look at them. He stared into the flame of the fire instead as it slowly burned down. When it had burned to embers, he sighed and climbed into his tent. Even with all the exertion of the day, it took him a long while to fall asleep.
He woke as the first rays of sunlight hit his tent. When he climbed out the morning chill made him shiver. He quickly built a fire and sat close for a few minutes, then stripped off his clothes and slipped into the warm, steaming pool. After the chill of the high mountain morning air, the warmth of the water felt pleasant on his skin. He sat staring out over the meadow to the mountains in the distance trying to quiet the ache inside him. After a bit, he got out and made breakfast. As he ate, he saw movement at the foot of the meadow. A fox stepped out of the scrub brush and stopped broadside to him. It put its nose up as if tasting the scent of something. It stood that way for several seconds, then with the fluid motion of a hunter, it disappeared back into the brush. Frank walked out and stood in the meadow for a long time, memories playing through his head.
"I will love you always." He said aloud, a catch in his voice as he did.
He turned and with a heavy step walked back to his campsite. Frank sat down next to the pool and for a long time stared out over the meadow in an almost catatonic state. Finally, a pang of hunger shook him from his fugue. He ate two of his energy bars then decided to get back into the pool for a soak.
The sun was touching the top of the far mountains as he sat in the warm water, again contemplating the snow on their peaks, trying to push away the pain, trying to force his mind into a blank state. As he sat staring at the mountains, he heard the faint clatter of a falling rock, then the unmistakable, distinct tinkle of a bear bell. A figure with a pack climbed up over the rock wall at the foot of the meadow and stood up. Even from 100 yards away Frank could tell the stranger was a young woman. He stared at her as she surveyed the meadow, stopping as her gaze fell on his tent. She started to walk toward him and Frank realized she would be there quickly. A moment later he also remembered he was naked. He jumped out of the pool, grabbed his clothes, hastily pulling them on as he watched her approach.
He guessed her to be in her mid-twenties. She was no more than five feet tall or a bit more and because of her hourglass shape he guessed she probably weighed 105 or 110 lbs. The thing that startled him though, the one thing that dug into his gut was her hair. It was red, the same deep auburn red his wife's had been.
When she was close enough, he called out, "Hi. I didn't know anyone else knew about this place."
She looked up and smiled at him. As she did, he was smacked by the color of her eyes. They were the same seafoam green color his wife Eva's eyes had been.
She replied to his greeting, "Hi. I was told about it and given a map to get here. I was also told that there were only a few people who knew about this place and everyone who did were sworn to secrecy."
As she dropped her pack Frank thought of the few people he had told, or knew about it and asked, "Who was it that told you about it?"
"Carl Glassen." She replied.
On the wings of memory Frank was instantly transported back to the first year of his marriage. Carl had been a friend and he, Frank, Eva, and Carl's girlfriend at the time Sarah, had discovered this glen while attempting to climb to the glacier on the peak above them. He and Eva had lost contact with Carl a year after that hike when Carl was sent overseas by his employer.
Frank grinned as the memories floated through his mind and said, "I knew Carl."
The young redhead smiled and replied, "He was a neighbor and a friend."
As she spoke Frank thought that Carl must have trusted her to tell her about the pool.
"Carl gave you the map," Frank said, more a vocalized thought than a statement.
"Yes," she replied, then took a drink from her canteen before she added, "Before he died, he wanted to pass on the location of this place to someone."
"Carl's . . . dead?" Frank asked, stunned.
"Cancer. They say it was caused by Agent Orange. From the war."
Again, Frank was carried by memory back over the years, back to his time in country. Time spent in fear, shooting, getting shot at, hiding in bunkers as mortar rounds and rockets exploded around him, eating cold food, sleeping in the mud with rats, but most of all being sprayed with the diesel smelling defoliant. A chill ran down his back at the thought of what could be going on inside him. Then another chill accompanied by a sharp stab of emotional pain coursed through him.
As Eva lay dying of cancer, he remembered screaming into the night, "WHY??? Why her??? Take me! It should be me!!!!"
"I am sorry." Frank said as he realized he hadn't introduced himself, "I guess I should introduce myself. I'm F. . . . "
She held up her hand, "Don't tell me! Let me guess."
She screwed up her face as if she was concentrating, "You're...a.w...Frank! Frank Carlin!"
Frank looked startled, "That's right! We've never met so how did you know?"
"Carl showed me a black and white picture of you, your wife, him and his girlfriend. You don't look much different."
Frank smiled, pleased by her compliment, then caught the reference to 'his girlfriend'.
"Carl didn't marry Sarah?"
"No. Carl told me they split up a year after that picture was taken. He never got married. He said it was because of his job and traveling so much."
The girl smiled and held out her hand, "It's nice to meet you Frank. My name is Megan, Megan Larsen, for a while anyway."
Frank took her hand, "For a while?"
"I'm . . . uh . . . I'm getting a divorce and I'll be taking my maiden name again."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Frank said as he released her hand.
"Is your wife here with you? I'd like to meet her."
Franks face filled with pain, "I . . . my wife couldn't make it. I came alone."
"Well perhaps when we get back, we can meet."
"I don't think so." then added softly, "She died."
"I'm so sorry. I know how it feels to lose someone close."
Frank nodded, "She died six months ago of cancer. It should have been me. I was over there too and got that stuff dumped on me. But it didn't kill me, yet. It should have, but she...she...was the one who got cancer instead."
Megan could see the pain in his eyes and on impulse she walked to him and hugged him tightly.
"I am so sorry."
At first Frank was comforted, but a heart-beat later he became aware of the young, nubile body pressed against him. Because Eva had been so frail during her illness, he hadn't had sex for over a year and a half and even at 48 the feel of Megan's body pressed against him caused an involuntary reaction. Before he could think about it, his cock came alive forming a lump in his loose hiking shorts. He pulled away from Megan, stepped back and quickly turned his back so she couldn't see the front of his shorts.
He spoke to her over his shoulder as he moved toward his camp area, "There's room for another tent if you want to put one up."
There was a glint in her eye and the corner of her lips tilted upward in a half-smile, "I didn't bring a tent. I prefer to sleep under the stars. Besides the weather forecast said there won't be any rain for the next week or so."
He busied himself with setting an evening fire, making sure he kept his back to Megan as he did to hide the receding bulge in his shorts. The embarrassment caused by his erection began to make it wilt as he worked. After a short time, it was back to a flaccid state so he walked over to where Megan was setting out her sleeping bag.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What?"
"Well, first thing is I'd be happy to share my fire if you'd like."
She smiled," I'd love too!"
"Next thing is, did Carl tell you about the pool?"
"He never would tell me much more than it was a crystal-clear pool from a spring. He said I'd find out about it when I got here and I'd be pleasantly surprised."
"Well rather than tell you, come put your hand in it."
Megan looked at him puzzled, then walked over and dipped her hand into the pool.
"It's warm! Very warm! That's crazy!" as a huge grin spread across her face.
"Yes, it is. It's fed by a hot spring inside the mountain. It's fun too just to sit in. The problem is I like to do it, you know...uh...naked. If you would like to do that too, perhaps we could you know...kind of give each other some private time?"
"Frank!" Megan said with a laugh, "You old hippy you! Naked you say?"
Frank was startled by her reply and went on the defensive, "Well I do and I don't see anything wrong with it!"
"Okay, okay, don't get your feathers ruffled." Megan said with a grin, "I was teasing you! Of course, I will give you some privacy but I'll tell you I have no problem with nudity. It wouldn't shock me to take a naked dip with you."
Frank was stunned. Here was a gorgeous young woman telling him she wouldn't mind skinny dipping with him! He knew he'd love to, but he also knew that the first time he laid eyes on her naked, he would have another raging erection.
"Well...I'll...I'll think about that." He said.
She grinned as she replied, "Please do. It would make it a lot more comfortable and easier for both of us."
Megan got her sleeping bag laid out and wandered over to the fire pit.
"I think I'll take a dip." She said as she started to unbutton her shirt.
Frank knew they had plenty of wood for the night but needed an excuse to flee, "I think we need more wood. I'm going over the wall to find some. I'll be gone for an hour."
"Frank you really don't have to..." Megan began but by then was talking to his back as he headed across the meadow toward the wall.
Frank returned an hour later with a huge armload of wood. Megan was laying on her bag soaking in the sun as he walked up the meadow. To his relief, she was clothed. He dropped the wood onto the pile next to the fire pit.
Megan sat up and said, "Frank I told you, nudity doesn't bother me so you can stay when I soak in the pool."
Frank knew he was going to have to explain so he came over and squatted down facing her, "Eva died 6 months ago. She was sick and frail for a year before that. I haven't had sex in all that time. It isn't that I'm embarrassed to be naked around you. The problem is you are a very lovely young lady and I might get...well...excited seeing you without clothes."
"Like when I hugged you?" Megan asked with a sly grin.
For an instant Frank was stunned, then embarrassment filled him, "You saw?"
"No, I felt." She said with a giggle, "You had a pretty big lump in your shorts before you pulled away from me."
"My god I am so sorry Megan!" Frank replied, mortified by the fact she had felt his erection.
"I wasn't offended. In fact I was kind of flattered."
"Flattered?" puzzlement filling his face.
"Yes flattered. After Mark, my soon to be ex, left me for another man I was feeling pretty low and unattractive so for a man to get an erection from just hugging me is an ego boost."
Frank stared at her and with a stunned expression asked, "He left you..for another man???"
Megan's expression turned serious, "Yes. He and the other guy had been having sex for a year before Mark left me. He wouldn't touch me during that time so I understand about you not having sex for so long."
"Why didn't you find someone to have a fling with?"
"Because I was married. I wasn't going to cheat. Even though he did I wouldn't. So with your wife sick why didn't you find a lover?"
Frank stared at the distant peaks as he spoke, "Because like you I was married and I didn't want to cheat on her. We had a really good sex life before she got sick. After she got sick, I knew she wanted to, but couldn't. Actually, she asked me too on one occasion. We tried it that time. It was early on but I could tell it hurt her so I couldn't finish. After that I told her we wouldn't ever do it again until she was better. Later when she was really sick she told me to go find a lover. I told her I wouldn't do it again unless it was with her. Just before she died she told me that after she was gone I was to find a lover and if I didn't she'd come back and haunt me. She didn't need to tell me that, her memories haunt me every day."
Megan stared at Frank she saw a man in pain, a tortured man who couldn't find a way out of the pain. As she stared at him, she realized he wasn't ugly either. In fact, he was quite handsome, in a mature way. Then it hit her he was her father's age and she had always loved her father, not in a sexual way but as a warm compassionate man, much like Frank appeared to be.
But he also reminded her of Carl. She had been attracted to her handsome neighbor. As a world traveler and single all his life Carl was quite a charmer. She was sure that because he was a friend of her fathers he never made a sexual advance toward her. Several times in her younger years though she had thought about trying to get her handsome neighbor to do so, but she was always too nervous to try. Frank shared the rugged good looks and intelligence of her father and Carl. She realized that she was definitely attracted to Frank and as she stared at him that attraction seemed to grow.
She laid her hand on his arm, "Frank, I am so sorry you lost her. But you really need to find someone. You really must get on with your life."
Frank stared out at the mountains as he responded, "What about you? When are you going to find someone else?"
"My situation is different."
"No...no it isn't. You lost your husband. He didn't die, but you lost him. From what you said you swore a bond with him and he violated then broke that bond. You need to move on too."
Megan realized he was right and for the first time since Mark had left her, she began to think about dating and maybe sex with someone other than Mark.
After a few moments of that though her mind returned to the original subject, "I'll think about that, but we still need to settle the subject of nude bathing."
Frank looked at her and sighed, "Ok. But I can't promise not to get excited. Will my getting an erection bother you?"
"No, will me teasing you about it bother you?"
"Most definitely!" He replied with a scowl, then they both broke out in laughter.
"Then I guess you're going to have to get use to my teasing and I'm going to have to get use to you walking around with a stiffy."
"Well, I won't have one all the time."
"If you did," Megan said with that sly grin, "I'd have to wish I knew you back when."
"No fair!" Frank huffed, "You're only supposed to tease me about it when I have one!"
Again, they both broke up into laughter until Frank gasped between the laughs, "We need to get supper going. It's going to be dark soon."
The sun had slipped behind the mountain and they only had another half hour before full dark. He lit the fire and 20 minutes later they had their meals cooked. They ate, cleaned the dishes, then sat and watched the stars come out as the last rays of sunlight faded behind the mountains.
When it was full dark Megan said in awe, "I've never seen the sky like this. My god it's...amazing!"
"Yes," Frank sighed, "It makes you feel so infinitesimal and small. It makes you realize how vast the universe is."
"Frank, have you ever sat in the pool and star gazed?"
"Not this time. I did....we did the other times we were here."
"Come on, let's." Megan said as she jumped to her feet and began to strip.
I don't think that's a good..." Frank began to protest, but stopped and couldn't take his eyes off her as she removed her clothes.
She pulled off her shirt and Frank got his first look at her breasts. They were "B" cup with small light brown areolas and nipples that looked large. She pulled down her shorts and he discovered she didn't have on underwear. As his eyes caught sight of her pubic area, he held his breath. Her pubic hair was thick, curly and the same dark auburn red color as the hair on her head. Frank could feel his cock growing stiff at the sight of her nubile young body. She took two quick steps and jumped into the pool. She turned and the water droplets on her neck and breasts glistened in the firelight like jewels.
"Come on! Join me." She said splashing water in his direction.
"I...uh...I..." He began only to be interrupted by a giggled reply from her, "Come on Frank! I told you an erection isn't going to offend me! Now get in here!"
Frank stood and slowly took off his shirt, then hooked his thumbs into the band of his shorts. He just couldn't bring himself to pull them down until he turned his back to the pool. He stepped out of them, then back stepped to the pool until he was waist-deep before he turned to face her.
She had taken a seat on one of the small boulders that were on the bottom of the pool. Seated on the boulder, the water came to just below her breasts. Frank tried not to stare, so his eyes locked on the star-filled sky so that they wouldn't wander to the fabulous sight of Megan's bare breasts.
"Look! There's the Big Dipper! And the Little Dipper!" Megan said gleefully.
"Ursa Major and Ursa Minor."
"What? I thought those were the big and little dippers."
"They are, but they are also known as Ursa Major and Minor, the Big Bear and Little Bear."
"That's cool! Do you know any more constellations?" Megan asked still staring at the sky.
"Yes...hmmmm...let's see," Frank pointed, "Right there. See those stars?" Frank traced the outline through the air with his finger, "That's Draco the dragon. And over there is the Eagle and there, that's the Swan. See inside the Swan, those stars? That's called the Northern Cross. And right there," again Frank used his finger to trace the outline, "is Hercules."
"My God! I never knew there were so many!" Megan said in an awed whisper.
"Yes. And many were used for navigation by sailors before compasses were discovered." Frank said as he glanced over at her.
She was staring up at the stars as his gaze fastened on her firm breasts. Her nipples were standing up and her areolas were crinkled in the night air. For several long moments Frank couldn't tear his eyes from the sight. He finally pulled his eyes away, glanced up at her face to find her staring at him with a smirk on her lips.
"Frank! You're ogling me!"
'I'm sorry." Frank said as he jerked his gaze back to the sky, "I..uh..didn't mean to."
"You couldn't help yourself huh?" Megan said slyly, a repressed giggle in her words.
For a moment Frank was embarrassed, then the awareness of the repressed laughter in her voice hit him and he realized she wasn't offended. He decided since they had decided to be naked together, instead of being on guard all the time, he should just follow her lead and make it light.
"Yeah, I can't help myself when such a beautiful, sexy young woman is naked next to me."
Frank was still staring at the sky, but when Megan didn't answer he looked over at her to find that she too was staring at the sky, with a huge smile on her face.
They lapsed into silence for a while then Megan said, "Tell me about you and your wife."
Frank sat silent, not wanting to speak.
Megan glanced over at him, "If you'd rather not..."
"No..I...I'll tell you about me and Eve. But in return you need to tell me about you and Mark."
Megan didn't reply for a time then quietly replied, "Sure. Okay."
Frank began to tell Megan some of the highlights of Eve's and his life together. He talked for almost half an hour. At the end, when he was telling Megan about Eve's illness and death it took all his will power not to let the tears form in his eyes or show in his voice.
"She was cremated. Her wish was to be brought here. I scattered her ashes on the meadow yesterday evening."
"Really? You did that?" Megan said surprise filling her voice.
"That's what she wanted. There's one more thing I have to tell you. I've been putting it off and I don't know why. Eve was beautiful. I think you could tell that from the picture."
"Yes. She was that." Megan replied softly.
"What you couldn't tell from a black and white photo is that her hair was dark auburn red and her eyes were light green." Frank said a catch in his voice.
There was silence for a moment then Megan's voice broke it as she said softly, "Like me."
"Yes." Frank replied just as softly.
"I'm sorry if I remind you of her."
"Not your fault. Your hair and eyes do, the rest remind me that you are all you." Frank said, then added to lighten the mood, "Especially what comes out of your mouth!"
"well excuuuuuuse me!" Megan shot back, then giggled.
"Your turn." Frank said, "Tell me about you and Mark."
Megan sat silent for a few minutes then slowly began to tell Frank about her and Mark, how she had met him in college, how she had fallen for him, how everything seemed fine until their sex life had withered to nil and how ultimately she had discovered his lover. She told Frank of her confusion because their sex life had been so full and adventurous before. She told him of the pain and depression of realizing her husband was leaving her for a man. And how she had finally started to climb out of that depression with the help of her father and Carl.
"So, after Carl died I decided to make a trip here hoping it would help cheer me up. I really don't know why I choose this place. Maybe it was something Carl said, his description of it or the mental picture I had of it from how he talked about it. All I know is I felt like I had to come here. Like a visit here was going to help heal me somehow."
"Has it helped?" Frank asked.
"Yes. I think it is beginning to help. Like you said sitting here under this sky makes you understand how small we really are, how beautiful the universe is and how we can keep living, how we can heal after hurting so much."
As he listened to her last words Frank began to realize that Eva wanted him to come here for the same reason, to heal. They sat in silence watching the stars. An occasional meteor formed a streak of light across the sky as the atmosphere consumed it. Down the mountain they could hear coyotes yipping at each other and from the meadow, in the small stream that flowed out of the pool, they could hear the croak of frogs.
After an hour Frank said, "I'm starting to feel like a prune. I think I'll climb out."
"No! Stay with me a bit longer!" Megan coaxed, walking toward him through the waist-deep water.
Frank's gaze fastened to the image of her breasts, water droplets sparkling on them like jewels in the starlight, "I can't. I'm getting all wrinkled and at my age I can't afford that."
"Your age my foot! You're not ancient You're just an old fuddy-duddy!" She yelled splashing him with water.
He sputtered and splashed her back, "I am not a fuddy-duddy!"
"Yes...you....are!" She yelled back punctuating each word with a huge splash of water as she got closer to him.
When she got a few feet from him he rasped, "Don't you dare...."
He didn't get to finish as she pushed a huge splash of water into his face. He closed his eyes and swung his hands out trying to stop her. His aim was good and his hand locked around her wrist. He pulled her to him and he wrapped his other arm around her to capture her. He opened his eyes to find her standing in front of and a few inches away from him looking down into the water as he held her. He glanced down to find that she was staring at his hard rod, nestled against her stomach. Her eyes rose to his, a stoic expression on her face.
He stared into her eyes for a long moment then said in a choked whisper, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that to happen. I wasn't trying to..."
With her gaze still locked to his, she cut him off his words with a sharp tug of her arm signaling him to release her wrist. Frank figured he had finally managed to offend her, but as he let go she launched herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Her eyes were still staring into his. She held on to him tightly, her warm crotch pressed to his stomach just above his cock.
"I don't care how old you are, I don't care that we have just met, I don't care who you are, I don't care about anything else. You need it; I need it, Fuck me. NOW!" She growled, a wild hunger filling her voice.
"Megan, I....I told you I haven't made love to anyone...." He said.
She slammed her mouth on his, kissing him savagely, hungrily, then pulled her mouth from his rasping, "I don't want you to make love to me; I want you to fuck me and I want it now!"
"I'm not sure how long I'll last." He said, doubt about satisfying this sexually hungry young woman filling his mind.
"After such a long time without I don't think you will last long." she said as that sly, impish grin filled her face, "but I don't think I will either."
He had been hesitant, but suddenly Frank was filled with lust, a deep, overpowering primal lust he hadn't felt in a very long time. He reached down and filled his hand with her round firm buttocks and began to wade to the edge of the pool. When he got to the rock ledge at the edge of the water, he sat on it. As he did Megan settled onto his lap with her pussy pressed against his hard rod.
He could feel her trembling as she groaned, "Put it in. Put it in me! I want it in me!"
Frank circled her waist with his arm and picked her up far enough so he could reach under her. He took hold of his cock and pulled it up until he felt the head nestle between the outer folds of her sex. As he pulled his hand away he heard her moan, then felt her drop downward, sliding the length of his hard shaft into her warm, wetness.
"Oh fuck!" She yelped, "I...oh....I.....forgot how good it felt! Fuck me! Fuck me! Fuck me!"
She had her feet on the rock surface on each side of him, using it for leverage as she began to move her hips alternately up and down, forward and back, sliding his shaft in and out of her tight confines.
It didn't take long, less than two minutes and Frank gasped, "I.....I...can't stop it! I'm going to cum!"
As he said it Megan slammed down onto his cock until the entire length of him was he buried inside her. He felt her body begin to tremble, then she let out a long quavering moan as he felt her vagina rhythmically pulsing around his shaft. As he realized she was cumming, his cock exploded, filling her with his seed. Five times his rod throbbed. Finally, he sat still, panting in the aftermath of his first sex in a very long while.
He could feel her body still trembling and he pulled her closer, held her tightly as he said, "My god girl, I haven't had one like that in years!"
"Frank," She whispered, "I've...never had one like that. I...I don't know why I did that. I was suddenly filled with an overpowering urge for sex."
He pulled her face up so he could look into her eyes as he said, "Me too. Does it matter why? That was fabulous! Thank you."
She smiled that impish smile, "So the old letch got some young pussy."
It had finally sunk in that she was going to say such things, so instead of being shocked Frank replied, "And very good pussy too I might add."
She smiled at him as she wiggled her hips.
A moment later a thought hit him and a look of concern filled his face as he asked, "Megan, are you on birth control?"
Her eyes widened and she gasped, "Oh my god!"
Frank's stomach instantly knotted at what could be as he said, "We need to leave tomorrow. We need to get you..."
Before he could finish Megan put her fingers against his lips to stop him, smiled that impish smile and giggled, "Frank, don't go all serious on me! I'm protected."
As her statement sunk in Frank slumped rasping, "Damn it girl you gave me a start!"
"Sorry." She replied pushing her lower lip out in a pout, "So does that mean I get punished?"
"Yes! You are going to sit right here on my lap until I tell you, you can get off!"
"Woe is me!" Megan said as she slowly rotated her hips, that impish grin filling her face, "I guess I'll just have to sit here fidgeting until I get off."
A second later Megan asked in a serious tone, "Frank, how long were you planning on staying here?"
"Two more days." He said brushing a wisp of hair away from her face.
"Then so am I!"
Frank was still inside her and still hard.
"It seems," He said as he began to move his hips, sliding his rod in and out of her, "That you my dear are a natural aphrodisiac and can keep an old man's erection going."
"Cool! So we need to use it. Who wants to waste a hard-on?"
"Shall we go to your sleeping bag?"
She grinned and rose, groaning in protest as he slid out of her. She took his hand as he stood and lead him to her bag. She stretched out on the bag and Frank laid down next to her.
"Frank?" she whispered, "I lied to you."
"About what?"
She turned to face him, "I wanted you to fuck me and you did. I said I didn't want you to make love to me....and.....and I do."
He pulled her to him and kissed her softly, then pulled back and stared into her eyes as he said, "You deserve both. And as long as I can, as long as you allow me, I will be happy to do both."
He rolled onto her and felt her spread her legs as he settled between her soft thighs with his cock against her wet slit. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his, kissing her as he gently kneaded her breast. He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes as he reached down and put the crown of his cock against her entrance. He entered her slowly staring into her eyes as he did.
When he felt his balls nestle against her cheeks he whispered, "Megan you are a gorgeous, sexy, desirable young woman. I'm a very lucky man to be here with you."
He began to slide into her, gently, slowly, kissing her face, lips and throat as he did. There under the stars, they seemed to melt together, to be floating on a cloud, a cloud surrounded by stars and grass, the tinkle of water from the falls and the snap and pop of the embers of the fire. Neither Frank or Megan had any idea how long it went on. Each could feel a climax building but didn't try to rush it. Finally, Frank knew his was close.
"Megan....I'm close...very close..I don't think I can hold back....are you...can you..." He groaned, the tension of withholding his orgasm filling his voice.
"Yes...yes....yes...."she gasped, ".....almost...almost.....I'm....I'm..... almost....OH GOD!"
Frank felt the gentle pulse of her vagina around his rod as she climaxed. He stopped trying to hold back and a second later his cock exploded. When he had emptied himself into her he lay there, gasping trying to remember when he had ever had such a climax. He felt Megan move and heard her groan.
He thought he might be crushing her laying on top of her so started to pull out as he said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to crush....."
He felt her grab his waist and pull him back down onto her as she whimpered, "Oh god...don't...don't....that feels so good. Lay here with me for a little while, please. Just for a little while."
Frank grinned, leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips as he said, "Megan, I'd like to stay right here the rest of my life!"
He laid between her thighs his shaft still inside her, randomly kissing her face and lips until he was totally soft.
Finally, he said, "As much as I'd like to stay right here, my bones are old and are beginning to ache."
She pushed at his chest and with that impish grin and mock hurt filling her voice, "Ok. Go on and just leave me here like a prostitute."
"If you were a prostitute, you'd be a millionaire." He said with a grin as he moved over and laid next to her.
She giggled, "Really?"
"Well, you'd have all my money that's for sure!" He replied with a leer.
An exaggerated shocked expression filled her face as she gasped, "Why Frank! Are you telling me you'd want me to be your kept woman?"
"Bazinga!" He said touching his nose gently with the tip of his forefinger, "You got it!"
For an instant pain filled her face and Frank said, "Megan I hope I didn't offend you. I..."
She quickly placed her fingers on his lips to stop what he was saying, "You didn't. Mark used that expression all the time when we were playing around and it startled me."
"I'm sorry. I won't...." He began.
She shook her head and pressed her fingers a bit tighter to his lips to stop him, "Don't be sorry. I want you to use it. It sounds perfect coming from you It just startled me is all."
She moved her fingers from his mouth, "Frank...I...aw...was it...aw....." then she stopped, her statement trailing off into silence.
He rolled up on his side reached over and gently cupped her breast as he whispered, "Megan, so far we've been honest with each other. Don't feel like you need to withhold whatever it was you were going to ask, just ask."
She turned her head and stared into his eyes for a moment, then turned to look at the sky, "Was it really ok for you? I know you haven't had sex since your wife died and I know you still hurt for her, so was it really ok?"
Frank smiled, put his finger under her chin and turned her head so she was looking at him, "Oh my god Megan, it was more than alright! It was fantastic! I told you, you are a very pretty, very sexy, very desirable young woman."
"You didn't feel guilty about doing it?"
Frank stopped and thought about it.
As he turned it over in his mind he felt a slight puff of a breeze flit over them and he thought he heard the faint sound of laugher. As he heard it, he realized he didn't feel guilty at all. He knew Eva would have approved.
"No." He said with a smile, "Absolutely not!"
Frank decided to give her some of her own medicine so added, "About the sex that is. Robbing the cradle, I am kinda' guilty about."
Megan giggled, "You should be!"
Frank said nothing more. He lay back on her sleeping bag and stared at the sky. She had done the same and he could feel her side against his. They lay next to each other looking at the universe until the fire burned to embers and the night chill began to creep in on them.
"It's getting cold." Frank said, "I suppose I should go to my tent."
"Frank? Why don't you bring your bag out here and sleep with me? I'd like that a lot." Megan whispered.
A warm glow kindled in his chest as he heard her request.
With a grin he said, "I'll be back in a flash."
He went to his tent, pulled out his sleeping bag, unzipping it as he walked back to where Megan lay on her's. He spread it out over her, then laid down, pulling the bag over them both. A moment later he felt her snuggle close to him, her breasts pressed to his side, her leg over his. He stretched out his arm and she rested her head on his shoulder. The last thing Frank remembered before sleep pulled him in was the feel of her warm body against his and the blanket of blazing stars overhead.
Frank woke the next morning in the growing light of dawn. He could see the first rays of the sun like a halo around the peak above them. He glanced at Megan and found her still asleep, the sleeping bag pulled up to her chin and a strand of her hair covering part of her cheek. He watched her breath and again thought about Eva and wondered if she really would approve of what had transpired between him and this young woman.
As he watched her sleep another faint breeze caressed his cheek and a moment later, just like the night before, he thought he heard the ever so faint sound of laughter. As it happened a feeling of peace filled him and for the first time in months, he smiled without having to force it.
He looked out at the meadow and smiled. Another slight puff of a breeze touched his face, then was gone. Megan stirred, opened her eyes, rolled onto her back and stretched. As she did the sleeping bag rolled down and Frank got another look at her firm, pert breasts. Her nipples stood tall and crinkled as the cool air of the morning touched them.
"Good morning." She said sleepily.
"Good morning yourself." Frank replied with a smile.
"My bladder is about to bust." She said with a half-smile, "I really need to go pee."
"Me too. I'll just throw back the bag and we can go do it."
"Ok." Megan replied as she yawned.
Without warning, Frank threw back the sleeping bag uncovering them.
"Oh crap that's cold!" Megan yelped as she jumped up.
She headed around one side of the rock and Frank the other. Both of them took about the same time to finish and met back at the campsite.
Megan was hugging herself as she said, "Shall we get dressed before making breakfast or make a fire first? I'm freezing!"
Frank laughed and said, "I'll make the fire. Why don't you go get into the pool? That will warm you up."
"True," Megan responded with a grin, "But I can think of something else that will warm me up a lot better."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the pool. Without hesitation she stepped in, pulling him in after her.
When they were waist-deep she turned, threw her arms around his neck, pressing her entire body against his as she said," So Mr. Carlin are you going to again take advantage of the young lady you have captive?"
Frank grinned as he put his hands on her hips, "Who's taking advantage of who and who has who captive?"
Frank felt her arms tighten around his neck as she raised her legs and wrapped them around his hips.
She stared into his eyes and said, "So, let's call it a mutual captivity."
"Ok, But I want breakfast."
Frank could see a slight bit of disappointment and a hint of rejection in her eyes as he cupped her ass in his hands and began to wade out of the pool. As he stepped out onto the grass he felt her legs loosen and drop. He was sure she thought he was going to put her down. Instead he pulled her tighter and walked to their sleeping bags. He knelt and gently laid her down.
Megan lay looking up at him with a puzzled expression on her face as Frank grinned, "Breakfast."
With that, he bent and placed a soft kiss on her inner thigh, then turned and placed another on the opposite thigh. He heard her moan, then felt her hands on the back of his head as his tongue pushed through her thick bush and into her warm slit. He circled her hips with his arms, pushing her legs up and out spreading them wide. He used his fingers to pull the petals of her sex open so he could lick and suck at her clit more easily. He gently licked from her opening up to the hard nub of her clit, then he sucked on it for a moment before licking back down along her swollen folds until he found her opening once again. He pushed his tongue into her, his mouth tight against her sex as he did.
He repeated that over and over calling on years of sexual experience until he was sure she was close to an orgasm. He didn't realize how close until she grabbed his head and pulled his mouth tightly to her sex. He found her clit and began to lash it with his tongue as he sucked on it. A long moan came from her as he felt her sex quivering with a climax. After long moments he felt her grip relax as her climax faded.
He didn't stop or slow down though. He continued his licking and sucking. It took several minutes before he felt her hips lift pressing her sex to his mouth, a wordless request for more. Over the next 20 minutes he licked her to two more climaxes.
After the last one, she pushed him away as she cried out, "Stop! Stop! I can't take anymore! My God! I've never had that many climaxes in a row! Ever!"
He crawled up next to her with a self-satisfied grin.
She looked at him and asked, "What about you?"
He grinned and pushed his hard rod against her leg, "What about me?"
She grinned back, shoved him onto his back and a moment later had his hard rod in her hand and her mouth over the swollen purple head. It took her all of 5 minutes to get him to cum. As his cock exploded she swallowed each squirt as it spilled into her mouth.
When he was done she crawled up next to him and lay down. It had warmed up quite a lot and they lay together on the sleeping bag watching the sky and talking. At first it was small talk, about what they saw in the clouds, the warming of the day, how much they liked the pool.
They lapsed into silence for a few minutes then Frank asked, "You wanted to know if I enjoyed and was comfortable with sex with you. I'd like to know how you feel about sex with me."
Megan stared at the sky for a long time before responding, "I was really hurt and depressed when I found out about Mark. I thought when I got married it would be for life. That's why I never found a lover. I still considered myself married even if he decided he wasn't. When I threw myself at you last night I don't know why I did and still have no idea why. It was like a fire, a burning desire for sex. I wanted it and I...I wanted it from you. When I jumped on you, it was like I was observing and couldn't stop. Well, that's not entirely true, I didn't want to stop, but knew I couldn't even I wanted to. After we did it the first time though I knew I wanted more. That's when I asked you to make love to me."
Megan looked up at him and smiled as she added, "And you did. Thank you for that."
"That explains last night. But what about this morning? What about now? How do you feel about it now?"
Megan smiled, a happy, sweet smile as she said in a soft voice, "When I woke this morning I realized what happened last night had broken through the sadness, depression and my resistance to being with someone other than Mark. When we had sex this morning I enjoyed it, a lot. No that's not true, I enjoyed it more than I ever have. I realized I'm free. I am no longer Mark's wife and I am free to do what, or who," She smiled that mischievous little smile as she glanced at him, "I want to."
Frank grinned, "All that foo fraa to say you liked it?"
Megan's head shot up and her gaze fastened to his as she replied, "But I didn't enjoy it....."
Then added as she launched herself at him, "I LOVED it and I want more!"
As she straddled him, then stretched out on top of him so her breasts were against his chest and her pussy was nestled against his cock he groaned, "Elder abuse!"
She wiggled her hips and pressed her breasts tighter to his chest.
As she felt his cock begin to grow she said in a mock growl, "I shall abuse thee mightily!"
They spent the morning cuddling and soaking in the pool. They had sex once more just before lunch. After lunch they wandered around the meadow naked, talking, looking at the wildflowers and picking the high mountain berries. For supper, they had the berries mixed with a muffin mix and cooked over the coals of the fire. After dark they slipped into the pool and sat staring at the stars, again talking about the constellations that Frank had shown Megan. And that night in their sleeping bag they made love again. A slow, sensuous dance, their lips and tongues exploring each other mutually pushing each other to a fabulous climax there under the blazing star-filled sky. Afterward, they lay snuggled together as they both drifted off to sleep.
Their last day together was much the same. Frank woke to find Megan snuggled against him. He kissed her awake and after they did their morning toilet they slipped into the pool for a quick soak before breakfast. Frank took a seat on one of the boulders at the bottom of the pool. When he did Megan came over and straddled his lap.
"You know you are an insatiable, sex-crazed young woman don't you?" Frank asked her as he rolled his eyes.
"You know you're an old letch that loves it don't you?" She shot back.
Frank could feel her pussy nestled against his shaft. He grinned and pulled her against it tighter.
In response Megan closed her eyes and rocked back and forth as she hummed contentedly.
She opened her eyes, looked into his and said, "We have to leave tomorrow. What will happen then?"
Frank leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips before replying, "Let's not think about that, until tomorrow. Let's just enjoy today for today."
Megan smiled, "I like that, enjoy today for today!"
They sat in the warm pool, cuddled together talking of small things. Neither one of them moved much, not wanting to break the spell of the moment, just enjoying the feel of each other as the sun slowly made its way up over the mountain peak.
As the first rays of the sun hit the pool Frank said, "I'm hungry. Let's get some breakfast."
"But, but you have a hardon! We can't waste it!" Megan said widening her eyes in mock horror.
Frank put a fake scowl on his face as he replied, "Woman, your insatiable sexual appetite will be the death of me!" He grinned and added, "Besides, it will be there later."
Megan rolled her eyes as she rose off his lap, "Ok...if you insist!"
They got out of the pool, made breakfast and again talked of Eva and Mark as they ate. Both realized that it had gotten easier and less painful to talk about them. After cleaning the dishes, they walked the meadow. Frank had studied the alpine plants and flowers of the area and identified them for Megan: Alpine Lupine, Flett's violet, Piper's Bellflower, Scalloped onion, Spreading Phlox, the tiny and delicious wild strawberries. They again picked huckleberries from the bushes along the tiny stream and added alpine blueberries and wild blackberries from the vines and plants they had harvested from the day before. Like the day before they cooked the berries into a muffin mix Frank had and consumed them for lunch.
Frank stretched out on the sleeping bags with the intention of taking a nap. Megan had other plans. She straddled him and sat down with her warm sex pressed against his rod, which instantly responded.
"We never used that hardon you had this morning." She said with a smirk.
Frank grinned back at her cupped his hands behind his head and replied, "Well, just help your self!"
Megan rolled her eyes as she said, "I have to do all the work!" As she held his shaft upright and slid down onto it.
She began to move her hips and as she did Frank cupped both her breasts in his hand and began to roll her nipples between her fingers. It was only seconds and that same primal lust that had gripped her the first time filled her again. As he watched her face, saw her eyes roll back, saw her mouth open slightly and a moan of pleasure issue from her, Frank felt that same overpowering sexual desire fill him. Within seconds they were engaged in a moaning, gyrating dance of sex. Both could feel their climaxes building, the sexual tension pushing them higher and higher. When it finally peaked, they climaxed together.
As her orgasm faded away Megan slid off, snuggled up to him and wrapped in the warm fuzz of post-coitus sighed, "Now we can nap."
They slept for an hour. When they woke they again walked the meadow, stopping here and there to snack on the berries they picked as they talked. Neither realized that it was getting easier and easier to talk about the pain of their lost partners. The day slipped by and when the sun touched the top of the mountain, they made supper, then climbed back into the pool to await the coming of the stars. They sat in silence, listening to the sounds of nature as they watched the stars appear one by one.
When it was fully dark and the millions of stars of the Milkway twinkled from horizon to horizon, Megan asked, "Do you believe there is life out there?"
Frank smiled, "That is a discussion Eva and I had all the time. Yes, I do believe there is life out there. It is very arrogant of the human race to believe that in the expanse of our galaxy, in the vastness of the universe, we are the only sentient beings. All you have to do is look up there to realize we are less than a speck in all that."
"Frank! That's fantastic!" Megan replied with a smile.
"Not really. A lot of people see it that..." Frank began, only to be interrupted by Megan, "Not the extraterrestrial life thing! The fabulous part is you smiled when you said her name!"
Frank realized he had been able to say Eva's name with a smile. As that realization filled him a soft blanket of peace followed.
Still staring at the sky, a half-smile on his face he said, "I guess this place is helping me heal."
Megan sighed, "Yes. Me too."
"But it's not just this place. You are as much responsible for it as this place." Frank said with a smile.
Megan smiled and replied, "I think that's mutual. You have helped me on my path too."
"See? Even an old letch can be of some use!"
"We'll see." Megan responded with her trademark sly grin, "We'll see!"
They sat in the pool occasionally talking of things between stretches of silence. The silent pauses weren't strained, they were filled with an unspoken warmth of companionship.
After an hour Frank said, "Shall we get out?"
"Why, so you can take advantage of me?" Megan grinned.
"Absolutely" He shot back.
Megan waded to him, nestled against him and said, "this is our last night. Make love to me again."
Frank took her hand and led her out of the pool and over to their sleeping bags. He kissed her and began to explore her body with his hands as they slowly laid down. Unlike their previous joining's where he had tried to coax her to as many climaxes as he could, this time Frank used all his skill to bring her just to the edge of one, then he would stop and allow it to fade before pushing her back to the edge.
He did it over and over until she finally cried out, "OH GOD! LET ME CUM!!!"
Frank had been teasing her clit with his tongue as she cried out. When he heard her, he slid up and entered her and began to slam into her trying to push her over that edge and into a climax.
When it did come, as her climax filled her Megan gasped and screamed as it thundered through her body. Frank kept right on slamming into her searching for his release. As he did Megan's climax did not fade but seemed to roll on and on. When Frank's climax hit, as his cock throbbed inside her it caused Megan's climax to expanded and burst. She wanted to scream with the intensity of it, but no sound would come from her throat. Her body was filled with the white-hot sexual release of a massive orgasm. When it finally started to fade, all she could do is lay still, whimpering. Frank kissed her gently and began to pull out.
As before she grabbed him and pulled him back into her as she whispered, "Stay...please...just for a while."
They lay locked together enjoying the feel of each other for a long while. Finally, Frank sighed and rolled off, laying on his back next to her. She snuggled close to him as he pulled the sleeping bag over them and without a word they drifted off to sleep.
As previous mornings, Frank woke first. He looked over at Megan to find her sleeping on her side, her face smooth and peaceful as she slumbered. He looked up at the peak above them to see the halo of sunlight framing it. As he stared up at it a hawk appeared. It circled above them, let out a cry, then drifted on an air current off over the shoulder of the mountain. Frank couldn't remember the last time he felt so at peace.
He felt Megan stir, then she opened her eyes, smiled and said, "Good morning."
Frank smiled back and replied, "Potty and breakfast?"
"Yes please."
With a yelp from Megan as the cold air hit her, they climbed out from under the sleeping and headed around the rock to do their morning toilet. Frank returned first and had the fire started before she appeared.
"Soak, then breakfast!" She snapped, a fake scowl on her face.
Frank threw another stick on the fire, then followed her into the pool.
As she sat down on the boulder that had become her regular seat she sighed, "Oh Yes! That water feels soooooo good!"
As they sat watching the sunlight grow stronger as the sun slid up over the mountain Megan asked softly, "When should we leave."
" That depends. I came in at Gold Creek so it will take me most of the day to get there from here. Where did you come in? "
"From the Staircase trailhead." Megan replied.
"That's on the opposite side of the mountain from Gold Creek. How long did it take you to get here?"
"I left the parking lot at 8:15 and got here in late afternoon."
"That's about the same time as it takes to get here from Gold Creek, so the return trip should take us about the same time. We need to leave no later than mid-morning."
"Do we have to?" Megan asked softly, knowing the answer before she asked the question.
"I wish it were different, but you know we do," Frank replied with a smile.
"Yes, I know," Megan replied, a note of sadness in her voice.
"When we do leave, I think you should go first. I want to say a final goodbye."
Megan knew what he meant and replied with only a nod. They lapsed into silence, each trying to enjoy the bitter-sweetness moment of their last soak in the pool. The first rays of the sun were touching the pool as Frank silently rose and waded out. Megan followed a moment later. They said nothing as they made breakfast, each sunk in thoughts of the last few days. They ate sitting close together, then each washed their eating utensils.
Frank finally broke the silence, "Let's pack up. We should have an hour or so after that before we have to leave."
Megan smiled at him, the connotation of that last hour plain to her. They packed in silence. When they were done the only thing left that Frank had to pack was his sleeping bag. He had left it spread out on the ground where his tent once stood.
He closed the last zipper and tied the rain flap down over it, then turned to Megan. She had finished her packing and was standing watching him. Neither had yet bothered to put on clothes.
Frank walked over to her, pulled her close, looked into her eyes and said," Thank you. This has been a fantastic few days. You not only allowed me the honor of making love to you, but you have helped me heal."
A tear slid down her cheek as she said through a repressed sob, "Should we...should we keep in touch?"
"I don't think that is a good idea." Frank whispered as he used his finger to wipe away her tear, "If we did, all I'd want is to be in your bed, or you in mine. You need to get on with your life and an old letch shouldn't be part of that."
Another tear slid down her cheek as she laughed, then her face fell into a serious expression as she replied, "I don't want to but I have to agree. You need to get on with your's too!"
She reached up and pulled his mouth to her's in a soft, sensual caress.
When she pulled her lips from his she whispered, "Make love to me one last time."
He led her to his sleeping bag and they stretched out. There under the summer sun, he made slow, passionate love to her. When their climaxes peaked they were together. As the intensity of them faded, they held each other, each enjoying the feel of the other.
Finally, Frank kissed the corner of her mouth and whispered, "It's time."
He stood and Megan followed. A few minutes later they were dressed and Megan had her pack on.
As they stood side by side looking out over the meadow Frank said, "You take care of you."
She smiled and replied, "You too."
"Go! Go! Before I demand you stay."
"Goodbye," Megan said in a tear-filled voice.
As she started toward the foot of the meadow Frank called after her, "I might be here next year at the same time."
Megan turned to look at him, smiled, and called, "I might be too."
She threw him a kiss, then turned and continued down the meadow. She didn't look back. The last Frank saw of her was as she disappeared over the rock wall.
Frank stood staring out over the meadow for a long time, then with a sigh he tied his sleeping bag onto his pack, hoisted the pack to his shoulders and afraid to hesitate, walked quickly across the meadow toward the rock wall. When he got there, he turned and looked back up the gentle slope at the pool. The air was still and the snow on the peak of Medicine Mountain was shining in the sunlight. The only sound was the buzz of the bees harvesting nectar from the alpine flowers. He still felt the pain of losing Eva, but it wasn't as sharp as it had been when he arrived. Under it, trying to grow was a sense of peace.
"I love you." He whispered.
As he said it, he felt a breeze touch his cheek and again thought he heard the faint sound of laughter. With a smile, he climbed down the wall, on his way home, the seed of peace and hope inside him.
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