Return To Maine Chapter 18..
A/N: So sorry for the delay in this chapter. Actually, it has been written for awhile and it's been on site for awhile, but editing this chapter has proven to be a challenge for me as the save button kept disappearing on me and I'd lose all my changes. Then I discovered that by adding some space between paragraphs caused some of the problems so I eventually stopped tring to add space between paragraphs. Anyway, I hope that this is even readable. Please let me know in the comments.
Thank you all for your patience, your kind words and reviews, your thoughts and ideas, your favs and follows and for your unfailing love and support. Love you all!.
They traveled along Park Loop Road after leaving Sieur de Monts past Precipice Trail head and past an overlook observation point, but what parking was available was limited at best, so they continued on to Sand Beach, where parking was crowded, but available. .
As they exited the car in the parking area, they followed a group of park visitors heading in an easterly direction and taking a hiking trail next to the beach followed other visitors around a perimeter of land that looped around a headland known as Great Head. .
The Great Head Trail proved to be a moderate climb, about 1.4 miles that meandered up the side of pink granite with several spots that offered spectacular views of Sand Beach below them..
With great caution, they meandered up the trail, through forests of towering, grey birch trees, narrow paths with staggering drop offs that offered stunning, panoramic views of Sand Beach, the rocky, Maine coast, a stunning view of The Bee Hive mountain reflected in a large tidal pool below them..
Once they reached the summit and taken in the breath taking scenes in awe and reverence, they took the blue marked path to begin their ascent down to Sand Beach, which offered equally stunning views of the rocky, eastern coast of Mount Desert Isle, Otter Cliff, Thunder Hole, Gorham Mountain in the distance and the churning Atlantic below..
All in all the trek up Great Head Trail had been a beautiful and unique experience and both Kate and Rick were glad that they had taken that trail and felt that it had enhanced their trip..
It was surprising to find this sandy little beach, about 290 yards long, nestled among the rocky Maine coast and pink granite mountains, with rocky cliffs and bluffs beneath a clear, blue sky, beautiful rocky formations, the greens of the forests, and the Caribbean blue of the Atlantic..
The beach had a sign giving information about the geology and history of the beach safety rules and other pertinent information . For thousands of years, the pounding surf created this unique beach with sand and unique shell fragments. The water rarely reached 55 degrees even during the hottest days of summer..
They strolled the beach hand in hand, listening to the shrieks and laughter of visitors brave enough to test the water, and the cries of seagulls above them..
Since leaving Sieur de Mont, Kate had been quiet, reflective except for commenting on the scenes on the trail. Not completely lost in thought, but definitely seemed to have something on her mind..
"Okay. What gives?" he asked as they strolled along the beach, passing visitors carrying picnic basket, beach towels and odds assortments of beach toys, children flying kites or building sand castles in the cool breezes blowing off the Atlantic, life guards and Park Rangers giving tours..
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Nothing really. It's just that since leaving Sieur de Mont that you've had something on your mind. What is it? You can tell me.".
"It's just that I'm trying to wrap my brain around a fire that burned out 9 complete towns. Including most of Bar Harbor. How devastating and frightening that must have been. A fire so hot that it exploded into a huge fireball once it reached the ocean.".
"Okay. You're thinking about Ranger Bob and what he told us, but honey, surely you're aware that forest fires happen and there have been many of them in this country and all of them are devastating. But all of that happened many years ago before they had the communication systems that they have now. Hell, back in those days, many towns didn't even have fire departments, much less communication systems.".
"I know that, Babe.".
"You're not afraid to be here, are you?".
"What? No. Of course not! Why would you even think that?" she asked, dismayed.
"I don't know. Maybe because you seem so fixated on that fire?".
"Please! I'm not fixated on that. Just fascinated with the history aspect of the area. That's all it is!" she huffed..
"Are you sure?" he queried..
"Of course. I'm sure. It's just that I have fallen in love with this area and attesting to that! What is wrong with that?"
"Nothing is wrong with that. I feel the same way. Look, as devastating as forest fires are, look around at the regeneration and rebirth that came out of that. It's breathtaking here!"
"Yes, it is." she agreed, taking in the pink granite cliffs, the green forests, the blue sky and Caribbean blue sea that surrounded them. She stooped and picked up a shell from the beach, examining it closely. "Not afraid to be here, at all. Just appreciating the history of this magnificent, magical place."
She picked up another shell, running her fingers softly over it's surface.
" You missed my whole point. My thoughts weren't just about the 1947 fires as much as it's about the history, the indomitable spirits of Mainers, themselves, their cultures, their eco/green ways of living. It was just that I was thinking about that at the time you asked. Nothing more."
"Sorry. My mistake."
She raised her head to look up at him and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her stooped over looking at shells, looking up at him, the gentle, cool breeze blowing off the Atlantic rustling her hair around her face. So beautiful, so sexy without even trying to be. God, he was a lucky man.
Grinning up at him, she replied, "Yes, it is." Raising back up to her full height, she took his hand and deposited the 2 shells she had been looking at into his hand. "Here's a souvenir for you. And don't let it go to your head because one of those is mine." she taunted, dusting the sand from her hands.
Chuckling at her reply, he pulled her close, kissed the crown of her head, before wrapping her in his arms.
She nestled into his embrace, her face resting in the cove of his neck, breathing him in, the scent that was so uniquely him, the clean salt air and the smell of the forests around them. Mmmm. This was so nice. This little slice of heaven.
A deep rumble vibrated from Rick's chest as he chuckled at the sound of laughing, shrieking children with their parents neared them.
"What?" she asked, lifting her head from his shoulder.
He nodded his head over her shoulder, smiling down at her.
She turned to see a small boy 8-10 years of age and a young girl not much older than he, frolicking in the water at the edge of the beach, laughing and kicking cold water at each other.
"So?" she asked.
"So, what do you say? Wanna try it?" he challenged.
Surely he was not suggesting…. Was he? She glanced toward the children then back at him. Smiling at him with her tongue in her cheek that he found so adorable, she shook her head slightly. "It's going to be cold."
"I'm sure it is, but we aren't going to let the kids have all the fun, are we? Don't you want to look back on this one day and remember how much fun we had here? Or are you too old to just let loose and have fun?"
She recognized the taunt for what it was. His fun, playful nature was only one of the many fine qualities she loved about him. So he wanted to tease her about her age?What ? Okay. Fine. He was older than she was. Oh, she'd show him!
"Old? I'll show you old, old man! I'll bet that I beat you in there! Now what do I win when I beat the pants off of your sorry old ass?"
"My sorry old ass? Well, you didn't seem to think my ass was so old and sorry last night when you were loving on …."
"That wasn't your ass I was loving on and do not finish that sentence! "
"Katherine Beckett! I never…" he mocked
She laughed. "Of course, you haven't! So just shut up and tell me what the stakes are?"
"You're no fun. Okay. The loser serves the winner breakfast in bed Monday morning before we leave." he feigned.
"Challenge accepted!"
Finding a drier stretch of beach back towards the cliff a couple of feet behind them, they lowered themselves to the sand and began removing their shoes and socks.
Kate had her shoes and socks off while he was still rolling the cuffs of his Khaki pants up. Kate snickered. She was wearing a pair of Khaki capris and didn't have anything to roll up like he did.
Rising to her feet, she ran her hand to the back of her pants to brush off the sand and she heard Rick protest, "Hey! You can't do that! That isn't fair!"
She knew that it really wasn't, but what was that saying about all being fair in love and war? "Yes. It is! You didn't say that if I finished removing my shoes first that I couldn't go ahead of you. Catch me if you can." Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she took off toward the water amid Rick's protests still struggling to get to his feet..
Okay. She could do this right? People around the globe participated in The Polar Bear Plunge all the time and this wasn't even January like when that event took place. Still, at the water's edge, she hesitated briefly before running full tilt into the water.
SHIT! That water was so cold! She held her breath, trying so hard not to shiver as the icy water lapped at her ankles. She was pretty sure her lips and toes were the color of Rick's eyes because she was so cold. This had been such a bad idea. Still was. Why had she let him goad her into this?
Still, they had survived being locked together in a freezer longer than this before and it had been much colder in there. And yet, she had been so eager to beat him at his own game that she had allowed him to goad her into this. Without giving it anymore thought, she waded deeper into the water until it lapped above her knees, wetting the hem of her capris. For as cold as the water was, it was also invigorating.
She laughed as she heard water splashing behind her and Rick's shrieks as he ran up behind her, splashing water in his wake. "SHIT! This water is so damn cold!"
She laughed, "I told you it would be! Why did you even chance it when it was so obvious that I win?" She asked in stuttering breaths, her teeth chattering so hard she was afraid she'd break a tooth. "And thank you for splashing this icy water up past my knees and wetting my capris." she added sarcastically.
"Sorry. That was unintentional. Besides, you only won because you cheated."
"Did not."
"Did so."
"Okay, I guess I did cheat a little, technically."
"It's a good thing I love you so much that I'm willing to concede and make you breakfast in bed Monday morning."
Grinning up at him, she said, "Why don't we call it a draw and fix breakfast together?"
"Okay. Deal. Now let's get the hell out of here and go find a spot on the beach to warm up a little."
"Yeah. Let's go." .
A/N: Okay, going to close this chapter here and move on to Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff. Also, for the record, please be aware that Kate is not afraid to be in the park. She is merely thinking about what they learned. TBC