Silence had fallen between them as they concentrated on their surroundings. Yet as they climbed, William kept asking himself what he was so afraid of. Tension that hadn’t been there while they’d slept hung heavy in the morning air. He’d hurried them out of camp after they’d finished their meal, telling Siobhan it was because he wanted to take full advantage of the daylight. He knew it was more than that. He needed to keep busy. Clinging to a mountainside for balance and support meant there was little time to think about or give in to the desire to wrap his arms around her once more. Her softness beckoned like the light of a candle to a lost and lonely moth. Was he lost and lonely? He was starting to think so. They continued to hike through the day, until finally, as the late afternoon cast long shadows, William slowed his pace. He turned to Siobhan. “Let’s stop here and rest. We need to decide whether to go on or start looking for a camp for the night.” Siobhan nodded and came forward to rest against a large boulder that sat off to the left near a copse of trees.
