Read Online 6 Maple Leaf Hunter by Maddie Cochere - Free Book Online
Authors: Maddie Cochere
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seen much traffic at all.”
I turned around just in time to catch his wink. I knew he was letting me know we hadn’t been followed.
A few minutes later, I came out refreshed. Nate was slowly navigating a loose-gravel road leading to the campground. The forest was heavy here, and there wasn’t any sign of water.
“What’s the name of this place again?” I asked.
Nate called over his shoulder, “The sign said Big Bear Hunting and Fishing Lodge and Campgrounds.”
“That’s a mouthful for the receptionist,” I said.
“I don’t think there will be a receptionist here,” Mick said. “Dan gave me the impression it’s only him and his wife running the place.”
How could just two people run a lodge and campgrounds? I couldn’t imagine they wouldn’t have a full staff. Mick must have misunderstood his friend.
“I’m starving,” Alex said. “Will there be any food there?”
“They were expecting us to arrive between five and six,” Mick said. “Dan said they’d have dinner waiting.” He looked my way and smiled before saying, “Even though we’re running late, I think they’ll still have dinner for us.”
We crested a hill to see the Ottawa River in the distance before us. The view was breathtaking with the semi-setting sun glistening on the water and the lodge peeking through an opening in the trees.
The descent to the campgrounds was steep, but the road made a couple of long sweeping curves back and forth to accommodate the incline. Nate continued to drive cautiously as he made his way to the parking lot below the lodge.
When we exited the RV, we were f acing the river. A freshly mown grassy area led down to the water. Beyond the grass, a small sandy beach was to our left, while a long wooden dock ran parallel to the land on our right. The temperature was comfortable, but there was a definite chill in the air, and I suspected it would be cold when the sun set.
After surveying our surroundings for a few moments, Mick led the way across the lot to the steps leading up to the lodge. A man appeared at the top of the stairs. I guessed him to be Mick’s friend, Dan. A short, plump woman stood by his side.
Mick ran up the stairs and gave his friend a bear hug. He then hugged the woman, and I heard her say, “Mick! I haven’t seen you since our wedding. You look fantastic. How are you?”
Mick’s smile had taken over his entire face. I knew he was happy to reacquaint with his friends. “I’m great,” he said. “Emily, Dan, this is my wife, Susan. Susan, this is my old buddy, Dan, and his wife, Emily.”
Emily stepped over to give me a hug me. Dan followed by embracing me in a bear hug so tight, it felt as though my lungs momentarily collapsed.
Mick introduced Alex, Darby, and Nate, but other than Emily hugging Alex, which he didn’t seem to mind, the remaining greetings consisted of handshakes.
“How was your trip? Are you hungry?” Emily asked. “We held dinner for you.”
The lodge wasn’t as large as I had envisioned. The exterior was attractive and made from logs. The lobby was rustic with a crackling fire in the fireplace. It seemed out of place to have a fire going in August, but it was comfortable and gave the room a welcoming appeal. A bearskin rug spread out in front of the hearth looked inviting as well. I knew it was bearskin because the head was still attache d. Taxidermy of large fish and forest animals adorned the walls. The largest mounted item in the room was a moose head above the fireplace.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Darby said.
“Pretty cool,” Alex said, nodding his head in agreement.
Nate wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, and I knew the mounted animals played against his sensitive nature. He looked around and commented, “There are a lot of stories here, aren’t there?”
Someone behind us said, “Sure are, and I’d be happy to tell some of ‘em to ya if ya’d care to listen.”
We all turned to see an elderly man in green overalls shuffle slowly
I turned around just in time to catch his wink. I knew he was letting me know we hadn’t been followed.
A few minutes later, I came out refreshed. Nate was slowly navigating a loose-gravel road leading to the campground. The forest was heavy here, and there wasn’t any sign of water.
“What’s the name of this place again?” I asked.
Nate called over his shoulder, “The sign said Big Bear Hunting and Fishing Lodge and Campgrounds.”
“That’s a mouthful for the receptionist,” I said.
“I don’t think there will be a receptionist here,” Mick said. “Dan gave me the impression it’s only him and his wife running the place.”
How could just two people run a lodge and campgrounds? I couldn’t imagine they wouldn’t have a full staff. Mick must have misunderstood his friend.
“I’m starving,” Alex said. “Will there be any food there?”
“They were expecting us to arrive between five and six,” Mick said. “Dan said they’d have dinner waiting.” He looked my way and smiled before saying, “Even though we’re running late, I think they’ll still have dinner for us.”
We crested a hill to see the Ottawa River in the distance before us. The view was breathtaking with the semi-setting sun glistening on the water and the lodge peeking through an opening in the trees.
The descent to the campgrounds was steep, but the road made a couple of long sweeping curves back and forth to accommodate the incline. Nate continued to drive cautiously as he made his way to the parking lot below the lodge.
When we exited the RV, we were f acing the river. A freshly mown grassy area led down to the water. Beyond the grass, a small sandy beach was to our left, while a long wooden dock ran parallel to the land on our right. The temperature was comfortable, but there was a definite chill in the air, and I suspected it would be cold when the sun set.
After surveying our surroundings for a few moments, Mick led the way across the lot to the steps leading up to the lodge. A man appeared at the top of the stairs. I guessed him to be Mick’s friend, Dan. A short, plump woman stood by his side.
Mick ran up the stairs and gave his friend a bear hug. He then hugged the woman, and I heard her say, “Mick! I haven’t seen you since our wedding. You look fantastic. How are you?”
Mick’s smile had taken over his entire face. I knew he was happy to reacquaint with his friends. “I’m great,” he said. “Emily, Dan, this is my wife, Susan. Susan, this is my old buddy, Dan, and his wife, Emily.”
Emily stepped over to give me a hug me. Dan followed by embracing me in a bear hug so tight, it felt as though my lungs momentarily collapsed.
Mick introduced Alex, Darby, and Nate, but other than Emily hugging Alex, which he didn’t seem to mind, the remaining greetings consisted of handshakes.
“How was your trip? Are you hungry?” Emily asked. “We held dinner for you.”
The lodge wasn’t as large as I had envisioned. The exterior was attractive and made from logs. The lobby was rustic with a crackling fire in the fireplace. It seemed out of place to have a fire going in August, but it was comfortable and gave the room a welcoming appeal. A bearskin rug spread out in front of the hearth looked inviting as well. I knew it was bearskin because the head was still attache d. Taxidermy of large fish and forest animals adorned the walls. The largest mounted item in the room was a moose head above the fireplace.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Darby said.
“Pretty cool,” Alex said, nodding his head in agreement.
Nate wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, and I knew the mounted animals played against his sensitive nature. He looked around and commented, “There are a lot of stories here, aren’t there?”
Someone behind us said, “Sure are, and I’d be happy to tell some of ‘em to ya if ya’d care to listen.”
We all turned to see an elderly man in green overalls shuffle slowly
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