“This is supposed to be fun. I vote for getting wet,” I offered.
Kat smiled and nodded.
Beth set an easier pace and I got to look at Kat’s butt as we ran. Running uphill started to make my backside and thighs burn like I was getting a good workout. I could see the appeal in fell running. It reminded me a little bit of the freestyle running Peggy and I used to do. When we came to the stream, Colin was set up to catch us running in line. The water was running fast and the rocks caused it to bubble and churn in rapids. The water was only ankle deep, so there was no danger of drowning. I was a little worried someone might fall on the slick rocks or twist an ankle, but everything turned out fine. It did produce some fantastic shots.
When we found the hole, Beth had us take off our belts and we waded out. It was waist deep and cold, but it felt refreshing. You couldn’t stay in long so we quickly put our belts back on. I noticed both girls were looking at me with sly smiles.
“What?” I asked.
Beth flushed and Kat pointed at my shorts. I looked down. Obviously, running shorts were not meant for swimming gear. I quickly reached down and pulled my shorts away from my body so that I wasn’t so exposed. I just shrugged and we continued.
When we reached the first checkpoint, Harry was waiting for us. They wouldn’t let him continue until the whole team was together.
“What took you laggards so long?” Harry demanded.
“Bloody hell, Harry! Why don’t you just go home if you’re going to be such a wanker? No one’s impressed,” Beth said as she got in his face.
I think she surprised him. His face went red and I thought he was going to hit her, so I eased up in case she needed protection. He glared at me.
“Piss off, pretty boy!” Harry yelled at me.
That’s when I used the move Cassidy had taught me and put down my first royal. Now if I could only learn to keep her from doing it to me. Aw, crap. I heard Colin’s camera snapping photos. I turned on him.
“You better not be doing what I think you are.”
He got a sheepish grin. I released Harry. He was sitting on his butt, rubbing his neck. Beth was down, checking him out.
“You bloody tosser. You deserved that and more, so don’t get your knickers in a twist,” Beth ordered him.
Harry looked at me with a new respect. He just smiled and put his hand out and I helped him up.
“I’m sorry I had to do that,” I offered.
“Apology accepted. I’m sorry I made an arse of myself.”
“Apology accepted,” I said as Harry and I shook hands.
“If I see this in the Sun or the Mirror, I want it made clear I deserved it,” Harry told Colin.
Colin agreed and we got our next destination. This time Harry ran at a reasonable pace so that the girls weren’t struggling. This allowed me to enjoy the beauty of the valley. What made the run fun were the varied surroundings. Our path took us from wooded areas near the creek to open meadows that showed the valley to its fullest.
When we got back, we found Kendal and Clare waiting. Mom, Lana, and Sandy must have still been sleeping. They looked tired but eager to see the photos. We all soon found ourselves in front of a monitor as Colin quickly ran through the shots. He had a good eye and I thought he captured the grandeur of the valley.
Then we came to the shots of me knocking Harry down. It was funny to see the shocked look on Harry’s face. You could see Beth was mad at him, while I looked determined. Kat had managed not to be in the picture. I think that was for the best. Devin, Kendal and Clare all glared at me. Thankfully, Harry came to my rescue.
“Don’t be ragging on him. I deserved it,” Harry told them.
“If it’s okay with you, I can ‘leak’ this photo and get you some free advertising,” Colin told Devin.
Yeah, right. He’d be paid for it. Devin looked at the photo again and saw the Range logo was on display. He could also insist that Range was mentioned as a cost of getting the photo. He turned to Harry.
“What do you think?” Devin asked Harry.
“It’s fine by me. I appreciate you asking,” Harry responded.
Devin smiled at me.
“I swear, you always seem to find a way to get me free publicity. Let’s try and not hurt anyone else this trip,” Devin told me.
“Yes, sir,” I said with a sheepish grin.
WE WERE STAYING AT the Langdale Chase Hotel; it looked like an old castle. The clerk who showed me to my room told me it opened in 1930. He gave me a quick tour and I just felt the history of the place. The large rooms had aged oak paneling and a collection of old portraits on the walls. The fireplaces were hand carved. He pointed out some artifacts that were from the 1660s. The hotel was situated on a hill, set so the back terrace overlooked well-manicured lawns that had a panoramic view of Lake Windermere.
My room would make the most girly girl squeal with delight. It was done in antiques and had a pink couch and chairs. The headboard was hand carved. The ornate décor was a little much for my taste, but if you were looking for a fairy-tale weekend, this was the place.
I took a shower and I swear I only lay down for two minutes. The pounding on my door woke me. It was Mom, and when I opened it, she shoved clothes into my hands.
“Get dressed. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Oops. How long did I sleep?”
“Thirty minutes. Now get going,” she said as she shooed me into my room.
I quickly changed and she led me to the lake. They had a pontoon boat for Colin and Devin, and a canoe for Kat and me. We launched the canoe and took in the scenery from the lake. Colin had us paddle around the pontoon so he could get different backgrounds. They then had us pull alongside so they could give us fishing gear.
I was surprised when Kat baited her own hook and cast like a pro. We were soon relaxing. She wanted to know about me, so I told her. Then she told me about herself.
“I was born near St. Petersburg. Three years ago, my father got job in England.”
“Which do you like better?” I asked her.
“England,” she said without hesitation. “When I first came, I was in awe of everything. The first time I went to grocery store, I didn’t know what to do. All shelves were full, and there were so many choices.”
“How did you start modeling?”
“My papa always was saying that I was pretty enough to be model. Mama took me to open casting for Ford. I was lucky and they had work for me right away. Many girls are not lucky. I work ... how you say ... full-time.
“Papa very proud,” she said with a big smile. Then she got nervous. “This is my first job with boy. Papa says you must meet him. Is okay?”
“Would it be alright if I brought my mom?”
“Yes, family is good,” she smiled. “You have girlfriend?”
I smiled at her.
“Are you flirting with me?” I teased her.
She blushed.
“What do you think?” I asked her.
“You are ... what do they say ... player. You have many girls, da?”
It was my turn to blush.
“Yes, you’re right.”
“Ah, so you are honest man. Papa will like you.”
Her bobber went under. She knew what to do and brought in a small fish I didn’t recognize.
“That looks more like bait.”
“Big man, want to try? See if you can catch something bigger?” she challenged me.
I reeled in my line and used the small fish as bait. She quickly baited her line with a worm and cast back out. She shortly had another one on the line. I was watching her when she pointed.
“David!”
My bobber had disappeared. I tightened the line and then set the hook. I had something big on. I could hear the camera going off as Devin circled us with the pontoon. Kat got her fish taken care of and released it. She had caught a perch. She grabbed the net and got ready to help me. Mine was a pike. When I got it close, she scooped it up. I got it out of the net and Kat measured it for me: 81 centimeters, about 32 inches. That was the biggest fish I’d ever caught. I held it up so Colin could photograph it.