Firestorm - Ellie Masters Page 0,84
it.”
“People can be cruel.”
“It was eye-opening, but only because I was no different from them. I realized I couldn’t stand the person I was and decided to become something new. I needed a fresh start. Everything I had, I no longer wanted. I took the ring Justin gave me and gave it to Gracie. I told Prescott to manage the estate and to sell off all the stuff my family had accumulated over the years. All the trappings of wealth sickened me and I wanted no part in it. But also, I couldn’t stand all the little reminders which held the ghosts of the people I lost.”
“So you started backpacking?”
“I read a book about a woman who found herself while hiking the Sierras. Something about her story resonated within me and I thought if I could just get away from it all, then maybe I’d figure out who Evelyn Thornton was, because I honestly didn’t know. For me, a fresh start literally meant starting out with everything new. I was a high society city girl who turned to the wilderness for solace.”
“You don’t strike me as a city girl.”
“I’m a spoiled heiress who never lifted a finger to help herself, let alone anyone else. Now?” She takes in a deep breath and lets it out in one long sigh.
“And now?” I encourage her to continue, fascinated by her words. Never in a million years would I have thought Evelyn Thornton was an heiress.
“Now, I forage and hunt for my own food. I set my campsite, make my fires, and source my own clean drinking water. In the past two months, the only person I relied on was me.”
“I’m here.” Rely on me.
“Yes, and I’m really happy for that, but I want you to know a little more about me, so you can understand where I’m coming from and why there are things I need to do for myself.”
I get it, even if it’s a truth difficult to swallow. In rescuing her from the fire, I inadvertently took something precious. I took away some small part of her independence and self-reliance.
“You can be quite intimidating. Tell me, how did you go from socialite to a solo backpacker?”
She glosses over my comment about being intimidating, becoming more animated as she tells me about her journey of self-discovery. I admit she intimidates me, but it changes nothing about how I feel about her. I’ve dated my fair share of self-absorbed, helpless women who don’t think to do anything for themselves.
The strength of Evelyn’s character is what draws me to her, her confidence, her self-reliance, and the way she keeps her head on her shoulder in times of crisis. It’s because of those qualities that I hold such deep respect for her as a woman. And it’s probably the lack of those same qualities which kept me from feeling this way about any of the women I dated in the past.
“I didn’t just start backpacking. I bought books, researched, and started small; overnights in campgrounds where I learned to pitch a tent. I talked to whoever would talk to me, picked their brains, and learned everything I could. I started hiking, short trails to start, then day hikes, then my first overnighter. The peace and quiet…” Her voice turns wistful. “The solitude? I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt good. And I was learning. I learned all kinds of things, but most importantly, I learned how to do things for myself. I learned how to depend on myself. I kept my brain engaged in surviving rather than grieving.”
“That’s an incredible story. It takes a lot of inner strength to do what you did.” It’s not possible, but I find myself loving her even more.
“I tackled so many things outside my comfort zone, because keeping busy, having a mission, and needing to rely solely on myself kept me from reliving the accident. It kept my grief at bay and silenced the terrible guilt I live with being the only one to walk away.”
“I can’t imagine how horrifying the accident must have been, except I’m glad you’re here.” I squeeze her tight.
“I wouldn’t have met you if I hadn’t left everything behind. My outlook on life is different now. Not that I believe in fate, but I think we’re destined to meet certain people in our lives.”
“You getting philosophical with me?”
“Maybe? I’m tired and scared. I’m having to rely on Prescott again and that’s…difficult. I don’t want to become that person again, and