Tucker and Ellie found a place to picnic near the pools below the towering, dark basalt cliffs. The area was filled with petroglyphs carved into the rocky surface, featuring intricate designs that represented stylized humans. There were also animals, such as mountain sheep and deer, as well as reptiles. Geometric designs were everywhere.
The dogs trotted down to the pool and lapped the water.
“I’ve worked up a hunger.” Ellie dismounted and took her pack from the saddlebag she’d stuffed it into.
“I’m not much of a cook, but I make a mean ham and cheese sandwich.” Tucker carried a soft-sided cold bag to the rocks they decided to use as seats. He handed her a sandwich in a baggie, and she took it gratefully and thanked him.
She pulled out half a sandwich, bit into it, and chewed. She let out a sigh of satisfaction as she swallowed. “This is the best ham and cheese I’ve ever had.” She pointed to the sandwich. “What do you put on it? I swear I taste something different, like a spice or flavoring.”
He shook his head. “I’ll never tell.”
“I’ll just sit here and enjoy it then.” She happily finished her sandwich as they talked about the petroglyphs. She was anxious to find a book on the Hohokam Native Americans and the meanings of the petroglyphs when she got home.
“Can you imagine an ancient tribe was right here, where we’re sitting, hundreds and hundreds of years ago?” Ellie shook her head as she thought about it. She studied a petroglyph resembling a mountain goat on the weathered cliff and gestured to it. “Someone sat right here and etched this into the rock. He or she may have been telling a story to other tribe members while engraving it.”
Tucker gave a thoughtful nod. “There must be hundreds of stories the Hohokam told in their etchings.”
She pointed out an animal with a long tail. “This could be a dog.” She gestured to a nob on a boulder that looked like a giant wart on the surface. “So interesting that a Hohokam drew a sun around that nob. Resembles a sun, but who knows if it’s that or just a design?”
They continued talking about the designs and making up stories while they relaxed. Tucker devoured two sandwiches in the time it took her to eat one while they ate the Fritos, too. When they finished their meal, she broke out the peanut butter cookies.
Ellie set her cookie on its wrapper and took photos with her camera. She moved from one section of the cliff to another as she tried to record the experience in photos. She turned her camera on Tucker, who was watching her.
“Hold that pose, sexy.” She acted the part of a model photographer. “Come on, strike a pose.”
He looked up to the sky and shook his head as if to say, “Why me?”
* * *
Tucker found himself wanting to laugh and smile around Ellie. She made the days brighter and more enjoyable.
Her sun-kissed wheat-blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail that fell over one shoulder. She fired remarks and directions at him in a French accent, throwing in French words he didn’t understand as if she were a high-fashion photographer on a photo shoot.
“Finished.” She jogged over to him and sat on her rock. “It’s a beautiful day. Perfect weather for a shoot.” She looked at the back of her camera as she went through the digital photos. “I have some great shots. I got a few of the horses, too.”
All he could do was watch her, admiring her beauty and presence. He caught her scent of strawberry lip gloss as his gaze took in the curve of her face, tracing her chin, then slid down her neck to the hollow at the base of her throat.
“Tucker.” Ellie caught his attention. He glanced up, and she smiled. “You seemed like you were thinking about something else.”
He opted for the truth. “About how beautiful you are.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Thank you.”
“How would you like to take a trip south to the Sonoita wine country?” He focused on her. “I’ll take you to a tasting at one of the vineyards.”
“I’d like that.” A pleased smile tipped the corners of her mouth. “Do you have a date in mind?”
He’d already been thinking on it. “How does Saturday after next sound?”
“I’m free that weekend. It’s a date.” She pushed her ponytail over her shoulder. “We can talk about the details on the phone.”
“Great.” He stood and held his hand out to her. “Are you ready to go?”
She took it, and he drew her to her feet. They stood so close that he wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
“Do I dare ask what you’re thinking about now?” Her tone was soft, her eyes searching his.
Tucker’s throat worked. “How much I want to kiss you.”
