A Summer to Remember

It was the first day of June, a day that would normally be warm, but it was chilly in Estes Park, Colorado. Nicole was wearing shorts and a tee shirt, but the cool windy breeze had her seeking the warmth of the sun. Her long, light brown hair was tossing in the wind, whipping into her blue eyes, and her tall slender frame was struggling to keep her balance. She was visiting with some family friends at their cabin resort for two weeks, a gift from her parents, which would ultimately be stretched out for most of the summer. This was to be a most memorable summer, a summer she would never forget.
The mountain views were spectacularly breathtaking, and the sky was streaked with vivid shades of blue that were indescribably different from the sky seen in the Midwest where she lived. Her name is Nicole, Nicole Thomas. She is nineteen and had just completed her freshman year of college.
Catherine picked her up at the airport and had stopped on the way back to the resort to let Nicole see the beautiful scenery of the foothills. After a few minutes she called her back to reality telling her they needed to leave. She assured Nicole that there would be more to come and more to see, and how little did Catherine know that she was right.
Catherine was a tall muscular woman of six feet in height and in her late forties. She had a beautiful full smile of straight white teeth, short wavy white hair and ice blue eyes. She was an attractive lady, and Nicole liked her when they first met at the airport.
Catherine was the caretaker of the cabins, and Nicole would be her assistant. After their chores were completed, and until the evening meal, they were free to roam the foothills of the Rocky Mountain National Park where Catherine could spot wildlife in an instant, and that talent proved to be quite an asset for both of them. She was good friends with all the local park rangers, and she wanted to introduce Nicole to a few of them.
After the long plane ride Nicole’s first day was tiring, and she wasn’t up to meeting anyone else, so they went to their cabin. Catherine started a fire in the fireplace before the evening chill set in. In a short time it became cozy and warm, and Nicole began to nod off to sleep, but Catherine summoned her as they were to have dinner with their hosts at their cabin.
Virginia and Norman Parker had such a beautiful grand cabin with wide hardwood floors, area rugs and comfortable furnishings. As Nicole glanced around the room she noticed framed pictures on the walls of area photographs that Norman had taken over the years, one’s that captured the real feel of the majestic mountains. She asked Norman if one of the photos had her father in the picture. He nodded and told her about the event. They sat around and talked watching the flickering fire in the fireplace. It was so inviting to just sit awhile and listen to the stories. After dinner they returned to the living room and sat near the crackling fire while the smell of cinnamon and spice filled the air. Virginia offered them a drink of spiced cider she had made in the large pot hanging in the fireplace. It smelled so good and was very warm and soothing.
Nicole knew from the moment she stepped into the Parker’s cabin that she was going to love her vacation with them and Catherine. She felt at home, and she knew that she wasn’t going to have time to get homesick or miss her friends.
Catherine nudged her and asked, “Are you ready to hit the hay, little lady?” Nicole nodded, thanked and hugged Norman and Virginia for a wonderful dinner and time together. She and Catherine then headed for their cabin.
The night air was brisk, and the sweater Nicole wrapped around her shoulders didn’t seem to help keep her warm. When they stepped into their cabin, it was so warm from the fire Catherine had built earlier.
“Thank you Catherine for a wonderful first day, but if you don’t mind, I am really tired and would like to go to bed.”
She headed for her bedroom, which was much larger than the bedroom she had at home. This was to be her home for the summer. It was especially nice to have her own bathroom that she didn’t have to share with anyone else. She decided to leave the unpacking until morning. Her full sized bed was so comfortable, and when she snuggled under the layer of blankets and comforter she wasn’t awake very long.