08/29/2026
Chapter One - Page One - Chile Waters
Standing on a weathered granite ledge high up in the Patagonian valley, Gary gazed out over the end of the lake at the foot of the Mirador Las Torres. Below him, the impossibly turquoise water seemed to merge with the sky, a towering wall of three granite spires rising up from the snow and ice to form the three towers of Las Torres. Thin silver waterfalls tumbled down the rock faces, and wispy cottony clouds scudded across the brilliant blue of the sky.
Tomorrow, Kelly would arrive in Chile, and Gary couldn’t wait to see the look on her face as she gazed out over this wild, beautiful, romantic place. He knew it would take her breath away, just as it had taken his.
Damn, this is like a live postcard.
“Hello!” yelled Gary as his voice echoed across the expanse.
Gary’s voice came back to him in a repeating echo. He laughed and did the only thing he could think of. He yodeled.
“Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!” yelled Gary at the top of his lungs.
It came back several times.
This place is awesome.
It had been quite a while since Gary had hiked. He was in good shape, but he often skipped leg day, and it showed. He was feeling the burn in his thighs. He needed to get a few hikes in before Kelly arrived so he could keep up with her. He needed to build up his hiking strength. Kelly was the most athletic girl he knew besides Jules. He figured they were neck and neck. Plus, being almost ten years older than Kelly, he was at a disadvantage, not to mention the ludicrous amounts of Busch Light he’d consumed over the years.