I took up bird watching as a hobby shortly after I retired. I enjoy it because it gets me out on the trail and I can put my love of photography to good use. I always birded alone. It is a time that I can wander and daydream and just enjoy being out in our beautiful world. But things changed last winter when I met Holly.
I always tried to go to places where there are not a lot of other hikers and birders, so I was quite surprised when I got to one of my favourite places by the river early one morning and there was a lady with her camera set up on a tripod, taking pictures of some eagles that were actively fishing. I said hello and was about to head further along the trail so as not to disturb her when she called me over.
As I approached, she went to her camera and scrolled through the display, pointing to a shot of a small bird and asking me if I knew what it was. She explained she had just taken up birdwatching as a hobby and had not come across a bird like this one before. I leaned in and looked at the image and right away identified it as an American Dipper, a bird one always finds near water.
When I told her what it was I was greeted by a totally dazzling smile as she blurted, "Wow! Thank you, I have never seen one before, a first for me!"
"Good for you," I replied, "Glad I could help."
It was always special for me to see the new birders get excited about a new find.
We chatted a bit and I found out she was a librarian and was new to the area. She asked if I would share some places that she could go to find some different birds. As I told her about some good birding spots, I took more notice of her. She looked to be in her forties. She had chin length brown hair that peeked out from a colorful crocheted hat. She had gorgeous brown eyes and often flashed that beautiful smile as we chatted. She was about my height, and although she was dressed in winter clothes, I could tell she had a nice curvy figure.
It took me by surprise when she asked if I would take her out one day and show her the areas I had talked about. I was ready to say no, because I liked birding alone. Then, when she smiled again, I heard myself saying yes. She told me she always had Monday's off and that was a good day for her. I said that was perfect as there are fewer people out on the trails on weekdays. We arranged to meet the following week and I would show her a few spots. She smiled once more and gave me a hug and then I headed off down the trail.
Myr first outing with Holly was fun and I was able to show her some new places and she got to see a few birds she had not seen before. I enjoyed her company; she was always happy and sometimes flirty, which made me feel good. It had been a long time since I had been flirted with. That first outing turned into a regular Monday get together and even though she was quite a bit younger than I, we seemed to have a lot in common and while she learned about birds from me, I learned a lot about photography from her as she was a much more accomplished photographer than I.
The weeks passed and the dull and drab of winter began changing to the newness of spring. And as the season changed, I found myself becoming more and more attracted to this wonderful lady. She was smart, sassy and always fun. As the winter clothes were shed for lighter spring attire, I started taking more notice of the way her breasts strained against the front of her shirts and how the curve of her bottom filled those hiking pants so nicely.
Holly was a touchy feely kind of person and was always touching my arm when she talked to me. Often when we were checking out our photos on the cameras' displays she would lean close and her breast would press against me. Those subtle touches coupled with some of her flirty conversation started to make my mind drift to naughty places. I quickly dismissed those thoughts, mainly because of our age difference and I convinced myself that I was imagining anything more.
Of course, I was wrong as I usually am and it took Holly to make the first move. We were out in a secluded part of the forest looking for owls one morning in an area where we had found a family of Barred Owls. After setting up our tripods and cameras,, Holly turned and said to me, "Ed, do you not find me attractive?"
I was taken aback and replied, "Why yes, you are a very attractive woman... a beautiful woman."
"Aren't you attracted to me?"
I was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say as the conversation had taken a turn that I had fantasied about, but thought was quite out of the question.
"What man wouldn't be." I blurted out.
