“They don’t call this place Coldsleet for nothing.” Quipped Howard. “The winter’s are always pretty bad up here. Mind you, the summers are nice, what with the town being on the coast and all.”

“Yeah, I bet they are.” Mary said, in agreement with Howard.

“Oh they are. I love the summer months. The warmer weather gives you a lot more freedom… there’s so many places around Coldsleet that are great to visit, but a lot of them aren’t really much fun in the winter.” Advised Howard.

“Like where?” Asked Mary.

“Well, there’s Arrington beach, which is just to the north of here. It's a proper sandy beach, not like the pebbled crap that we have here in Coldsleet. Arrington is a great place for a lazy day out, just lounging around in the sun, taking it easy. Then there’s Ruthley valley… it’s a bit further out than Arrington, but a beautiful area for walks, picnics, that sort of thing.” Said Howard.

“Sounds nice.” Commented Mary.

“Yeah, it is. Really nice.” Replied Howard, and for a few moments, his mind drifted off, remembering some of the times that he’d visited Ruthley valley with his mother, when she’d been alive.

The bus headed up a hill, passing an old church.

“That’s Saint Bernadette’s. It’s where the Black Pathway Trail begins.” Said Howard.

“The what?” Asked Mary.

“The Black Pathway Trail. It’s a walk, thirty miles long… it takes you all the way to Salegate. Have you never heard of the Black Pathway, Mary?” Howard was curious to know. Mary shook her head.

“Nope. You say it’s thirty miles long?” She queried.

“Yep, thirty miles. The trail takes you over two mountains, Knighton and Hoffen. Knighton’s not to bad to walk up… it’s a bit dicey near the top though, because of ‘The Fool’s Gauntlet’…”

“Come again?” Said Mary.

“‘The Fool’s Gauntlet’. Basically, it’s a narrow ledge, hanging over a great big drop towards the valley below. If you fall off that ledge, you’re dead.” Smiled Howard. For a second or two, Mary’s head spun, almost as if she was going to pass out. At the same time, her whole body came out in goosebumps. Then, just as suddenly, the feelings of unease passed.

Howard Trenton continued to tell Mary Broderick all about the Black Pathway.

“So, apart from at the summit of Knighton Mountain, it’s not too bad to climb… but Hoffen Mountain, on the other hand… well, that can be a real bitch. You know the two mountains that I’m talking about, right?” Asked Howard, in an unintentionally condescending manner.

“Of course I know the two mountains.” Said Mary, slightly annoyed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest that…”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter, Howard.” Mary interrupted.

“Yeah, it does. I didn’t want to come across as patronising or anything.” He said. Mary smiled.

“Okay, okay. Apology accepted… so, have you walked the Black Pathway?” She wanted to know. Howard nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes. Dozens of times. I try and do the walk at least twice a year, during the spring or summer. It takes three days to do, but it’s worth it.” He advised.

“Three days? So, what do you do? Camp out overnight or something?” Mary asked.

“Nah, I bed down in Knighton and then Hoffen. There’s quite a few guest houses, bed and breakfasts, and hostels where you can stop at. A lot of people do camp out though when they’re out on the trail, but I’ve never done that. I ain’t got a tent.” Said Howard. “Plus I’m not too keen on insects.” He added, which made Mary laugh. “There’s a few people who can do the whole trail in a day, but they’re just fucking hardcore, really mental types. Highly experienced walkers, climbers… you know the sort.” Smiled Howard. Mary looked out of the bus window. In the distance, she could see Knighton Mountain. Once again, and only for a few seconds, her blood ran cold…

Howard Trenton continued to tell Mary about the Black Pathway Trail with enthusiasm.

“There’s one part of the track where a lot of people come unstuck. The trail cuts through Skerrington forest, and it gets a bit vague, because some other pathways, nature trails, zig-zag it. A lot of people go the wrong way, but they mostly just end up at the nature centre on the edge of the woods. Not everyone is that lucky though… they get completely lost, and that’s not good, because if you accidentally head south, then you can end up deep onto Coldsleet Moor. That place… well, it’s deadly, if you’re too far onto it. It’s littered with peat-bogs, some of them really deep. Then there’s the weather to contend with. You get a lot of mist coming down on those moors, even in the middle of summer. If you don’t know where you’re going, and actually manage to cross the moor without drowning in a bog… and you are still heading south, then that spells real trouble, because you’d end up in another forest, but that one is much bigger than Skerrington. It goes on for miles.” Howard informed Mary.

“The Black Pathway sounds pretty horrible.” She replied.

“Nah, you’re fine, as long as you follow the trail. It’s actually beautiful. Maybe…” Howard’s words suddenly trailed off.

“Maybe what?” Asked Mary, after a few moments.

“Maybe, in the summer… if you’re still around… we could have a weekend up on the trail?” Suggested Howard Trenton, awkwardly.

“Maybe we could.” Replied Mary, smiling, though privately, she was thinking, Jesus, let’s just hope that I find a new place to live, and soon, so that I can get out of Coldsleet… I really don’t want to walk any trail. It’s not my thing. Though Mary was far too polite to say that to Howard.

When Howard arrived at college on that Monday morning, the first thing that he did was seek out Kate Williams; he hadn't seen her for a while, and was eager for a catch-up. Kate was in her usual place, an older classroom that was no longer used for any study sessions as such. Howard peered through the glass pane on the door, checking that Kate was alone. She was sat at a desk, her head down, concentrating on some paperwork. Howard stared at Kate for a few moments, taking in the top that she was wearing. It was red, tight, and showed off the shape of her bosom. Howard felt his heart beat quicken.

"Calm yourself down, Howard." He whispered to himself, before knocking on the door. He saw Kate look up and smile at him. She beckoned for Howard to enter the classroom. Howard opened up the door, gently closing it behind him. He turned and looked at Kate.

"Hi, Miss Williams. How are you today?" Howard beamed. The careers advisor returned his smile.

"I'm very well, thank you, Howard. And yourself?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. Really good thanks." Howard answered. He sat down on one of the classroom chairs.

"You look positively radiant today, Howard." Observed Kate, and Howard couldn't stop himself from blushing a little, before grinning madly.

Howard Trenton was unable to contain himself. He needed to tell someone about how he was feeling.

"I've met a girl, Miss Williams… the most wonderful girl." Howard informed Kate. He blushed again. Kate smiled.

"That's wonderful news, Howard, absolutely wonderful. May I ask…"

"Who she is?" Interrupted Howard. "Yes, of course. Her name is Mary. Mary Broderick. She's in her early twenties. Mary is actually the sister of my cousin's wife, Kay, so we're sort of related, except not blood-related, which makes it okay, I think." Howard advised Kate.

"Yes," chuckled Kate, "I think that's okay." She went on. "So, how did you meet this girl, Howard?" Kate was interested to know.

"Oh, she's actually staying at our house for a while, until she can find a new flat to rent. Things didn't work out at the last place that she was living at." Advised Howard. "I'm sort of secretly hoping that she ends up living with myself, Lucas, and Kay, on a permanent basis. It's great having her around the home." Kate closed a folder containing paperwork, and sat back a little in her chair. Howard must be smitten, she thought, he's never usually this happy.