Walk A Different Path 🤍 Jaa/First

Chapter 9 ~ one day at a time ~

"are you sure you want to stay behind Sam?" the photographer asked as they stood by the horses saying their farewells.

"I'm sure, I'll make my own way back" Sam replied.

"well, we had a few hitches along the way but we got there in the end and the clients are delighted with the shots, to be honest I think they like them better than the ones they originally expected with you and the European dude"

"I'm happy that they're happy" Sam smiled.

"well I guess we should make a move, it's been a pleasure to meet you Maskwa, stay cool bro" the photographer said holding his hand out and Maskwa took his hand and shook it.

"come on Sam baby, bring it" the photographer said holding his arms open and Sam walked into them for a quick hug much to Maskwa's annoyance.

The stylist and make up artist both said goodbye before Sam and Maskwa were waving at them as they starting their trek back down the mountain to the halfway point.

They watched them until they started to feel cold then turned to go back through the village, come on, I'll take you to my shop and you can look at my work Maskwa said.

They walked through the village further than Sam had been before until they came to a small street lined with craft shops selling jewellery, leather work, ceramics and beaded clothing until finally they arrived at a wood shop.

"but why are they all closed?" Sam asked.

"we get a call from the Halfway Farm or from the girls who work up at the ski lodge if any tourists are heading our way and then we open up, it's pointless sitting in an empty shop day after day and using the electricity for no reason when we can be in our own homes and make our crafts there"

"well that makes sense ... speaking of which, has the village had power and internet access for a long time?" Sam asked him

"since they built the ski lodge at the top of the mountain, the electric and phone companies came through the village but we heard whispers that the owner of the ski lodge had given them a generous cash insentive to do so and after meeting him I believe the rumors" Maskwa replied as he unlocked the door and they both went inside.

It was a quaint little shop with shelves lining the walls and it was filled with all manner of souvenirs made from several different types of wood, small bowls, spoons, thimbles, trinket boxes, keyrings, dolls and dolls furniture, model horses, even some that were articulated and in the corner stood a beautiful rocking horse for one very lucky child.

Sam had never seen such skill and craftmanship and he walked from shelf to shelf admiring each piece before looking at Maskwa in awe.

The guy was perfect in every sense of the word, he was tall, handsome and hot, a wonderful horseman, a skilled carpenter and a proficient hunter and Sam couldn't help but feel inferior when all he had going for him was a pretty face.

He felt so foolish when he remembered telling Maskwa how he could make it big in modelling and Paitoon had also told him he could earn enough to be set up for life and Paitoon's fiancé Chit had offered him work at his company as a security guard but Maskwa was already wealthy beyond measure.

He lived life on his own terms within a close knit community where they woke up every morning and breathed in fresh mountain air, everything here was fresh, the air, the spring water, the food and yet he and his friends had been trying to encourage him to go to the city and leave all this behind, it was laughable.

Maskwa had been in a slump when they had first met but everyone was entitled to go a little bit crazy when they lost a loved one. He was a quiet man until he needed to be loud and he had never corrected anyone when they had tried to sell him on ideas.