Chapter 4

This little corner of the world was so quiet compared to my normal hangouts. It wasn’t like I lived in a big city, but cars and people still made noise. Out here, stillness prevailed. A light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees burning brightly in yellows, reds, and oranges. Somewhere, a woodpecker hacked away on a tree. Muted sounds of talking wafted toward me from the group, but other than that…silence.

I breathed in a lungful of the brisk, clear air. The chill nipped at my cheeks and invigorated me. Why didn’t I get out more often?

Approaching the others, I swept my gaze over them. It was a diverse group, dressed for hiking, and I counted to ten, including Sophie. And a huge dog, who leaned against the leg of a guy wearing a fleece jacket with the company logo on the chest. My steps faltered as I recognized him.