Page 104 of The Lost Book of First Loves

Some might find the silence and peace disconcerting, she knew. Not Ali. She loved it here, listening only to the wind in the trees and the occasional birdsong.

“Should we set up there in the trees? It looks like a logical campsite,” Xander said.

The campsite was slightly above the lake on a small plateau surrounded by aspen and pine.

After they had settled the horses with feed and water, they went to work setting up their individual tents. She was grateful Beck’s tent was basically a pop-up, very easy to figure out. Xander helped her stake it down and attach the rain fly.

They also worked together to hang their food supplies in the trees slightly away from their camp, hopefully out of reach of any passing bears. Xander filmed her tying up the bundle and hefting it up with the pulley system, asking her questions along the way about what she was doing and why.

Being on camera left her self-conscious at first, though Xander assured her she was a natural.

“We might be in for a storm later,” he said, pointing his camera to dark, ominous clouds gathering in the sky.

“I wouldn’t be at all surprised. I can’t remember a single time when I’ve been up here during the summer when wedidn’t have an afternoon shower. How does Robbie do with thunder? It doesn’t bother Nan or Hutch at all.”

“He should be fine. He’s good-tempered and calm, though I’ve never weathered a storm with him. I guess we’ll find out.”

After their camp was set up, including a couple of hammocks strung in the trees, they enjoyed coffee and a quick lunch of more PB&J sandwiches, then Xander headed away to take pictures from various viewpoints around the lake.

She decided to try out one of the hammocks they had hung between some sturdy pine trees. After rifling through her saddlebag for the mystery novel she had packed along, Ali climbed in and quickly lost herself in the story as dappled light filtered through the pine boughs above her.

So far, this had been a perfect day, being alone in the mountains with a dear friend, no distractions and nothing else to do but savor the moment.

Chapter 34

Juniper

June yawned as she spooned some yogurt out of the container on the porch. Even the silly antics of the resident squirrels who lived in the trees near the cabin couldn’t shake her from this malaise.

She hadn’t slept more than a few hours, her mind chasing thought after thought, trying to come to terms with Ali’s shocking announcement that they were half sisters.

Was it possible? Could she actually be the secret daughter of Carson Wells? How could her mother have withheld something of such significance from her?

She would likely never know the answer to that, unfortunately. She sipped at her coffee, trying to calm her breathing and her thoughts, as she had been doing since Ali had told her everything the night before.

She had managed to focus on the beauty of the morning when she saw movement coming through the trees and spotted Hank loping down the path. She would truly miss this guy when she returned to Seattle.

“Good morning,” she called out as he headed straight for her. “Yes, I’ve got a treat for you. They’re inside.”

When she returned with his promised treat, she found Beck walking through the trees after his dog.

The hitch in her breathing severely annoyed her. Yes, the man had kissed her. So what? It hadn’t meant anything for either of them.

“Morning,” he called as he approached the house.

She lifted a hand in greeting, wishing he didn’t look so ridiculously gorgeous in the slanting morning sunlight.

He stepped up onto the porch and leaned against the railing, studying her with disconcerting scrutiny.

“I gave Hank a treat. Would you like coffee for yours?”

“I’m good. I’ve already had two cups this morning. Any more and I’ll get the shakes. Were you able to sleep at all?”

She sighed, though she felt herself flush. Did she really look that haggard? “Not much.”

“Understandable. You’ve had a lot to digest over the past twelve hours.”

“You have no doubt that I’m Carson’s daughter, do you?”

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