"We live off that way," Allan said after about a half an hour.
I peered at the narrow dirt road he had pointed to. There were no street markers, just a gap in the trees off the paved road we were on.
"What's down there?" I twisted around, as if by continuing to look at the dirt road as we drove by, I could see its secrets.
"Besides our cabin? Not much. Doc's got thirty some acres that back up to the National Forest."
"Wow," Victoria exclaimed. "How'd you get that?"
"Family land," Doc replied.
"Ahh, that's the only way to get anything around here these days."
Doc nodded.
After another fifteen minutes or so, he pulled off the main road, and the truck bumped down another dirt trail to a small parking lot with a marked trailhead. He waited for a moment before turning the diesel off, and then Allan sprang out and opened the door for Victoria. He helped her down as I slid out after Ed on the other side. He offered me a hand and I took it, because why not?
When he didn't release my hand once I was on the ground, I wondered how long he would hold it. Maybe he was interested in me.
As soon as Doc was out of the truck, Ed handed me off to him and moved around to the bed of the truck.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
Doc laughed, his nearly obsidian eyes glinting in the light. He squeezed my hand gently and released me. "Just ignore him." Doc put a battered cowboy hat on his head and took the backpack Allan handed him.
All three of the guys carried heavy packs, but they also looked more than capable of doing so.
"This isn't a terribly strenuous hike." Doc glanced at me, and I smiled gratefully. "But it's beautiful."
"Great." Victoria smiled. "Let's go."
"I'll scout ahead," Allan offered, and headed down the trail at a brisk pace I wouldn't be able to keep up with, even if I were adjusted to the altitude.
Victoria set out after him. She clearly wasn't trying to keep up, either. I followed, and Doc fell in behind me. The trail here wasn't wide enough to walk next to anyone. Ed trailed behind a bit, but I got the impression he was watching our backs, not annoyed about anything.
We let Victoria set the pace. She stopped now and again to snap a picture with her phone or catch her breath, though sometimes, I thought she stopped for me.
"It smells amazing," I marveled after a longer silence while I simply appreciated the beauty of the pine forest and the vibrant blue sky.
"Yes. Sometimes I forget to notice, since I live up here, but I'm always reminded any time I head down into the front range," Doc replied.
"It just, I don't know, feels like something that's been missing in my life," I said softly.
Doc touched my shoulder, squeezing gently, as if he understood. My heart sped up a little. I hadn't realized he was that close behind me.
"Let me lead for a minute," he said to Victoria. "This is the tricky part."
"The path seems pretty clear," she sounded confused as she stepped to the side.
"We're not going on that trail." He stepped off the path and hesitated. "It might actually be best if we held hands for a minute. I know that's a little weird, but trust me it'll be…" He hesitated. "Safer."
Still looking forward, he held his hand out behind himself.
I glanced at Victoria, and she nodded for me to go ahead of her, so I slid my hand into Doc's relatively cool grip.
He glanced back and smiled. I ignored the fluttery feeling that gave me and held my hand for Victoria. She grabbed it, and Doc led us off the trail.
"What about Ed?" Victoria tugged on my hand.
"He knows the path as well as I do. He'll catch up soon." We threaded through the trees, and it didn't surprise me that Doc made very little sound as he walked.
After a moment, it almost looked like the air got darker in front of us. I hesitated. Doc's strong hand kept me moving forward. Something tingled over my skin, starting at my hand, then moving down my arm and through my body as Doc pulled me through what almost felt like a barrier.
I kept a strong hold of Victoria, though she didn't seem to notice the resistance like I did.
The atmosphere brightened, and I decided I must have been imagining things as we stepped out onto another path.
As soon as Victoria stood on the narrow, stone lined trail, Doc let go of my hand.
Victoria jumped when Ed stepped out of the woods behind us.
He and Doc shared quiet smiles before Ed fell in behind us once again.
"Stay on the path," Doc cautioned and led the way.
∞ ∞ ∞
For a while we hiked in silence. After a bit, Victoria gasped. "Is that..."
Doc glanced over where she pointed and nodded.
"What?" I saw a circle of colorful mushrooms and rocks partially obscured by pine needles.
"Wow. I probably shouldn't photograph that, should I?"
"Won't come out in your picture anyway, unless you have special filters, and they prefer if you don't," Ed answered. "Gotta get special permission."
"Faery circle," Victoria answered when no one else replied to my question.
I put my hand over my mouth to hide my surprised gasp. "Should we be here?" I recalled the fair folk liked their privacy.
Doc glanced at me, eyes glinting. "We're invited."
"That's so cool!" Victoria clasped her hands together. "Will they come out?"
"Hard to say," Doc replied.
Ed was uncharacteristically quiet as we walked, and I looked back at him to see if he was okay.
He smiled brightly, and I guessed he was just happy to be out in the woods.
I wasn't even sure
