Casey shook her head.
“I remember how cute you looked when we got caught in that firstrainstorm while we were setting up the tent. Your hair got wet and your T-shirtclung in all the right places.” She winked. “And when I laughed at you, youkissed me. Then there was that big clap of thunder, and—”
“And I bit your lip.”
Jacqueline nodded. “Hard.” She touched Casey’s cheek. “When wepulled apart, Sean was laughing at us. He had this big grin on his face. Iguarantee he wasn’t thinking about his shitty start in life.”
“You remember all that?”
Jacqueline’s lips pulled into a small smile, but deep sadnessreflected in her eyes. “Like it was yesterday.”
The silence between them echoed with ancient wounds. Jacquelinestayed quiet, clearly leaving the next move in Casey’s hands. The openness inJacqueline’s expression helped Casey make her decision. Jacqueline had broughther here with good intentions. They could move past their mistakes or theycould wallow in them.
Casey stepped back, but she kept hold of Jacqueline’s hand. Sheglanced at the sky again. “There’s no rain in the forecast today. So, let’s gocheck out these trails.”
Jacqueline smiled and followed her toward the sign marking thebeginning of the longest section of trail.
Jacqueline seemed to be taking the relaxation aspect of the hikejust as seriously as she did. For the next thirty minutes, they walked mostlyin silence. Occasionally, one of them would point out a bit of scenery—aglimpse of the lake, an especially bright cluster of foliage, or the remains ofa hand-stacked stone fence left over from when the bordering clearing used tobe farmland. Casey stopped a few times to take some quick shots.
They kept a steady pace, and by the time they crested thesteepest climb, they were both breathing heavier.
“Do you want to go down and come back up?” Jacqueline paused atthe top and bent to catch her breath.
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I wasn’t volunteering to go with you. I’d wait here while youdid it, if you need the challenge.”
“Ah, okay. No thanks.” Casey pointed at the trail ahead. “Let’sjust keep going.” She started off again.
“Hey, I’m working on breathing here.”
Casey glanced over her shoulder. Jacqueline stood with her handson her hips. “Come on. You aren’t going to get calves like mine standingaround.” She smiled when she heard Jacqueline’s menacing growl in response. Jacquelinewas a leg woman. Though Casey wouldn’t admit it aloud, she’d dressed with thatthought in mind. Despite the cool weather, she’d chosen her favorite croppedworkout pants, which hugged her thighs and ended just below her knee, leavingher lower legs bare. She told herself she’d picked them because she didn’t likeheavy clothes on her legs when she walked. Usually, as long as she kept herupper body warm, she didn’t feel the chill, so she’d layered a flannel shirtover a long-sleeved T-shirt.
“Hey,” Jacqueline whispered. She grabbed the strap of Casey’scamera bag and tugged her to a halt.
Startled, Casey didn’t adjust for the sudden change in direction,and she fell back against Jacqueline. She glanced around, trying to figure outwhat Jacqueline had seen that she’d missed while fantasizing about teasingJacqueline with her exposed calves like she was some kind of Victorian maiden.
“Over there.” Jacqueline pointed to their right, while her otherarm slipped around Casey’s waist. She kept her voice down and spoke so closethat Casey thought she felt Jacqueline’s lips move against her ear.
Through the trees, about fifty yards away, a family of deerstared back at them. A fawn, the faint dusting of spots still visible on itsback, nuzzled close to its mother, who seemed poised to run off with heryoungster at the first sign of danger. Another doe and a buck with a small setof antlers had frozen in place as well.
Moving slowly, Casey raised her camera and focused. The skittishmother flinched as she released the shutter several times. She angled to lookover her shoulder and found Jacqueline’s face still close.
“Look at that baby. He’s so cute.”
“Did you get the shot?” Jacqueline’s eyes flickered down to hercamera, then returned immediately to her face. Was Jacqueline looking at hermouth? Casey nodded mutely. “Good. Let’s keep going.” With her hands bracketingCasey’s hips, she guided her forward slowly.
The deer bolted as soon as the next bunch of leaves crunchedunder their feet. Casey took another picture as their white tails swished andbounced through the trees. When she resumed their previous pace, she slippedaway from Jacqueline and immediately missed the pressure of her hands on her.
Chapter Seventeen
Jacqueline followed Casey along the Shoreline Trail, asection that, befitting its description, traced the edge of the lake near partof the campground. As they neared a wooden dock that stretched into the water,she said, “How about a rest?”
“What’s wrong? Can’t keep up?”
“No, I can’t.” While she hadn’t had too much trouble keeping pacewith Casey, she could definitely use a break from watching Casey’s backsidesway in front of her.
Casey glanced at her in surprise.
“What? You don’t think I can admit you’re in better shape than Iam?” She nodded toward the dock. “Let’s go sit for a minute.” At the far end, aslightly larger platform had a roof and some built-in benches.
As they reached the end of the dock, Casey rested her forearms onthe railing. “Look at all the birds.” When Casey glanced over her shoulder, hersmile captivated Jacqueline. She’d so rarely seen this expression of purehappiness from Casey in recent years. Instead, she’d gotten used to Casey’ssmile being cautiously polite when directed at her.
“Let’s sit for a while.” Jacqueline dropped her backpack on thefloor and settled on the bench.
“Are you sure? We can finish the walk.” Casey paused with hercamera half-raised.
“This is why we’re here. I did some more current research on theplace, and we didn’t get to see much of it last time, but I read they have goodwildlife here.”
Casey laughed. “They have good wildlife?”
“And now you’re laughing at me.” Jacqueline stood, but Caseyrushed over and guided her back down with a hand on her shoulder.
“No. I’m sorry. It’s sweet that you looked it up online. Thankyou.”
“AndI tromped through the woods with you. I want credit for that, too.” When they’dfirst met,
