“You okay?” Cade offered her his hand, ready to help her down yet another steep incline. The hike to the top of Eagle Ridge was everything Star remembered. The scents of the forest combined with the way the sunlight filtered down through the canopy of branches and emerald leaves overhead lent an enchantment to the hike. Wild daisies and fireweed grew with abandon, adding bright spots of color. This was nature at its finest, raw and unspoiled. And although her feet ached something awful, she didn’t want to stop. “I’m fine.” She took his hand, but she must have winced again because he said, “You’re not fine. Is it the boots?” She’d borrowed some hiking boots from the collection Cade kept for the guests. At first, the boots had felt fine; now the darn things were biting into her feet in a number of places. “Wait up,” Cade called to the kids. Down the path, Finn, Emma, and Brad stopped, turning to stare at them. All three looked as tired and hot as Star felt. “Sit down.”
