Page 2 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

Cupid sniffed around the area she indicated.

Holly cradled her injured hand. “Nick, get Cupid away from there.” Her voice rose as fear strangled her vocal cords.

Nick helped Holly to her feet and gingerly took her hand in his. “First, let me see.” He hissed at the sight of blood welling in her palm, then removed the bandana that was tied to his backpack, wrapping it around her injury. “We can clean and wrap it better once we get to the campsite.”

Holly stiffened as Cupid moved closer to the threat. “He’s going to get attacked.”

“I don’t think there are any snakes around here, but I’ll check.” Nick walked over to the area, his eyes narrowed.

Holly sucked in a breath as he reached the spot and leaned forward. When Nick straightened, he bit back a laugh. Cupid lifted his head, a long stick clenched in his teeth.

Holly swallowed hard. “I swear it was a snake.”

Nick returned to her side and rubbed a hand over her back. “Nature can be tricky. But that stick’s not going to hurt you.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Holly mumbled.

“Well, Cupid’s got it under control now, so you don’t have to worry.”

Holly wiped her muddy, uninjured hand on the dry part of her jeans and gave in to the humor of the situation, relieved she hadn’t had to deal with a reptile bite. With a snicker, she tilted her head. “Just what you had in mind, right? I’m the perfect date. At the first hill, I started hallucinating, and now I’m covered in sweat, mud, and blood. I’m just a big mess.”

Nick tugged her closer by her waist and gazed at her, the deep blue of his eyes locked on the warm brown of hers. “You’re my mess.”

Holly let out a small laugh in response right before Nick kissed her lips lightly.

“Now, let’s get up to the campsite, City Girl,” Nick said, “so I can take a proper look at that cut in your hand.”

Holly couldn’t wait to get out of her filthy jeans. The summer sun had helped to dry some of the caked-on mud, but she was far from comfortable. They’d been walking for what felt like hours, and she began to wonder if the Northern Lights were worth the effort.

“We’re almost there, right?” She had to take a breath between words.

“Yeah.” Nick smiled at her over his shoulder. “Not far now.”

They reached level ground, and Holly spotted a camper standing proudly amidst the wilderness. An orange and white striped awning extended from its side unfurled like a welcoming embrace from the cheerful abode on wheels. The awning stretched outward, its sturdy fabric creating a shaded oasis. Beneath it, a weathered picnic table rested, adorned with a bright yellow tablecloth that danced in the breeze. Surrounding the table were four lightweight folding chairs. Two young boys sat nearby, one on his phone and the other reading a comic book. The delicious aroma of a home-cooked meal wafted through the air from one of the camper windows.

That didn’t seem too bad. “Will our tent look anything like that when it’s done?” Holly clasped her hands together under her chin.

Nick glanced past her. “Not exactly. That’s a camper. Our setup is a bit more rustic.”

Holly pursed her lips. “Oh.”

The sound of their boots crunching against the trail helped Holly concentrate on something other than her damp clothes and her heavy backpack. The camper they’d passed earlier was now far behind them and downhill.

Finally, as they rounded a bend, they reached a clearing.

The picturesque glade overlooked a breathtaking vista of majestic, snow-capped mountains, and wildflowers adorned the meadows, painting the landscape with vibrant splashes of pink, purple, and yellow. The sunset provided a tranquil backdrop, with dragonflies zipping toward the lake and birds leaping from tree to tree.

Nick stopped, gripped the straps of his backpack, and gave Holly a wide grin. “We’re here.”

She raised a hand to her chest, fingers lightly brushing her collarbone, while a soft exhale escaped her lips. “This is gorgeous.”

“I told you it would be worth it.” Nick set his gear on the ground and unpacked the tent poles.

Cupid found a place to settle nearby, chewing on the stick he carried from their hike.

The area was surrounded by long grass that swished in the wind. Holly welcomed the breeze, closing her eyes momentarily as it cooled her hot and sweaty skin. She let the tranquility settle over her, its calmness washing away the strain of the hike and easing every lingering thought from her mind.

Aluminum poles clinked together and roused her from her reverie. Nick had made impressive progress erecting their tent.

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