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There was a streaentle hillside Khizar picked up the GPS and Jacqui grabbed the backpack she’d bought at the saotten a small first aid kit and a couple of bottles of water, just in case

They walked along the paved trail, pointing out birds and the occasional rabbit

“It’s beautiful out here,” Khizar said, his tone reverent

Jacqui agreed “I’ this kind of forest isn’t what you’re used to back home”

Khizar shook his head

“Not quite like this, though there are h, to be fair, hiking was neverto do”

“My adopted parents used to take uy, and he tried to teach s like how to start a fire and set up a tent”

Khizar looked at her, interested “And did you enjoy those things?”

“Nope” Jacqui smiled at him “I tried to, because it ured out pretty quickly that the outdoors life wasn’t for me”

They rounded a bend in the trail and stopped at a clearing in the trees The spot was on a natural terrace in the hillside and looked out over a valley The sah the valley, though they were too far up the hill to hear it

The breeze whispered through the tree leaves Jacqui thought it was one of the most peaceful spots she’d ever been in Tucked to one side of the clearing with the best view into the valley was a bench

It looked a little out of place on the trail A black wrought-iron structure held up long boards of dark wood that formed the seat and back of the bench