Easton’s truck was parked in the back of the hospital, on the very far side of the parking lot, where the woods butted up to the asphalt. Someone had set an empty pizza box in the back of the truck, with a much neater handwriting than River’s own.

“Don’t stop,” she read, chuckling at the arrow pointing to the trail hidden behind the truck’s bulk. “No film crews allowed. Private event.”

Graham’s voice came back over Jake’s monitor. “This is where you’re on your own. Please leave the handsome devil on your left in the bed of the truck and continue on the trail.”

“Okay, now whose getting led into the woods by a crazy person?” she joked, scratching Jake beneath the chin. “Thanks for the escort, Jake.”

“He says you’re welcome. Oh, and, River?”

“Yes, Graham?”

“Thanks for taking care of my buddy out there.” In a kind voice, Graham added, “I hope you have a nice evening.”

Okay, so maybe Zoey was right, and Graham wasn’t all bad. Leaving Jake was tough, because who really wanted to leave a dog in a fedora? But River did as directed, tying Jake safe and sound in the bed of the truck with the duo of puppet masters still hiding in the cab, sneakily watching her through the side mirrors.

Following the indicated trail, River had to squeeze through closely grown branches. The trail stayed tight for the first several yards, then it opened up as the trees grew higher and farther apart. Even though they were so close to the hospital, River felt like she was back in the bush again.

It was harder to know where the natural trail was anymore, but someone had already taken care of that. Every few yards, a glow stick was suspended from a branch at face height, showing her the way. She followed the glow sticks around a corner and then stopped in her tracks.

River’s breath caught in her throat.

Of all the impromptu picnics or surprise dates in her lifetime, this was by far her favorite. The campsite Easton had picked was perfect. A tiny fire had been built and carefully circled with rocks in the center of a small clearing, the crackling of the burning wood almost lost beneath the softly babbling brook skirting the edge of the camp. River didn’t recognize the tent in front of her, but the man waiting for her was burned into her soul.