Natalie laughed and shaded her eyes with a hand to her forehead. “I see they managed to get all of them up there this year. Usually there is at least one who freezes halfway up.”

“Oh, that must be traumatic.” Lily had already imagined herself in that position. Maybe weenie wasn’t such a bad designation after all.

“Sometimes,” Natalie said with a philosophical tone, “but it makes for an excellent lesson on rope rescue.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “That’s just mean.”

Natalie smiled. “There’s really nothing to worry about. Chase wouldn’t bring them up the wall if they weren’t ready, and if it wasn’t perfectly safe. But it can be pretty scary the first time. So…”

“Check my gear, Lieutenant. I’m going up.”

“Not trying to impress anyone, are you?” Natalie laughed.

Lily drew herself up in mock affront. “Most certainly not.”

“Then enjoy yourself—it’s as fun as it looks.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Lily muttered.

Natalie double-checked her harness and secured the top rope to Lily’s harness herself. “You’re ready. Have you plotted out your course?”

“As a matter fact, I have. The easiest way up.” At least she hoped. With a deep breath, she strode to the wall, worked her foot into the first toehold, and reached for the closest depression where she could get a grip. Like so many things she’d had to do in her life that seemed challenging, even at times undoable, she put one foot—and this time, one hand as well—in front of the other and worked her way up. The muscles in her back began to protest by the time she’d made it a third of the way up. She had a second or two to wonder how Chase’s back was holding up before she refocused on what she needed to do not to end up back at the bottom. When she’d watched from the ground, she’d imagined it would take forever to gain the crest, but in just a matter of a minute, or so it seemed, an arm came into view and she grasped the tanned, muscular forearm the way she’d seen everyone else do. She tilted her head enough to look up.

Chase smiled down at her. “I’ve got you.”

Lily found a burst of energy and propelled herself up and over onto solid ground. When she got to her feet, Chase was very close and their eyes met. “I know. I knew you’d be there.”

“You did great.” Chase’s eyes gleamed. “Ready for a little bouldering?”

Lily tilted her chin. “Can’t wait.”

Laughing, Chase turned away to gather the group.