Emerging from the foothill’s thinning forest, she saw a wide sunny slope. Brushing her hair out of her face, she pulled in a breath. Even though the sun was hot on her shoulders, the air held a decided chill.

“Here?” With Aric beside her, Kit frowned. “Where are the berry bushes?”

Audrey grinned, remembering how she’d asked that same question last year.

“Look down.” Walking forward with his arm around Frankie, Bull waved at the ground. “Our wild blueberries don’t even make it to knee-high.”

“Stop.” Hawk’s voice snapped out, and everyone halted. “Got a bear. Make noise.”

A bear. Mouth dry, Audrey started to back toward the trail.

“Hold up, Goldy.” Gabe put an arm around her, pulled her close, and began whistling loudly.

In a loud voice, Bull was telling Frankie what berries to avoid picking.

Pulling one of his numerous knives, Caz tapped the blade against a rocky outcropping in an annoying rhythm.

A rustle came from a small hollow, then a brown bear lumbered away across the meadow.

“Humans. So irritatingly noisy,” Gabe said, obviously amused.

Audrey’s heart was going a mile a minute. “You didn’t even draw your gun.”

His biggest pistol was holstered on his belt with a can of bear spray on the other side. His brothers and JJ also carried bear spray. Next time, she would too.

Gabe tugged her hair. “No need. He wasn’t interested in a fight. There are plenty of berries.”

He was right. The low bushes were loaded with blueberries. “In that case, I better start picking.”

JJ grinned at her. “Pick with me. I want to hear what I missed at the book club.”

“Sure.” Audrey tried to remember the highlights of the SFF group. Knox had brought up the best points as they discussed whether Earth should assume aliens were friendly or not. He’d come so far since last year when he’d torn pages out of a book because he couldn’t read. She was so proud of him.

“Aric, catch.” Off to the right, Regan was picking berries—and tossing some at Aric. Little troublemaker.

Grinning, Audrey popped a blueberry in her mouth. Yum. The fruit was smaller than store bought, but the flavor was fantastic. What a lovely way to spend a day with family.

I have family. The thought still overwhelmed her at times.

As they worked, one of the guys would start singing or humming. Sometimes it seemed as if melodies ran like a river beneath their skin.

Now, with a smile for Aric and Regan, Bull started to sing, “Do-Re-Mi”.

Laughing, Gabe harmonized, and everyone joined in, including Kit in her beautiful clear voice. Audrey loved that she finally had another soprano to sing with.

As the children figured out the words, they piped up.

Hawk stayed silent, but from the contented expression on his face, he enjoyed the music just as much.