Although winter was in full swing, the abundance of evergreens in this area made it still feel lush. He brushed his hand through the thick pine needles that hung heavy from the trees along the trail. The pungent aroma of pine released into the air around him, reminding him of Christmases past. He wiped the sticky residue from the pine tar against the horn bag on the saddle.

Doc snorted. “It’s good to be with you again, Doc.”

It didn’t take long for Andrew to relax. “I’ve missed this.” Andrew loosened his grip on the reins and let Doc pick his own path. As a kid he’d wandered these trails on horseback and on foot, pretending to live off the land and hunt for secret treasures.

Dawn waited for him. “It’s nice having you around.”

“It’s been a good trip. I can’t believe it’s already half over.”

About fifteen minutes of riding through the tall pines and bare hardwoods, the tension in Andrew nearly disappeared. It had been a long time since he’d felt this way. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. As he loosened up, Doc did too.

Since it was early February, there were no bugs to contend with, and the mild temperature was like no weather at all. He pushed his sleeves up. The sun was warm against his skin. Birds chirped above, as if asking what he’d been up to all this time, and that was exactly what he was thinking about. He’d accomplished a lot, but a lot of it wasn’t what he’d set out to do, either.

Dawn eased her horse down the bank toward the creek. Here the river rock was smooth and the water was never too deep unless they’d had a rainy run of weather. The familiar cluck and clop of the water being sucked from below by the pounding hooves was as soothing as rain on a tin roof, loud and mellow all at the same time.

Water splashed from Gabby’s hind legs, sending icy-cold water up Andrew’s leg and the side of his face.

“No fair.”

“I guess you forgot the rider in the back is the one who gets the wettest.”

“Payback is coming,” Andrew yelled as he dodged another splash. Then he spurred Doc and blew past her, leaving her in a wake of icy-cold water.

She shrieked. “Okay. We’re even.”

They pulled the horses up onto the bank.

“You got me good,” she said, still laughing.

“I’m not as out of practice as you thought,” he teased.

The echo of horse hooves clopping through the creek rose from up the way. “Think that’s Mom?”

Dawn shook her head. “No. Wrong direction. She’d be coming from that way.”

They waited, not wanting to spook the horse or splash a neighbor.