had all been active in sports, but not Daisy. She was always the last one to be chosen for a team. Her mother insisted she had other talents, different ones. And she did.
* * *
—
The next morning, lathered up in mosquito repellent, dressed in her new clothes, Everly joined the others as they left the Amazon Explorer and settled into the Zodiacs. Asher was in the same Zodiac as Everly. He seemed to be keeping an eye on her, and she was grateful, although she knew the reason. He wanted to be sure she was up to this after being sick.
Hanging on tightly, she and Janice linked their arms together in support and rode for a good twenty minutes along the murky waters of the Amazon. The Zodiac slowed as the watercraft entered a tributary. As the boat came to a near crawl, Asher pointed out several species of birds, providing names that quickly flew in and out of her head. He was knowledgeable and entertaining, adding tidbits of information. Everly found herself enjoying what he said as well as the sound of his voice, which was rich, mellow, and familiar after all the time they’d spent together.
The Zodiac entered an area where the water was still, where they happened upon lily pads as large as a child’s swimming pool. The flowers were gorgeous.
“They are known as Victoria amazonica,” Asher explained. “They are the world’s largest lily pads and routinely grow to over ten feet in diameter and are stable enough to support the weight of a small child.”
Her companions grabbed every opportunity for picture taking. Several in the Zodiac had professional cameras with a variety of lenses. She hadn’t even thought to bring her phone, which she now regretted.
As if sensing her disappointment, Asher leaned toward her and said, “I’ve collected a number of amazing shots over the years that I’ll be happy to share with you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back.
One of the women frowned, as if annoyed by the special treatment Everly got. To be fair, Everly felt a bit guilty about it as well, although she appreciated Asher’s kindness and attention. It seemed Everly wasn’t the only one who’d taken notice of how attractive Asher was, even if the woman was twenty years older.
With so much to see, Everly lost track of time, but it had to have been forty minutes or longer before the Zodiacs reached the spot where they were to disembark. Asher got out first and lent a hand to each one as they stepped off the rubber lip of the watercraft and onto the land.
Everly was one of the last to depart behind Janice. Asher placed his hands around her waist and half-lifted her onto dry ground so she could avoid getting her tennis shoes wet. Everyone else had boots.
“Thanks,” she said, enjoying the feel of his arms as he set her down. He might have held on to her a bit longer than necessary, but maybe she was imagining that—not that she was complaining.
He held her gaze before he released her. “My pleasure.” As if uncomfortable, he hurried to the front of the assembled group and led the way into the lush forest. Everly was the last passenger in the single line that snaked through the thick foliage. Jimmy, the crew member who’d manned the Zodiac, held up the rear. A light mist started to fall on them, followed by a deluge. It was as if she was standing under a waterfall, which made it nearly impossible to see. Water poured off the brim of the hat Asher had provided.
Keeping her head lowered, Everly trudged on, following Janice and stepping into her muddy footprints. She tired quickly and had trouble keeping up with the group. Jimmy was somewhere behind her. Everly paused when she came upon a fork in the path, unsure which way to go. She’d gotten confused and could no longer see Janice, who was well ahead of her. She sighed with relief when she saw footprints. She took the path and continued on, determined to catch up with the rest of the group.
After about ten minutes of walking as fast as she could in the downpour, she called out to Jimmy. “How much farther is this village?”
Her question went unanswered.
She tried again, louder this time, thinking Jimmy must not have heard her.
Again, she got no response. Lifting her head, she turned, only to realize that Jimmy wasn’t there, nor could she see Janice.
She was alone and