comforting scents of soil and plants, pleased to see that they’d added some dwarf lemon trees to their inventory. The lemons wouldn’t survive outside in the northeast Pennsylvania climate, but they definitely could in a climate-controlled greenhouse. She wondered vaguely about adding natural lemon to some of her existing products.
Leaving the greenhouses, she followed the trail she’d been on before, down toward the stock pond and then farther out toward the small lake. The sun was bright and hot, reflecting off the water in beautiful, shimmering bands. When her skin began to tingle, warning her that she was approaching the limit of her exposure to direct sunlight, she opted for a fork that led into the woods.
Here, the sunlight was broken up by tall, stately evergreens and an assortment of budding deciduous trees, like oaks, maples, and massive walnuts. The trail was well-worn and clear. By the looks of it, it was used often by horses and motorized vehicles.
It was peaceful there amid the dappled sunlight, abundance of mountain laurel, and the scents of wet earth and leaves that hadn’t fully decomposed over the winter.
As she walked along, Tina caught occasional glimpses of cabins through the trees and wondered if that was where some of the permanent residents lived. As the path wound back toward the lake, Tina gained a companion. A massive pit bull trotted her way, then stopped, sat down, and stared at her.
It wasn’t Duke, the dog who’d approached her before, but he did look similar.
“Brutus!” called a woman’s voice. “Where did you get to?”
Bree appeared on the path in front of her. Tina knew her from their coffee chats, knew that she was paired with the guy they called Cage.
“Sorry about that,” Bree apologized. “He looks vicious, but he’s really a big marshmallow.”
“So, I can pet him?”
“He’ll be your friend forever if you do.”
Tina reached out slowly and scratched the top of his head, feeling the need to explain her presence. “I’m just killing time until Doc gets back from town. Matt said it was okay to walk the trails.”
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Bree agreed. “Brutus and I love walking out here, but it’s even more fun snowmobiling and riding horses.” She laughed. “Never thought I’d say those words. I’ve always been more of a city girl, but this place, these people ... it kind of sneaks up on you and changes the way you see things.”
Bree was right. There was something about Sanctuary, something peaceful and therapeutic. Tina felt the effects after being there only a short time. She had to work on her endurance, however. The ache in her back, legs, and hips was becoming impossible to ignore.
“How long is this trail?” Tina asked.
“Pretty long,” Bree told her. “It goes all around Sanctuary property, which covers a couple hundred acres at least, and that doesn’t include all the offshoots and shortcuts. I’ve been here for months, and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’ve even gotten lost a few times. Thankfully, Nick comes looking for me if I’m gone too long,” she said with a laugh.
Tina wondered if Doc would come looking for her if she were gone too long. Warmth flooded through her when she realized that, yes, he probably would. If he was around, that was.
She looked at her wristwatch, surprised to see how much time had passed. “Speaking of, I should start heading back. Matt said Doc is usually back by dinnertime.”
“It’s faster if you keep going the way you’re going. Take the next fork to the right just ahead. That’ll take you right past our place and toward the main building. You can’t miss it.”
Tina thanked her, and with one last pat on Brutus’s head, she went on her way. With each step, her anticipation grew, as did her desire to see Doc again. Wanting to hear his voice. See his smile. Feel the warmth and strength of those strong arms as they closed around her. When had she become so needy?
Before long, she was walking up the final slope to the main building. She spotted the object of her current obsession talking with Matt, who was probably telling him that Tina was out and about. Her steps quickened without conscious thought.
“This is a nice surprise,” he said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Well, as okay as it can be, I guess. I decided to come up early.”
The look in his eyes made her knees go weak. “Does this mean you’re staying the night?”