10
Daniel followed Sophia into her parents’ home. After he’d dropped her off at work this morning, she’d texted him to ask if he wanted to talk with her mother this afternoon. He paused on the porch of the farmhouse and turned to look out over the small valley nearby. The sun glinted off a small stream winding through the corner of the valley. A mountain ridge rose tall on the far side, shading a cluster of aspen. A magpie burst out of the trees at the side of the house and swooped to land on the porch railing within arms length of Daniel. He heard the door opening and turned to face it. The woman who must be Sophia’s mother gave Sophia a quick hug and stepped to Daniel, her smile beaming. She had dark hair streaked with silver and warm brown eyes. She wore a flowing skirt of gauzy green
