Wedding Bells in Silverwood (Silverwood #2)

Chapter One

Did I really agree to this?

Holly St. Ives shielded her eyes from the August sun and glared at the uphill dirt trail in front of her, half tempted to fake a sudden illness so she could go home and hide under the covers. She’d prefer her nice, warm, cozy bed to a thin sleeping bag on a cold, bumpy tent floor anyway.

Nick Mason, her devoted boyfriend for eight months and counting, closed the SUV’s trunk and roped his arms through the straps of the oversized backpack. “You ready for this?”

Nick’s Alaskan Malamute, Cupid, wagged his tail eagerly, waiting for the green light to charge up the hill.

Holly eyed the steep climb and raised her brow. “Would you be upset if I changed my mind?”

Nick handed Holly her rucksack, which was considerably smaller than his. “I thought you said seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of your bucket list.”

Holly squirmed as she slung the pack over her thin jacket. “I could just watch them online.” She yanked her chestnut brown waves out from the purple, pashmina scarf encompassing her neck, hoping Nick might agree with her.

Nick smirked, rubbing a hand over the scruff on his chiseled jawline. “That’s not the same thing.”

“I know.” Holly shifted, kicking a rock with her hiking boots. “But when you invited me on this trip, I didn’t realize how much we’d be … roughing it.”

Nick placed his hands on her hips and tugged her close. “Look, once we get up there and have everything set up, you’ll love it. I booked a premium spot, one the park assured me was a perfect place to experience the aurora borealis. And if that’s not enough to tempt you, I’ve brought hot chocolate and marshmallows.”

Holly swayed, adjusting the weight she carried. “Like mini marshmallows that go in the hot chocolate or big ones for roasting over a fire?”

“Both.”

Holly squinted at him with a half-smile. “Fine. But only because I’m a sucker for cocoa.” And the company’s not so bad either.

Cupid barked, reminding them he was still waiting for permission to start their adventure. The black and white bundle of fur sniffed at the air and paced around Nick.

“Yeah, go on, boy.” Nick grasped the tent bag handles as Cupid took off and then gave Holly a quick peck before pulling a cap over his short-cropped, dark hair.

With a sigh of defeat, Holly gathered her waves into a quick, messy bun. You can do this. It’ll be worth it. Just think of those magical lights.

Holly marveled at Nick’s prowess as he effortlessly maneuvered through the challenging terrain. His sinewy frame flexed with every step, the ripple of well-defined muscles subtly evident beneath the fabric of his plaid shirt. With each confident stride, Nick expertly balanced the heavy backpack on his broad shoulders and held the gear in his grip, the weight seemingly inconsequential to his hardy physique. His movements were graceful and purposeful, a testament to his physical and mental strength.

The national park enveloped the young couple in a breathtaking tapestry of natural beauty. Towering evergreens reached toward the sky, their branches swaying gently in the late summer breeze, creating a soothing symphony of rustling leaves. Sunlight filtered through the thick foliage, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

The air was warm but invigorating, scented with the earthy pine perfume and wildflowers’ delicate fragrance. A chorus of chirping birds provided a melodic soundtrack, their songs echoing through the tranquil wilderness. The occasional flutter of wings and the rustle of small animals in the underbrush added a touch of lively energy to the scene’s serenity.

A few minutes into their ascent, Holly’s city-girl nature became apparent. The path twisted and turned, leading them through dense foliage and steep inclines. Her backpack weighed heavier as the day grew hotter. Was it necessary to lug all the extra layers of clothes up the mountain in the summer heat when all she wanted to do was fall into a pool and cool off? She huffed and puffed, trying to keep up with Nick’s confident strides. It wasn’t as if she’d never hiked before. In the quaint, snow-covered mountain town of Silverwood, which Holly officially called home for the last year, she would often follow the trail near her cabin for a hike. But this trek proved more challenging, especially with the equipment she carried, and she lagged behind.

“Are you sure this is the right way?” Holly struggled to get the words out between her labored breath. She wiped the sweat from her temples and then rubbed her damp palms on her jeans. She may have mastered the art of strutting through New York in heels, but this rugged terrain turned out to be more difficult than she’d anticipated. “We couldn’t drive uphill somehow?”

“The spot I booked isn’t designated for a vehicle.” Nick glanced at her over his shoulder, a coy grin on his lips. “You’re doing great. It’s not far now.”

Holly swatted at a mosquito. “I have a feeling your definition of ‘far’ is very different from mine. And why do I feel like these mosquitoes are only attacking me ?”

“They probably smell your fear,” Nick joked.

Holly smacked her neck, hoping she’d eliminated at least one of the flying miscreants. “That’s not fear they smell. It’s sw—” Before she could finish her sentence, her eyes landed on something long, thin, and slithery in the underbrush.

Panic seized her heart, and she released a loud shriek that frightened nearby birds from the trees. She stumbled backward, her arms flailing. Her palm grazed a prickly bush, and its thorns sliced into her skin. A sharp cry escaped her throat when she lost her footing and slid into a patch of mud. She gasped as warm wetness seeped into her jeans.

Cupid’s barks filled the air as he charged to her aid.

Nick quickly doubled back and rushed to her side. “Holly! What happened?”

Wide-eyed, Holly pointed to where she’d seen the horrid creature. “A snake! There’s a snake.”

Cupid sniffed around the area she indicated.

Holly cradled her injured hand. “Nick, get Cupid away from there.” Her voice rose as fear strangled her vocal cords.

Nick helped Holly to her feet and gingerly took her hand in his. “First, let me see.” He hissed at the sight of blood welling in her palm, then removed the bandana that was tied to his backpack, wrapping it around her injury. “We can clean and wrap it better once we get to the campsite.”

Holly stiffened as Cupid moved closer to the threat. “He’s going to get attacked.”

“I don’t think there are any snakes around here, but I’ll check.” Nick walked over to the area, his eyes narrowed.

Holly sucked in a breath as he reached the spot and leaned forward. When Nick straightened, he bit back a laugh. Cupid lifted his head, a long stick clenched in his teeth.

Holly swallowed hard. “I swear it was a snake.”

Nick returned to her side and rubbed a hand over her back. “Nature can be tricky. But that stick’s not going to hurt you.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Holly mumbled.

“Well, Cupid’s got it under control now, so you don’t have to worry.”

Holly wiped her muddy, uninjured hand on the dry part of her jeans and gave in to the humor of the situation, relieved she hadn’t had to deal with a reptile bite. With a snicker, she tilted her head. “Just what you had in mind, right? I’m the perfect date. At the first hill, I started hallucinating, and now I’m covered in sweat, mud, and blood. I’m just a big mess.”

Nick tugged her closer by her waist and gazed at her, the deep blue of his eyes locked on the warm brown of hers. “You’re my mess.”

Holly let out a small laugh in response right before Nick kissed her lips lightly.

“Now, let’s get up to the campsite, City Girl,” Nick said, “so I can take a proper look at that cut in your hand.”

Holly couldn’t wait to get out of her filthy jeans. The summer sun had helped to dry some of the caked-on mud, but she was far from comfortable. They’d been walking for what felt like hours, and she began to wonder if the Northern Lights were worth the effort.

“We’re almost there, right?” She had to take a breath between words.

“Yeah.” Nick smiled at her over his shoulder. “Not far now.”

They reached level ground, and Holly spotted a camper standing proudly amidst the wilderness. An orange and white striped awning extended from its side unfurled like a welcoming embrace from the cheerful abode on wheels. The awning stretched outward, its sturdy fabric creating a shaded oasis. Beneath it, a weathered picnic table rested, adorned with a bright yellow tablecloth that danced in the breeze. Surrounding the table were four lightweight folding chairs. Two young boys sat nearby, one on his phone and the other reading a comic book. The delicious aroma of a home-cooked meal wafted through the air from one of the camper windows.

That didn’t seem too bad. “Will our tent look anything like that when it’s done?” Holly clasped her hands together under her chin.

Nick glanced past her. “Not exactly. That’s a camper. Our setup is a bit more rustic.”

Holly pursed her lips. “Oh.”

The sound of their boots crunching against the trail helped Holly concentrate on something other than her damp clothes and her heavy backpack. The camper they’d passed earlier was now far behind them and downhill.

Finally, as they rounded a bend, they reached a clearing.

The picturesque glade overlooked a breathtaking vista of majestic, snow-capped mountains, and wildflowers adorned the meadows, painting the landscape with vibrant splashes of pink, purple, and yellow. The sunset provided a tranquil backdrop, with dragonflies zipping toward the lake and birds leaping from tree to tree.

Nick stopped, gripped the straps of his backpack, and gave Holly a wide grin. “We’re here.”

She raised a hand to her chest, fingers lightly brushing her collarbone, while a soft exhale escaped her lips. “This is gorgeous.”

“I told you it would be worth it.” Nick set his gear on the ground and unpacked the tent poles.

Cupid found a place to settle nearby, chewing on the stick he carried from their hike.

The area was surrounded by long grass that swished in the wind. Holly welcomed the breeze, closing her eyes momentarily as it cooled her hot and sweaty skin. She let the tranquility settle over her, its calmness washing away the strain of the hike and easing every lingering thought from her mind.

Aluminum poles clinked together and roused her from her reverie. Nick had made impressive progress erecting their tent.

She slipped the pack from her shoulders and drew nearer. “Can I help?”

“Sure. Can you hand me that pole there?” Nick jutted his chin and pointedly looked at the spot he meant as he stretched out the canvas.

Holly bent down to retrieve the item he’d requested with her bandana-wrapped hand. “This one?”

“No, the one next to it.”

Holly sighed. “If you think I know what I’m doing, you’re in for a surprise. I never put up a tent when I lived in New York.”

He took the pole she handed him. “What about when you were a kid? You came to Silverwood every year.”

“Yeah, in the winter.” She scoffed. “Not exactly camping season.”

“I don’t know if I agree with that.” Nick aligned the pole with the slot. “It can be cozy.”

“You’ve camped in the winter?”

Nick flashed her a grin. “Cupid loves sleeping in the snow.”

Holly gave Cupid a side-eyed glance. “You would.”

“Well, you’ll just have to face it, Holly. You’re a country girl now. And lucky for you, I can help you adjust. Starting with setting up our shelter for the night.”

Holly smirked. “At least I’ve got a cute teacher.”

“And I’ve got the prettiest teacher’s assistant in the world.”

They smiled at each other as they continued their work. Though Nick, ever the experienced outdoorsman, guided Holly through the process with patient instructions on erecting their shelter for the night, she fumbled with the fabric, tangled the rods, and tied knots in all the wrong places. All the while, her legs were still protesting from the long hike up the mountain.

She carefully positioned one of the final tent poles, attempting to align it with the designated slot, eager to prove her worth in this collaborative endeavor. Her hand slipped, and she was punished by the hot sting of friction on her cut. That momentary lapse in focus caused the post to slip from her fingers. One second, the pole stood vertical; the next, it succumbed to gravity. Aluminum collided with a resounding thud against Nick’s unsuspecting head, jarring the serene atmosphere of their campsite.

Holly’s gasp was quickly followed by a curse. Her hands flew to her cheeks. The rod clattered to the ground, an echo of her embarrassment reverberating through the air.

Nick winced, his narrow gaze shifting from the fallen pole to Holly. His rugged features twisted from momentary pain to amusement. He rubbed his head, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I have the feeling you resent me bringing you here.”

Holly hurried to his side, kneeling beside him and cradling his head. “I’m so sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean … Are you all right? Oh, God, maybe this was a mistake.”

Nick chuckled, turning so they were face to face, the canvas resting on their heads. “No. It’s not a mistake, Holly. It’s going to be totally worth it. Believe me.”