Chapter 23
Concessions
They walked around to the front of the lodge. Standing outside in the sunshine, Art released her hand and crossed his arms over his chest. Beside him, Rikki observed a hawk gliding overhead.
“It’s very beautiful here. And peaceful.” She almost sounded nostalgic. “I can see why you and the others think of it as home. You belong here. The mountain lion, the alligator, the eagle, the deer, the bear. This is your natural habitat.”
“I never considered it that way, but you’re right.”
“You have all this space to roam in.”
“Not as freely as you might think. There are still dangers lurking out there. You just keep your eyes and ears peeled to make sure you don’t find yourself in a sticky situation.”
She grinned. “I guess that’s why you always carry your with you. In
