They walked for a lot longer than Flynn expected. But it was okay. The night was quiet and cool. And once they were on the trail that went around the lake, it was very dark and almost deserted. Most of their light came from the moon. Flynn would have found the prospect of walking around the lake this late at night daunting, a little unnerving, but the company he was with made him feel safe—and peaceful.
They came upon a curve in the trail where there were no trees opposite and the lake opened up fully before them, a rippling black surface that reflected the moon and a few streetlights in a parking lot on the other side. There was a bench there. “Why don’t we sit down for a minute? Barley here is tired.” Mac chuckled. “Do you believe that?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t think Barley gets tired, e
