Chapter 23
Hannah walked along the beach returning to her truck, Jessie running ahead of her. The tide was coming in; waves had washed away her footprints from the start of her walk. Gulls circled above, calling loudly. A seal followed their trek along the shore. Its sleek head surfaced again. The seal held still in the water, round dark eyes curiously watching her and Jessie. After a moment, the seal lifted higher in the water and then dove under, its body curling against the waves.
A small stream came down from the highway, and a path followed alongside the stream, leading to a small parking area. The path was a short but steep climb up the bluff that hugged the shoreline. The sand gave way to grass and then fireweed, the bright blooms now fading, the ground nearby scattered with blanc
