"Any visitors last night?" Louie inquired while he watched her finish packing a couple of sandwiches into the small backpack

"Nope. Good thing, too. I was plumb worn out."

Louie nodded, but his brow furrowed. "Well, I'm glad you got the rest you needed. Mebbe they were just respecting that.   I just--never mind - forgot what I was going to say."

Sharon glanced up from lacing her boots, eyebrows raised in question, but Louie only shook his head and shrugged.

"Ready," she said, shrugging into the pack.

Louie pulled the back door closed, and they headed out. Third ran out ahead of them as they followed the creek, the way getting more narrow and steep as they climbed. The creek itself petered out as they scrambled higher up the steep, narrow defile. In spring, the rocks they sometimes scrambled over, and sometimes were able to use like stair-steps, would be transformed into small waterfalls. In late September, there was no running or pooling water this high up, but still enough dampness to keep the moss and lichens growing on the rocks green. Third was right with them now. Abiram had followed them as they set out on their hike, but soon headed up the east slope. Sharon figured he would meet them sometime time after they reached the top of the ridge.