The car took a turn at the junction where the road gradually sloped downward, and their car began heading toward the other side of the hill.
Lyra was puzzled. She had already assumed they would be staying at the top of the hill. She guessed Rowan might have planned to take her to his small cottage or maybe there was a hotel at the top instead.
Lyra bit her lower lip, a little frustrated that her guess had been wrong. She slowly pulled away from the window and leaned back, not wanting to guess anymore.
"Are you tired?" Rowan noticed the shift in her mood.
He patted his thigh and said, "Come lie here. I'll wake you when we get there, okay?"
She lay down without a word. The moment her eyes shut, she slipped into a sleep.
Lyra was sure the sound of a car door slamming was part of her dream. But when she heard it a second time, her eyes fluttered open. She was wrapped in warm, strong arms.
Rowan was carrying her from the car toward…
Woosh… shhhh....
