A HIGH-PITCHED SQUEAL stopped Laura Douglas in her tracks. Whirling around on the narrow dirt path, she expected to see her cousin Cassie under attack by a grizzly. Instead, Cassie was knee-deep in alpine flowers that covered the meadow like a gigantic patchwork quilt.
“Cassandra Douglas! You scared me to death!” Laura scolded.
“Sorry, cuz.” Cassie flipped through her backpack for a different camera lens. “These Indian paintbrush are awesome. I needed a picture of this brilliant red color!”
“Not again!” Laura groaned. “I should have known better than to bring a camera fanatic on a day hike!”
“A couple quick shots, that’s all.”
“You don’t know the meaning of quick. We gotta go!” Laura pointed to dense fog devouring nearby mountains. “We’re about to be surrounded by clouds!”
“We’ll be back at the lodge long before they cut loose.”
“Not at warp-snail speed!” Laura tied a red scarf around her hair. “I’m leaving! My folks will freak out if we’re not back soon.”
Cassie bent over a plant. “Here’s a bee hiding underneath. . . . What a cute shot.”
“Goodbye! Hope you make it back before dark.” Laura yanked the zipper on her