Chapter 4 — A Night Under the Stars

Rachel

The soft hum of chatter and laughter mingled with the crisp autumn air as Rachel stepped into the heart of Riverbend’s fall festival. The town square had transformed into a scene straight out of a postcard: lanterns casting a golden glow over cobblestone paths, stalls laden with pies and preserves, and children darting through the crowd with painted faces, their laughter ringing out like tiny, carefree bells. Somewhere behind her, a fiddle-player struck up a lively tune, the notes weaving through the cool air with a warmth that seemed to wrap around the crowd. A faint scent of spiced cider and wood smoke threaded through the night, grounding Rachel in the unfamiliar scene.