"The woods seem safe enough during the day," Coop agreed readily. The eerie sensation of being watched -- stalked, really -- he had felt the previous night was gone, replaced by the usual sense of calm he had always felt in the woods.
Coop carefully climbed down from the pile of rubble, his sense of curiosity and adventure far from sated. But, he had promised his wife there would be ice cream to go along with her pie -- and that he would not disappear on her again.
"We're having Belle's famous homemade pie for dessert tonight -- and Poppy's ice cream recipe. Better get there early, because there won't be anything left after I'm done." He grinned and shrugged slightly, although he was only half-kidding. If Belle wasn't careful, he'd sneak enough before dinner to spoil his appetite.