And yet, every nerve stayed alert.
I followed the fence line toward the creek, scanning the tree line. Frost clung to the wire, sparkling under the thin sunlight. Somewhere far off, a crow called. The only movement came from a lone horse near the far post, shifting in the snow.
I crouched, gloved hand brushing the ground. No new prints. No signs of disturbance.
Maybe it was nothing.
Maybe.
I turned back toward the house, the chimney trailing smoke, the roof white and clean. The thought of her sitting with the girls in town made my chest ease just enough to let me breathe.
When I stepped back inside, warmth wrapped around me again. The radio still played low. I poured another cup of coffee and sat at the table.
The phone buzzed against the wood.
Fred: Girls just walked in. All good.
Relief hit, quiet but solid.
Me: Thanks.
Fred: Always. You be careful out there.
I set the phone down, leaned back in my chair, and let the quiet fill in around me again.
The fire popped. The clock ticked.
I thought about calling Kipp, then decided against it. The guys had done enough these last few days. Until we knew who had been watching the ranch, it was better to keep it contained.
The snow kept falling steadily, soft against the windows.
I stood, crossed to the door, and watched the light shift over the hills. The storm from last night had settled into something gentle, almost kind. But I knew better than to mistake calm for safety.
Because calm never lasted.
Not here.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KRISTIN
The bell over the café door jingled as we stepped inside. Warm air wrapped around us, rich with the smell of coffee, sugar, and butter. Nora led the way, her laughter bright and easy, already talking about mimosas and cinnamon rolls. Tayla and Fallon followed close behind, bickering about whose turn it was to drive next weekend. The world outside had been sharp and white with frost, but in here the windows fogged with warmth. For a second, it felt like the kind of morning where nothing could touch us.
Fred looked up from behind the counter, a towel slung over his shoulder. His grin came easy, but the worry underneath it didn’t. I saw it the moment his eyes found mine. That quick flash of tension in a man who never wasted movement. The same kind of look I had caught on Linc’s face before I left the house.
“Well, if it isn’t the jewels of the Diamond,” Fred said, voice steady and booming enough to sound normal. “You girls here to eat me out of pastries again?”
“Depends,” Fallon said as she leaned across the counter to kiss his cheek. “Are you still making those caramel rolls, or did you run out like last time?”
Fred chuckled, but the sound was thin. “I ran out because you bought half the batch, sweetheart. Coffee?”
“Always,” Nora said, slipping behind the counter, and made our lattes so Fred and Wanda could wait on their regular customers. This cafe was the first place I’d met Nora, and when Fred needed help, she was always there to step up.
“Don’t forget the mimosas,” Fallon said as she slid into the booth we always took over on Saturday. Fred rolled his eyes, grabbed mugs, and filled them himself. The smell of the dark roast hit the air, cutting through the chatter.
He set mine down last, his hand steady but heavy on the table. “You girls stick close today, alright? No detours. No errands after.”
The table went quiet for a moment before Nora laughed. “You worried we’ll start a bar fight again?”
