Roark gave him an understanding look. "Can you wait an hour or two? We really need to stick around for a little bit and help with the clean-up, make sure there are not more marauders waiting out there to attack."
Sawyer grimaced, but nodded. "Just don't take too long."
"We won't. I promise," Roark said. "Stefan, why don't you grab our bags out of the guest quarters then help Sawyer with the horses? We'll help John. We can meet in the barn in an hour. It shouldn't take longer than that to get this mess cleaned up."
Stefan knew Sawyer was anxious to get going. The faster they made that happen, the better. He gave him a reassuring pat on the chest. "I'll meet you in the barn."
He hurried off, hoping Sawyer would be in the barn when he got there. He couldn't be positive he would be. Sawyer seemed incredibly skittish. If he looked toward the horizon one more time, Stefan was going to find a set of handcuffs.
It was easy to get his own bags. He'd never unpacked them. As he went around to gather up the other bags, he realized the rest of the guys hadn't unpacked either. He didn't know if they were all just paranoid as hell or if they had grown used to constantly being ready to go. Both lines of thought were a little disheartening.
Once he had all the bags gathered up, he headed for the barn. He grimaced when he stepped out of the warehouse building and saw the number of wounded Frankie and the settlement doctor were treating. He hadn't realized quite so many people had been injured in the battle.
Unfortunately, that was the price many paid when marauders attacked settlements. Marauders didn't tend to care who they injured or killed. They were after whatever they could take…food, medicines, trade goods, and slaves. It was a sad fact of life in this new world they were in.
Dahl stopped him before he could reach the barn. "Roark thinks this might take a little longer than he originally thought. A couple of the marauders survived the attack, and he wants to question them. He wants you to wait with Sawyer in the barn."
"He might not be able to wait that long."
Dahl nodded. "Roark says if you need to go, let us know and we'll meet up with you down the road."
Considering there were marauders in the area, Stefan wasn't thrilled with that idea. "I'll try to keep Sawyer here as long as possible. Tell Roark to hurry."
Dahl nodded. "I'll tell him."
"I'll let you know if we have to go." There wasn't much else Stefan could say. Sawyer would either stay or he wouldn't, but Stefan would be at his side no matter what happened…assuming the man hadn't already taken off.
Stefan's breath caught when he stepped inside and saw Sawyer talking to Fred.
He was still here.
Chapter Seven
Sawyer glanced up when someone stepped inside the barn. He knew it was Stefan. He'd heard the man talking to Dahl outside. He wasn't sure what to think of the surprise on Stefan's face.
"I told you I'd be here."
Stefan's cheeks flushed before he glanced away then walked over to set the bags down next to the wall. "I know."
Sawyer frowned when Stefan continued to avoid looking at him. "What's wrong?"
Stefan reached up and rubbed the nape of his neck. "It's just so weird actually having you here, talking, walking"—Stefan's eyes widened comically—"breathing."
Sawyer chuckled. "Technically, I never stopped breathing."
"Yeah, but I didn't know that." Some of the flush in Stefan's cheeks faded. "Uh, there's something I need to tell you."
Sawyer's heart lurched. "You met someone else."
"What?" Stefan's eyebrows snapped together. "No. I love you. I always will."
Sawyer was elated by Stefan's words, but he was also confused. That was the only thing he could think of that would make Stefan so upset. "Then what?"
"I kind of…uh…maybe…shot Roark."
Sawyer's eyebrows lifted. "You shot Roark?"
Stefan nodded.
