He paused when he saw all of us gathered around the table.
“Whoa,” he said slowly. “Morning meeting without me? I’m offended.”
Under any other circumstance I might’ve laughed. Today it barely tugged at the edge of my mouth.
“Sit,” Dad said gruffly.
Asher sauntered over, grabbed a banana from the counter, and plopped into the chair beside Harmony. “Okay, what did I miss? And why does everyone look like they swallowed a nail?”
Harmony gave him a thin smile. “Someone was on the property last night.”
Asher froze mid-peel. “What do you mean on the property?”
“Close,” I said. “Near the orchard.”
His eyes flicked instantly to Harmony, protective, alert, cutting through whatever early-morning haze he’d had. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Just… tired.”
Asher exhaled but didn’t look convinced. He nudged the banana toward her. “Eat something. You look like you left your soul somewhere between the shower and the bedroom.”
Harmony huffed a tiny laugh. “Thanks?”
“What?” he said innocently. “Soulless chic is a look.”
That broke the tension enough for Harmony to sit back a little in her chair, fingers relaxing slightly on my shirt.
“So this guy… creep? Ghost? Olympic-level hiker?” Asher asked. “What’s his deal?”
“We don’t know yet,” Becket said. “But he knows what he’s doing.”
“And he knows her,” Dad added, voice firm.
“You have a plan?” Asher asked.
Dad gestured at the map. “We’re tightening security. Becket and I will sweep the ridge again. Eric stays with Harmony at all times.”
Asher nodded once, decisive. “Good. Then he won’t get near her.”
Harmony swallowed, eyes lowering.
Asher leaned forward, softer. “Hey. You’re safe here.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to believe it… or like she was trying to convince herself she could.
Dad turned back to the trail-cam image. “This wasn’t random.”
“It felt like he was testing something,” Becket added. “Checking distance. Movement. Timing.”
Harmony’s breath hitched. I reached for her hand, threading our fingers, grounding her back into the room.
“We’re here,” I murmured. “All of us.”
Harmony leaned into me more fully, exhaustion written in the slope of her shoulders, but determination still burning in her eyes.
“I’m not running,” she said again, firmer this time.
Asher’s gaze sharpened with something like pride. “Damn right you’re not.”
