“So you took her home with you,” Jesse says, no longer teasing.
“What else was I supposed to do? Leave her there?”
“Could’ve taken her to Lennon’s,” Truett says. “Or brought her here so that Aubree could fuss over her. But you took her to your place.” He stops so that the next words carry a ton of weight. “The one place none of us are allowed to go.”
I don’t have a good answer for that. It hadn’t even occurred to me to take her anywhere else. From the moment I saw her, bruised and shaking, all I could think about was getting her somewhere I knew she’d be safe. Somewhere I could protect her.
We work in silence for a while, guiding the cattle toward the south pasture. It’s familiar work, the kind that lets your mind wander. Mine keeps wandering back to Atlee, to the way she looked at me this morning, to the feel of her in my arms.
“You know,” Jesse says as we reach the gate to the south pasture. “Having Atlee at your place, maybe it’s not such a bad thing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs, guiding his horse alongside mine. “Just that maybe what you’re missing in your life is a woman around. Someone to come home to.”
“I’m not missing anything.” The words come automatically, a defense I’ve used for years.
“Sure you are. We all need someone, Dev. Even you.” He smiles, and it’s not his usual shit-eating grin. It’s softer. “Look at Aubree and me. I never thought I’d want someone around all the time until we stopped fighting each other. Now I can’t imagine my life without her.”
“That’s you. I’m different.”
“Are you? Or have you just convinced yourself of that because it’s easier than taking a risk?” He opens the gate, letting the first of the cattle through. “All I’m saying is, now that she’s there, you might find you don’t want her to leave.”
I don’t respond, but his words settle in my chest like a stone. The thought of Atlee leaving, of my house going back to being empty and quiet—it doesn’t sit right.
We spend the next few hours moving the rest of the herd, the rhythmic work giving me time to think. About Atlee. About what Jesse said. About the way I felt when I woke up this morning, knowing she was right there next to me.
When we finish, the sun is high overhead, beating down on us as we make our way back to the barn. I’m sweaty and tired, but my mind is clearer than it’s been in a long time.
“Heading home?” Truett asks as we unsaddle our horses.
“Yeah. Want to check on Atlee.” I don’t bother hiding it now. They’ve already seen through me.
Jesse claps me on the shoulder. “Tell her I hope she feels better. And Dev?” He waits until I look at him. “It’s okay to want something for yourself. It’s okay to let someone in.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As I walk back to my truck, I can’t help but wonder if Jesse isn’t right. Maybe what’s been missing from my life isn’t just peace and quiet. Maybe it’s been someone to share it with.
The thought of Atlee waiting for me at home makes my step a little lighter, my heart beating a little faster. For the first time in years, I find myself looking forward to something other than solitude.
SEVEN
ATLEE
The sun is startingto set as I walk around Devlin’s house. It’s starting to get darker earlier, and soon it’ll be getting cold. It probably won’t even be much longer until we get the first snow. But what I’ve figured out today is that Devlin’s house is cozy. There may not be a bunch of knickknacks everywhere, but there’s a serenity that I’ve enjoyed.
My phone buzzes where it’s sitting on the kitchen table. I reach over and grab it.
Lennon
Just checking on you. Everything going okay?
Me
Yeah, just waiting on Devlin to get here. He had to go to work earlier.
Lennon
Sounds really damn cozy, Atlee. Are you sure you know what the hell you’re doing? He’s as closed off as any other person I’ve ever seen when it comes to friendships or relationships.
