“You understand,” he said. “You see what I’m try-trying to create, not only with clay but with…with everything. The barn was just a place. You’re the dream I never knew I was missing.”
My throat closed off entirely. How was I supposed to respond to that kind of devastating honesty? This sweet, generous male who’d lost everything because of me was sitting here telling me I was worth more than all of it combined.
“I don’t deserve you,” I whispered.
“Lucky for both of us, love isn’t about de-de-deserving.” He lifted our joined hands to kiss my palm. “It’s about choosing each other, every day, n-n-no matter what the world sends our way.”
Tressa padded over from her spot by the front window, resting her head on my knee with a soft whine.
“See? Tressa agrees.” Hail scratched behind the wolf’s ears, making her tail wag. “You’re stuck with us now.”
Despite everything, I found myself smiling. “Worse fates, I suppose.”
“Much worse f-f-fates.”
The back door opened, and Dungar stepped inside. We automatically shifted apart even though there was nothing improper about holding hands. Living in his brother’s house made everything feel awkward, like we were teenagers sneaking around under parental supervision.
“Any word?” Hail asked as Dungar hung his hat on the peg by the door.
“Nothing suspicious. Tourists are asking about the pottery demonstrations, but Aunt Inla’s telling everyone you’ve closed for a short time for personal reasons.” Dungar filled the kettle at the sink for tea. “No sign of Will or his people anywhere.”
“That’s good, right?” I looked between the brothers, trying to read their expressions.
“Maybe.” Dungar’s tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. “I’m confident they’re preparing their next move.”
Anxiety spiked through my chest. We’d been holed up here for two days, which was too much time spent jumping at every unexpected sound and checking the windows whenever a vehicle passed on the distant road.
“There’s some g-g-good news though,” Hail said, his face brightening. “Tell her about the cleanup.” He glanced my way. “I was going to tell you but it’s m-m-my brother’s work.”
Dungar flashed a tusk-filled smile. “When I told everyone, the entire family said they wanted to help. Once this is over, they want to help fix the pottery barn. Holly organized the tourists too. You should see how many people volunteered to help, most saying they’ll come back when we give the word.”
My eyes widened. “Tourists want to help clean up?”
“They said the pottery demonstrations were one of their favorite parts of visiting Lonesome Creek.” When the kettle whistled, Dungar poured his tea and brought the cup to the table, settling across from us. “It’s going to be amazing.”
I stared at him, trying to process what he was telling me. “Strangers are willing to spend their vacation time working on a mess?”
“They are,” Dungar said. “Because you and Hail and the pottery barn mean something to them. You’ve touched their lives, even in the short time they’ve been here.”
The tears came without warning. I’d spent so many years believing I was nobody special, that I had nothing of value to offer anyone. The idea that tourists would give up part of their vacation to help rebuild what I’d inadvertently caused to be destroyed was almost too much to comprehend.
“Hey.” Hail’s chair scraped against the floor as he moved to wrap his arms around me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I buried my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “Everything’s perfect and terrible, and I don’t know how to handle any of it.”
“Welcome to our family,” Dungar said dryly, though his voice carried warmth. “It’s overwhelming at first, having people who actually care what happens to you.”
“I’ve never had that before.” The admission came out muffled against Hail’s shirt. “I don’t know the rules.”
“There aren’t any.” Hail stroked my hair. “Just l-l-love and loyalty and showing up for each other when it matters.”
“Even when it’s dangerous?”
“Especially then.”
I pulled back to look at him, seeing nothing but steady certainty in his eyes. This male was willing to risk everything to keep me safe. His entire family had rallied around a woman they’d only recently met because she mattered to him. No, becauseImattered to them. Still, the generosity of what they were doing staggered me.
“I want to help organize the cleanup.” I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
