I lie in the dark, staring at the ceiling, listening.
Listening for the wind.
For sirens that won’t reach out this far.
For the low roar of the fire catching another ridge.
For the nightmare that always shows up when I’m this tired.
In between, I hear the creak of floorboards as Jesse paces once more to check his kids.
The distant murmur of the radio on low.
The almost-silent rustle of sheets in the next room—Abilene shifting in her bed.
Everything is too close.
Too quiet.
Too dangerous.
My jaw locks. I drag a hand over my face and sit up, legs sliding over the edge of the bed. Every muscle aches, tight and restless.
I need air.
The floorboard outside my door creaks.
I’m on my feet before I think, habit and worry pushing me toward the hallway.
When I open the door, Abilene is there, half in shadow, leaning against the wall, trying to be invisible. She’s changed into a soft sweater and leggings, hair loose around her shoulders, feet bare on the cool wooden floor.
She looks smaller without her boots and jacket. Smaller and fragile in a way that makes every protective instinct in me stand up and snarl.
Her eyes go wide when she sees me. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake anyone.”
“You didn’t,” I say quietly. “I thought the twins might have Jesse up. Or Wyatt hadn’t gone to bed yet…”
She fiddles with her necklace, thumb stroking the little silver bee back and forth. A tell. She has a whole hive’s worth of little tells.
“I, um…” She swallows. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Me neither.”
We just stand there, facing each other across the narrow hallway. The cabin lights are dim, shadows pooling in the corners.
Outside, the wind gusts, carrying smoke even out here.
Her gaze flicks toward the front window, toward the direction of home. Her worry is written all over her face.
“Thinking about your bees?”
She blinks, then nods, surprised I guessed it so fast.
“I keep picturing the hives. Wondering if they’re listening to the fire the way they listened to the storm. Bees can’t just…” She gestures helplessly. “Run. If something happens, they’re stuck.”
Her voice thins near the end.
I step closer, careful.
