“Whatever happens with Magnus,” I say, voice steady, “we face it together. You’re not alone anymore.”
She squeezes my hand back, eyes soft. “Together.”
We clean up the kitchen side by side, bumping hips and stealing kisses between rinsing dishes. The cabin feels full in the best way. Safe. Warm. Ours.
Outside the mountain keeps its watch, and somewhere down in Timber Creek the other men are doing their part. But right here,in this moment, with Sadie laughing as she dries a plate and I pull her in for another kiss, everything feels exactly as it should be.
FOURTEEN
SADIE
The sound of truck engines rumbling up the mountain road pulls me from the quiet moment in the kitchen. Thorne and I had just finished cleaning up from our pancake breakfast, still laughing about the way he had flipped one pancake so high it nearly stuck to the ceiling. My cheeks feel warm from the morning we shared, from the flirty teasing and the way his hands had wandered while we cooked. But the arrival of the others brings everything back into focus. Magnus. The possible sighting in town. The danger that refuses to stay distant.
Thorne steps to the window, his shoulders tensing for a moment before he relaxes. “They’re back. Looks like everyone’s heading to the lodge. Come on. We should join them.”
I nod and slip my hand into his as we walk the short path from our cabin to the main lodge. The air is crisp and carries the scent of pine and woodsmoke. Several trucks are already parked outside, and I can hear voices drifting from inside. When we step through the door, the warmth hits me immediately. The big stone fireplace crackles with a fresh fire, and the long wooden table in the center of the room is already surrounded by people.
Silas stands near the fireplace with Harlan, Boyd, and a few of the other men. Their expressions are serious but not panicked. Harper waves me over from the far side of the room where she sits with little Poppi on her lap. Kayley is there too, helping Aidan stack blocks on the floor. Fiona, Hannah, and Daisy sit nearby, chatting softly while Emma pours glasses of water for everyone.
“Go ahead,” Thorne says, squeezing my hand before letting go. “The men need to talk strategy for a bit. I’ll fill you in on everything later. You’ll be safe with the women.”
I hesitate for only a second before nodding. The women have welcomed me from the first day, and right now their easy smiles feel like the safest place in the room. I cross over and settle on the couch beside Harper. Poppi reaches her chubby hands toward me, and I let her grab my finger, her little grip surprisingly strong.
“How are you holding up?” Harper asks gently, her voice low enough not to carry to the men’s conversation.
“I’m okay,” I say. “Better than I expected. Thorne stayed with me this morning instead of going into town. That helped.”
Kayley looks up from the floor where Aidan is now driving a toy truck around her feet. “He’s a good man. All of them are. They take care of their own.”
The words settle warmly in my chest. Their own. I like the sound of that more than I can explain.
Across the room the men talk in low voices. I catch fragments. Magnus has been asking questions at the diner and the gas station on the edge of town. Two men matching descriptions of his associates were seen near the airstrip earlier. Silas mentionsincreased patrols and the need to tighten security at the gate. Boyd suggests setting up a rotation for watches. Rafe nods along, his calm authority keeping the discussion steady. Thorne stands with his arms crossed, listening intently, but his eyes keep drifting toward me, checking that I’m all right.
After about twenty minutes the men seem to reach some kind of agreement. Silas claps Thorne on the shoulder and the group breaks apart. Thorne walks straight to me, dropping a kiss on the top of my head before sitting on the arm of the couch beside me.
“Everything all right?” I ask quietly.
He nods. “We have eyes on the situation. They’re here, but they don’t know exactly where you are yet. We’ll keep it that way. No one gets up this mountain without us knowing.”
The reassurance helps, but the reality of Magnus being so close still sits heavy. Before I can dwell on it, Harper stands and claps her hands lightly.
“All right, everyone. Enough serious talk for now. It’s Sunday. You know what that means.”
A cheer goes up from the children and several of the adults. Aidan jumps to his feet, nearly knocking over his block tower. Poppi claps her hands even though she probably doesn’t understand.
Kayley grins at me. “Sunday means big family dinner at the lodge. We cook together, eat way too much, and usually end up telling stories until the little ones fall asleep. You’re part of it now.”
The simple statement makes my throat tighten. Part of it. I follow the women into the large kitchen area attached to themain room. The space is welcoming, with wide counters, a massive stove, and shelves lined with spices and canned goods. Harper ties an apron around her waist and hands me one.
“We always make enough for an army,” she says with a laugh. “Because that’s basically what we are.”
Fiona pulls out a stack of potatoes and starts peeling. “Tonight we’re doing a big turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans with bacon, fresh rolls, and two kinds of pie. Emma’s in charge of dessert. She makes the best apple pie you’ll ever taste.”
Emma blushes but looks pleased. “Only because you all let me use the good cinnamon.”
I’m given the job of washing and chopping vegetables. Daisy works beside me, humming softly while she slices carrots. The kitchen quickly fills with the sounds of chopping, laughter, and overlapping conversations. Kayley tells a funny story about the time Aidan tried to help bake cookies and ended up with flour in his hair for days. Harper shares how Poppi has recently decided that every spoon is a drumstick.
As we work, the men drift in and out, stealing tastes when they think no one is looking. Boyd gets caught sneaking a piece of raw carrot and is promptly handed a knife and put to work. Thorne stays close, occasionally brushing against me as he reaches for something on the counter. At one point he leans down and murmurs in my ear, “You look good in that apron. Makes me want to skip dinner and take you back to the cabin.”
