At the new window.
At the sunlight.
At Beast standing there with sawdust on his shirt and a hammer in his hand.
At the people who had shown up for me when I needed them.
For the first time in days, my chest didn’t feel tight.
“I think I am.”
Wolf smiled.
“Good. My wife wants me home. We are having a big dinner at the Last Stand Tavern tonight. You are all invited.”
Trigger came in carrying a box of screws.
“Beast, you need these?”
Beast looked at the box.
Then at Trigger.
“I asked for nails.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“Close enough.”
Beast stared at him.
Trigger grinned.
I laughed again.
And this time, it didn’t shake.
Later, after the dinner at the tavern, Beast and I sat on the porch swing.
The sun was setting over the pasture.
The sky had turned soft pink and gold.
The ranch was quiet.
A good quiet.
The kind that didn’t make me afraid.
Beast sat beside me.
His shoulder pressed against mine.
His hand wrapped around mine.
For a while, we didn’t talk.
