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As the plane touched down, our fingers were intertwined, laced together in comfort and consolation.

I didn’t want to ever let go.

In six weeks, I’d have to.

Twenty-Six

Eva

JULY 13

The weeks after we returned from Arizona passed in a flurry of training, packing, and further barricading the property.

Warren had kept busy in the past week. We’d hardly exchanged two words. Even still, I’d never felt so close to someone.

What we’d discussed on the plane might have reopened the deepest pain in my soul, but it also washed the wound clean. Every time I brushed past him, without a word said, I felt the reassurance and ease of sitting next to him on the plane. How his hands had captured mine and didn’t let go.

Now, after two days of driving, we’d arrived at the fairgrounds near Salem.

Three trucks, one horse trailer. Two teenagers. One horse. One goat.

One desperate prayer in my heart.

Annie, Eddie, and I had driven the horse trailer, Peter and Warren another truck, Lucky and Bennett the third.

We all knew the plan. Warren would stick close to me, Eddie would guard the horse and camp out in the stables with Peter, and Lucky would watch over the trailer and truck to avoid us being stranded once more. Bennett would watch for signs of any bad actors.

I slept very little, my nerves taut and my mind consumed by the tasks ahead.

The morning dew still clung to the ground and hung in the air. Peter and Eddie snored loudly on their cots next to Phantom’s stall, and Annie giggled at them. We were at the end of the row of stalls, and slowly more competitors arrived on the grounds.

I stroked Phantom’s nose, the dark gray muzzle as smooth as silk.

Warren approached and leaned on the stall, studying me with his gaze that never missed a detail. “Are you okay?”

“Just the normal nerves.” I smiled.

He gave me a suspicious look. “The normal nerves of competing against your neighbor who has threatened and attacked you?”

“A Birkstrom legacy, unfortunately.”

He rolled his shoulders back. “Well, I’ve had Reid Erickson investigating these judges in the past few days, and he reports that they’re all clean. Cheryl confirmed that she’d heard the same thing. Phantom has a fair shot.”

“That feels even more intimidating somehow.”

“You’ve spent nearly every hour of daylight working with him for the past two months.” His smile and gaze sparkled in pride. “Phantom just has to dance, and he’ll enchant them all.”

He left to go check in with Bennett and Lucky. I closed my eyes, drawing in a long breath. He was right. Phantom was in top condition, and his bloody mark shone out of his fading gray coat, which had become whiter with chestnut speckles throughout.

“Lieutenant Bryant?”

A deep voice behind me and the use of my former rank caught me off guard. I whirled and blinked. “Colonel Roland?”

The man with dark hair and patient eyes drew me in for a hug.

I laughed and shook my head. “What on earth are you doing here?”

He shrugged and looked around. “Looking for your client. Warren has been dodging my calls for weeks, and I figured I’d have to come out. Adia let me know you both planned to be here.”