Page 15 of Stone Cold Sinner

“Once you see it, live it, and start fixing it… it gets easier. You don’t wish that kind of hurt on anyone, but getting to be part of the solution… Well, there’s something to that.” Coy stared off in the distance for a moment while his own words washed over him. It was as if he was trying to decide if he was being honest about his statement or if it was just some sales pitch he just gave.

Coy had seen the worst the world had to offer and kept going after more. He was at a mental crossroads where he couldn’t decide if it was because there was satisfaction in the accomplishments they were making or if it was to continue punishing himself for his wife’s death. Both seemed reasonable, fair, and appropriate assessments. Healthy? Probably not, but his work with Safe Haven was like a lifeline connecting him to his past, as if he’d ever forget, and forging a new future even if it was full of ghosts.

“I don’t know how you do it. Just the little bit I understand about what you do and what you see…” Cut said respectfully, “How do you not see it all over again when you close your eyes at night? I don’t know how you sleep.”

“I don’t,” Coy admitted.

“You’re a damn hero, brother,” Nash said, breaking the silence between them. “The ultimate sacrifice, in more ways than one. If only the world knew what y’all did, and there was a medal. You’d surely get one.”

“The world can’t know –– not entirely –– or we lose the upper hand.”

“A selfless and thankless job,” Ransom said.

“Oh, there’s plenty of thanks,” Coy recalled the women he’d rescued on his way to Texas, Rexly in particular. The look of relief in their eyes when he helped free them was enough thanks. “You can feel it.”

Devyn was approaching with a child’s red wagon in tow. “This thing sure came in handy. Why didn’t you have kids sooner?”

“Because,” Cut responded with a dismissive eye roll.

“Well, snacks are here. I brought you drinks, too. Don’t worry. The lids weren’t tampered with. I just put some electrolytes in there for y’all so you stay hydrated and healthy.” Devyn passed around water bottles.

Nash reached for a half sandwich. “Is this your new role on the ranch? Snack girl? Water girl?”

“Ha. Ha. Don’t eat all of those. I’m going to take some to Ran’s guys,” Devyn shared.

“Of course you are.” Cut shook his head.

Coy nodded in the direction of a sedan parked outside one of the work barns where Nash had an apartment above. “Whose car is that?”

“Guessing it belongs to the young lady sneaking out of his apartment right now.” Ransom chuckled as they watched a woman tiptoe outside.

“Well, never you mind. You’re actin’ like a bunch of nosey old biddies gossiping around the fire.”

“Isn’t that the girl from the funeral?” Devyn asked.

“That’s her,” he replied.

The woman spotted Nash in the distance and smiled as she got into her car and drove off.

“She seems… nice.” Devyn snickered.

“She was Mama’s nurse. The one I told you about,” Nash said, poking at the fire that was nearly out.

“Let me guess…” Coy teased. “She stayed out here with you to feel close to Ma?”

“She and Ma grew real close. She’s as devastated as we are,” Nash defended. “You know Mama brought Charlotte some of her famous banana bread nearly every treatment? Didn’t matter how sick she was… Ma made a fresh loaf for her, and I wasn’t allowed any unless Charlotte shared it with me.”

Cut let out a slow, low whistle. “Banana bread? Wow. She really did like the girl.”

Nash nodded. “Pumpkin bread during the holidays.”

Devyn gasped. “She made her pumpkin bread? I asked her to send me some at school, and she sent me the recipe. No bread.”

“Dillon asked too… White House Pastry Chef got a copy of the recipe instead.” Ransom laughed. “I guess we all know where we ranked.”

“So that’s what you were doing last night? Making her banana bread?” Cut teased.

“No. We’re both mourning Mama, so we spent the night… grieving together.”

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