Page 4 of Stone Cold Savage

“I suppose you’re right. When did you get so smart, Kenzie Gray?” Coy chuckled. “I think I’m going to look at my family a bit differently now, thanks to you.”

“Sometimes it’s hard to see unless someone who’s gone through it too sheds a little light, that’s all.”

“I suppose you’re right. I take it you’re referring to your dad and… husband?”

“Yeah. Even my husband. We were apart more than we were together for the bulk of our marriage. It seems I figured it out when I retired early so I could be where my husband was stationed at all times and help him through everything he was going through. I realized it then. He wasn’t the person I thought he was. I don’t mean that in a bad way, just that I was remembering him from before all of the trauma, so adjusting and helping him find his way was hard. I had to get to know the new version because the guy I married… well, he grew up. The hard way.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. It must’ve been hard.”

“Excruciatingly so. Reconnecting after so much time apart and living with someone full-time again is one thing. Add the devastation of severe PTSD to it, and it’s a real rollercoaster. I didn’t know if I’d ever figure out how to navigate my new life with him, and I didn’t until I let go of the old life we’d both outgrown. But even then, it wasn’t enough to save him.”

“Jesus, Kenz. I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine.” Coy's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, a pang of sympathy tugging at his heart as he took in Kenzie's words.

“Sure, you can,” Kenzie added. “You went through it too. Different circumstances, but loss is loss, and I think it’s safe to say we both experienced the most traumatic kind. But here we are. We survived it. We’ll survive this, too. You’ll see.”

“I’m really glad you’re here, Kenz.”

“Me too. Though I think having me stay here is a bit overkill. I don’t think I have the same target as all of you. I’m the town Sheriff… I’m seen everywhere and with everyone, so linking me here and to your family would be a stretch, given I haven’t spent a lot of time here regularly for years.”

“Nah. You’re right where you need to be. Until we know who we’re dealing with and for what, there’s no telling what they know and who is really in danger. I couldn’t live with knowing something happened to you, and I could’ve stopped it somehow. You’re too important to this family… to me.”

Kenzie sat up, swung her legs over the edge of the lounger, and faced Coy. “I am? To you?”

“Of course you are. You always have been. We went through a lot together growing up. Your mom passing, my dad… we grew up together. Leaned on each other.”

“Now, here we are, adults, and I recently lost my dad, and you lost your mom, well… I guess we’re able to lean on each other now, too.”

“We may not have made it past the high school sweetheart years, or whatever they call it, but I’ve always cared about you, Kenz. I’m sure I always will.”

“I… I don’t know what to say to that.”

“You don’t have to say anything, Kenzie.”

“I guess we’re still just two peas in a pod, then. Truth is, I feel the same. I’ll always have your six, Stone.”

“Ditto.”

“I’m glad you’re back, Coy. Even if it’s just for a while.”

Kenzie propped her legs back on the lounger, relaxed into her frumpy seat, and yawned.

“Tired?” he asked.

“Finally.” She chuckled and yawned again.

“Me too. Something told me a little fresh southern air and sitting under the stars would do the trick.”

“Maybe it was the company.” She teased. “Sorry if I bored you to sleep.”

“Nah. Quite the opposite. It was a nice distraction and good to catch up.” He said. “You going in?”

“Not a chance. I’m staying right here, so I wake up to that sunrise…” She looked at her watch. “In an hour or two.”

He chuckled. “Me too. Just like old times.”

“A few hours of sleep out here beats a whole night inside. Just something about this place.”

Coy sat for a moment and stared off, pondering the words they’d shared, then asked, “You said you were lonely earlier. That true?”

---