Page 61 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“Come on, you two!” Livy called.

We trailed her as we made our way into town, her personal guests at the annual Harvest Festival. I followed, Kat at my side, close enough to touch but not quite touching. Livy's excitement buzzed like electricity; one of her drawings had been chosen by the middle school as a featured piece, and she couldn’t wait to show us.

Main Street was alive with people and color and noise. Livy darted ahead, her ponytail a flag in the breeze. I trailed behind, my boots thudding on the pavement, eyes scanning the crowd.

Protection was second nature; the ex-soldier in me never slept, especially after everything we’d endured.

“Look at all this,” Kat murmured, her voice a thread in the chaos. She stayed close. Too close for just friends. People glanced our way, and each time my gaze met theirs, hard and unyielding, they looked away.

We wove through the maze of booths. The scent of fried dough and cinnamon apples filled the air. Food trucks lined the streets, vendors hawked their goods: jars of honey like liquid amber, hand-knitted scarves, wooden toys. Rides spun and whirred, kids laughing, parents chasing.

But my focus? On the two beside me. Always.

Livy froze, her finger jabbing toward a game booth. “Gabe!” Pure excitement. It was a shooting gallery, rifles lined up, prizes hanging above. And there it was—a stuffed dog, a doppelgänger for Bandit.

“Win that for me?” Her wide-eyed plea hit straight in my heart.

“Sure thing, Liv.” I couldn't help but smile. It was just a silly game, but I'd do it for her.

“Really?” She bounced, clapping her hands.

“Yeah, really.” A nod toward the prize. A promise.

“Awesome!” Livy's grin was infectious. Even Kat chuckled, that subtle, gorgeous sound that did things to me.

Things I wasn't supposed to feel.

“Let's do this.” I stepped up, ready. The rifle felt familiar, comfortable. I tuned out the bustle around us; now it was just me, the targets, and the prize.

Focus. Aim. Fire.

Simple as that.

“Impressive,” Kat whispered when I finished, but I barely heard her.

“Bandit's twin, coming right up,” I said to Livy, reaching for the stuffed dog. Her hands grabbed it, hugged it tight.

“Thank you, Gabe! This is awesome!”

“Anything for you, Liv.” I meant it. I'd do anything for them both, and I had to keep them safe. “Kat, you want one?” I turned to her, the stuffed dog now secure in Livy's arms.

She shook her head. “No, I'm good.”

“Ah, come on.” I nudged her arm lightly. “Pick something.”

“Really, Gabe, it's fine.” But she was smiling, that soft smile that didn't reach her eyes. Eyes that said more, always more.

“Okay, big guy,” the clerk called out, breaking our little moment. “You already won your prize.”

But I wasn't having it. “Need to get something for my…” The words dangled, unfinished, a half-formed confession.

“Girlfriend.” Kat's voice cut through, smooth and sure. Her eyes locked on mine, daring me to deny it.

“Girlfriend,” I echoed firmly.

A fact now, out in the open. Livy just laughed like she’d known all along.

“Fine, shoot again,” the clerk grumbled, rolling his eyes as he reset the targets.

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