Page 62 of Protected By the Mountain Man

I picked up the rifle again, feeling its weight, a familiar comfort. This time, it wasn't just about winning some stuffed toy. This one was for Kat.

I took aim, each shot punctuating the silent space between us. With every hit, that word echoed in my head.

Girlfriend.

The final target clattered down. Victory. But it felt like more than that.

“Choose your prize,” the clerk said, less surly now, maybe respecting the unspoken shift that had happened.

I glanced at Kat, saw her watching me with those deep, knowing eyes. I didn't need to ask; I knew what she'd like.

“Small horse plushie,” I said, pointing.

“Here you go.” The clerk handed it over.

“Thanks.” Kat's voice was soft but her smile was all the thanks I needed.

“Anytime,” I replied, feeling a new weight lift off my shoulders.

We turned away from the booth, leaving the games behind, but stepping into something new. Something real. As we kept walking, our hands found each other, fingers entwining. It felt right. Natural.

Like it was meant to be.

Livy shot us a look and smirked. “Knew it,” she murmured under her breath, a hint of triumph in her voice.

We continued through the crowd, past the smell of sizzling sausages and sweet cotton candy. The art exhibit loomed ahead, canvases and sculptures claiming their space. Livy's pace quickened, excitement radiating from her as she pulled away and led us to her piece.

“Here it is!” she beamed, pointing at a sketch that seemed to breathe life into the canvas.

The drawing was beautiful—way better than I would have expected for her age. It depicted Shadow mid-run, muscles taut, mane flying wild in an imagined wind.

“Wow, Liv, it’s incredible,” I said, knowing my words fell short.

“Yeah, Livy, you've got real talent,” Kat added, eyes not leaving the sketch.

“Thanks!” Livy’s cheeks flushed with pride. “I wanted to get Shadow just right.”

She did. More than just right. There was something about the way she'd captured the horse, like she knew its soul.

“Seriously, this is…” I trailed off, lost for words, my gaze still locked on the image.

“Special,” Kat finished for me, squeezing my hand.

“Exactly,” I agreed.

Livy watched us, her eyes flicking between me and Kat, then back to her artwork. She didn't say it, but I could tell—she saw the connection, the shared moment. Just like she saw what was happening between Kat and me before we even said it out loud.

“Let's keep looking around,” Livy suggested, breaking the spell.

“Sure,” Kat replied, still holding my hand.

We moved on from Livy's art, the three of us a little quieter now. A live band played in the town square, breaking through the autumn chill. Strings and drums filled the air, dancers swaying in time, smiling and laughing. It felt a world away from the anxiety we’d been living with all this time since Ben’s murder.

“Come on!” Kat said, pulling Livy and me toward the music. She let go of my hand to take Livy's, leading her into the dance. Laughter bubbled up from them as they joined the crowd, moving to the rhythm. I stood back, watching.

Kat's hair caught the light each time she spun. She was all grace and fire. The way she moved, it was something else—hypnotic almost. My hands found my pockets, and I leaned back, content just to watch her.

“Hey, stranger.”

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