Page 107 of Her Wild Coast Refuge

“That boy was here this morning,” Grams says, carefully rolling up the sheet.

My skin jumps like I’ve been zapped. “Dawson?”

“He left this for you,” she says, and hands me an envelope.

I hold it in my lap but don’t open it. “I don’t know what to do, Grams.”

She shrugs. “It won’t bite you.”

I shoot her a look.

“What are you afraid of?”

I fiddle with the edge of the envelope, where I imagine Dawson used his tongue to wet the adhesive. Despite my feelings right now, the hollow space inside me warms.

“I swore I’d never be a pushover again.”

She raises her eyebrows.

“He should have told me the minute he found out Soren Creek was our family’s.”

“Why do you think he didn’t?”

“Because he thought he could hide it from me.”

“Is that the only explanation?”

I know what she’s doing, and I don’t like it. “Yes.”

Grams nods, then leans down and kisses my forehead. “It’s okay to not have the answers sometimes.”

She helps me step over the tufts of my hair on the floor. I grab the broom to help clean up, but Grams shoos me off.

With the envelope under my arm, I pour a cup of coffee and slip outside, where Hunter and Brian are sitting on the edge of the deck, a pair of empty coffee cups between them. Hunter is in his uniform, like he’s on his way to work. Brian’s dressed down in jeans, boots, and a flannel.

“Morning,” I say.

Charlie scrambles to his feet and trots over, tail wagging. Hunter pulls me into a soft hug. “How’s my favorite sister?”

I close my eyes and sigh. “Sleep felt good.”

Brian hugs me too. It’s only since he fell hard for Darcy that he’s grown comfortable with affection. Now he’s as bad as my brothers.

“See you later,” Brian says, and trots down the stairs.

“Was he here all night?” I ask Hunter.

“He relieved Coop at five.”

“How long are you guys going to watch over us?”

His face tightens in a grimace. “Until we’re sure you’re safe. We have a lead on this Kalle person, thanks to Dawson’s quick thinking.”

I gaze to the north, but the mountains and thick clouds obscure any sign of the black smoke likely still rising from the camp.

“You ready to spill this important thing?” he asks.

I set the envelope aside for later, and sip from my coffee. “Hayden and I…were together. I didn’t want to tell you because…”

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