Page 53 of A Mile of Ocean

“Not at all,” Savannah managed.

He led the way to his house through the garden pathway lined with hibiscus and sunflowers swaying in the evening breeze.

They retreated inside, closing the door behind them, shutting out the world’s madness. It was then and only then thatTrent finally allowed himself to relax. He led her across the room to the oversized sofa. “We’re just going to sit here, hopefully, catch a nap here. But even if that’s all we do, I want you beside me.”

Still dressed—without taking off his boots—he plopped down and tugged her with him. He stretched out his long legs, Savannah curling up beside him, and closed his eyes, willing sleep to come quickly. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent before he dozed off.

A sense of calm settled over him, shielded from the chaos that awaited outside. It was a precious moment of respite, a brief escape from the heavy weight of responsibility.

In his dreams, Trent found himself back in the rugged terrain of the ranch, chasing shadows that danced just out of reach. The landscape shifted and twisted, becoming a labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. He felt the weight of the manhunt, a relentless pursuit with no end in sight.

Savannah drifted off to Trent’s rhythmic breathing. Her dreams carried her to a place of serenity, where the world faded away, leaving only her and Trent in a tranquil oasis. In this peaceful realm, the worries and fears of reality melted into the background, replaced by a profound sense of contentment.

As the minutes ticked by, their breathing fell into sync, their bodies finding solace in each other’s presence. The brief rest was bittersweet and over too soon.

At exactly eight-thirty, his phone’s alarm roused him, returning him to the pressing reality. He had to shower and change out of the clothes he’d been wearing for almost twenty-four hours. He tried to get up without disturbing her but ended up gently nudging her awake. “I’m sorry, but I need to get ready before we head out. I need to shower. You can go first if you want.”

“I showered and napped earlier, remember?” she said, yawning and stretching. “I’ll make coffee for the road.”

“Good idea.” Trent quickly headed to the bathroom to freshen up, the hot water rejuvenating him only slightly. After putting on a clean shirt and jeans, he checked his gear, tossing in a razor he used on the trail. He shook off the feeling of unease that kept trying to creep in, knowing the hunt for the elusive figure was taking its toll on everyone.

When he returned to the living room with his gear, Savannah stood at the kitchen counter pouring coffee into a Thermos. Her eyes showed a mix of determination and weariness, mirroring his own emotions. They shared a silent moment as he leaned in to kiss her neck. “Once this is all over, I want us to spend a proper night in bed.”

“Absolutely. But right now, we’re late and need to get moving.”

“Ever since I met you, my timing has been off. I wonder why that is?”

“Unhinged gunman on the loose?”

He chuckled. “There is that. Do you have your gear?”

“If by gear you mean my shotgun, it’s in the barn with Giselle,” Savannah said with a smile. “But FYI, from now on, I’m not going anywhere without it.”

“Sounds like you don’t think he’s gone either.”

“It seems unlikely. But Eastlyn and Colt seemed convinced, even Theo.” She tucked the Thermos under her arm. “I woke up hungry.”

“Come on, I’ll feed you. We’ll grab whatever’s left from the kitchen on the way to the stables.”

She rolled her eyes. “You really do know how to treat a girl right, don’t you?”

Grinning, he cupped her chin, looked into her gray eyes, and vowed, “One day, our life will get back to normal. When it does, watch out because I promise I’ll make up for lost time.”

The dim twilight glow greeted them as they stepped out into the crisp night air. It spread across the ranch in shadowy mystery as if nature held its breath in anticipation of what would come.

The stables loomed ahead, and the teams from the night before were already assembling. Birk and Beckett had already stationed themselves on the roof. Tate and Blake had handed out radios after finalizing their strategy for the night. The tension was unmistakable, but so was the camaraderie.

Hawk greeted him with a handshake. “I’m all for staying however long we’re needed. Lincoln and Drum are in this until we finish it.”

“That’s good to hear. You have no idea how much I appreciate it,” Trent said as he raised his voice to address the others. “Same teams paired up as last night, same schedule to check in with—who’s monitoring communications tonight?”

“Trish is back,” Tate replied. “And for all those wondering, she was out tracking down leads on her own. She checked in an hour ago. So we’re all set on that end. Now, let’s gear up and move out. Remember to stay in pairs, keep your eyes peeled, and immediately report anything unusual.”

Tate spotted Savannah and handed her the reins to Giselle, who was already saddled.

“Thanks. You didn’t need to do that.”

Tate grinned. “I don’t mind. I didn’t take a two-hour nap. I needed to stay busy. So that you know, I’ve never seen my nerdy brother so taken with a pretty face. And you definitely fit that bill.”

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