Page 15 of The Outlaw's Code

“Just trying and failing to start a fire.”

“Here. Let me try.” Shane crouched down next to me, soon lighting a match of his own. He then stacked logs on top of the fire, parallel to each other, before adding more on top of them. It was something I hadn’t even thought to do, probably another result of my memories still being fuzzy and faded.

“Is this just how it’s going to be now?” I murmured, suddenly feeling tired and worn. “Sometimes, I know exactly how to do things. And other times, what, I’m just hopeless?”

“Worse comes to worst, you can always learn again, Calder. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Nope. But there is something wrong with me?—”

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Calder.” Shane finally looked over at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re not your condition, you know.”

“Are you done being mad at me? Or whatever this is?” I was grateful for his gaze, some part of me feeling calmer for it.

“I was never mad at you.”’

“You wouldn’t even look at me, Shane.”

“That wasn’t—it’s not—” Shane started and stopped. “Look, do you want something to drink?”

“Like water?”

“Something a little stronger than that.”

“Oh. Yeah. Obviously.” I let out a light laugh. “Honestly, I was hoping you’d ask.”

“What is this?”I sniffed at the thermos before swallowing down a swig. Shane and I had gathered around the fire after he’d finished setting up camp, expertly putting together a tent and rolling out the blanket.

“An acquired taste.” Shane smirked in my direction. “How do you like it?”

“It tastes like whiskey and… cream? There’s something sweet in this.” I frowned before taking another sip. “Pretty disgusting, but I’m worried it’s growing on me.”

“They call it a Cowboy Cocktail.” Shane settled a little closer to the fire. “I had my first one years ago. I thought it was pretty bad too, until it started tasting pretty good.”

“I was expecting straight whiskey from you.”

“Then I’m happy to defy your expectations.” The smile lingered on his face. “I don’t like being too predictable.”

“Yeah, you are full of surprises…” My words trailed off as I spoke. “How’s your farm coming along, by the way? Any closer to it?”

“I haven’t really started looking,” he admitted. “I don’t know. I talked to my accountant and my finances are looking good. I just…”

“You just what?”

“Dreaming is one thing. Making it real is another.”

A lump formed in my chest, as images of Shane at the end of that trail ran through my mind.

Dreaming is one thing. Making it real is another.

“I think you just have to pull the trigger on it, Shane,” I replied. “You’ll never know how far you can fly if you never jump.”

“You’ll never know how far you can fall, either.”

“You’re not going to fall.” I shook my head. “You know that. You’re way too smart for that.”

“What about you?” Shane turned to look at me.

“What about me?”

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