Page 93 of Montana Silence

She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I guess I could go back to Montana. But I don’t have anyone there. I don’t have anyone anywhere now.”

The people at Resting Warrior wouldn’t hold this against her. I would make sure of it. Because programming like ours went so deep, you couldn’t fight it, and she had a hell of a journey in front of her.

“Well,” I said. “It’s a good thing you know a place that specializes in helping people heal from trauma.”

Brynn’s mouth opened and closed. “They would help me? After what I did?”

“Liam?” I called. He stepped into the doorway immediately. “Would Resting Warrior have a place for Brynn?”

He thought about it. “I’ll have to talk to Daniel, but I don’t see why not.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you.”

“Just focus on getting better,” Liam said. “Once you’re out of the hospital, we’ll talk about it.”

She seemed so overwhelmed, we took our leave, going back to my room. “Do you think you’ll get in trouble if you get in bed with me?”

“It’s worth the risk.” Liam didn’t hesitate to kick off his shoes and help me into the bed before sliding in behind me and wrapping an arm around me.

I would never take this feeling for granted again. Happiness and safety. Comfort and love. We were going home. This time, forever.

“I love you,” I said quietly.

Liam tapped my hand three times.

Epilogue

Mara-Three months later

Snow fell outside the windows,and I snuggled deeper into the blankets next to Liam. A fire roared in the fireplace, and I still wanted all the heat. Maybe it was all the time I’d spent in Arizona while I was younger. I loved the cold weather, but I still wanted to soak up heat like a snake on a rock.

The fire crackled merrily in the background, and Liam and I were almost asleep.

I watched the snow whirl outside. “Do you think I should check on Brynn?”

“Why?” I guessed he was further from sleep than I thought. His voice was entirely alert.

“Probably isn’t used to snow.” It was the firstbigsnow of the year. One that might take a few days for Garnet Bend to dig themselves out of. Brynn now lived in the cabin I’d vacated when I moved in with Liam. It was warm, and I wasn’t worried about her freezing. But my first snow had been disconcerting too.

“I’ll check on her tomorrow,” I said.

“Good idea.” Liam grabbed me around the waist and rolled, pinning me beneath him on the couch. “I don’t want to let you go right now.”

“Oh? Sounds like you’re starting to get needy,” I teased.

He called my bluff, kissing me hard enough we got lost in each other. Home was our favorite place to be. Liam had taken me paragliding one more time after I got my cast off and before it was too cold. We’d also gone camping at the other Resting Warrior property. But we were happiest here, in the place we worked to make a reflection of both of us.

Here, neither of us had to hide who we were. If I was having a bad day with memories or flashbacks, Liam didn’t mind if I was silent. Likewise with the memories of his childhood or his injuries. Weworked. And I was only a little sad we’d waited so long to come together.

Everything happened for a reason. Who knew if anything had happened between us earlier if it would have worked out in the same way? Maybe neither of us would be here.

“I was going to wait until Christmas,” Liam said. “But I’m impatient. I can’t.”

“I can wait for my presents,” I told him. “I promise I was teasing.” Last week, I’d pouted when he told me he hid the presents.

“This isn’t a present. Or at least, it’s not the traditional kind.”

“Okay…” I drew out the word. “Do I need to sit up for this?”

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