Terra had always drawn confidence from her Talent. With her powers, she could place herself in risky situations that other women wisely avoided. More than one man who would not take no for an answer suffered her insistence. Only now did she realize her vulnerability to the man beside her.

He is more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Yet I am not afraid.

Terra put her hand on his shoulder. "Will, I do not fear you. I trust you." Gravel crunched under wheels as Will turned back onto the dark road. "You could have left me to die by Necros' hand and spared yourself all this trouble. Just being with me puts you in danger."

"No. That was never an option."

They continued their drive through the night in silence. Terra gazed out her window at the starry sky.

How is it that this good man cares for someone like me?

Terra's eyes grew heavy and her head bobbed in slow rhythm as exhaustion took hold. Will reached back with one hand while grasped the steering wheel with the other, pulling out two blankets and placing one on his lap. At his silent bidding, she laid across the seat with her head on his lap. He tossed the other blanket over her while she curled up. With his hand on her shoulder and the soothing motion of the truck, sleep claimed her.

Terra awoke as the truck stopped and Will slid carefully out from under her. She sat up with a stretch that painfully reminded her that her ribs had not yet healed. The sky had just brightened before dawn. Will walked ahead along narrow twin tracks and opened an old rusty gate. After driving through, he closed it behind them.

Will grinned at her. "This is the second sunrise in a row. What has happened to you, Terra Lorr?"

She groaned. "Brain damage, for sure."

They continued down the bumpy road for three kilometers. At one point, the truck bounced across a pothole, causing Terra to grasp her ribs. "Oww!"

"Sorry," Will responded. "We are almost there."

On bending around a rocky knoll, a small log cabin revealed itself in a clearing flanked by a grove of tall pine trees. Weathered wooden rocking chairs on a wraparound covered porch issued a leisurely invitation. Behind the cabin and past a rickety shed, a wire grid supported on wooden posts fenced a weedy garden. To the front, a round stacked-rock fire pit stood ready with wood stacked neatly nearby while two downed logs, flattened on top, provided sitting places for fire-gazing. Down the slope, a creek tumbled over a series of rocky cascades into a clear pond. Pine trees framed the area on hills above. From the outside, the only thing modern-looking was a set of solar panels on the roof. The whole area conveyed rest and relaxation.

Will pointed ahead. "There it is. My sanctuary."

"I can see why you like this place."

Will drove the truck to the front porch. He helped Terra out of the truck and up the porch steps, guiding her to a rocking chair, then wrapped her in a blanket against the chilly air.

"Let me check that everything is good inside."

While he opened the front door, Terra set the chair to motion and admired the view across the valley. In the distance, an eagle soared in lazy circles to perch in a tall tree, and what remained of her anxiety faded away.

Sanctuary indeed. This place is therapy for the spirit.

After a few minutes, Will returned. "Okay, it is presentable now."

The layout of the cabin was simple and efficient. A log-frame bed set against a far wall beside a small closet, partitioned by a low wooden shelf. The living area that contained a comfy-looking couch, a wooden table, and two chairs. A small open kitchen with a stove, sink, and a small chiller sat clustered to one side behind a narrow counter. The appliances and fixtures appeared to be recent additions. Cooking and eating utensils were displayed neatly on open shelves below the counter, with a tall pantry cabinet to one side. A black potbelly stove dominated the middle space with a chimney flue that rose straight up to the ceiling. Near the bed, a door opened to a bathroom with a tub, toilet, and sink, which also appeared to be recent additions. Sunlight streamed in through several windows, two of which were half-open, letting a breeze clear away the stuffy air.

Terra smiled. "Will, this place is wonderful."

"I thought you would like it. How about some breakfast?"

"You are too good to me."

He winked. "I know. Maybe you can make it up to me later?"

Terra grunted as her ribs protested when she let herself down on the couch. Will plugged in a teakettle to heat some water, then fetched the food and supplies from the truck. Breakfast was simple, comprising yogurt, bread with butter, apple slices, and tea.

Will beamed as he told Terra more about the cabin. "My grandparents built this place originally as a hunting lodge. Ginny and my dad spent a lot of time here when they were growing up. My dad then brought me up here to hunt and fish, but my mom was not much of a frontier woman, so she usually did not come with us. I updated it over the last several years — put in the bathroom and upgraded the kitchen. Electricity comes from the solar panels charging a couple of power cells, although power is limited, especially hot water for the bath. There is plenty of water, though. It comes from a well out back."

Later in the morning, Terra performed another psi-surgery session to relieve inflammation and changed out the bandages. Will was not much help with this task, only able to hand her the items she asked for while averting his eyes from the weeping wounds.

Terra could only smile when he explained. "This is why I went into engineering rather than medicine."

In the afternoon, Terra settled into a rocking chair on the front porch.

Will held up a fishing pole. "I am going down to the fish market to see what I can find for dinner."

Terra's eyes followed him as he hiked down to the pond below, admiring his masculine form. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself a sensual fantasy, imagining the taste of his lips and the snugness of those strong arms around her. Those thoughts, with the rocking motion and a warm breeze, lulled her into another restful nap.

That evening, they feasted on grilled fresh trout accompanied with raspberries and greens gathered from the garden.

At Will's insistence, Terra slept in the bed while he took the couch. It didn't take long for him to drift asleep after the lights went out, but she remained awake, letting her mind drift. His subtle rhythmic breathing provided a contentment long forgotten. He was close, but then again, not close enough. Terra imagined an escape from the world to this sanctuary. With Will.

But with my past, and the world as it is, how can I even dream of that?