The pot roast tasted the same way it did years ago, and Corbin shoveled it into his mouth, savoring the gravy-like sauce, kissed by a hint of red wine. The deer meat was so tender it almost fell apart as he forked it. Even the veggies were cooked to perfection-soft, but not so much they became mush. It was exactly how he liked his pot roast cooked, and Sarah knew that. He swallowed a mouthful and snuck a peek at Everleigh from the corner of his eye. They had offered her the seat next to him, and she nibbled quietly but seemed at peace, unlike him.

Having an affair with his uncle's wife fourteen years prior, made for an uncomfortable silence.

"So, Corbin," Sarah said, clearing her throat. "Domino says you'll be helping him find water for our neighbor, Josephine."

"Is that so?" he peered at the man.

"Yeah," Domino cleared his throat and wiped his mouth before setting the cloth napkin down. For a moment he sucked at a piece of food from his teeth with his tongue. "I figure I can put you to work while your friend recovers. Maybe rig a pipeline from my pond to her home."

"Why don't I just witch it for her?" Corbin began scooping more roast into his mouth when he noticed his uncle eyeing Everleigh. With a mouthful, he said, "She knows what I am."

"Is that so?" Domino grunted. "And how did y'all meet?"

Gripping his fork, Corbin glanced at Everleigh. She stopped chewing her food but kept her head down, and he could almost see the gears turning in her head. Would she tell the truth? Draping his arm over the back of her chair, he wrapped his fingers around her shoulder and squeezed. She shifted her attention to the corner of her eye, and the pulse in her neck quickened.

"They were wandering the sulfur deposits in Nevada near the Oregon border and were thirsty, so I helped them," Corbin explained.

"That area is a wasteland from years of being mined before the drought," Domino replied. "Why the hell would you walk through there?"

"We had a map and thought it would be easier to cut across, but we were wrong," Everleigh answered as she scooted the meat around her plate.

"You're lucky you're pretty." Domino leaned back. "Otherwise, Corbin would have avoided you. People can't know what he is."

"I had to help them. She fainted from exhaustion," Corbin squeezed Everleigh's shoulder again, and their eyes met. "Sometimes, it's worth taking a risk."

"Hah!" Domino chuckled and dug back into his meal with a grin and popped a piece of meat into his mouth. "Still questioning your sleeping arrangements, Everleigh? We could always scoot your beds together."

Darting his gaze from her to Domino, Corbin caught sight of Sarah. She was stunning with her plump rosy lips, eyes like a stormy day, and the elegance of a cat pittering across a wire. Her somber eyes were glossy as she held her fist to her chest, but then got up from the table and turned her back to everyone.

He studied her as she began rinsing a dish in the sink but then stopped as her back expanded with a deep breath. Almost as if trying to compose herself. She tossed a dishrag over her shoulder and spun with the grace of a ballerina on stage-poised and ready for her next act.

"I was thinking of making dessert for tonight. Is anyone opposed to rice pudding?" She smiled, and Domino rubbed her lower back.

"That sounds great, baby. It'll go great with that brandy batch I made."

"Ok." Sarah smiled again and cleared the table. "It's settled. How about giving them a taste?"

"Sure. Why not?" Domino slapped his knee. "Follow me to the barn."

∆∆∆

As they walked through the field towards the dilapidated structure, Corbin's knuckles kept brushing Everleigh's. The sensation left traces of heat on his skin, but she seemed unaffected as her arms swayed at her sides-her focus on their destination. Taking a chance, he slid his hand into hers, and her stride paused for a beat but then picked back up. From the moment they kissed, he knew it would be difficult to pump the breaks. He even considered what it would be like to always walking hand in hand. However, his daydreaming evaporated when she removed her hand and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. He was coming on too strong, but he'd wedge himself in her heart, one way or another.

The barn door slid open, and they followed Domino inside, where beams of sunlight snuck through the wood panels like spotlights on the livestock. It was only four cows, a few chickens, and two pigs-the female being very much pregnant as her belly dragged across the hay. When they came to the end of the barn, Domino crouched and exposed a latch on the floor before pulling it open.

"Last time you visited, I had everything in the woods. Remember?"

"I remember," Corbin replied.

"But then a few outsiders tampered with my machine and took my supply. So I started over, and now, I do it all down there." He pointed into the dark abyss.

Domino climbed down the ladder and flicked on a light so Corbin and Everleigh could make their way. It was a small space and smelled stale, with a touch of something Corbin couldn't pinpoint. He examined the moonshining Still and praised it with a whistle.

"Looks good, but what about ventilation?" He wiggled his nose.

"Right here..." Domino slid his hand along a pipe connected to the machine, which ran up the wall and disappeared into the ceiling. "My neighbor was a welder and pipe-fitter before retirement. He helped me with it. I give him free moonshine, of course, in exchange for upkeep."

"Well, come on then, let's have a taste!" Corbin slapped the machine.

"Alright, alright." Domino held up his hands. "Take it easy. Don't hurt my baby."

He grabbed three cups from his workbench and placed them in front of a wooden barrel next to the Still. With a gentle turn of the spigot, amber liquid trickled into the cup until full and replaced it with another.

"Ladies first." Domino passed it to Everleigh, and they studied her as she brought it to her lips. She swallowed its contents in one gulp but began coughing.

"Are you trying to kill me?" she gasped.

"That means it's good stuff." Domino chuckled.

Corbin flexed his fingers at him. "Alright, my turn! Gimme!"

The three of them stood around, taking slow sips of the brandy, which had a hint of a berry flavor to it. Corbin and Domino kept up a steady conversation about old memories, but Everleigh remained quiet. She toyed with items on the workbench-examining the spoons and colanders until her eyes landed on the Smith & Wesson sitting in a toolbox.

She ran her fingers over the cool metal and opened the chamber-finding it loaded. With a flick of her wrist, the chamber slapped back into place, and she gave it a spin with her palm.

"Seems like you know what you're doing," Domino noted.

Everleigh flinched but nodded her head as she settled the gun back into the toolbox. "I know a thing or two."

In the distance, a cowbell chimed, and Domino twitched his head toward the entrance of the cellar.

"What is it?" Corbin asked.

"It's time I head back to the sniping tower. It sounds like Chuck needs a break," he replied. "Come on. I'll introduce you."

They followed him across the field towards the tower with fading rays of light turning everything gold. The stocky man leaned against the structure, his straw hat in hand. He had bronze skin with deep scars from either too much sun or acne marks from his adolescence. Either way, he wasn't a looker. Yet, he stood proudly in a flannel button-down with his dark, straight hair feathering over his shoulders. He had a mouthful of chaw, which he spit to the side as they approached.

"Chuck, you remember my nephew, right?" Domino motioned to him.

"Hey there." He extended his hand to Everleigh. "I'm Chuck, and you, Miss, are the prettiest little daisy I've seen in a while."

Corbin cleared his throat and thrust his hand out for Chuck. "Hi, I'm Corbin!"

"I remember," Chuck answered, his eyes still admiring Everleigh. "Hablas Español, mujer bella?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Corbin said through his teeth, prompting Chuck to look at him.

"You look like a tough fella," he said with a husky laugh. "Must take after Domino, I guess."

"Especially when protecting what's ours." Domino slapped his hands on both of their shoulders.

"And what a fine thing to protect too..." Chuck glanced at Everleigh.

"I can take care of myself," she responded. "Y sí, hablo Español."

"Of course. It's that fiery Latin blood. A man would be crazy to double-cross you. Am I right, señiorita?" Chuck wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I'm not delicate," Everleigh smirked, and Chuck licked his lips.

"Just the way I like 'em."

"Alright, that's enough," Domino said as he blocked Chuck's line of sight, but he wasn't getting the clue.

"A daisy in the streets, but a lioness in the bedroom..."

"Shut your mouth!" Corbin jabbed his finger toward him, his face coloring with rage.

"Alright, alright." Domino held up his hands. "Go on, Chuck, get out of here before my nephew uses his fists."

"My apologies." Chuck backed up. "Didn't realize it's a crime to appreciate a beautiful woman."

"It's fine. We'll catch you later."

"Adios." Chuck tipped his hat and began walking towards his home.

"I'm sorry." Domino faced Corbin and Everleigh. "He is a nice man, but he just hasn't had a woman in years. And Sarah banned him from even looking at our daughter's since he can be a little unique."

"It's ok. It was funny. This is the most I've been around people in, well... ever." Everleigh shrugged.

"I bet you've also never seen a gorgeous Idaho sunset." Domino stepped onto the tower ladder and nodded for them to follow. "From up top, we've got a magnificent view of everything. And on some nights, we catch shimmers of the aurora borealis. This one night, we saw a beautiful meteor shower."

When they got to the top, the three of them leaned against the tower's railing and could see Chuck marching to his home. Worn down grass marked his pathway, showing it was the direction he always took. Sarah had forbidden the man from looking at her daughters, which meant Chuck was someone to monitor. Corbin knew all too well how people like him always had something up their sleeve, and despite how he met Everleigh, she wasn't one of those people.

Over the years, he'd learned hard lessons from trusting the wrong people, but none of those situations compared to the night in the desert. For the first time in a long time, he feared for his life-and Everleigh's, as the marauder, held a gun to her head. However, they were safe now, and her brother was going to be ok. Sighing, he curled an arm around her waist, pulling her into him. Her body tensed at first but then relaxed. He was going to keep his eye on Chuck to keep her safe, even though she was capable of defending herself.

After the sunset, Domino showed Corbin and Everleigh to the room they'd share for the night. When they stepped inside, Everleigh sized up the distance between their beds and her hands tightened around the handle of her bag. It tempted Corbin to make her even more uncomfortable by stripping down to his boxers, but he excused himself to the bathroom instead.

The moment he left the room, Everleigh tore open her bag and fished out a pair of sweats and an old concert t-shirt her father used to own. She was dressed for bed by the time Corbin returned. He yawned with sleep flooding his tired bones as she eased onto her assigned bed. The toll of driving the long hours to Idaho anchored him to the mattress as well, causing it to creak. He rolled to his side to gaze at Everleigh, but her back was to him.

"Sweet dreams, Corbin," she whispered over her shoulder.

"Night, Everleigh." He yawned again, and before he knew it, his eyes drifted closed.

A few hours later, Corbin's eyes popped open from a cool draft sweeping over his body. He was still lying on top of the bed comforter, so he lifted his bottom and slid under the heavy quilt, but froze when he glimpsed the empty bed next to him. The matching blanket lay flat with Everleigh's bag propped on top of it. Where did she go?

For the rest of the night, he stared at the empty bed, hoping she'd return.

But she didn't.