Page 208 of After the Burn

Beck laughed. “You say that at least once a day.”

“This time, I meant it.” She stuck out her bottom lip.

Adorable.

Lucas locked the door. “No, you don’t.”

Taryn turned toward him. “Whose side are you on?”

“Ours.”

Her eyes softened. “Good answer.”

I smiled.

Months ago, that exchange would’ve ended in an argument. Now Beck was already opening the bottle of wine we’d saved, Lucas was taking Taryn’s shoes from her before she dropped them just anywhere, and I was watching all three of them fit into a life I’d once only hoped was possible.

The cabin wasn’t much. One bedroom and a small sitting room. A fireplace that wasn’t needed much in this part of Texas. Old timber walls that had probably hosted drunken festival performers long before any of us were born.

Tonight, someone had filled it with candles. Beck had claimed responsibility, but I didn’t believe him. He’d probably threatened someone into doing it.

A small dinner was waiting on the table. Roasted vegetables with venison, baked bread, and butter. Actual, churned butter.

Taryn stared at it. “I see the butter idea worked out.”

Lucas puffed out his chest. “Were you ever in doubt?”

“Never.” Taryn smiled at him dreamily.

Beck took a drink of wine. “I still can’t believe Wren called Ben Dad in front of everyone.”

Lucas started laughing. “The look on his face.”

I smiled despite myself as Taryn groaned. “Were you really surprised? I’m just glad she forgot everything Gideon told her.”

I didn’t say anything out loud, but I wasn’t convinced she had forgotten. Wren was a puzzle I didn’t think we’d ever solve completely.

Lucas leaned back in his chair. “I thought he was going to correct her.”

“He tried.” Taryn smiled.

“That was his mistake,” I said, pouring myself a glass of the scavenged wine.

Beck barked out a laugh. “She simply looked at him and said, ‘Robin’s my sister, so of course you’re my dad.’"

Lucas nearly choked on his wine, and Taryn hid her giggles behind her hands.

I lifted my glass. “Personally, I’m looking forward to the day she asks him for an allowance.”

That broke all of them.

Beck doubled over the table, laughing. Lucas leaned into him, trying unsuccessfully to breathe, and even Taryn lost whatever dignity she’d been pretending to keep.

I watched the three of them and smiled. A few months ago, none of us had known whether we’d survive the week. Tonight, we were sitting around a table making fun of Ben Calder because a woman he barely knew had decided he was her father.

We finished dinner as the candles burned lower and the fire settled into glowing embers.

The mood in the room changed.