Page 13 of Twilight Tactics

He dug into his pocket, pulled out one of his carvings, and handed it to her. “I made this for you last night.” The little wooden bird sat weightless in her palm.

She traced the fragile beak with the tip of her dirty finger. “It’s beautiful, Dad, thank you.”

“It’s an indigo bunting. If you haven’t seen them around here, you’ve heard them singing. The males are all blue and the females are brown.”

“Why are the females always the ugly color?”

He smiled. “Not ugly, they just have a different kind of beauty. And that beauty serves a different purpose. They’re actually perfectly designed. God gave them softer colors sothey’d blend into the trees and stay safe with their eggs and then their young.”

“Oh.” She studied the bird again. “I think this one is a female.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “I’m going to need her babies to go with her.”

He laughed and hugged her. “Noted. Now, finish chopping your wood.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a meeting in a few minutes.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Dad.”

“See you at dinner.”

Elena sucked in a ragged breath and blinked her den back into view. Not all her memories were bad. She set the bird back on the shelf. When she packed her backpack the night she fled the compound, she’d taken six of the carvings with her. Her favorites. Was he still making them? If he was, did he think of her as he worked? Tears threatened and she forced them back.

She didn’t know why she was so melancholy tonight. Maybe Ollie reminded her of herself just a little too much. She walked outside and stood on her porch, taking in the darkness. She’d always thought it peaceful. Her very own weighted blanket that wrapped her in a cocoon of velvety black. But tonight, for whatever reason, the familiar hush unsettled her. It was too still. Too quiet.

Threatening.

As if danger was already stalking them, just waiting to pounce.

3

Sully woke the next morning, grateful for the sunny skies that greeted him and the quiet night that had allowed them all to rest. He’d taken the first shift so Piper could sleep, then he’d passed the baton to her, slipped into a bed, and was out within seconds. An unusual occurrence, but his body had reached its limit. Thankfully, he was refreshed and ready to go—or would be once he had a couple of cups of coffee.

He checked on Ollie and found her still sleeping, which was another oddity. She never seemed to sleep. She didn’t wander or try to leave their protection, but almost every time he’d checked in on her at night for the past three months, he found her awake.

He smiled. The ranch was already weaving a little peace into their lives. Something like a gentle healing. His grandmother would say this came from God. That the Lord was using his creation and the people on the ranch to bring about this blessed transformation.

Maybe so. Sully believed in God—and talked to him often. He just wished the Almighty was more active in taking outthe bad guys and protecting the good ones. Especially kids like Ollie.

His grandmother would also argue that just because it looked one way to human eyes didn’t mean it was so. God was omnipotent. Sully was not, and he needed to remember that.

He rubbed a hand over his eyes. His grandmother had no idea that he was well aware he wasn’t omnipotent—and was reminded of that fact every time he thought about his dead partner.

But those memories needed to stay in their little box in the back of his mind. He slathered a bagel with cream cheese, took his cup of coffee, and sat at the table.

A few minutes later, Piper stepped inside dressed in her heavy winter gear. “There’s an inch of snow out there and it’s cold.” She stomped her feet on the entry rug and pulled her gloves and hat off, then shrugged out of her coat to hang it on the hook by the door.

He set his cup aside and pulled on his coat and gloves, checked his weapon, and walked to the door. “I’m going to talk to Maya, see if she can spare any staff to patrol the perimeter.”

Piper frowned. “You think you should? They’re pretty busy already with the vets.”

He paused. She wasn’t wrong. But they needed more eyes, and he didn’t want to bring anyone else in. Not even his colleagues. They were off the radar with everyone except his SSA, and he wanted to keep it that way. “She’s offered protection before.”

“I know.”

“I mean, nothing like our situation with the mob looking for their next hit, but victims of domestic violence and such. She even had a woman hiding from a stalker. Maya treated her at the hospital and brought her home to heal and hide until he was caught.”

She shrugged. “Maybe they could be an option.”

He nodded. “Possibly. Elena said something about Felicity and the dogs. She felt sure she wouldn’t mind using one to patrol.” He gave a decisive nod. “I think that’s what we need to do. I’ll talk to Maya about a few others.”

“This is a pretty big place, Sully. You’re going to need a lot of eyes.”