Page 4 of One Merciful Moment

"She shouldn't be here. Not without a storm." The older man rolled up his sleeves. "She needs to go back before she upsets the balance here."

Ashley's stomach flipped. They were talking about her like she wasn't standing right there. Like she was some kind of anomaly. Like she wasn't terrified they wouldn't let her leave.

"I need to go," she said louder. "I need to find my truck. I need to call someone. I need—"

"You need to calm down." The older man stopped pacing and turned his sharp gaze on her. "We'll help you, but you must remain calm."

She shook her head. "You don't understand. I need to leave today. Right now. Forget my truck. I need to get home."

No one was waiting for her back home. Her grandma was gone. But she had responsibilities. She had a life. They couldn't keep her.

"You're staying." Boone's gaze narrowed.

Cold awareness slid through her.

They weren't going to let her go.

Chapter 3

Boone

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Boone yawned hard enough that his jaw popped. He hadn't slept all night. He'd spent the whole damn night sitting in the chair across from the couch, watching Ashley twist and turn under the thin blanket.

She'd tried to outlast him. Tried to wait for him to nod off so she could slip out the door. But her showing up was the most exciting thing that had happened to him since coming to Everstill. It had been a long fucking time since he'd had a woman to look at.

Morning light crept through the window. The same steady, unchanging daylight Everstill always had. Ashley stirred, blinking awake, her eyes darting immediately to the door.

"Hungry?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I want to go home."

He pointed to the hallway. "Use the bathroom, and then I'll take you outside."

"To my truck?" She threw off the blanket.

He dipped his chin. Once she understood she couldn't leave, she stopped yapping about her truck. She wasn't going to get it back. It was on the other side of the veil.

She finished in the bathroom in record time and met him at the front door. He motioned for her to walk out. He followed, close enough that she couldn't bolt but far enough she wouldn't think he was trying to scare her.

The street was quiet. Only Rex, Wade, and Levi were around, and all three headed toward him. They walked with purpose. All eyes locked on Ashley.

Boone picked up his pace and overtook her, putting himself between her and the others.

"Boone." Rex stopped in front of him. "Copper said you had a woman."

Wade stepped to his right. "Where'd she come from?"

Levi stared, jaw tight, trying to figure out how she existed in their world.

Ashley shrank back a step, bumping into Boone's arm. He widened his stance, blocking her from their view.

"Back off." Boone motioned for them to give him space.

He didn't want any of the men around her. All they would do was cause trouble and hurt her.

Rex lifted his hand. Boone swatted it away, lashing out. "Don't touch her."