Aiona looked toward the sky.
"You'll need somewhere to sleep."
Elias reached for Ranger's reins.
"I've slept outside in worse weather."
"You can stay here."
Elias looked at her.
Aiona immediately added, "On the porch."
Nielli laughed.
Elias almost smiled.
"Thank you."
They ate supper together.
It was simple food—beans, corn bread, dried meat, and coffee.
Elias noticed that Aiona gave the larger portion to Nielli.
Nielli quietly pushed half of it back toward Aiona.
Neither woman said anything.
Elias said nothing either.
But he noticed.
After supper, the storm arrived.
Rain struck the roof with increasing force.
Wind pushed against the cabin walls.
Ranger stamped nervously in the corral.
Elias checked the animals twice before returning inside.
Aiona had already spread blankets across the floor.
There was only one practical sleeping arrangement left.
Three bedrolls.
One narrow room.
Two women.
One stranger.
Aiona looked at Elias.
"You said earlier that you don't sleep well."
Elias nodded.
"I don't."
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Bad memories."
Nielli lowered her eyes.
Aiona didn't press.
They settled down.
The fire burned low.
Rain continued beating against the roof.
Elias lay awake.
His revolver rested within reach.
His eyes remained open.
He listened.
Wind.
Rain.
Ranger shifting outside.
Nielli breathing softly.
Aiona turning once beneath her blanket.
Then silence.
Hours passed.
Suddenly, Elias heard a noise outside.
He sat upright.
His hand moved toward his weapon.
Aiona woke immediately.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
Elias listened again.
A branch had fallen.
Only a branch.
He exhaled.
But sleep did not return.
Aiona watched him from the other side of the room.
"You always do that?"
"Do what?"
"Wake like you're expecting someone to kill you."
Elias stared into the darkness.
"Sometimes."
Nielli opened her eyes.
"You don't have to be afraid here."
Elias almost laughed.
It wasn't fear.
Not exactly.
It was conditioning.
Years of surviving had taught his body to react before his mind could think.
He finally lay back down.
"Good night."
"Good night," Aiona replied.
But neither woman knew that Elias was already wondering whether he had made a mistake by staying.
He had promised himself he would leave in the morning.
He would repair the remaining fence.
Thank them.
Mount Ranger.
Ride south.
That had always been his pattern.
Yet when dawn finally arrived, something strange happened.
Elias slept.
He slept through the night.
He didn't wake at every sound.
He didn't reach for his gun.
He didn't dream about the past.