Garrett wanted to wait until night.
Kaia wanted to act immediately.
They compromised.
They waited until dusk.
Then everything went wrong.
One guard spotted them.
Gunfire erupted.
Kaia's horse reared.
She fell.
Garrett crossed twenty yards of open ground to reach her.
A bullet struck his shoulder.
He staggered.
"Garrett!"
"I'm fine!"
He wasn't.
Blood soaked his shirt.
Still, he grabbed Kaia's arm and pulled her behind cover.
Together, they escaped into the canyon.
They spent the night inside a narrow cave.
Garrett's shoulder was bleeding badly.
Kaia tore a strip from her shirt.
"Take this."
"I'm fine."
"You've said that three times."
"I mean it."
"You are bleeding through your sleeve."
He looked at her.
"You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough."
She wrapped the cloth around his shoulder.
His face tightened.
"Sorry."
"You should be."
Despite the pain, he smiled.
Kaia sat beside him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Run toward me."
Garrett looked away.
"Didn't think about it."
"That's not an answer."
He was silent.
Then he finally spoke.
"My younger brother died when we were boys."
Kaia said nothing.
"He was riding with me when a storm came through. I told him to stay behind. He didn't."
Garrett stared into the darkness.
"I heard the horse fall."
His voice became quieter.
"I found him too late."
Kaia's heart tightened.
"You blamed yourself."
"I still do."
"Garrett..."
"I promised myself I'd never let someone I cared about get hurt because I was too slow."
She looked at him.
"You care about me?"
He turned.
Their eyes met.
The silence became enormous.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Garrett looked away.
Kaia felt her heart pounding.
Outside, the wind moved across the canyon.
Inside, something had changed forever.
The Storm
They returned to the ranch three days later.
Garrett's wound healed slowly.
Kaia visited every afternoon.
At first she told herself it was because she needed to discuss the stolen cattle.
Then because Garrett needed help.
Eventually, she stopped inventing reasons.
She simply wanted to see him.
One evening, a storm rolled across the valley.
Rain hammered the roof.
Thunder shook the windows.
Kaia had stayed for dinner.
Garrett cooked stew.
"You cook?"
"When necessary."
"It's actually good."
"That's disappointing."
She laughed.
He smiled.
Lightning flashed outside.
Kaia looked toward the window.
"I've always hated storms."
"Why?"
"When I was a child, our house burned during one."
Garrett looked at her.
"My mother died that night."
"I'm sorry."
Kaia nodded.
"I used to think storms were angry."
"And now?"
"Now I think they're just storms."
Garrett stood beside her.
"That's what I learned too."
She looked up.
Their faces were inches apart.
Neither moved.
Then Garrett said quietly, "Kaia."
She whispered, "Yes?"
"I don't know how to do this."