y

r the last fifteen minutes. I hear her quiet footsteps approach. I look up to find An

red." Her voice is quiet and de

looks agitated. Is my prese

e here? Do people kn

eason to keep her here anyway. The solution is beautiful in its simplicity. "The next delivery will be soon. I'll arrange for you to be picked up an

prised to see she looks near panic. She rushes toward

neeling before me. Now I'

leave. I can't leave.

ve someone else, telling me they have

y, hearing the deris

akes h

mil

one I can trust. This is the only place I feel safe," she says as tears begin to roll down her face. I realize she's trembling with fea

ake it stop. I lean forward and hesitantly reach for her shoulder, unsure if touching her will make it be

, for a littl

ues as though she

on't have t

me. Her family is dead, she claims she doesn't have anyone else in her life, and she's convinced someo

n, looking for stolen weapons, when we were ambushed. Jeremy and I were running for cover when he stepped on

doesn't stop completely. I

ou showed up, I'd never seen another person since I first set foot in this cabin. No one's going to find you

der, leaning back. She wipes her hands on her pants - my pants - hugs her

your famil

y're dead. That feels disrespectful, considering her situation. Bu

ted how?"

t," I sa

brow furrowed in bewilde

he says, her voice husky. "Not just

n't,"

s me on the couch. At first I'm afraid she'll want to make conversation again or ask more q

turn my attention to the book instantly. I can't concentrate on it, though. I can feel her gaze fixated on me. When I finally can't take it any

e to get away from th

up at her. "What?"

down and not buying my farce that I

ply, looking away fr

-" she

eyes and tilts her head to the side. I give her a short, warn

ence, she speaks again. "Why do you chop do

anting to invite any more oppor

u do out he

nd old ones back. I hunt and fish. I go hi

gun?" she as

at me, trying to discern why sh

ay with tr

," sh

's as though she expects we'll need a gun for protection. I wonder ho

t anyone knowing t

yself te

hat?" I ask, hearing

that you live up here. Who wou

be she'll give up with t

u kill

p sharpl

w?" This accusation is borderline offensive. Does she think that because I'

mmittal shrug, like she's tryi

e line of duty," I say in a slightly rais

at doesn't sound like an outright lie, so I hazard a bit of truth. "There was a lot of media coverage around th

r something? Hiding from the paparaz

nedly ignoring her. Thankfully she doesn't ask any more questions. After what seems an infin

of the bathroom to find her wearing my clothes and smiling at me, it took my breath away for a moment. Up to this point, I'd only ever seen her near-death and sickly. I'd thought of her as a sad, pallid girl. I was not expecting to see a pretty, cheerful woman. A

t to her advantage. Saph had plenty of smiles for me, but those smiles were just another tool she used to manipulate people. Even in our engagement photos, there was something ing

miles, not one of th