As the week went on, Armis's health improved, so he and Everleigh began taking walks around the property. Most of it was covered in overgrown grass, patches of brown and green swaying with the breeze. Part of their walk was for exercise, while the other was to study the lay of the land. Being aware of their surroundings was crucial for survival. After a while, they'd sit by the treeline bordering the property and pick at blades of grass. However, the draft nagged the back of Armis's thoughts as he paced.

They needed to discuss their next step as he watched Everleigh unfold a leather pouch on an old tree stump. She opened the flaps, revealing the inserts for various knives, and he reached for one. Ever since Domino brought up the new law, he began considering crossing the border.

"So I've been thinking. We need an alternative plan," Armis said.

"I'm listening."

"What Domino said didn't sit right with me. I think we should see about crossing the border."

"I've been thinking about that too."

"We can go as soon as I heal, and I'm sure Domino wouldn't mind connecting us with his friend that lives up north."

"If we go..." Everleigh trailed off, her eyes drifting across the field where Corbin was digging the well. "Will it be the three of us?"

"Three of-" Armis stopped himself short. "No. I meant you and me."

"Oh. Ok." Everleigh shrugged and flashed a smile. "It's best that way, right? The two of us."

"Right." He eyed her. Pinching the knife between his fingers, he launched it at the nearest tree, and the blade wedged into the bark with a thunk.

"Good job!"

"Nah, I'm rusty."

Grabbing another knife, he switched hands to give his injured shoulder a try. However, it burned each time he raised his arm to throw, and after a few misses, he sunk to the ground.

"My turn," Everleigh said, swiping a knife from the pouch. She spun the blade in her palm, and then she sent it flying toward the tree. It grew quiet between them as Armis watched his sister, studying the concentration she had with each toss. She was better with knives-the blades stabbing the middle of the tree each time.

"Good job." He clapped, breaking the silence. "Nobody stands a chance against you. Not even me."

"Well, you're still better at shooting guns." Everleigh glanced back at him, smiling. "Even with an injured arm, I bet."

"I guess I'll just have to prove it tomorrow because today, I'm conquering those knives and that tree." He nodded toward it.

Everleigh squealed and plopped down onto the grass with him. When he attempted to stand, she shot to her feet and helped him, despite his protest. After getting to his feet, he embraced her. A solid hug. One that cradled her in his arms. On the road, he often forgot his sister was a sensitive girl and innocent in many ways. Growing up, their father rarely coddled her, and often treated her more like a son than a daughter. He raised her to be tough, pushing her like a drill sergeant to survive the cruelty of the world.

However, he forgot to teach her things a mother would, like getting her first menstruation or the birds and the bees. He was a loving man, but he wasn't one to go easy on either of them when it came to survival.

"Everleigh..." Armis pulled back to study her. "Those men who took you didn't touch you, right?"

"What do you mean?" She frowned.

"You know what I mean. Did they touch you?"

"Never. I killed them all, Armis!"

"Good."

"One of them tried, and I'm positive they had plans to do many things to me, but Papá taught me well. They didn't stand a chance." Everleigh raised her chin, despite the glossiness in her eyes.

Armis stroked the hair away from her face, and he kissed her forehead. "I'll never let that happen again. It was my fault. I fell asleep when I should have been keeping watch."

"But I was awake. I should have been more alert, but I was distracted by..." Her face flooded with a red blush, and she covered her face.

"By Corbin."

She peeked at him through her fingers. "I know. I was so stupid! But every time he looks at me, my brain malfunctions. I don't know what it is, but I behave like an imbecile."

Armis bit the sides of his cheeks to hide his smile as he plucked Everleigh's hands away from her face. "Does he give you butterflies?"

"I think so."

"I'm pretty sure that means you have a crush, baby Sis."

"I do not!" She shoved him, her face becoming redder.

"I see you looking at each other. He tries to hide it when I'm around, but I see it."

"You think he likes me?"

"I think he's interested, but he's older than you, Everleigh. He's probably older than me too."

"He's thirty-four."

"Exactly. Which means he has nine years of experience on you. Chances are, he only wants one thing from you. You're young, you're beautiful, and you're clean. I doubt he's come across anyone better, and he wants a taste of it."

"Armis!" she gasped.

"It's true."

"I'm not a kid." Everleigh folded her arms. "I know what men want. Corbin is different. I think."

"I know you're not a kid. But you're my baby sister, and I want nothing bad to happen to you."

"You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself." Everleigh leaned up on tip-toes and kissed his cheek.

"I know."

"Good." She balanced back onto her heels and took a pitcher's stance, with a knife in hand, before flinging it at the tree. The blade sped through the air, then stabbed the bark. She was about to do it again, but Armis tugged on her elbow.

"Who's that man crossing the field toward the tower? Have you met him yet?"

"That's Chuck," she replied and attempted her pitcher's stance again.

"Quit fooling around. What else do you know?"

"You're just jealous because I can throw better than you." She stuck out her tongue.

"Everleigh." Armis raised his brow at her. "Just because this place seems safe doesn't mean it is."

"I know."

"Alright, then tell me what you know. Everywhere we go, we need to study people."

"Ok, dad,"

"Don't take that tone. This isn't a game. Papá taught us what we know for a reason, and you're getting too comfortable. Remember what he said about that?"

With a deep sigh, she said, "Getting comfortable means your guard is down. It means you're vulnerable to dangers."

"Exactly." Armis nodded, and he could picture their father's strong jawline, long nose, and deep-set eyes while saying the words. "So, what do you know about Chuck?"

"He lives across the way. Single level home with a basement that has exterior access. And, he always takes the same path to the tower. That's all I know," Everleigh concluded, but then teetered on her heels. "He acted strange with me. Domino says he isn't around women often."

Armis narrowed his eyes as he studied the strange man climbing the tower. There was something about him he didn't like, and their father always said to trust their gut instinct. He had to rely on it many times, like the day a drifter held him and his girlfriend Nina at gunpoint. They were walking the perimeter of their farms when they came across him. At first, the man was friendly. However, something deep down told Armis to be cautious. When the drifter pulled out his gun, Armis did the only thing he could think of and tackled him to the ground. Then he used his pocket blade to stab into the drifter's chest, sending him to a premature death.

"I want to meet him," Armis said. "Let's go over there.

"Ok, but I'm giving you fair warning. He's a weirdo."

"That's fine. I just want to feel him out."

They crossed the field to the tower, but when they got there, he cupped his hands over his brows and gazed up at the giant structure, his eyes following the long stairway leading to the top. Everleigh tilted her head with a shrug and climbed, but Armis pulled her backward by the belt loop on her pants.

"I can't make it up there. I'm already winded from crossing the field."

"You lost a lot of blood this week." Everleigh frowned. "So, I'll go up."

"No, no." Armis clasped her arm as she stepped onto the first step again.

"Then I guess he's coming to us?"

Stepping back, Everleigh cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted for Chuck. They stared at the sniping nest, and his head appeared over the side.

"Hey there," Everleigh yelled. "I want you to meet my brother."

Chuck's head disappeared, but a knotted rope dropped through the middle of the tower-the end of it slapping the dirt with a small puff of dust. He began descending from the rope, knot by knot, at an impressive speed and was all arms as he helped himself down. This time Chuck wore a chambray button-up with the sleeves cut off. The first few buttons were undone, revealing a sprinkle of chest hair and a tattoo peek-a-booing from the material. He ran his thick, calloused hands through his hair as it shined under the afternoon sun while walking toward them.

"Even more beautiful today than yesterday." Chuck admired, with a shake of his head as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Armis stepped forward with his hand extended, but when Chuck's attention remained on Everleigh, he snapped his fingers in the man's face. "Over here."

"Never snap at me," Chuck snarled.

"Don't stare at my sister as if you're undressing her with your eyes," Armis countered.

Chuck snorted and shifted his body toward him. "I can respect that. I had a sister once. She died."

"I'm sorry." Armis softened his brows, easing the creases on his forehead.

"Cancer," Chuck added with his bottom lip curling down. "Around your sister's age."

"Were you close?" Everleigh asked.

"I was in the war when she died. The last time I saw her, she was just a kid." Chuck raised his head toward the sky and mumbled, "She wouldn't like me, anyway."

"And why's that?" Armis asked, his eyebrows knitting again.

"War changes people."

"That's what our father always said." Everleigh nodded. "He was some sort of seal."

"Navy Seal," Chuck grunted.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Then he knows what it's like to kill."

"Do you?" Armis probed.

Chuck raised his hand and rotated his wrists, showing them his palms. "Do you see blood?"

"That doesn't mean they're clean," Armis replied.

Chuck folded his fingers over and studied them. "Sometimes, you just can't get the dirt off your nails."

With that, he excused himself and climbed the tower. They made their way back to the house and cut across the field, with insects buzzing and nipping at their skin. Aside from the quick slaps as they batted them away, Armis was silent, his mind absorbing the encounter with Chuck.

"I don't like him," he finally said as they reached the porch.

"Why?"

"Something is off with him. He doesn't answer questions directly. That tells me he has something to hide."

The door screeched as he opened it, with fading sunlight flooding the kitchen as they stepped inside-casting a temporary glow over the wood panels and white curtains over the sink. Domino was at the table holding Sarah's hands, but their conversation came to an abrupt stop as their gazes flashed to the siblings. Armis stepped forward, allowing the door to clang shut behind Everleigh, and straightened his posture while taking in their body language. There was a lot a person could learn from just observing someone. It was a lesson his father taught him growing up, and something told him that Domino and Sarah were up to something.

"Everything alright?"

"Just discussing dinner," Domino replied. "But, now that you're back from walking, I'd like to run something by you."

"Let's hear it."

"Tomorrow morning, I'm heading toward the border to see that old friend of mine," Domino said. "I can't take Corbin with me because I need him to focus on the water well for Josephine, so if you're up for it, I'd like you to join me. I could use a skilled gunman."

"Can Everleigh come?"

"No. Not this time."

"I see..." Armis nodded, his mind ticking. "How long is the trip?"

"A few days. Maybe four at the most."

"Ok. I'll do it. It's the least I can do considering all that you've done for us."

"Good. And you, Everleigh," Domino shifted his attention to her. "I saw you throwing those knives out there. You're pretty good. Maybe while we're gone, you can teach my girls?"

"Sure!" Everleigh's eyes brightened. "I would love to."

"Good. Then it's settled." Domino nodded.

Sarah got up from the table and spun to grab a basket from the kitchen counter. Her red apron had flour dusting it in white and there were wisps of brunette hair coming undone from her french braid, yet the woman looked beautiful when others would appear messy. She smiled, handing the basket to Everleigh with her delicate, catlike grace.

"Sweetheart, would you do me a kindness and take this to Corbin? He's been out there digging that well for hours and hasn't taken a break today."

"Sure," she replied, trying to hide her smile as she took the basket.

"Speaking of Josephine," Domino said as he got up from the table. "I noticed her storm door is crooked and isn't closing right. Armis, why don't you go over there with me so we can straighten it out?"

"Um... sure." He glanced back and forth between Domino and Sarah.

They were up to something. He could feel it in his gut and he needed to find out what.

∆∆∆

Out in the field, Everleigh approached the bottomless pit Corbin was digging, and became mesmerized by his back muscles contracting in the sunlight as he worked the shovel. He wiped sweat from his forehead and almost caught her watching him, but she cleared her throat before he turned around.

"I've brought you something."

"Oh yeah, like what?" He shielded his eyes, his lips parting into a smile.

"Not sure." Everleigh bit down on her cheeks, preventing herself from smiling. "It's from Sarah. She says you haven't taken a break today."

"Must be my lunch." He tossed the shirt over his shoulder and made his way up the ladder. When he got to the top, he sat on the edge, letting his legs dangle over the pit, and took the basket from her. "Feel like keeping me company?"

"Ok." She shrugged and took a seat next to him.

As they sat there, Everleigh didn't mind that his arm kept bumping hers or that it was damp with sweat and giving off heat. He also smelled like earth-a scent that reminded her of home. She studied him as he chewed his food and found her eyes gravitating towards his lips. Ever since they kissed, she couldn't stop thinking about it and was hoping it would happen again.

"Do I have something on my face?" Corbin asked.

"No." Everleigh shook her head, her eyes widening. "Why?"

"You're staring at me funny."

"Sorry. I was just thinking of something stupid."

"Oh, yeah, like what?" He cocked his brow, and she narrowed her eyes. "Spit it out!"

"Do you want to have sex with me?"

"What!" Corbin coughed and Everleigh's face reddened.

"That came out wrong. What I mean is, Armis said, you just want to sleep with me. Is that true?"

"That's a hell of a question."

"Just... Answer, please."

"Then do you want my complete honesty?"

"Yes."

"I would be a liar if I said I didn't think about it. But it's not all I want."

"Oh?" Everleigh brought a nervous hand up to her hair, tucking a piece behind her ear. "What else do you want?"

"I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately," Corbin paused, and blew out a deep breath. "My parents died when I was a kid, so my grandfather raised me. He taught me everything I know about witching water, but after he passed away, I left my grandfather's house to wander. For years I've been content being alone. It's easier, but I'm thinking it would be nice to return home." Corbin slid his hand over Everleigh's knee, squeezing it. "And maybe have someone there to share it with me."

"I see." Everleigh nodded.

"So, what do you think?"

"I think..." Her eyes scanned about, panic building on the inside as her palms gathered with sweat. She wiped them on her pants and cleared her throat. "I've never been apart from my brother, and I don't know how to live without him. Wherever I go, he goes. Vise versa."

Corbin nodded. "So, what you're saying is, you can't picture yourself in the life I described."

Everleigh shot her eyes to him. "No. That's not what I'm saying. Having a place to call home again sounds nice. We've been on the road a long time. Maybe not as long as you, but still, traveling is tiresome, and now we don't know where we're going. The future seems so uncertain and..." her voice drifted, but after a few beats, she added, "I don't know. I'm not explaining things right."

"It's ok. You don't have to explain."

"No, I want to," she insisted.

"Ok, then just blurt out whatever comes first."

Everleigh shook out her hands and blew out a nervous breath, her gaze back on the pit. "I'm saying I..."

Her face turned crimson again as she struggled with her words, so Corbin took her chin in his hand, guiding her attention toward him. Before she even knew what was happening, he pressed his lips to hers-silencing her.

Maybe her attraction to him was like the gravitational pull of water for him-a magnetism too challenging to ignore? They had only know each other for a few days, yet he managed to chip away at her invisible armor, and get under her skin. She did see a future with him in it, even if she didn't know what kind.

But if she had learned anything over the years, it was that people were temporary because the drought always sabotaged what mattered.

As Corbin kissed her with bronze rays of sunset casting over them, that very thought repeated in the back of her mind.

So she held him tighter.