The shared fields of farmland between Domino and Josephine's property were ablaze with rich golden hues from the sunset. Insects hissed in the swaying grass as the widow bounced her baby girl on her hip while Domino worked on the storm door. Armis leaned against the porch railing, stealing glances at her as she chatted with Domino. She'd taken his breath away the moment he laid eyes on her. There was so much of her physical appearance that reminded him of Nina, his ex-girlfriend. From the strawberry blonde hair to the hazel eyes and a smattering of freckles across her nose.

"You've been traveling a long time," Josephine said.

"Yes, after our house burned down, we set our sights towards the coast and never looked back," Armis replied.

"I bet you've been able to see a lot of the country that way. You're lucky."

"Depends on what you consider lucky. We stuck to back-roads to avoid the cities, so we missed the scenic route. Besides, everything south of the states bordering Canada are full of dry land and dusty mountains."

"What about food and water?"

"We hunted most of it, but I made deer jerky just before we left home, so we nibbled on that when we couldn't find anything to kill. We ate lots of squirrels. Water was harder to come by after we ran out of our supply from home."

"Are you heading towards the coast after this? Because I should warn you, it's not a promised land. Far from it."

"We heard." Armis nodded. "I'm sorry about your sister."

Josephine stopped rocking her daughter, and a sweep of lament came over her face like a shadow. "She was so young..."

Armis stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder, looking her in the eyes, "I shouldn't have brought that up. I'm sorry."

"It's ok," Josephine replied and continued rocking her daughter. "I named Lillett after her. You know, to honor her so that in a way my sister still lives on."

"Yes, I know what you mean. My mother died giving birth to my sister. She's named after her."

"Is she like her?"

"A little. Our mother was white, so Everleigh has more of her coloring, but her personality is more like our father."

"Does that mean you look more like your father?"

"Physically, yes. He was a dark Hispanic man. Darker than me." Armis rubbed his naturally deeply-tanned arm and chuckled, "Everleigh looks pale in comparison. But I was told I take after our mother in the personality department, and I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"Why?" Josephine quirked a brow.

"Because my father is my hero, and in his absence, it's up to me to take care of Everleigh, but to do that, I need to be more like him. Ruthless. Willing to do whatever it takes."

"And your mother? What was she like?"

"Kind. Not afraid to express herself and always wanting to protect everyone."

"Ah, so that's where you take after her. Those are wonderful qualities, Armis. You shouldn't be ashamed."

"I'm not."

"I was wondering about your mother," Domino spoke up. "I keep hearing your father, but never your mother."

"That's because I've grown so used to not talking about her. Growing up, we rarely talked about her. My father thought it would be best for Everleigh's sake."

"How so?" Domino asked, but Josephine answered.

"Because he didn't want Everleigh blaming herself for their mother's death. Am I right?"

"Exactly," Armis replied.

"That must've been tough on you. Doesn't seem fair," Domino said as he tried setting the storm door in place.

"It's fine," Armis responded through clenched teeth, and the tone didn't go unnoticed by Domino.

"Look, I'm not trying to upset you, but from what I've observed over the last few days, you protect your sister too much. It's not good for her."

"She's my baby sister, the only family I have. Of course, I'm protective of her."

Domino tightened the hinges and glanced over his shoulder. "I get it. I'd do anything for my family too, but Everleigh is codependent on you. She hasn't left your side since your arrival. Her dependency on you is her weakness."

"How do you know she's not mine?"

"Because you're a survivor. A man who drags himself through the desert with bullet holes in him and lives to tell the tale? Come on. You're capable of that, no matter what. You might tell yourself it was love for your sister that pushed you, but I say it was a desire to live. Not her."

"You're wrong. I'd do anything for Everleigh."

"Then ease the rope you've tied around her," Domino replied. "Because you're not doing her any favors being so protective. I don't doubt she can take care of herself, but without you, she'll fall apart. So teach her to live without you."

"Is that why I'm going with you tomorrow? And why you've practically served my sister on a plate to your nephew!"

Josephine, who had been silent, stepped between them, her palms raised as if giving a peace offering. "Armis, would you like to come inside for some lemonade?"

A slow exhale released his lungs as his eyes shifted to Domino. The man glared back at him, but the tension in his face eased, and he cleared his throat. "You know what, that sounds good."

"Ok," she said, stepping into the doorway, nodding for Armis to follow.

When he entered, it wasn't at all what he expected to find. The furniture was sparse inside Josephine's home, with the front door leading into the kitchen where a table and four chairs were. In the living room, to the right, was a small sofa and scattered toys. Graying wood panels wrapped the walls and had long ago lost their gloss. They were also barren of pictures or decorations of any kind. It was so empty that Armis's steel-toe boots echoed against the floorboards. A lonely place to live for a widow raising a child.

"Here you go," Josephine said as she offered him a glass. "I'm afraid it's not that refreshing since I don't have ice."

"That's alright," Armis replied and pressed the refreshment to his lips.

The tangy yet sweet taste transported him to a memory of his mother in the kitchen, her hair tied in a ponytail, loose strands falling into her face as she muddled bits of berries into the lemonade. Josephine's lemonade tasted identical to hers.

"What is it?" Josephine tilted her head, examining the blissful and distant look on his face.

"You mix berries into your lemonade."

"That's right."

"My mother used to do the same," Armis replied. "To cut the sourness, she would say."

"It's a great trick." The smile on Josephine's lips faded. "You know, Domino only said that about your sister because he's a father. Sometimes parents can't help but give tough love."

Armis crossed his arms, setting the glass in the crook of his elbow. "I get that, but he doesn't know what it's like to only have one family member left."

"No, you're right. Domino is fortunate to have a family, so how about this?" Josephine set Lillett down and encouraged her to play in the living room. "How about you listen to my experience?"

"Ok." Armis gave a single nod.

"My husband did everything for me. I depended on him for so much once we moved out here. I'm a city girl." She shrugged. "What do I know about roughing it? When he died, I was lost. There I was, twenty-six years old with a baby, and I didn't know how to chop wood or kill a deer, let alone skin and cure the meat. I didn't know how to grow our vegetables or even how to preserve our food. The first time I tried to build a fire in the chimney it smoked up the entire house. Poor Lillett couldn't stop coughing! I was useless. But, Domino and Sarah taught me something new every day. They never held my hand, though. I needed to learn, even if I struggled a bit at first. They were patient, but I learned. Your sister can become more independent, too, if you let her."

Josephine stepped back, satisfied with the point she made, but Armis stepped forward-his eyes narrowed. So, she took another step back, and he stepped forward. They repeated this until Josephine butted against the kitchen counter. Behind her through the window, Domino was walking back to his home, leaving the two of them alone. Her eyes flashed to her daughter, a visible swallow rolling down her throat.

"Are you in on it too?" Armis asked, peering down at her.

"W-w-what?" Josephine stuttered.

"I'm not a dummy. I've noticed them getting Everleigh and Corbin alone together. And then today, out of nowhere, Domino brings me here to stand around with his pretty neighbor. Not to mention, Sarah wants you over for dinner again."

"She does?" her voice trembled.

"Yes," he hissed through his teeth. "Are they trying to make me your new husband? Is that what they have planned? They told me about the draft and they want me to protect you. Am I right?"

Inhaling a sharp gasp, Josephine recoiled. When Armis trapped her against the counter with his hands, she shoved his chest and slid past him. She bolted for Lillett, swooping the child into her arms.

"Get out!" she cried, her eyes brimming with tears as she hugged her daughter. "I don't need anyone to take care of us, and you could never replace my husband. Never!"

"I'm sorry." Armis stepped toward them and Josephine flinched. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "It's just I know they've got something up their sleeve. I thought you were in on it."

"Please leave."

"I'm sorry."

"Please tell Sarah I won't be coming over for dinner."

"I truly am sorry. I shouldn't have assumed." He stepped closer.

"Don't come closer!" Josephine backed up, her eyes now casting a warning as she glared at him.

Armis held up his hands, surrendering. "I will not hurt you. It's just I don't take chances with people anymore-not when I get a feeling something is off."

"Domino and Sarah are good people." She sniffled, raising her chin. "They've taken care of me, and they keep that man away from me."

"What, man?"

"Chuck! They say he's not right in the head, but they need him because he's good with sniping. They would let nothing bad happen to me. There's nothing off about them."

"You're wrong, Josephine. Something is up with them, and my gut instinct is never wrong."

Excusing himself, he walked back to Domino's home, but guilt bloomed in his chest, causing him to rub his sternum. He was an idiot for accusing Josephine-a single mother and widow. The last thing he expected was to take his irritation with Domino out on her.

As he continued marching through the tall grass, he heard a loud shriek and froze. The hairs on his arms electrified with the familiar voice.

Everleigh!

He sprinted towards the noise with pain reverberating through his stitches, but he kept moving and followed the cries to the pit in the ground. When he collapsed at the edge and peered down, Corbin was splashing her with water.

"Everleigh!" he yelled, and they stopped splashing-their attention darting to him. "You scared me. I thought someone was attacking you."

"Well, he was," she giggled, water dripping from her hair.

"I broke into the water vein!" Corbin explained. "Tomorrow, we can construct the well."

Everleigh wiped the water from her face, and Corbin helped brush the wet strands of hair out of her face, causing Armis's stomach to tighten. Josephine wasn't part of whatever scheme going on, but was Corbin?

"Don't touch her," he growled, and Corbin's hand froze.

"Armis..." Everleigh quirked a brow.

"Out, Everleigh! We're leaving," he demanded.

"What?"

"Climb out! We're leaving," he restated.

"Armis..." Everleigh climbed up the ladder. "What about tomorrow? Aren't you going with Domino to see his friend?"

When she got to the top, Armis clasped the back of her shirt and hauled her up like a lion snatching its cub. He almost stumbled backward, but regained his footing and didn't let go of her as he pulled her toward the house.

"My arm." She squirmed. "You're hurting me."

"I want you to pack your things!"

"Wait!" she cried, trying to tug herself free. "What's wrong? Please tell me."

"We don't belong here." He spun around. "Now do as I say!"

When Corbin caught up, he stood by like a referee hands up and his eyes flashing between them. "Calm down, Armis."

"This is none of your business. Now stay out of our way before you regret it!"

"Oh, please. With your injuries, I'd have you face-down on the ground in a second.

"Want to bet?" Armis barked and motioned for Everleigh. "Stop messing around. Let's go."

"Listen," Corbin tried again. "I think you're scaring your sister, so how about explaining what's wrong?"

"Everleigh..." Armis pleaded. "We have to go."

In a voice, so meek it sounded like a child's, she replied, "Ok, Armis."

"WAIT," Corbin shouted, blocking their path. "Can you at least explain to me what's going on? Please."

"Are you in on it?" Armis jabbed his finger into Corbin's chest.

"In on what?"

"Don't play stupid! Whatever your uncle and his wife are planning for Everleigh."

"There isn't a plan. It was just a suggestion about marrying Everleigh to protect her. That was it."

"Well, you won't. Got it? You're too old for her."

"He's only thirty-four," Everleigh whispered.

"Which is too old!"

"Armis..." she moved in closer and studied her brother's face. "This isn't about Corbin or me, is it? I think this is about Chuck. You're still worried about him."

Armis's attention floated over to the tower where Chuck's silhouette stood at the top. Evening rolled across the sky, transforming it from a sherbet canvas to purple. In the fading sunset winking on the horizon, he looked like a portrait with his hair fluffing in the breeze. However, his presence was anything but soothing for Armis. Leaning into Everleigh, he pointed to the ground. "There is something off about this place. I can feel it."

"I think you're paranoid." Everleigh touched his arm.

"I'm not!"

"If it'll make you feel better, we can search his house." Corbin offered. "See if he's hiding something."

"That sounds like a good idea." Everleigh folded her hand around her brother's. "So how about we rule out the danger before jumping to conclusions?"

Armis shook his head. "No. That's not what Papá taught us to do. We avoid danger, and to do that, we need to leave."

"And go where?" Corbin asked.

"North." Armis shrugged. "Cross the border like Domino said, but we aren't staying here!"

"Then at least be smart about it," Corbin replied. He eased himself forward and placed a hand on Armis's shoulder. "If something is off like you say, then shouldn't we learn about our enemy so we can outsmart them?"

"He's right, Armis," Everleigh sighed.

"Fine," he agreed. "Then let's create a plan, but I swear to God, Corbin, if you double-cross us, if you do anything to endanger my sister, I will kill you."

"I know."

"Good." Armis jabbed Corbin's chest.

Together, the three of them sat around the pit and discussed a plan of action.