Page 69 of Montana Memory

Emma loaded me up with plates and silverware, and I carried them back to the main dining room. The other women followed me with some of the food, and soon, everyone had grabbed something and brought it in to the table, and dinner began.

Chairs scraping, silverware clinking, voices overlapping—laughter weaving through the chaos like it belonged there. The space was packed—former SEALs, their wives or girlfriends,their kids, everyone shoulder to shoulder, passing dishes, teasing, catching up like this was something they’d always done.

I’d never seen anything like this before. I wasn’t sure if that was because of my memory loss or some bone-deep understanding that this sort of thing had never been part of my life. Hunter had told me the little my brother Caleb had said to him about my life growing up—that it had been bad, my mom at least somewhat abusive.

So it wasn’t a far stretch to assume I hadn’t had many family dinners full of laughter and love.

Kenzie sat across from me, easily folding into the flow of conversation. Jensen was next to her, throwing an arm over the back of her chair as she leaned in, laughing at something Lucas had said. Like it was easy. Like being part of this wasn’t complicated or overwhelming. But still, I felt like I was on the outside of a glass wall, looking in.

And then a tiny, chubby hand smacked me in the face.

I blinked, startled, and realized Daniel Clark had set a squirming toddler in my lap.

“Just for a sec,” Daniel said easily, already reaching for his knife and fork to cut his meat. “This is Tyson.”

I sat there, frozen, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid to drop the little boy Daniel had just handed me like I was capable of being trusted with him.

Tyson, completely unbothered, gurgled happily, tiny fingers grabbing for my hair, his face bright and open. Like he knew me. Like I was supposed to be here.

My heart lodged itself somewhere in my throat.

I should have handed him back. I should have done anything but sit there like an idiot while he clung to me like I was safe. But…I liked it.

So, instead of letting him go, I looked over at Daniel and asked, “Mind if I keep him for a little longer?”

Daniel grinned, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Be my guest. Getting to eat with two hands is an unusual treat these days.”

And when I glanced up, Hunter was watching me, lips tilted in a rare, soft smile.

Dinner continued on around me, and I felt more and more comfortable. Talk floated from topic to topic freely.

“So,” Lucas said, leaning back in his chair, beer bottle in hand. His piercing gaze locked on Hunter like a man who had an agenda and zero shame about it. “You given any more thought to staying? Running Warrior Security?”

Hunter, who had just taken a drink of water, paused mid-sip. His eyes narrowed slightly, but Lucas just waited, calm and expectant.

At the far end of the table, Evelyn snorted, shaking her head at her husband while holding a baby boy in her arms. “Subtle, babe.”

“Not his strong suit,” Liam agreed, shooting Lucas an amused look before turning his attention to Hunter. “But it’s a good idea. You’d be perfect for it.”

Daniel let out a low chuckle. “And let’s be real, man—if someone like you takes the lead, that means the rest of us know it will be handled. We won’t need to get so involved. We can keep our attention here at the lodge and spend more time at home.” He shot Emma a sideways glance, something private passing between them.

“Exactly,” Lucas added. “I love what we built here, and I think Warrior Security will be a great addition to it, but I don’t want to be going out on missions all the time. Evie would kill me.”

“I absolutely would,” Evelyn confirmed with a soft smile.

The table erupted in laughter, but I kept my focus on Hunter. Because for the first time, I was seeing something Ihadn’t before. These men didn’t just respect him—they trusted him. I wasn’t sure if Hunter even realized it, but it was clear to everyone else.

His mouth twisted slightly, as if he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Finally, he exhaled and said, “I’m thinking about it.”

That was as close to a yes as he was probably going to give. Lucas didn’t push, but there was a satisfaction in his expression, like he knew he’d already won.

Tyson started fidgeting, so Emma came to collect him. She gave me a kind smile, and they disappeared into another room. I shifted in my chair, watching as the conversation rolled on—about logistics, about what this tactical unit would look like, about how Hunter would fit.

And the more they talked, the more it made sense. Hunter belonged here.

These people got him. They understood what he’d been through, what he still struggled with. Even Dr. Rayne, the ranch psychologist, was here, curled up against her fiancé Cole, laughing at something Harlan had said.

If Hunter ever wanted therapy, he would have access to someone who already cared, although I wasn’t sure if he’d ever go for that kind of thing. Talking wasn’t exactly his style.

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