Page 35 of Rescue in Misty Mountain

“You didn’t panic.”

“I have a good teacher.”

I grin. “Nah. I think you’re a natural.”

We get him into the crate, then head back to the truck—slower this time. Quieter.

“You’re good at this,” she says softly.

“Been doing it a long time.”

“I meant with people.”

I raise a brow. “People?”

“You didn’t yell. Didn’t lose it. You just... Showed me what to do and not to be scared doing it.”

“Well… thanks.” Something about her praise makes me want to stand a little taller. “You didn’t do too bad yourself.”

We stop beside the tailgate, the sky turning dusky behind her.

“Thanks for letting me come,” she says.

I look at her for a long second.

“Tessa,” I say.

She lifts her chin. “Yeah?”

“You’re not just passing through, are you?”

The wind rustles the trees. Somewhere behind us, a hawk cries.

She shakes her head. “No. I don’t think I am.”

“Good.”

I kiss her.

Not out of impulse.

Out ofcertainty.

Her hands curl in my jacket. My fingers skim her back, warm beneath her coat. She kisses me like she means it—like she’s already halfway gone and still willing to stay.

We don’t say anything else.

We don’t need to.

We drive back in silence. The kind that says more than words ever could. After caring for the coyote, we drag ourselves back to the cabin.

But neither of us are tired.

The second the door clicks shut behind us, I turn to her.

“Tessa.”

She doesn’t let me finish.

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