Page 80 of Captivated

What rose unbidden in Nate’s mind was a single stark thought.

I don’t want to be alone tonight.

“Do… do you have to go back to the bunkhouse?” Nate’s heartbeat raced. “I mean…could you stay here tonight?”

Zeeb stilled, and the air seemed charged again. “I can sleep on the couch if that’s okay. As long as I let ’em know where I am.” He retook Nate’s hand. “Think we can continue this conversation in the morning? ’Cause talk is good, and you’ve kept all this bottled up for a long time.”

Nate expelled a long, shuddering breath. “You’re right. Talking is good, and there’s so much more I want to share with you. But right now I want to close my eyes and shut out the world, at least for a while.”

Zeeb stood. “Then let me run back to the bunkhouse and tell Butch so he knows what’s going on. If you look in the closet, you’ll find clean sheets and a spare pillow. Grab ’em for me?”

“Will you be okay on the couch?”

He snorted. “There ain’t a flat surface in existence that I can’t fall asleep on. I won’t be long.”

When he didn’t move, Nate smiled. “I’m not going to fall apart while you’re gone. I might even make some hot chocolate.” If he could stand without his legs giving way. The fatigue that made his eyelids heavy was working its way down his body, crawling through him.

Zeeb’s eyes twinkled. “Nowyou’re talkin’.” He picked up the bag and the remains of their supper. “Back in a sec.” Then he stepped off the porch and disappeared around the side of the cabin.

Nate closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the breeze rustling through the trees, the calming sound of the creek, the hoot of an owl. He could tell from Zeeb’s inquiring glance that his last confession had been a shock, but Nate didn’t have the spoons for more revelations.

Tomorrow. It can wait until tomorrow.

Zeeb deposited the bag in the bunkhouse kitchen, then grabbed a couple of apples and some cookies.

We didn’t eat all that much.Which meant a case of the munchies was likely.

“He okay?” Butch leaned against the door frame.

Zeeb let out a sigh. “He will be.” He scowled. “That boy has crawled through fire, and then some.”

“He ain’t a boy,” Butch remarked. “In fact, he’s only a few years younger than Walt.”

“Old enough to have been through shit no livin’ soul should be subjected to.” Zeeb reached into his pocket for the keys to his truck. “I’m gonna sleep on the couch in the cabin tonight. I need to keep an eye on Nate.”

Butch folded his arms. “He that fragile?”

Zeeb pushed out a breath. “Hell, he’s tougher than I gave him credit for. But yesterday took a chunk outta him, and sharin’ it all took another big bite.” He raised his chin and met Butch’s gaze. “He asked me to stay. What does that tell you?”

Butch bit his lip. “That you’re doin’ the right thing.”

“But you can give Sol a message for me. Tell him his theory was on the money.”

“Was it a good theory?” Butch shrugged. “Only askin’ because he’s said nothing to me.”

Zeeb was relieved to hear that. Sol was a professional.

He scowled. “Hell no. It was a kind of worst-case scenario, and he nailed it.”

Butch’s face fell. “Aw fuck.”

“Yeah, that was my reaction.” Zeeb slipped past Butch to go over to his bunk and grab some clean clothes for the morning. Then he went into the bathroom to pack up his toothbrush and toothpaste.

When he returned, he glanced around the empty bunkhouse. “Where is everyone?”

“Walt and Teague took ’em out to check on the herd. Couple of wolves sneakin’ around, and they wanted to go with.” Butch cocked his head to one side. “Nate’s gotten under your skin, hasn’t he?”

Zeeb huffed. “Didn’t take long for him to do that. But after spending a week with him?” He stuffed his shorts into a bag. “I wanna know more. I wanna know the man underneath all that… trauma.”

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