Zach drapes his jacket around Cayden and my arms fly around him. I pull my son into my arms as I sob. “You’re okay. Oh, thank God, you’re okay.” I touch his face and push his hair back to make sure he’s not bleeding.

“Are you hurt?” Zach asks.

Cayden cries in my arms and nods. “I fell. I tied Shortstop to the tree and then I couldn’t get back up. I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Shh,” I say and try to soothe him. “All that matters is that you’re okay.” I kiss the top of his head and look at Zach, who smiles and lets out a sigh.

“I can’t walk,” he says.

Zach doesn’t falter before he’s scooping my son up and climbing the hill. “Just hold on, buddy.”

Cayden’s arms wrap around Zach’s neck as he carries him. Once we get to the top, he crouches down and Cayden practically leaps into my arms. “I’ve got you, baby.” It feels like a dream. I truly didn’t know if we’d find him. I tried to focus on anything but the possible outcome where it didn’t end with him in my arms.

Zach’s hand rubs my back and the smile doesn’t leave his face. “You had us worried there, man.”

Cayden closes his eyes as a tear treks down his cheek. “I didn’t know where I was. I remember Uncle Cooper saying to stay along the water, but I didn’t know which way I was going.”

“You did the right thing,” Zach reassures him. “I’m going to call everyone.” He ruffles Cayden’s hair before turning away.

“Zach.” I capture his attention. “Thank you for keeping your promise. Thank you for everything.” I don’t think he can begin to imagine what this means to me. He is everything I could need tonight. Protector, savior, and friend.

He nods once and walks away with the phone to his ear. I hear him in the distance letting everyone know we found him. You can hear the hoots and hollers of people in the woods. The community came out in full force, and we’re all going home with a smile.

Exhaustion hits Cayden and he falls asleep in my arms. It hasn’t been more than five minutes, and he’s out. Between the emotional and physical things he’s been through, he’s spent. Zach comes back over and rubs the side of Cayden’s face as he sleeps.

“He looks like you,” Zach muses.

“Well, that means Logan does too.” I laugh and stare at the reason for my existence as he sleeps. I glance back at Zach who moves his hand.

Zach turns his head quickly. “They both do.”

“Zach?”

I don’t know why he keeps pulling back. I’m not exactly giving him the clearest of signals, but he’s not either. He’s dating Felicia, kissing me, leaving her at the bar, but she’s living with him. Plus, he scares the shit out of me. I’ve lived that pain. I’ve lived through more agony at the hands of men who love me than any woman should. Of course I’m wary. Now that he knows the truth, I’d think he would understand it more.

“We should head back. I’ll ride with him if you can guide Shortstop.”

“Sure.”

Getting Cayden on the horse with Zach is far from easy. He’s heavy and refuses to wake. After a few minutes, we get going. I ride alongside them as Zach navigates as if this is his land. It’s crazy how well he knows the area. My gratitude grows as we ride in. Neither of us speaks, but we keep glancing over at each other.

I wonder if I have the capacity to ever trust again. Has Todd truly taken that from me? I’m hurt, angry, confused, but somewhere deep down, I want to be happy. And I wonder if there’s a reason Zach is back in my life.

We move toward the barn and the quiet erupts in cheers and clapping. The whole town is here. I look over at Zach and he smirks. This is what country life is like. Had the tragedy I endured in Pennsylvania happened here, it would’ve been an entirely different scenario. My home would’ve been filled, food overflowing, and I would’ve never had time to be alone.

My father takes Cayden from Zach and squeezes him. Guilt and regret fill me. I robbed my father and mother of so much time with the boys. They never got to see them grow up, and for that I’m sorry.

“Mom!” Logan rushes out as soon as he hears the commotion. “Cayden!” He pivots, rushing toward his brother, and they fall to the ground.

My hand flies over my mouth as tears fall. As much as I don’t think I would survive, we would’ve lost Logan too. His brother is his world. They have a bond like no other. Logan finally releases Cayden and finds his way over to Zach.

A hand rests on my shoulder, and I turn to find my brother covered in dirt and sweat.

“Pres.” Shame layers his voice.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I should’ve been watching them better.”

I place my hand on his. “I know you would never hurt them.”

He draws me into his arms, kisses my cheek, and ducks his head into my neck. My brother doesn’t cry, but he shakes as he holds me close. I can only imagine how scared he was too. Knowing that he had them in his care, that I’ve lost everything, and how it would’ve destroyed all of us if we lost Cayden.

“It’s okay, Coop.”

He shakes his head and releases a sigh of relief. “I’m going to get the horses ready for tomorrow.”

Which is his way of saying he’s still emotional.

“You should do that.”

People hug us, get to meet the boys, and chastise me for not coming to see them. It’s a long night, and the boys finally head to bed. Mama and Daddy escape not too long after them. As exhausted as I am, I can’t imagine sleeping.

I migrate to the back porch to watch the sun come up. Today is a new day. I need to remind myself of that.

Each time the sun rises, I choose whether or not to dwell in the darkness, and so far I’ve been choosing wrong. Todd made his own decision, but that doesn’t mean that my life can’t find new light.

I sit on the porch swing swaddled in a blanket with faith that we can start to heal. I know it won’t be easy. There’s a lot of things I need to come to terms with, but last night reminded me that I still have people to try for. The boys, my parents, my brother, Grace, Zach . . . I think about him.

How he makes me feel. How he’s always made me feel.

“Hey.” Zach peers at me as I shake off my thoughts. “I figured you’d be asleep.” He climbs the steps slowly as I get to my feet.

“I figured you’d be gone.”

I walk toward him, unsure of why he’s here. “I left for a bit, but wanted to come check on you.”

“Oh.”

He snickers. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Me either.” He’s close enough that I can smell his cologne. Even after a long night, being in the woods, he smells like home.

I take another step.

Then another.

I’m so close I have to tilt my head to look into his eyes.

I breathe him in, feel his heat, and I can’t stop myself. I want him. I need him. I grip his neck and yank his mouth to mine. I kiss him. I kiss him and give in to everything I’ve been feeling. He doesn’t waste a second. His arms wrap around me, holding my body against his. My fingers grip his neck, keeping him exactly where I need him. This kiss is frantic, but God it feels good.