Chapter 41

“We should probably just tell her,” I say, watching her disappear into the tent. I watch as one of the cattle dogs, Jethro, slips in after her to cuddle up a while later. William sleeps in the camper and I don’t blame him for it. That thing is as fuzzy as a fucking sheep. But he meows for Kate the moment he hears noise outside and she makes it a point to come free him quickly. She’s always so kind to the animals and they flock to her in droves. It’s that detail that tells me she’s a good person. Animals always know. It’s why Dozer hates me. He knows the monster I really am.

“In due time,” Dakota answers, shaking his head at me. “She may have accepted that she’s not going anywhere, but that don’t mean she still ain’t made for runnin’.”

I nod in understanding, even if I’m not sure this is a good idea. “She does have a history of runnin’,” I admit, frowning. But would she really run away at this point if she knew? It’s not as if I’ve done a great job of making her feel welcome here. That’s Wiley’s job. My job is to be angry and sometimes tell her she’s a sunflower. She should know that.

“That’s not fair and you know it,” Wiley growls. “She ran because she had no other choice. If she hadn’t, we would’ve never found her.”

“I’m aware of that,” Dakota growls softly so she can’t hear in the tent. “But you’re telling me you’re ready to air out all your skeletons? Every single one?”

He opens his mouth and closes it, no answer on his tongue.

Dakota sighs. “That’s what I thought. We’ll tell her soon, but for now, let her live the fantasy. Our main focus is keeping her safe and getting these cattle up to the reserve.”

Wiley looks over at the tent longingly. “I don’t think she’ll run.”

“She’d be wise to,” I admit, following his gaze. “She deserves better.”

“She might,” Dakota nods. “But it’s too late now. She gets us. She’s ours, and she’s not going nowhere.”

His words are final, as if he’ll never let her go. And I don’t blame him despite how it sounds. Wiley may pretend he’s a good person still, but Dakota has accepted what he is just as I have. I know if she runs, I’ll chase her to the ends of the Earth just to witness her warmth.

My sunflower, always pointing toward the sun.

As someone so steeped in darkness, how could I possibly ever let her go?