22. Gabe

TWENTY-TWO

Gabe

Fall hit like a freight train, no stopping it, no slowing down.

That was how life worked—even when the unthinkable happened, the world kept turning.

"Come on, you two!" Livy called.

We trailed her as we made our way into town, her personal guests at the annual Harvest Festival. I followed, Kat at my side, close enough to touch but not quite touching. Livy's excitement buzzed like electricity; one of her drawings had been chosen by the middle school as a featured piece, and she couldn't wait to show us.

Main Street was alive with people and color and noise. Livy darted ahead, her ponytail a flag in the breeze. I trailed behind, my boots thudding on the pavement, eyes scanning the crowd.

Protection was second nature; the ex-soldier in me never slept, especially after everything we'd endured.

"Look at all this," Kat murmured, her voice a thread in the chaos. She stayed close. Too close for just friends. People glanced our way, and each time my gaze met theirs, hard and unyielding, they looked away.

We wove through the maze of booths. The scent of fried dough and cinnamon apples filled the air. Food trucks lined the streets, vendors hawked their goods: jars of honey like liquid amber, hand-knitted scarves, wooden toys. Rides spun and whirred, kids laughing, parents chasing.

But my focus? On the two beside me. Always.

Livy froze, her finger jabbing toward a game booth. "Gabe!" Pure excitement. It was a shooting gallery, rifles lined up, prizes hanging above. And there it was—a stuffed dog, a doppelg?nger for Bandit.

"Win that for me?" Her wide-eyed plea hit straight in my heart.

"Sure thing, Liv." I couldn't help but smile. It was just a silly game, but I'd do it for her.

"Really?" She bounced, clapping her hands.

"Yeah, really." A nod toward the prize. A promise.

"Awesome!" Livy's grin was infectious. Even Kat chuckled, that subtle, gorgeous sound that did things to me.

Things I wasn't supposed to feel.

"Let's do this." I stepped up, ready. The rifle felt familiar, comfortable. I tuned out the bustle around us; now it was just me, the targets, and the prize.

Focus. Aim. Fire.

Simple as that.

"Impressive," Kat whispered when I finished, but I barely heard her.

"Bandit's twin, coming right up," I said to Livy, reaching for the stuffed dog. Her hands grabbed it, hugged it tight.

"Thank you, Gabe! This is awesome!"

"Anything for you, Liv." I meant it. I'd do anything for them both, and I had to keep them safe. "Kat, you want one?" I turned to her, the stuffed dog now secure in Livy's arms.

She shook her head. "No, I'm good."

"Ah, come on." I nudged her arm lightly. "Pick something."

"Really, Gabe, it's fine." But she was smiling, that soft smile that didn't reach her eyes. Eyes that said more, always more.

"Okay, big guy," the clerk called out, breaking our little moment. "You already won your prize."

But I wasn't having it. "Need to get something for my…" The words dangled, unfinished, a half-formed confession.

"Girlfriend." Kat's voice cut through, smooth and sure. Her eyes locked on mine, daring me to deny it.

"Girlfriend," I echoed firmly.

A fact now, out in the open. Livy just laughed like she'd known all along.

"Fine, shoot again," the clerk grumbled, rolling his eyes as he reset the targets.

I picked up the rifle again, feeling its weight, a familiar comfort. This time, it wasn't just about winning some stuffed toy. This one was for Kat.

I took aim, each shot punctuating the silent space between us. With every hit, that word echoed in my head.

Girlfriend.

The final target clattered down. Victory. But it felt like more than that.

"Choose your prize," the clerk said, less surly now, maybe respecting the unspoken shift that had happened.

I glanced at Kat, saw her watching me with those deep, knowing eyes. I didn't need to ask; I knew what she'd like.

"Small horse plushie," I said, pointing.

"Here you go." The clerk handed it over.

"Thanks." Kat's voice was soft but her smile was all the thanks I needed.

"Anytime," I replied, feeling a new weight lift off my shoulders.

We turned away from the booth, leaving the games behind, but stepping into something new. Something real. As we kept walking, our hands found each other, fingers entwining. It felt right. Natural.

Like it was meant to be.

Livy shot us a look and smirked. "Knew it," she murmured under her breath, a hint of triumph in her voice.

We continued through the crowd, past the smell of sizzling sausages and sweet cotton candy. The art exhibit loomed ahead, canvases and sculptures claiming their space. Livy's pace quickened, excitement radiating from her as she pulled away and led us to her piece.

"Here it is!" she beamed, pointing at a sketch that seemed to breathe life into the canvas.

The drawing was beautiful—way better than I would have expected for her age. It depicted Shadow mid-run, muscles taut, mane flying wild in an imagined wind.

"Wow, Liv, it's incredible," I said, knowing my words fell short.

"Yeah, Livy, you've got real talent," Kat added, eyes not leaving the sketch.

"Thanks!" Livy's cheeks flushed with pride. "I wanted to get Shadow just right."

She did. More than just right. There was something about the way she'd captured the horse, like she knew its soul.

"Seriously, this is…" I trailed off, lost for words, my gaze still locked on the image.

"Special," Kat finished for me, squeezing my hand.

"Exactly," I agreed.

Livy watched us, her eyes flicking between me and Kat, then back to her artwork. She didn't say it, but I could tell—she saw the connection, the shared moment. Just like she saw what was happening between Kat and me before we even said it out loud.

"Let's keep looking around," Livy suggested, breaking the spell.

"Sure," Kat replied, still holding my hand.

We moved on from Livy's art, the three of us a little quieter now. A live band played in the town square, breaking through the autumn chill. Strings and drums filled the air, dancers swaying in time, smiling and laughing. It felt a world away from the anxiety we'd been living with all this time since Ben's murder.

"Come on!" Kat said, pulling Livy and me toward the music. She let go of my hand to take Livy's, leading her into the dance. Laughter bubbled up from them as they joined the crowd, moving to the rhythm. I stood back, watching.

Kat's hair caught the light each time she spun. She was all grace and fire. The way she moved, it was something else—hypnotic almost. My hands found my pockets, and I leaned back, content just to watch her.

"Hey, stranger."

A familiar voice pulled me from the trance of Kat's dancing and I looked over my shoulder to find Chris Langley, holding two cups of steaming cider with Clay Hawthorne in tow. I tilted my head in greeting and flashed them both a smile.

"Chris, Clay."

"Thought you might want one," he said, nodding towards Kat and Livy as he passed over one of the ciders. I took a sip; it was delicious, warm all the way down my throat. "Didn't want to leave you out here in the cold while the girls have fun."

"Thanks," I took a sip, the heat of the drink cutting through the night's cold. "Yeah, they're good."

Clay tilted his head, eyes following the girls. "Good for them. They need this."

"Couldn't agree more," I said.

"How are they doing?" Chris asked.

"Okay," I said, shifting my stance as I looked over at Kat and Livy again. "But also not okay, you know? We're just…ready for this to wrap up. For Ben's killer to be caught."

Chris nodded. "We're working on it," he assured me. "Keep an eye out for Nia George, though. There have been reports she's spreading rumors about animal abuse at Martin Ranch."

"Damn," I muttered. "Kat suspected her, and Jake O'Hara said as much the other night at the Spur. Didn't figure she'd stick around town, though."

"Well, she did," Chris continued. "And she's been seen with a man. No one's gotten a good look at his face yet."

A chill crawled up my neck despite the warm drink in my hand. "Everett Jones?" I guessed, watching as Livy twirled under Kat's arm.

"Could be," Chris cut in, his brow furrowed. "They might be trying to stir up trouble for Kat. Get the ranch."

"Wouldn't put it past them," I growled. The thought coiled in my gut like barbed wire. "Not going to happen. Not on my watch."

"You're doing a good job keeping an eye out for Kat and Livy," Chris said.

I grunted. "Owe them that much."

"Can't hurt, her being easy on the eyes, huh?" Clay teased, elbow nudging my side.

I laughed, short, sharp. "Don't talk about my girl that way."

"Hey…I'm not trying to draw that kind of attention," Clay chuckled. "But if she's your girl, then why aren't you dancing with her?"

My gaze followed his, finding Kat moving amidst the dancers, laughter erupting from her chest as she danced with Livy. Her cowboy boots kicked up leaves, her hair a golden halo in the evening light. I met her eyes, something unspoken passing between us.

"Sorry, fellas." I thrust the cider back at Chris. "Got priorities."

He caught the cup, smirking. "Go get her."