“She doesn’t,” Keith states, joining them. “She told me when we were walking out of the woods. She asked, ‘what if I don’t want to leave, what happens then?’”
Cole sags into his seat.
“She’s leaving because we’re all in danger,” Daniel says into his coffee mug. “She cares about us so much she’s willing to risk her own life to make sure we’re all right. She’s a pretty amazing woman.”
“We’re always in danger,” Keith huffs. “Never stopped us before.”
The front door opens, and they all stop talking. Savannah comes around the corner first, shivering from the cold.
Cole quickly pours her a cup of coffee. “You didn’t wake me.”
“You needed to sleep,” she says, reaching out and squeezing his arm. Her fingers are like ice. Just as she takes the mug, Frank enters the room.
“Well, your girl puts up one hell of a fight,” he says, pulling off his hat and sitting at the table. “I’m mentally fried.”
Cole leans back and holds onto the island as his stomach bottoms out again.
Frank makes a show of checking his watch. “I have to run into town. I’ll be back this evening with my men to transfer Agent York back to Washington.”
Savannah steps forward and shakes his hand. “Thank you.”
Everyone is quiet. After they hear him leave, all eyes are on her.
“Well,” she sighs, “I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Cole sags against the counter as everyone hurries to hug her. It feels like his feet are welded to the floor.
She turns and pushes up on her toes, whispering into his shoulder, “I didn’t want to leave this house, these guys, or you.”
The corners of his mouth lift as he leans down. “I wouldn’t let you, even if you tried.”
She turns toward him. They are so close he can feel her warm breath on his cheek. Cole glances around and sees everyone is busy. He leans in, giving her a light peck on her lips.
She tilts her head, surprised, but grants him a smile that reaches her eyes. He’s fallen.