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“Is either one unlocked?” I asked, raising my face to his

“I don’t know,” Brant said, his voice rising to be heard over the rain “We’ll break a e have to”

I settled back into his chest as we rode the last couple of hundred feet to the door of one of the buildings, where Brant dish of relief when he pushed the front door and it creaked open Brant looked back at rinned, and my heart did a somersault in my chest He was my hero Maybe not toht, for now, that’s exactly what he was And it felt so good—so vital—to have oneeven for a moment And moments were all I asked for anymore

“There’s a big overhang on the back of the building Let’s get the horses dry and then we’ll go inside”

I nodded, taking a deep breath and dis Newton We led all three horses to the back of the building Brant had reave the horses plenty of dry area where they could move around

Brant reh the outside was soaked, he used the inside to rub Starshine down vigorously Her tre ceased after a fewas she latched on to hersafety and comfort

I took off etting most of the water off them Now sheltered, their body heat would dry them the rest of the way

There was grass just beyond the roofline and we left plenty of tether on their tied-up reins—and the rope Brant reraze and drink fro By the ti so hard, , but my heart felt calm, soothed

We entered through the front door again, our footsteps echoing in the

“There’s a roorandfather used as an office once upon a tih the dark building, the only illuh up on the wall Our footsteps echoed and I gripped Brant’s hand, again trusting him to lead me to safety

He pushed open aloudly Brant took his phone froht to shine around the space It was a se fireplace on one wall, and a wooden desk off to one side There were file cabinets against the opposite wall and a few other odds and ends I was still shivering, but at least we had shelter “There’s wood in the fireplace,” Brant said “And if we’re lucky” He reached into a canister on top of the stone structure and produced a bundle of matches

I laughed with happiness “Oh sweet Jesus We can light a fire”

He set his phone on the rin flashed white in the semi-illuminated room I sat in front of the fireplace and watched as Brant crumpled some old newspaper on the hearth, placed it under the wood, and lit it Withintowardoutfro my body

Brant opened a chest of soht out what looked like old fabric tarps He used one to wrap around h it s dry against my skin I wasn’t about to complain

“You should get out of those wet clothes,” he said “I’ to text Mick and let hi”