Chapter 14
Caleb
I don’t mean to fall asleep. I intend to slip away once I’m sure she’s resting peacefully. But the warmth of the room and the rhythmic sound of her breathing lull me into a drowse, and before I know it, my eyes are closing.
When I wake, early morning light is filtering through the curtains.
My leg is stiff, and there’s a weight against my side that wasn’t there before.
Sometime during the night, Lana has shifted closer, her head now resting against my shoulder, one hand curled loosely on my chest. Scout is sprawled across our feet, snoring softly.
I lie perfectly still, afraid to wake her. She looks peaceful now, the fear and tension from the night before erased in sleep. A strand of hair has fallen across her face, and I brush it away.
This moment feels fragile, like blown glass—beautiful but likely to shatter at the slightest touch. I know I should extract myself before she wakes, before this becomes awkward, but I can’t bring myself to move. Not yet.
Her eyelids flutter, and I hold my breath, but she doesn’t wake. Instead, she sighs softly and burrows closer, her fingers tightening slightly on my t-shirt. Something in my chest constricts—a feeling I haven’t allowed myself in a very long time.
Scout stirs at our feet, lifting his head to look at me with sleepy eyes. He seems to be asking what I’m going to do, but I have no answer for him. I’m in uncharted territory here.
The sound of movement in the kitchen breaks the spell—Julia and Margret must be up. Carefully, I begin to disentangle myself from Lana, moving inch by inch to avoid disturbing her. She mumbles something unintelligible but doesn’t wake as I slip a pillow where my shoulder had been.
Scout watches me with what I swear is judgment in his canine eyes as I retrieve my crutches and make my way to the door. I pause at the threshold, looking back at the woman curled in the bed, her face finally peaceful in sleep.
Whatever ghosts haunt her, whatever she was running from—I find myself wanting to stand between her and those shadows. It’s an unfamiliar feeling, this protectiveness that goes beyond professional duty or casual friendship.
And it terrifies me almost as much as it draws me in.
In the kitchen, Julia is humming softly as she measures coffee into the filter. She looks up when I enter, her eyes widening slightly at my disheveled appearance.
“Morning,” I say, my voice rougher than I intend.
A knowing smile plays at her lips, but she doesn’t comment on my obviously just-woke-up state or the fact that I’m coming from the direction of Lana’s room rather than my own. “Coffee?” she offers instead.
“God, yes,” I accept gratefully, sinking into a chair at the table. My leg throbs in time with my heartbeat, reminding me that I pushed it too hard yesterday.
Julia slides a steaming mug in front of me. “So,” she says casually, leaning against the counter. “What’s the plan for today?”
I take a sip of coffee, buying time to organize my thoughts. “Jake and Ella are flying in this afternoon. We need to fill them in on everything—the treasure, Margret, and Danny. Speaking of which, where is she?”
“She got her farm hand to pick her up. Thought it would be easier on you after Danny punched you in the leg.
I nod, thankful that Margret considered that.
“Don’t forget to mention the mineral rights to Jake,” Julia adds. “That’s going to be a big deal.”
“I won’t. He’s going to have some decisions to make. If those copper deposits are as valuable as Margret thinks...”
“It could change everything for this community,” Julia finishes. “For better or worse.”
The sound of soft footsteps makes us both look up. Lana stands in the doorway, hair tousled from sleep, Scout at her heels. Her eyes meet mine briefly before darting away.
“Morning,” she murmurs, making a beeline for the coffee.
“Sleep okay?” Julia asks, and I tense, wondering if she’s fishing for information.
Lana’s back is to us as she pours her coffee, but I see her shoulders stiffen slightly. “Fine,” she says, too quickly. “How about you?”
“Like a rock,” Julia replies cheerfully. “I’m making pancakes if anyone’s hungry.”
Lana turns, cradling her mug between her hands. “Sounds great. Where’s Margret?”
“Farm hand picked her up about an hour ago,” Julia says as she collects a bowl from the cupboard.
There’s an awkward moment where none of us quite know what to say next.
Julia, bless her, fills the silence with chatter about pancake recipes as she gathers ingredients.
I watch Lana over the rim of my mug, trying to gauge her mood, to see if there’s any hint of regret or embarrassment about last night.
Her eyes finally meet mine, and I see a flash of vulnerability before she masks it with a small smile. “Thank you,” she mouths silently, and I know she’s referring to last night—to my staying with her through the nightmare.
I nod once, acknowledging but not drawing attention to it. Some moments are best kept between those who shared them.
The morning passed in a blur of preparation after the barn animals were fed.
We clean up Ella’s house, making sure everything is ready for her return.
Julia packs her few belongings, planning to retrieve her car once the tow truck arrives.
Lana and I avoid being alone together. I take the UTV and clean every inch of snow away from Ella and Jake’s driveways while she bakes cookies.
By early afternoon, Julia is gone, and we’re standing on Ella’s porch, watching as Jake’s truck pulls into the driveway. Scout barks excitedly, recognizing his vehicle.
“Here we go,” I mutter, feeling strangely nervous about facing my brother with everything we’ve discovered.
Lana’s hand brushes mine, a brief touch of reassurance. “It’ll be fine,” she says quietly.
Jake emerges from the driver’s side, and Ella from the passenger side, looking tired but happy. Nora practically bounces out of the back seat, her face lit with joy.
“Welcome back,” I call, raising a hand in greeting.
Jake’s smile widens when he sees us. “Hey, little brother! Lana! Looks like you two survived the storm.”
If he only knew.
“We have a lot to catch you up on,” I say, exchanging a glance with Lana.
Jake’s eyebrows rise as he removes a suitcase from the back seat. “That sounds ominous.”
“It’s been an interesting few days,” Lana replies diplomatically, opening the door for them to file in. “But that is a conversation for tomorrow. So, did Kori and Kane fly back with you?”
Ella nodded. “They did as well as Mia and Connor. They’re all at the lodge now.”
I realize in that moment that I’ve had enough socializing for one day. My leg is throbbing, and the events of the past few days—not to mention last night with Lana—have left me physically and emotionally drained.
“That’s great,” I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. “I’m sure you’re all exhausted from the trip.”
Lana steps forward, her voice casual but her eyes avoiding mine. “I should probably head over to the lodge, check on Kori and the others. Make sure they’re settling in okay.”
“You don’t have to go right away,” Ella protests, but I can see Lana’s mind is made up.
“I’ve been away longer than planned and need to talk to Kori,” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Plus, I need to grab some fresh clothes.”
I find myself both relieved and disappointed by her imminent departure. “I think I’ll head over to Jake’s place,” I announce. “Make sure everything’s secure after the storm.”
Jake gives me a curious look. “We just got here, Caleb. The animals can wait an hour.”
“Better to check now,” I insist. “There was a lot of snow. Want to make sure the barn roof held up.”
Lana is already gathering her things, moving with the efficiency of someone who’s used to quick exits. “I’ll call you later about that... situation we discussed,” she says vaguely.
“Right,” I nod. “The situation.”
Jake’s eyes narrow, darting between us. “What situation?”
“Tomorrow, Jake,” I say firmly. “Let’s get you all settled first.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’m watching Lana’s taillights disappear down the driveway. She didn’t look back, not even once. I tell myself it’s better this way, cleaner. Whatever happened last night was just comfort between two people in a stressful situation. Nothing more.
I limp toward my truck, ignoring the knowing look Ella gave me as I left. Women always seem to see right through me.
The drive to Jake’s is mercifully short. My leg is screaming by the time I park, and I have to sit for a minute, breathing through the pain before I can climb out. Scout would normally be with me, but he chose to stay with Nora, the two of them inseparable after their reunion.
Inside the barn, everything is just as we left it. The animals greet me with their usual chorus of sounds, though they’ve already been fed. I’m not really here to check on them—I just needed space to think.
I find myself drawn to the spot where Lana found the box, running my fingers over the rough wooden floor planks where it was hidden—Thomas Wolf’s legacy. A secret kept for generations, now threatening to upend everything.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I expect it to be Jake, demanding to know what’s going on, but instead, it’s a text from Lana.
“Made it to the lodge. Everyone’s fine. About last night... thank you.”
I stare at the screen, unsure how to respond. Finally, I type: “Anytime. You okay?”
The reply comes quickly: “Better now. I’m sorry I ran out.”
“You didn’t run,” I write back. “You just needed space. I get it.”
Three dots appear, disappear, then appear again. Finally: “Can we talk tomorrow? After we tell Jake everything?”
My pulse quickens. “Of course. Dinner?”
Another pause. “Dinner sounds good.”
I slip the phone back into my pocket, a strange lightness in my chest despite everything. Tomorrow will bring complications—Jake’s reaction to the treasure, decisions about the mineral rights, Margret’s claims, and legal issues. But somehow, the prospect of dinner with Lana outweighs all of that.
I make one final check of the barn, securing the lock behind me. As I climb back into my truck, I catch a flash of movement in the tree line—probably just a deer, but after everything that’s happened, I can’t help feeling watched.
The sensation follows me as I drive back to Ella’s house, where the lights glow warm and inviting against the gathering dusk. Jake is waiting on the porch, two beers in hand.
“Thought you might need this,” he says, handing me one as I climb the steps.
I accept it gratefully, easing myself into one of the rocking chairs. “Thanks.”
“So,” he says after a moment, “you gonna tell me what’s really going on? Or do I have to wait until tomorrow like everyone else?”
I take a long pull of my beer, considering how much to reveal. “It’s complicated,” I finally say.
“It always is with you,” he replies, but there’s no judgment in his tone—just the wry observation of a brother who knows me too well.
I laugh despite myself. “True enough.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the last light fades from the sky. Snow still blankets the ground, pristine and peaceful, giving no hint of the secrets buried beneath.
“Is it bad?” Jake asks eventually.
I think about Thomas Wolf’s journal, about Margret and Danny, about mineral rights worth billions and a century-old legacy waiting to be claimed.
“Not bad,” I say carefully. “Just... big.”
He nods, accepting this for now. “And Lana? What’s the story there?”
I keep my eyes on the darkening horizon. “Also complicated.”
Jake chuckles softly. “You never did like the easy path, did you?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” I reply, but my smile fades as I think about Lana’s nightmare, the raw fear in her voice, the way she curled against me seeking safety. “By the way, are you coming back to your house tonight or staying here with Ella?”
Jake smiles. “I’ll let her decide. Don’t wait up for me.”