14. Sadie
FOURTEEN
SADIE
The sound of truck engines rumbling up the mountain road pulls me from the quiet moment in the kitchen.
Thorne and I had just finished cleaning up from our pancake breakfast, still laughing about the way he had flipped one pancake so high it nearly stuck to the ceiling.
My cheeks feel warm from the morning we shared, from the flirty teasing and the way his hands had wandered while we cooked.
But the arrival of the others brings everything back into focus.
Magnus. The possible sighting in town. The danger that refuses to stay distant.
Thorne steps to the window, his shoulders tensing for a moment before he relaxes. “They’re back. Looks like everyone’s heading to the lodge. Come on. We should join them.”
I nod and slip my hand into his as we walk the short path from our cabin to the main lodge.
The air is crisp and carries the scent of pine and woodsmoke.
Several trucks are already parked outside, and I can hear voices drifting from inside.
When we step through the door, the warmth hits me immediately.
The big stone fireplace crackles with a fresh fire, and the long wooden table in the center of the room is already surrounded by people.
Silas stands near the fireplace with Harlan, Boyd, and a few of the other men.
Their expressions are serious but not panicked.
Harper waves me over from the far side of the room where she sits with little Poppi on her lap.
Kayley is there too, helping Aidan stack blocks on the floor.
Fiona, Hannah, and Daisy sit nearby, chatting softly while Emma pours glasses of water for everyone.
“Go ahead,” Thorne says, squeezing my hand before letting go. “The men need to talk strategy for a bit. I’ll fill you in on everything later. You’ll be safe with the women.”
I hesitate for only a second before nodding.
The women have welcomed me from the first day, and right now their easy smiles feel like the safest place in the room.
I cross over and settle on the couch beside Harper.
Poppi reaches her chubby hands toward me, and I let her grab my finger, her little grip surprisingly strong.
“How are you holding up?” Harper asks gently, her voice low enough not to carry to the men’s conversation.
“I’m okay,” I say. “Better than I expected. Thorne stayed with me this morning instead of going into town. That helped.”
Kayley looks up from the floor where Aidan is now driving a toy truck around her feet. “He’s a good man. All of them are. They take care of their own.”
The words settle warmly in my chest. Their own. I like the sound of that more than I can explain.
Across the room the men talk in low voices.
I catch fragments. Magnus has been asking questions at the diner and the gas station on the edge of town.
Two men matching descriptions of his associates were seen near the airstrip earlier.
Silas mentions increased patrols and the need to tighten security at the gate.
Boyd suggests setting up a rotation for watches.
Rafe nods along, his calm authority keeping the discussion steady.
Thorne stands with his arms crossed, listening intently, but his eyes keep drifting toward me, checking that I’m all right.
After about twenty minutes the men seem to reach some kind of agreement. Silas claps Thorne on the shoulder and the group breaks apart. Thorne walks straight to me, dropping a kiss on the top of my head before sitting on the arm of the couch beside me.
“Everything all right?” I ask quietly.
He nods. “We have eyes on the situation. They’re here, but they don’t know exactly where you are yet. We’ll keep it that way. No one gets up this mountain without us knowing.”
The reassurance helps, but the reality of Magnus being so close still sits heavy. Before I can dwell on it, Harper stands and claps her hands lightly.
“All right, everyone. Enough serious talk for now. It’s Sunday. You know what that means.”
A cheer goes up from the children and several of the adults. Aidan jumps to his feet, nearly knocking over his block tower. Poppi claps her hands even though she probably doesn’t understand.
Kayley grins at me. “Sunday means big family dinner at the lodge. We cook together, eat way too much, and usually end up telling stories until the little ones fall asleep. You’re part of it now.”
The simple statement makes my throat tighten. Part of it. I follow the women into the large kitchen area attached to the main room. The space is welcoming, with wide counters, a massive stove, and shelves lined with spices and canned goods. Harper ties an apron around her waist and hands me one.
“We always make enough for an army,” she says with a laugh. “Because that’s basically what we are.”
Fiona pulls out a stack of potatoes and starts peeling. “Tonight we’re doing a big turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans with bacon, fresh rolls, and two kinds of pie. Emma’s in charge of dessert. She makes the best apple pie you’ll ever taste.”
Emma blushes but looks pleased. “Only because you all let me use the good cinnamon.”
I’m given the job of washing and chopping vegetables.
Daisy works beside me, humming softly while she slices carrots.
The kitchen quickly fills with the sounds of chopping, laughter, and overlapping conversations.
Kayley tells a funny story about the time Aidan tried to help bake cookies and ended up with flour in his hair for days.
Harper shares how Poppi has recently decided that every spoon is a drumstick.
As we work, the men drift in and out, stealing tastes when they think no one is looking.
Boyd gets caught sneaking a piece of raw carrot and is promptly handed a knife and put to work.
Thorne stays close, occasionally brushing against me as he reaches for something on the counter.
At one point he leans down and murmurs in my ear, “You look good in that apron. Makes me want to skip dinner and take you back to the cabin.”
I swat his arm with a dish towel, laughing. “Behave. We’re cooking for everyone.”
He grins, unrepentant. “Later then.”
The easy teasing makes my heart feel light.
Around us the lodge buzzes with life. Rhett carries in more firewood and stacks it neatly by the hearth.
Gavin helps set the long table, placing plates and silverware with careful precision.
Chase and Harlan bring in extra chairs from storage.
Wyatt tells a story about a hunting trip gone wrong that has everyone laughing, even the children.
When the food is nearly ready, someone puts on soft music from an old speaker in the corner.
The scent of roasting turkey and baking bread fills the entire lodge.
I stand at the counter stirring the mashed potatoes, feeling a deep sense of belonging I haven’t experienced in years.
This is not blood family. This is something chosen.
Something built on protection and kindness and shared meals.
I watch Harper bounce Poppi on her hip while she checks the oven.
I see Kayley holding Aidan with such fondness.
Fiona and Emma argue good-naturedly over how much garlic goes in the green beans.
The men move around them with comfortable familiarity, helping without being asked.
Thorne comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. “You okay?” he asks quietly.
I lean back into him. “Better than okay. This feels like… home. I just wish my sister could be here too.”
He presses a kiss to the side of my neck. “She can. When this is all over we can get her.”
“Really?”
He steps closer. “Yes, Sadie. She needs to be here with you.”
I smile, a warmth spreading through my body. “Thank you.”
When everything is ready we all gather around the long table.
The children sit in highchairs with their smaller plates.
Poppi ends up in Harper’s lap, happily gnawing on a soft roll.
The food is passed family-style, bowls and platters moving from hand to hand.
The turkey is golden and juicy, the mashed potatoes creamy with just the right amount of butter, the green beans smoky from the bacon.
Fresh rolls disappear quickly, and Emma’s apple pie, served warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream, earns cheers from everyone.
Conversation flows easily. Stories are shared.
Boyd tells about the time he tried to fix the old generator and ended up covered in grease.
Rhett shares a quiet memory of his first winter on the mountain.
Silas talks about a funny call he once took as sheriff involving a lost goat that had wandered into someone’s living room.
Laughter rises again and again, warm and genuine.
After the meal the table is cleared and everyone helps with dishes.
There’s no sense of chore. It feels like continuation of the togetherness.
Towels are passed. Soap bubbles fly when Boyd flicks water at Fiona, earning a playful scolding from Chase.
Thorne dries plates beside me, occasionally bumping my hip with his.
The music stays on low, soft country songs filling the background.
Once the kitchen is clean we move back to the living area.
The fire is stoked higher. Couches and chairs are pulled into a loose circle.
The children curl up with blankets and pillows on the floor, playing quietly or dozing.
Poppi falls asleep against Harper’s shoulder.
Aidan fights sleep until his head droops onto Kayley’s lap.
Someone starts a round of storytelling. Wyatt tells a tall tale about a bear that supposedly stole his lunch last summer.
Silas talks about the early days of Haven 7, how a group of men who had all seen too much of the world decided to build something better together.
Thorne adds a few details from his military days, keeping them light but honest.
I listen to every story, feeling the threads of their lives weaving together into something strong.
These people have chosen each other. They have faced hard things and built safety and joy anyway.
Sitting here surrounded by their warmth, with Thorne’s arm draped casually over the back of my chair, his fingers occasionally brushing my shoulder, I realize with sudden clarity that I want this forever.
I want Sunday dinners and laughter and children running around.
I want mornings in the cabin with Thorne and evenings exactly like this.
I want to learn everyone’s stories and add my own to the collection.
The fear of Magnus feels smaller in this room, surrounded by so many people who refuse to let fear win.
I know the danger is not gone, but for the first time I truly believe we can face it together.
Harper catches my eye across the circle and smiles softly, as if she can read my thoughts. Daisy leans over and whispers, “You fit here, Sadie. We all see it.”
Thorne must hear because he leans closer and murmurs in my ear, “Stay. Not just until it’s safe. Stay because you want to.”
I turn my head and meet his gaze. “I do want to. More than anything.”
He kisses me softly, right there in front of everyone. No one teases or comments. It feels natural. Accepted.
The evening stretches on. More stories. More laughter. Someone brings out a deck of cards and a simple game starts at one end of the table. Poppi snores softly against Harper’s chest. The fire burns lower, casting a golden glow over all of us.
As the night grows late, people begin to drift toward their own cabins, offering hugs and goodnights. Harper gives me a warm squeeze. “We do this every Sunday. You’re always welcome. Actually, you are expected now.”
Kayley hugs me next. “Sleep well. We have your back.”
One by one the families leave until only a few of us remain. Thorne and I are the last to head out, walking hand in hand back to our cabin under a sky full of stars. The mountain air is cold, but his hand is warm around mine.
Inside the cabin he locks the door and pulls me into his arms. “Today was good,” he says quietly.
“It was perfect,” I reply. “I have never had anything like this. A real family. People who choose each other every day.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “You have it now. And I’m not letting it go. Not letting you go.”
I kiss him, pouring everything I feel into it. The happiness, the hope, the certainty that has grown in me tonight. When we finally pull apart I look up at him and smile.
“I want to stay here forever, Thorne. With you. With all of them. This is home.”
His eyes soften, full of emotion. “Then that’s what we’ll make it. Home.”
We turn off the lights and climb into bed together, bodies fitting perfectly.
As I drift toward sleep wrapped in his arms, the worries about Magnus feel far away.
Tomorrow will bring whatever it brings, but tonight I know exactly where I belong.
Here on this mountain, surrounded by found family and the man who makes me believe in forever.
The lodge may be called Little Lodge by the others, but to me it already feels like the biggest, warmest home I have ever known. And I can’t wait to be part of every Sunday dinner, every story, every ordinary beautiful day that comes next.