Black Hills

go.”
    “It’s hard to think straight or feel straight with this cloud over my head. I don’t want to make a decision or take a step like that when everything around me is in such upheaval.”
    “That’s very sensible.”
    She narrowed her eyes at her mother as Jenna set the brake in front of the cabin. “And wrong?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “Yes you did. Just not out loud.”
    “Lil, you’re my daughter. My shining star.” Reaching out, she lifted a lock of Lil’s hair, let it slide through her fingers. “I want you safe and happy. I’m not content until I know you’re both, as much of both as is possible. I love Cooper, so I’d be thrilled if you decide he’s a part of making you safe and happy. But the safe and happy’s what I want most for you, however you decide. For now? I like seeing his truck there, and the lights on in your cabin. And . . . I like seeing him stepping out on the porch to welcome you home.”
    Jenna slid out of the car. “Hi, Coop.”
    “Ladies.” He walked down. “How’d it go?”
    “You can judge that by the amount of bags still in the back. We considered renting a U-Haul for the loot, but we managed to stuff it and everyone in for the ride back. Barely.”
    She opened the back, began to pass him bags.
    “Did you leave anything for the rest of the state?”
    “Not if we could help it. There. The rest is mine, all mine.” She turned, gave Lil a hug. “We don’t do this often enough.”
    “I’d have to give myself a raise to do it more often.”
    “You call me tomorrow.”
    “I will.”
    “Take care of my girl, Cooper.”
    “Top of the list.”
    Lil waved her off, watched the tailgate fade. “Is everything all right here?”
    “Fine.”
    “I should check, see if anyone left me any messages.”
    “Matt and Lucius were still here when I got home. They said to tell you things ran okay without you. Even though you wouldn’t like to hear it.”
    “Of course I like to hear it.”
    “Then why are you frowning? I’m taking all this stuff inside.”
    “I’m just not used to being away all day.” And now that she was back she wondered what had possessed her to suggest another day away.
    “You were in Peru for six months.”
    “That’s different. I don’t care if it’s illogical, it is different. I should do a circuit around the habitats.”
    “I already did.” He dumped the bags at the base of the stairs. “Baby made do with me.”
    “Oh. That’s good, too. I guess there’s no word on Ethan, or anything in that area.”
    “I’d tell you if there were.” He leaned down, kissed her. “Why don’t you relax? Isn’t stripping stores of all their stock supposed to relax the female?”
    “That’s very sexist, and mostly true. I’m starving.”
    “I ate the leftovers.”
    “I want a sandwich. A really big sandwich.”
    “Then it’s a good thing I went shopping, too,” he said as he walked with her to the kitchen. “Because you were out of bread and anything—other than peanut butter—to put between it.”
    “Oh. Well, thanks.” She opened the fridge, and stood staring with her eyes wide. “Wow. This is a lot of food.”
    “Not if two people actually eat a couple of meals a day.”
    With a shrug, she pulled out packs of deli meat. “We did fancy for lunch, which means you end up ordering salad. Fancy salads. I nearly ordered a Reuben, but somehow it felt wrong. Especially since we had champagne. I just don’t think you can have a Reuben and champagne at the same time.”
    He sat on the bench, watched her. “You had a good time. It shows.”
    “I did. It took me a while to change gears, get in the groove, whatever. But thankfully I did and will not be forced to wear puce and flounces at Tansy’s wedding.”
    He cocked his head. “What is puce, anyway?”
    “Every bridal attendant’s worst nightmare. Tansy got the most fabulous dress. A killer of a dress, which mine will complement perfectly. Then there were the shoes. Watching Lucy and my mother in the shoe department is an education and a thrill. I’m a rank amateur in comparison. Then there were handbags.”
    She chattered about purses, then the flower shops, reliving little pieces of the day in the telling while she poured a glass of milk.
    “We grazed through shops like a herd of starving deer. I think my credit card gasped weakly at the end of the day.” She brought the sandwich to the table, plopped down. “God, my feet!”
    Even as she bit in, she toed off her