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Although, “knock” isn’t the way to describe what’s happening at our front door. This is not a polite knock. Not a gentle tap-tap from a neighbor looking to borrow a cup of sugar or invite us to a town thing we’ll all pretend we might attend. This one rattles the cabin door.

Boone’s already at the door before I can even blink. Jonah’s right behind him. Neither of them says a word.

I turn the burner off, move the pan to the back of the stovetop, and step around the counter. I manage to get between Ani and Mae and the door just as it opens.

It’s Sheriff Collins. His face is tight and he’s very clearly bracing himself for something.

“Morning,” he says.

“Hey,” Boone replies.

Collins’s eyes look around Boone and Jonah and lock on Ani.

She’s still behind me, holding Mae close. I extend one arm without looking, just enough to stop her in case she plans on moving closer to the door.

Boone crosses his arms and looks at the sheriff. Jonah’s coiled tight, like one wrong word might set him off.

Two deputies flank Collins. I recognize both of them. Everyone knows everyone up here.

One of the deputies has his thumb hooked a little too close to his holster, and my nervous system goes on red alert. He might not mean anything by it. But the sight of it makes my jaw tighten.

Collins lifts a folded sheet of paper in one hand. “Got a warrant,” he says. “I need to talk to the girl.”

Ani gasps behind me.

“What’s this about?” Jonah asks, tone flat.

The sheriff sighs through his nose. “We got a complaint.”

Jonah steps forward once. His voice is calm but edged with a warning. “What kind of complaint?”

Collins doesn’t get a chance to answer.

The deputy on his left speaks first. “There’s concern the girl was taken. That she’s not here of her own free will.”

Collins sighs hard and pinches the bridge of his nose. “There are allegations of kidnapping.”

“What?” Ani’s voice cracks, sharp with disbelief. “That’s not—I’m not?—”

“I know,” Collins cuts in quickly, eyes darting to her. “I know these men. They wouldn’t take a woman against their will.”

“I left. I chose to leave.”

“I know you say you’re here by choice. I believe you. But we still have to check it out.”

I feel her move behind me, so I twist halfway, blocking her with my arm again.

Boone and Jonah brace. I can feel the mood in the room get even hotter.

“What claim?” Boone’s voice is a whole other level of dangerous. “From who?”

“They’re saying you’re not fit to make this decision, darlin’,” Collins answers, eyes darting around the room. “That you’ve been under significant emotional distress and it’s made you unstable.”

Ani’s breath hitches. I turn and watch the color drain from her face.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I say, too loud. “Unstable? Based on what? Her not wanting to be owned like a piece of real estate?”

“Look, I get it. But I’m required to investigate claims like this. And the family is pushing hard.”