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He chuckled. “Is that awow, what a mess?”

“No! It’s awow, this is amazing! I can see past the mess.” She wandered around, picking her way carefully between the piles of boxes and everything else. “Let me look around, I’ll be back.”

Luke got up from the spot where he’d been perched on the window ledge in the corner. “I’m out of here, see you later.”

“Thanks, bud. Thanks for helping me clear enough space that we can at least look around.”

“My pleasure. I’m yours for as long as you need me – I’ll help you do the heavy lifting and with getting it clean and ready.”

Tanner grinned. “We should probably negotiate with Laney how much of your time I can take up.”

Luke laughed. “Already done. I have her blessing to spend as much time over here with you as you need – things are quieter at our place at the moment. She said to let you know that she’s happy to help if we want her, too.”

“Tell her thanks.”

When Luke had gone, Tanner hurried toward the bathroom when he heard Everly and Ashton laughing.

Everly came running out into the hallway shrieking, and Ashton laughed even harder.

“It’s not a spider, Mom!” he called after her.

His reassurances didn’t slow her down. She barreled straight into Tanner and shuddered as he wrapped his arms around her.

He had to laugh. “What do you think? Have you seen enough? Do we need to get you out of here?”

She butted her forehead against his chest. “No, just give me a minute.” She took a couple of deep breaths before looking up into his eyes. “Give me a minute and promise that you won’t let them get me.”

He chuckled. “You have my word; I’ll protect you – from big, hairy-ass spiders and anything else that might try to get you.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked around warily. “What else do you think might be in here?”

He kissed her forehead. “I didn’t mean that. I meant in general – you know, I’ll be your knight in shining armor; protect you from whatever life tries to throw at you.”

He loved the way she relaxed against him. “Aww. I love you.”

He looked down into her eyes and nodded. “That’s what I just said, only it took me a few more words to say it.”

She tightened her arms around his waist for a moment before stepping back. “Okay, I can do this. Let’s finish exploring, then we can head up to the house. And take a shower,” she added with another shudder.

“Can this be my bedroom?”

They smiled at each other and picked their way to the end of the hall. Ashton was standing by the window in the room that Tanner had thought would be the best one for him.

He pointed out the window. “Look at the mountains! And look, you can see the pasture – Houdini’s out there.”

“Do you like this room best? Everly asked.

Ashton laughed. “I like the big one with its own bathroom best, but I bet you guys are going to take that one.”

“You bet right,” said Tanner. “But I thought you’d like being able to see the mountains and the horses from here.”

“I love it,” said Ashton. “When can we move in, Dad?”

Tanner froze. He didn’t have a problem with Ashton calling him that. He and Everly had touched on the subject a couple of times, but they hadn’t discussed it yet.

He looked from Ashton to her and back again. “It’s going to take us a while to clean it up first.”

Everly nodded. “A long while by the look of it. And even once it’s clean, we’ll need furniture and everything.”