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Archie peered at him over his glasses. “Does that sarcasm indicate you would like to disagree with Kit and myself?”

“No, sir. I’m not a hiker, and I’ve lived in these parts less than two years. If I’m gonna hare off into the mountains, it’s gonna be on a horse on a clearly marked trail. If you two think Silver Canyon is the safest way to the evac zone, I defer to your expertise.”

“All right, then. Silver Canyon or bust.” Archie yawned and checked the aged wall clock.

“Almost two thirty.” He pointed to Kit. “You, lay yourself down in the break room and get a couple hours of shut-eye. I’ll take the first watch until four.

Real nice view of the foothills from upstairs, and I got a sweet telescope up there.

” He stopped suddenly, turning to her. “Blows my mind that I was watching out that window for looters and instead I found me a family of three.”

“Oh...” she started. Not a family, not them. Just ... united strangers.

“I know you aren’t a blood family, but people can be put together in unexpected ways.

” Archie grinned. “Someday I’ll tell you how I met my late wife.

She married beneath her and that’s certain.

Cullen,” he called quietly over his shoulder.

“I’ll wake you at four and you can take over watch. We can aim to leave at half past five.”

Kit opened her mouth to offer to take part of the watch, but in truth, she was fighting to stay conscious. And a suspicion was dawning on her that Archie was relishing his part in the mission to save her and Tot.

“I’ll get up around five and pack the supplies in the ATV,” she insisted.

“No need, I can—” Archie started.

“Let her,” Cullen said. “She’s an unparalleled organizer.”

She wasn’t sure if he meant that completely as a compliment, but her senses were thrumming with fatigue. At that moment she would give anything to lie down.

Archie gestured her into the break room.

He showed her a curtain that could be slid over the threshold. “Not much, but some privacy anyway.”

Privacy. The word thrilled through her. “But isn’t this where you’ve been sleeping? I don’t want to take your place.”

“Don’t give it a thought. Like I said, I got me a nest upstairs where my recon station is set up.

Cullen can hunker in the checkout area in case Tot cries, and you’ll be cozy as a bug in a rug in here, even if the couch is lumpier than last year’s gravy.

” Chivalry. The oddest place to encounter it, in an old library, underneath an angry mountain.

She could not remember when she’d felt quite so thankful for the kindness of strangers.

She spread out the sleeping bag on the dilapidated couch.

“Thank you, Archie.”

“You’re welcome.” He paused again. “You’ve done great taking all this on when you were just minding your own business, driving your truck. No marine could have done better. It’ll all be behind you soon,” he said quietly. “Good night.”

When he was gone, she collapsed on the couch, his words ringing in her ears.

All behind you soon.

Everything.

Her stomach tensed. Then what would be ahead? What lay in the frightening future for Kit without her truck? Without her plans?

“Knock knock.” A knuckle tapped on the wall.

She jerked as Cullen popped his head in.

“Before you settle in, I thought you might want your flashlight.”

She took it.

He turned to go.

Her nerves burned with fiery panic. All behind you. “How far away is my truck from here?” she blurted. “I mean, in hours.”

Cullen frowned. “Your rig? With the bridge out, likely a good six hours. Why do you ask?”

The wild plan unspooled along with the words.

“After you and Tot get to the evacuation zone, I want to go back to my rig, mark the exact location so I can get it towed out later in case the GPS tracker dies. Or ... there are some emergency lanterns in the convenience store. I’ll leave one, as a beacon.

Then I can meet you at the evac zone.” She was babbling.

Her elaborate plan wasn’t the least bit logical, but she couldn’t stop.

His eyes were wide in disbelief. “That’s a bad idea.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I wasn’t asking for your opinion, and I didn’t say I expected you to come with me. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t want you to.”

“You can’t go back there.” His anger made him grow even larger in the cramped space. “You won’t survive.”

Her tone was cold. “Like I said, this is about me. You don’t have to like the plan because you’re not a part of it.”

“It isn’t a plan, it’s a death wish.”

She glared. “Quiet. You’ll wake Tot.”

He paused, lowering his volume. “Listen to me, Kit. We’re sitting on a mountain-sized bomb about to detonate. You know that. You’ve studied it. Our only choice is to pray we can make it to the helicopter and get out alive, you, me, Tot, and Archie. Your truck doesn’t matter anymore.”

Her chin went up, and she straightened on a flood of emotion.

What did he know about her? About her rig?

The way she’d lost everything, everyone?

Any of it? “It matters,” she hissed. Tears threatened, and she blinked furiously against them.

She would not blubber, not with Cullen, this man foisted on her by circumstances she could not control.

She folded her arms as if she could shield herself from the volcano, from him, from the truth that meant she’d be devastated. Again.

Unable to look at him, she stared at the “Libraries are good for circulation” magnet stuck crookedly on the door of the mini fridge. Jaw clenched, she willed him to leave.

Instead he sighed, stepped forward, and wrapped his arms around her.

She was so shocked she couldn’t move.

It was both startling and comforting. All she could do was breathe, and tremble, and feel.

“I’m sorry for my tone,” he said quietly into her ear.

“What’s going on here ... it’s beyond what anyone should have to absorb.

Your truck means the world to you, I understand, but your life means more.

Once we get out safely, I’ll help in any way I can to make things right.

” To her amazement, he kissed her on the temple, then her forehead, his lips warm and soft against her skin.

“Get some sleep. Archie and I can take care of Tot if she wakes. See you in a few hours.”

He padded away, pulling the curtain across the break room area.

She stared, transfixed by the warmth of his embrace, the wake of his touch. Confusion sparked through her.

“I’ll help in any way I can to make things right.”

Why did his words make her want to cry?

It wasn’t the tenderness, the earnestness. Perhaps the novelty of being cared for by a man? She hadn’t dated since her marriage dissolved. More like exploded. Rusty social muscles. That was it. Or was she merely an overwrought woman in an impossible situation whose emotions were all over the board?

Get some sleep.

Those three words made the most sense in her depleted condition. She climbed into the sleeping bag, finding the most level spot on the misshapen sofa.

A rolled-up sweatshirt served as her pillow.

For the first time in a very long time, she laced her fingers together. “God ... Annette and Tot ... don’t let them down.” An awkward prayer, wasn’t it? More of a demand? Completely lacking in whatever a proper prayer was supposed to have, probably. Another habit rusty from long disuse.

“They’re nobody’s property,” she added.

Whatever else she’d intended to say to God vanished as the world faded around her.