Page 173 of The Fire Line

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Something in Harris’s grip loosened when Jay was near.

Evan glanced between them, and Harris saw recognition pass across his brother’s face—not understanding exactly, but enough. Jay had been on the mountain with him. Jay had known what it felt like when the air disappeared and there was nowhere safe left to go. Whatever odd gravity had developed between them afterward could be explained by that.

Evan touched Harris’s shoulder once before stepping away. “I’ll be at the barn.”

Harris nodded.

Jay waited until he was gone before coming closer.

“Can I?”

Harris looked at the foundation, then nodded.

Jay came to stand beside him. He didn’t ask Harris how he was doing or tell him the cabin could be rebuilt. His eyes settled instead on the damaged horse in Harris’s hand.

“Nell’s?”

“Yeah.”

Jay looked at it for several seconds. “I’m glad that made it.”

Harris swallowed.

“Me too.”

The words came rougher than he intended.

Jay’s eyes lifted to his face.

That was all it took.

Some of what Harris had kept contained around Walt and Evan finally showed—not enough to become tears, not enough that Jay needed to respond, but enough that Harris had to look away toward the place where the bookshelves had been.

“It’s all just… gone,” he said.

Jay followed his gaze. “I’m so sorry, Harris.”

For a while they stayed there without speaking, surrounded by the damp remains of the cabin and the noise of people working elsewhere on the ranch. Harris could hear a truck backing near the north barn, somebody calling for Evan, the clatter of metal being moved. Ordinary work continuing around something that did not feel ordinary yet.

Jay sat close enough that Harris could feel the heat from his shoulder.

Walt was still somewhere across the yard, close enough to look over if he chose. A week ago, that knowledge might have been enough to make Harris put more space between them. Right now he couldn’t make himself care enough to move.

Eventually Harris looked toward Eli’s camera case near the lodge. “Fire changes the film.”

Jay glanced at him. “It does.”

“You wanna use this?”

“Only the parts you want me to.”

Harris looked at the chimney, the blackened foundation, Nell’s damaged horse in his palm. “Might as well.”

Jay nodded. “Okay.”

When he stood, his balance shifted. Harris caught his forearm automatically and held on until Jay steadied.