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Troy looked at her after he threw the truck in park. “It’s just another setback in a long string of shit.”
“If you can’t have faith, we got to have hope.”
Troy smiled and opened the door, hopping down. “One thing I hope is that maybe we can get the horses involved with TAPS or something like it eventually.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. You know, like an animal-assisted therapy.”
Megan’s chest inflated with warmth at the possibilities. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Troy’s own smile broadened, and he glanced over at her. “Well, maybe not Braxton yet, but if you think so, I’ll call the office tomorrow and get some information.”
“I completely do.”
“Yeah, it’ll be good to give back. I have another idea I want to show you,” he said as he pulled over to a place she didn’t know and parked.
“Where are we?” Megan asked when he came around to open her door, after she was already climbing down herself. “This isn’t the barn.”
“No, it’s the homestead, more of a mining shack, but still the OG. Come on, let’s go take a look.”
The light from the full moon smiled down over them, illuminating everything including what looked to be the remains of a partially collapsed shack. Troy led her toward it until they were under the dilapidated roof, with visible holes in it.
“Are you sure this is steady?”
“Oh yeah. The beams are all solid oak trunks. This was the original house.” He patted one of the beams to demonstrate the strength. “I’ve always loved coming here since I was a child.”
There were two windows to the outside, one with glass and one without, inviting animals to burrow within. The floor was wood and clearly uneven. While the boards were falling down outside, the walls from within seemed solid. To the left of what looked like it had once been a table for a sink or basin, there were dark stairs heading up.
“This would be a cool playhouse,” she said, turning around to take it all in.
“Basic log cabin. Fireplace still looks okay, doesn’t it?”
Megan took one look at the haphazard brick with crumbling, homemade mortar. “By my standards? Doubtful. But it is beautiful.”
Troy laughed again and pulled her in for a hug, holding her in the cradle of his arms. “I’ve wanted to bring you here for a long time. I used to come out here as a child and run around and dig for treasure.”
Megan smiled into his chest and let him tell the story again about the artifacts she had framed.
“There’s even some sort of flower and berries growing around out back. It’s all a mess now, but in time I want to clean this up. Make it a rustic cabin. Maybe even rent it out.”
Troy stopped and looked down at her. “What do you think?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
They lingered a few moments longer, before touring outside. Troy showed her the thicket that had once been some sort of garden. Signs of spring were apparent in the small leaves unfurling from their winter shelter, and a light, sweet scent perfumed the night air around them. On the other side, Megan could hear something and looked to Troy, who nodded with a smile before leading her down to a bubbling creek, which sparkled like diamonds in the night.
Megan leaned down and dipped her fingertips into the flowing water, feeling the water race by her with a surprisingly strong current.
“I think this is my new favorite place,” she whispered.
Troy knelt down next to her. “It’s always been mine, especially during a full moon like tonight. Feels like where I belong, but now with you here…it feels like home.” He leaned over and kissed her, bringing her into him again. Megan let her head rest on his shoulder while he pulled her in close.
“Can we come back tomorrow?”
“Always.” Troy took one last deep breath and stood up.
Megan did the same, but stepped funny and stumbled. She overcorrected and fell with a splash into the ice cold water.
