“Looking at that rationally, I’m an expert marksman and was just as capable of fending off a pack of wolves as you would have been.” She jutted her chin at him. “And my saying that has nothing to do with my former hang-ups about measuring up to or outshining any man, including you. It’s a matter of fact.”

“Your former hang-ups?”

“Yes, former hang-ups. I’m almost over that, Wyatt. Being at the ranch—no, being around you and working with Firecracker has changed me. My father no longer has a hold over me. Surely you’ve noticed the difference.” She bent her knees and hugged them to her chest. “I no longer feel a frantic need to prove anything to anyone. Maybe the broken little girl inside me will rear her ugly head every once in a while. I sure do see the broken little boy within you showing his face tonight. But I’ll never allow that little girl to control me again.”

Wyatt bristled. “What the hell does that mean? My broken little boy grew up and faced reality a long time ago.”

“His view of reality. Oh, yeah. You faced his version and accepted it. Right? You’re so glad to be deaf now that you’re feeling giddy. You’re not broken anymore. Nothing about you needs to be fixed now. You’ve come to feel at peace with your disability. The only problem is, by accepting it, you’ve taken your own measure, found yourself lacking, and are running from life.”

“Oh, wow,” he said. “The bullshit is getting so deep it’s up to my eyebrows.”

“Exactly. Who can see clearly through a bunch of bullshit? Only it’s bullshit of your own making that’s blinding you, not mine.” She reached over and tapped his shoulder lightly. “Did you feel that?”

Wyatt didn’t understand the point she was trying to make. “Of course I felt it.”

“Point made!” She glared up at him. “For a man who’s an expert at communicating in ASL, you’re incredibly dense when it comes to the possibility of other signs of communication working well for you!” Her chin jutted forward again. “Let’s say that a tap on your shoulder means ‘Stop!’ Nice and easy for you to understand, even in the dark! But your little boy can’t go there, because he’s still broken, and his brokenness harmed someone. Instead of facing what happened and making sure it can never occur again, you’re running from ever being with a woman again.”

Wyatt pushed to his feet. “I couldn’t set up stupid tap signals with that woman because she didn’t know I was deaf. And what’s that got to do with what happened with the wolves tonight? I was useless.”

“You weren’t useless. You grabbed the first weapon you could get your hands on, and when you found me, you charged into a pack of wolves, swinging. And, by the way, I do know you’re deaf. Tap signals wouldn’t be a big deal for us to set up. We could create our own special sign language for when we’re making love, but you won’t even consider the possibility!”