“And when I’m with you back on the lake,” Cooper went on, “and we’re snowed in with nothin’ much to do but kiss and crochet blankets all winter long, I’ll be just as happy then too. OK?”

Peter nodded.

“OK?” said Cooper.

“Yes. OK.”

“Does that take that pain away?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that’s settled, then.”

Cooper nodded to put a full stop to the matter and shoved his arms back through the sleeves of his long johns. “But the way you go on sometimes, Pete, is like I don’t got insecurities of my own.”

Peter’s skin flushed with shame that he’d been so wrapped up in his own worries he hadn’t been present enough to see Cooper’s. Cooper swept his Stetson off the ground and held it down in front of him with his head bowed, the way people do at funerals.

“I mean, we’re good, right?” he mumbled. “I mean, us is OK, ain’t it?”

“Yes,” said Peter. Then rushing in, “Of course. I’m sorry I got it wrong.”

“Pete.”

“What?”

“Don’t you worry I could be dangerous? After what that girl said? Or because you saw how Rider reacted to raw meat?”

Peter shook his head. “No. No, I don’t.”

“Don’t you worry that I could wind up hurtin’ you?”

“But you haven’t.”

“But I could. I could do any number of things.”

“What other things?”

“I dunno.”

“Has something else happened?”

Cooper shrugged.

“Well, has it?” Peter’s throat became sore. “Have you noticed any other changes since you were bitten?”

“No, not really.”

“Not really?”

“No, then.”

“Well, there you go.”

“I mean, I like to wander with nowhere in particular I got to be. Like the Dead.”

“But you liked that before.”

“I did.”

“So, there you have it.”

“And I think I can see better in the dark now, Pete.”

“You can?”

Cooper nodded, but barely, like he was daring to offer something new about himself but without the confidence it would be received well. He started to fiddle with the brim of his Stetson. A moment later, he looked away completely.

“Like a night owl,” said Peter. “Snowy owls have orange eyes because they hunt at dusk, but barn owls’ eyes are black because they hunt at night.”

Cooper looked up. “Yeah,” he said smiling. “That’s it. Or maybe not even for huntin’, Pete. Just seein’. Seein’ you all wrapped up in my arms at night and knowing that you’re there.”

“Yes,” said Peter. “For seeing.”

“It’s just that I never want you to have to be scared of me, Pete.”

“But I’m not.”

“Never?”

“No,” said Peter. “I never will be. Never.”