Cooper backed in through the door, navigating the step up into the cabin without once taking his eyes off the surrounding woods, and stood guard. And it crossed Peter’s mind now, as it often did during inappropriate moments just like this, that this boy, with those ropes of golden hair matted to his face beneath a Stetson the inside of which never saw the light of day, was his, and how much this girl, if only she wasn’t fearing for her life quite so much, would surely love to hear all about that.

Cooper doffed his Stetson. “S’OK, miss.”

“Nothin’s OK,” said the girl.

“We mean you no harm. But you got company in them woods, so if you’re gonna trust us, you better make it quick.”

Peter glanced back. “Coop.”

“Well, she’s bein’ too slow. Make her listen.”

Peter shook his head to indicate his apologies for Cooper’s tone. “I’m sorry I broke your door down but—”

The girl raised an eyebrow. “It’s hardly down.”

“Oh.”

“It’s ajar at best.”

“Yes, but—”

“It’s still on its hinges.”

“Yes. All right, then, but still.”

“If you boys lay one finger on me …”

“That’s not the reason we’re here.”

“That’s always the reason.”

“No,” said Peter. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

“Oh, I know you won’t. Just look at you.”

Peter went to defend his door-breaking abilities once more, but the girl’s disdain for his heroics had already turned towards his wolfskin.

“I thought it looked menacing,” said Peter.

The girl narrowed her eyes. “Looks like a onesie.”

Cooper glanced back. “Quit jabberin’. They’ll be here soon.”

“You don’t know shit,” said the girl.

“Well, I know there’s two of ’em comin’ up through the woods right now.”

“Then you’d better leave.”

Peter inched a little closer. “Please—”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“There’s a place for you nobody else knows about. A place nobody can hurt you.”

“I said leave.”

“But we’re here to rescue you.”

The girl cocked her head to one side and stared at Peter’s mouth like she was waiting for a punchline. But she must’ve realized the joke wasn’t coming because her eyes lit up with an amusement that didn’t seem entirely appropriate to the situation. She placed her hand on her hip.

“Oh, honey, no.”

“I’m serious,” said Peter.

She angled the nose of her pistol up and down Peter’s body. “You’re like, what, ten?”

Peter clenched his jaw and said nothing.

“No, wait a minute. Twelve.”

“There’s movement out in the woods,” said Cooper calling back. “We don’t got much time.”

The girl clubbed the pistol into her fist. “OK, thirteen!”

“Sixteen,” said Peter. “I’m sixteen.”

“Woah. You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

“Then I need a minute to process that.”

“I was a very light baby.”

“Baby?”