By the time they arrived back at the safety of Norma’s home, the horizon was already blushing with the first light of dawn. The air outside carried the cool bite of early morning, dew clinging to the grass along the fence line.
Norma led the way up the short gravel path to her gothic-style home, its wide wraparound porch lit by a warm amber glow. The faint scent of coffee drifted from somewhere inside — a promise more than a reality at this hour.
Ace trailed in behind the others, still in her tactical jacket, satchel slung over one shoulder like she never put it down. Norma glanced back at her, lips curling in a half-smile.
“You can stay as long as you want, sugar,” Norma said, her voice carrying that easy drawl even after the night they’d had. “We’ve got plenty of room, and somethin’ t
