Seven Day Mail-Order Bride

Every Time You Change It

The barn didn't settle after Elijah stepped back.

If anything,

it tightened.

Elijah's gaze stayed locked on Noah.

Not loud.

Not wild.

Just... dangerous.

Noah didn't look away.

Didn't shift.

Didn't step back from where Clara had left him.

"You get real comfortable real fast," Elijah said.

Noah's mouth curved slightly.

"You get real possessive for a man who just met her."

That landed.

Hard.

Elijah stepped forward.

"You think that matters?"

"I think you don't know what you're holding onto," Noah said.

Clara closed her eyes briefly.

No.

Absolutely not.

This was not happening right now.

Elijah moved again.

Closer.

Close enough there was no mistaking it.

"Say that again."

Noah didn't hesitate.

"You don't know her."

Clara snapped her head up.

"Oh, for the love of, "

Elijah's fist curled.

Noah's stance shifted.

Not backing down.

Preparing.

That was it.

"You can fight over me later," Clara snapped, stepping between them so fast they had to stop or run straight into her.

Her glare hit both of them.

Equal.

Sharp.

"Right now, you're both about to die," she said, "and I am not reorganizing this entire situation alone."

Silence.

Immediate.

Sharp.

Clara threw her hands up.

"Honestly," she muttered, turning away, "overgrown children."

She marched toward the barn door, then stopped just long enough to throw one last look over her shoulder.

"Sitting on hold for IT support would be easier than this."

Then she shoved the door open and stormed out into the fading light.

The barn went quiet.

Elijah exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face.

Noah huffed a short breath.

"That went well."

Elijah shot him a look.

"Shut up."

Then,

"...you really think she'll do it without us?"

Noah's gaze shifted toward the open door.

Toward where she'd disappeared.

"No," he said quietly.

"...but she'll try."

Elijah stared at the doorway.

Then muttered,

"Damn it."

And pushed off after her.

Noah followed.

Because neither of them,

not anymore,

was about to let her do it alone.

The table was too small.

Clara knew that immediately.

Not for three people,

but for two men who refused to stand anywhere that wasn't directly beside her.

Noah dropped the map down, smoothing it flat.

"Best I've got. Trails. Water. Ridge lines."

Clara leaned in fast, relief washing through her.

"Yes, okay, this is good."

Noah stepped in behind her shoulder, pointing.

"Main trail runs here."

His hand settled at her waist as he leaned.

Clara inhaled.

"Focus," she said quickly. "If they're scouting, they'll take high ground, "

A sharp smack.

Noah's hand jerked away.

Elijah stood on her other side, completely calm.

"Didn't see that there," he said, nudging the map like nothing had happened.

Clara blinked.

Noah looked at him.

Elijah didn't look back.

Clara pressed her lips together.

"We are not doing this."

"Doing what?" Elijah asked mildly.

"Whatever that was."

Noah's mouth curved.

"Think he's got a problem with my hands."

Elijah finally glanced at him.

"Think you got a problem knowin' where they belong."

Clara dragged a hand down her face.

"Great. Fantastic. Excellent start."

She pointed sharply at the map.

"Ridge line here. If they're watching, they'll use elevation first."

Elijah leaned in.

Close enough his arm brushed hers.

Then stayed.

"Too exposed," he said. "They'll use cover before they show themselves."

Noah stepped in again.

"Tree line," he said, reaching across Clara,

and placing his hand right back at her waist.

Elijah's jaw tightened.

Clara didn't even look up this time.

"Noah."

"What?"

"Remove the hand."

"It's helping."

"It is not helping."

"It's steadying the map."

Elijah made a quiet sound.

"No, it ain't."

Clara turned her head slightly.

"Elijah."

"Yeah?"

"That also wasn't helpful."

He didn't apologize.

Didn't move.

Instead,

he shifted, sliding his arm behind her back and drawing her a few inches toward him.

"Better?"

Clara stared at him.

"You just moved me like I'm furniture."

"Didn't hear you complainin'."

Noah huffed a laugh.

"Oh, she will."

"I am," Clara said flatly. "Right now."

She stepped forward, breaking both of them off at once.

Space.

Finally.

"Listen," she said, pointing between them, "you can measure whose ego is bigger later. Right now we need a plan."

Silence.

Both of them looked at her.

Good.

"Thank you," she muttered.

She pointed back to the map.

"Tree line gives them cover. They watch first, then move once they understand what they're dealing with."

Noah nodded.

"Which means we don't let them get that far."

Elijah crossed his arms.

"We meet 'em early."

Clara looked between them.

"Yes," she said. "Exactly. Intercept before they get comfortable."

Noah stepped closer again.

Careful this time.

His hand hovered at her side.

Didn't touch.

Elijah noticed.

Didn't say anything.

But he moved closer too.

Not touching her.

Just there.

Clara exhaled.

Progress.

"If we make it look like this place isn't worth the trouble," she continued, "they move on."

Elijah nodded slowly.

"We'll need supplies if we're ridin' out."

Clara blinked.

There it was.

The shift.

"You're in?" she asked.

Elijah looked at her.

Not Noah.

Her.

"You said seven days," he said.

"I'm not lettin' that be true."

Clara's chest tightened.

She nodded.

Noah's gaze flicked between them, then settled back on the map.

"Then we move fast."

Clara straightened.

Energy snapping into place.

"Good. Then here's what we're doing, "

She stopped.

Looked at both of them.

Then sighed.

"...we're making a very loose plan."

Elijah smirked.

"Probably safer."

Noah leaned in just enough to murmur,

"Or we follow you."

Clara rolled her eyes.

"Absolutely not. That's how people die."

"You already said we do," Noah replied.

Clara pointed at him.

"That is not reassuring."

Elijah snorted.

Clara pressed her fingers to her temples.

"I am surrounded by idiots."

Then,

Elijah's mouth curved.

"Your idiots."

Noah didn't argue.

Clara tried not to smile.

Failed.

Outside, the sun dipped lower.

Inside, the map stayed spread across the table.

Not perfect.

Not finished.

But enough,

to start.