“I would rather ride the reindeer,” Karis deadpanned as she adjusted the strap of the purse slung across her chest. She’d lined it with fleece, and Genie was nestled inside.

“Are you going to be like this the entire trip?” Trigger asked from atop Harley, who was stomping his hoof impatiently in the snow, as always.

“Look at this crooked, broken nose!” She jammed a finger at her face. “Sixth grade I thought I was going to be this badass barrel racer, so I got in a riding club with a trainer and everything, and one year in, I get kicked in the face by this appaloosa named Joker. He was almost half of the jerk Harley is, and that’s saying something. I haven’t ridden a horse in years, and you’re putting me on Remedy.” She turned some serious puppy dog eyes on Colt, who was grinning from ear to ear. “Can’t you just like…pull me in a sled behind you or something?”

Thomas was sitting on top of a tall, slow-as-molasses horse named Brutus, lifting his cell phone in the air like he was looking for reception. In a nonplussed tone, he said, “If I have to ride a horse for two days, you can ride a horse, too.”

“Maybe if you get kicked on the opposite side, your nose will be straight again,” Ava offered helpfully.

Karis tried not to laugh, but it was really hard when Ava’s eyes were dancing and she was pursing her lips against her own giggles.

“Look,” Colt said, “if I go all romance-movie on you and let you ride behind me, what will that do? It’ll only enable you to complain and get out of the things that scare you.”

“Or…it’ll let my boobs rub on your back the whole ride.”

“Get on,” he said.

“Are you serious?” Trigger asked.

“I’m gonna take a picture of you two and send them to you after the trip,” Leonora said in a mushy voice, her phone aimed at Karis as she bounced over to Colt’s gelding, Ranger.

“Karis, get on your dang horse,” Trig said louder. There wasn’t an Alpha order in his tone though, so Karis pretended she didn’t hear him as she grabbed Colt’s offered arm and let him hoist her up easily behind him.

She handed Colt the reins to Remedy and then nudged his mount forward.

“Okay, this is sweet,” Ava said. “Trig—”

“No, woman! Harley would scrape you off at the first tree, and it won’t be romantic when your ass is in the snow!”

Ava narrowed her pretty blue eyes and nudged her ancient white mare, Queenie, past Trig. “Fine.”

After everyone filed in line, Trig trotted around them to the front. Karis heard him mutter under his breath as he passed, “We haven’t even left yet, and I’m already tired of y’all,” which only made her smile bigger.

The day was beautiful, and warmer than it had been in a while. The sun was out, reflecting brightly off the snow, and birds were chirping in the trees. With nary a crow in sight, no alarm bells were ringing. Karis slid her arm around Colt’s waist and rested her cheek against his gently rocking back.

When his hand went to hers, pressing it tight against his abs in a silent I love you, she exhaled a frozen breath and closed her eyes.

It was one of those moments she would remember for always. One of those times she would look back on and think, I’ve had a good life. She would remember the sun on her cheeks, the crisp air that her polar bear adored, the warmth of her strong mate against her body, Genie curled up in the pouch at her hip. The sound of birds and horses’ hooves, breaths, and snorts. Ahead of them, the sound of Ava and Trigger’s laughter echoed through the woods, along with the Ives’s family talking about how beautiful Two Claws Ranch was. The feeling of hope that unfurled in her chest because this trail ride was the beginning of a shot at a turnaround for the ranch. The knowledge that no matter what, the Clan had her back, and her Warmaker would make sure she was safe for always.

Sure, there was uncertainty for their future, but it was this moment of hope that trumped all. And moments like these were to be remembered and cherished, because hardships weren’t always a bad thing. Sometimes they made a person work harder and discover their limits to get out of a hole. In this life here, in this Clan of outlaws, Karis was discovering she was a lot stronger than she’d thought. This life was making her tougher in the best ways. It was making her resilient. It was making her appreciate the moments of peace instead of ghosting over them and forgetting to pay attention to the important stuff.

The damaged barn, the ransacked house, and the unclear future weren’t what was important.

These people were.

And as long as they were okay, well…then she was okay, too.