Day 11

The bowl of popcorn was pleasantly warm in Shauna's hands as she carried it out to the living room, before setting on the table. She sat next to Troy, promptly cuddling up to him as the black and white grainy scenes of a Western started playing on the television. "Extra butter, the way you like it," Shauna said.

"Thanks, sweetheart," Troy replied. He gave his wife a kiss before shifting to help her get comfortable, then put his arm around her, rubbing her shoulder for a while.

Something as cozy as this typically sent Shauna to sleep, but her mind was elsewhere. She wasn't paying much attention to what was on the television, or what Troy was doing. Only a few weeks prior, she had been kneeling over him after he had fallen from a castle tower, pursued by magpies. He looked dead. He very nearly was dead. His best friend, Dietrich, had also nearly died, having let himself be bitten by a mamba to help Troy resist the pull of the river. Ironically, it was Troy who needed to help Dietrich resist the pull of the river.

They were both alive. They were both okay. Despite that, Shauna kept thinking about the fact that she nearly lost her husband. There was so much she and Troy had done together. They loved each other deeply. He was the first person to show her true kindness, and she was the first woman he felt he could be vulnerable with. He had girlfriends in the past, but none who could last, none who could let him be who he really was. Shauna was different. She had gone through similar things growing up, dealing with expectations she couldn't—or didn't—meet. Now, the only expectations she had to meet were for jobs around the ranch, and she met those easily.

A romantic relationship commanded certain expectations as well. Love, understanding, listening, intimacy, support. None of those were particularly difficult. Troy could be a bit goofy and eccentric at times, but Shauna loved him regardless. He let her be herself and she did the same for him.

Shauna's thoughts turned to when she learned Troy had been shot in Korea. She placed her hand over the scar on the lower right side of his stomach. Even through his shirt, it was easy to feel the slightly sunken and textured skin where the wound once was, along with the long incisions the doctors had made in order to find the bullet buried inside him. Shauna's feelings back then were similar to now—she was in shock, frightened, and unsure of what would have happened if Troy hadn't survived. The only difference was that now, they had a daughter. Antheia wasn't theirs by blood. She had been adopted after being found as a runaway, and had lost her biological parents when she was only three. The last thing Shauna wanted was for Antheia to lose another parent, especially since she was close with her adoptive father.

So many people would be affected by the loss of Troy. His former teammates. Anah. Dietrich. His younger brother. His ranch hands, especially Elias Mereworth, who Troy took under his wing after Mereworth chose to turn his back on a cache of stolen gold that would have given him everything. Mereworth had learned a lot from Troy, and was still learning. To lose his mentor, and the man who gave him a second chance, would be devastating.

"You okay?" Troy whispered.

Shauna pulled herself from her thoughts. "Yeah. Why?"

"You're really quiet, but you're not sleeping."

"I'm thinking. That's all." Shauna paused. "Thinking about what happened a few weeks ago."

"Oh, with the magpies?"

"Yeah."

Troy picked up the television remote to press the mute button. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't been thinking about it, too. I know I've set a lot aside in case something were to happen, but… I'm more worried about whether or not you'd be able to really move on."

"I don't think I would, and I doubt Antheia would, either. Not with everything she's been through."

Troy nodded in agreement. "At least things worked out. Honestly, I'd be a mess if Dietrich hadn't survived. It's funny, though—when we first met, we were supposed to be killing each other. Now look." He let out a sigh. "I can't imagine life without him." He looked at his wife. "I can't imagine life without you, either."

Shauna wasn't sure why neither of them spoke after that. Troy turned off the television and brought the popcorn back into the kitchen, dumping it into a container and placing it in the snack cabinet. He and Shauna went upstairs to finish their nightly routine, and go to bed, but neither of them slept. They both stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought. Antheia was asleep in her own room, with her pet ringtail, Mahogany.

They lay there in the dark silence for some time. How much, Shauna wasn't sure. She glanced over at Troy when he let out a sigh and rubbed his face.

"You know, maybe instead of worrying about what might have been, we should take some time to show how much we mean to each other," Troy said. "It's really hard to express in words how much you mean to me, and how much you've changed my life for the better."

"I can say the same thing," Shauna replied. "Well, I do know one way. I can feel it—how much we love each other—when we're, you know, making love." Shauna turned onto her side, smiling at her husband. "It's hard to describe, but it always makes me feel special."

"Oh, I get it." Troy grinned. "On a similar note, I don't think I'll ever get a better massage from someone who isn't you. You just know how to knead out those knots in my back after I've been working all day. It's incredible."

"And you do the same for me." Shauna thought for a moment. "Despite all the jokes everyone makes about you, you are patient. I know I can have moments where I get frustrated, or whenever I'm not feeling well. You try to help instead of getting annoyed in return."

"I've had moments where I do get annoyed in return, but, yes, I do try." Troy paused, thinking. "Let's see… what else do I love about you? Oh—you're accepting of the fact that I'm not the most romantic man in the world."

"You've still taken me on some wonderful dates. Besides, as long as I'm somewhere with you, it's a date." Shauna moved to rest her head on Troy's shoulder. "I love goofing around and being playful with you."

"Even though that typically results in me getting smacked with an oven mitt?"

"Yes. I wouldn't have things any other way."

"Neither would I." Troy's grin faded. "When I married you, I made a promise to be loyal to you, and to love you, for the rest of our lives. You know that when I make a promise, I keep it. No matter what happens, I'll treasure each and every moment with you."

"I will treasure each moment with you as well." Shauna kissed Troy's lower jaw. "Our anniversary is in a few months. Think we should do something special?"

"We could. What did you have in mind?"

"Could we go back up to Alaska, like we did when you came home from Korea?"

"Sure. A nice long road trip with you sounds fun." Troy kissed Shauna's forehead.

Shauna nodded. "I want to see the aurora reflecting in your eyes again."

Troy grinned. He was starting to look ready to go to sleep, but kept Shauna in his arms. He pulled her closer, and whispered, "I love you, sweetheart."