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Priya came over the top of the ladder and got one knee onto the boards.

Then she stopped. “Help.”

I caught her under the arms and lifted.

She came up against me with a startled laugh, boots scraping the ladder, hands gripping my shoulders. I hauled her onto the loft and set her on her feet.

“You could’ve warned me about the last rung.”

“Ruins the adventure.”

“The last rung is two feet below the floor.”

“Character building.”

“I have character.”

“You have opinions.”

“I’m leaving.”

She turned toward the ladder.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back.

She laughed louder, kicking once at the air without any real attempt to escape. The sound went through me, straight through the place where the whole summer lived.

“Put me down.”

“You’re down.”

“Release me.”

“Legal language has no authority in this jurisdiction.”

She twisted in my arms until she faced me.

Her smile went soft.

Outside, the band played a slow number.

The loft opening looked west. Night had covered the mountains, leaving only their darker shape against the sky. The arena bulbs made the yard glow. Beyond them, the ranch went black—the creek, the pastures, the long drive with its bare posts.

Priya rested her hands on my chest. “What are we doing up here?”

“Improvising.”

“I gathered.”

I let her go.

Then I reached into my pocket.

The tissue had gone soft from a day against my leg. I unfolded it carefully, trying not to tangle the chain. The horseshoe lay in the center, thin gold catching the light from below.

Priya didn’t say anything.

That was when I got nervous.