Credence

“Do you know how to shoot it?” my uncle asks.

“A little.” I fist the grip and draw the band back, aiming toward the fridge. “I haven’t used one in a long time.”

And I’ve never used a compound bow. They didn’t have these at camp.

“Noah set up a target in the barn,” he tells me. “You can practice before we take it out hunting.”

I drop my arms and look at him. “Hunting?”

They all stand silent, and I gaze around at them as if there was a stipulation in my contract for living here that I missed.

“I don’t think I want to do that.” I set the bow down on the table. I’ll cook the meat. I’m not supplying it, though.

But Noah just laughs, and Jake shakes his head.

“We’ll talk about it,” he says.

Just as long as it’s not today.

“Well, thank you.” I give him a peck on the cheek. “I really love it.”

He nods once but won’t meet my eyes. He clears his throat. “I’ll go warm up the truck.”

I grab my wrap and swing it around my shoulders. An Aran Islands sweater from Mirai to keep me warm this winter, a shirt and hat to help me blend in with the locals, and a new toy. Better than any birthday so far.

But as I move to follow Jake, Kaleb steps in front of me, stopping me.

I look up.

He pauses a moment before he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a long strap of dark brown leather.

I narrow my eyes as he offers it to me.

The horn outside honks, but we stay, Noah approaching my side.

“What’s this?” I reach out and take it, threading it through my hand and turning it over.

“He makes them,” Noah says.

It’s a belt. Dark and tanned with carvings in the leather and an antique-looking silver buckle. I study the etchings. There are trees, a waterfall, the peak—the view from my bedroom window, actually—something that looks like a braid of hair, a horse, and a dreamcatcher.

I swallow. Why would he put a dreamcatcher on there?

But it is beautiful. He made this himself?

Then I notice something else, and I chuckle.

“The notches go all the way to the buckle,” I point out. “I’m flattered, but my waist isn’t that small.”

Noah leans in, whispering, “But your wrists are.”

My heart skips, and I dart my eyes up to Kaleb as he stares down at me.

What?

But Noah just laughs, both of them leaving me there as they head outside.

And I don’t realize I’m staring back down at the belt, spacing off until Jake honks again, making me jump.