Thad waited until he heard Hunter’s footsteps fade and the door above them shut. He turned the circled handle on the hatch above his head until two large rods slid into place before slumping down on the cot. “Well, now we wait.”

  Thad waited for Ella to respond, but instead, she just ran a finger over the books that filled the bookshelves. “Did you know about this place?”

  Thad shrugged. “I’ve known Hunter for a long time, but there are certain things he won’t even tell me.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “Nah. We’re all on our own journey.”

  “You’re a good friend.”

  “I do what I can.” He chuckled, “Hunter has saved my skin more times than I can count.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Ella focused back on the surrounding items until her eyes landed on a small wooden picture frame. The glass was cracked in a spiderweb. Underneath was a picture of Hunter, several years younger, and another boy that looked to be around her age. They were sitting next to what looked like a river, arms around each other’s shoulders. Wide smiles on their faces. Not a care in the world. She picked up the frame to study it closer.

  Thad appeared next to her. “Now this, I know about.”

  Ella handed him the picture. “Who is that?”

  “It’s his brother.”

  “Hunter has a brother?”

  “Had.” “What do you mean?”

  “He had a brother. He died.”

  “Oh.” Thad let out a long, slow sigh and handed the frame back to her. “Long before Hunter was Hunter, he worked with his family as clearers.”

  Ella cocked her head to the side. “What are clearers?”

  “They’re the people who get hired to clear areas so new people can take over,” Thad explained.

  "Dangerous work, especially back in the outside settlements."

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  “What kind of things did they clear?”

  “You know,” Thad rubbed his forehead, “old buildings, animals…”

  “People?”

  “Sometimes. But not that time.” Thad tapped the picture. “That time it was a forest. There was an accident. A tree fell on his brother and crushed him. Hunter tried to roll the tree out of the way, but it slipped. That’s how he ended up with his…”

  Thad subtly gestured towards his own arm.

  Ella understood. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Hunter worked his brother free and carried him over his shoulder for three miles, but it was too late. He died in Hunter’s arms.”

  “That’s so sad.” Thad nodded. “He never took a clearing job again.”

  “I can’t believe he told you that.”

  “Whiskey does that to people.”

  Three knocks, followed by three more, on the ceiling above their heads startled Ella, causing the picture to slip from her grip and clatter to the floor. Thad turned the wheel and tapped three knocks in reply. A moment later, the hatch swung open and Hunter‘s silhouette appeared, a brown burlap sack under his arm.

  “Whiskey does what to people?”

  “Geez Hunter, did I give you bionic hearing as well?”

  “Nah, it’s more about knowing when to listen.”

  “Ah, so you finally admit to selective hearing?”

  “Did you say something?” Hunter winked at Ella, stepped down the stairs, picked up the photo from the floor, and nodded.

  Ella’s head lowered. “I’m sorry.” She wasn’t just sorry for dropping the picture. She was sorry for all the unspoken judgments she’d made about Hunter, for not seeing the pain beneath his gruff exterior.

  “No worries.” Hunter sat the picture back in its place.

  "What was his name?" she asked softly.

  Hunter looked at the picture one final time, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Ethan.”

  “That’s a good name.”

  Hunter turned to Ella. “He was a good kid.”

  “So…” Thad cleared his throat after a long pause. “Are you going to tell us what you did while you were out?”

  “Yup. But first, how about we go up and get a bite?”

  “Now you’re talking.”

  “What’s in there?” Ella pointed to the sack Hunter was carrying.

  “Oh, yeah. Here you go.” Hunter handed the bag to Ella. “I didn’t know your size, so I hope they fit.”

  Ella opened the bag. Inside was a pair of worn jeans, an olive green t-shirt, and a leather jacket, with a fur-lined collar like the one Hunter wore. Her fingers brushed the soft fur lining, a warmth spreading through her she hadn't felt in a long time. A tear formed in the corner of her eye. She wiped it away before she looked back up. “I can’t accept this.”

  “Sure you can. And this…” Hunter pulled a leather-wrapped flask out of his back pocket and tossed it to Thad, “is for you. I owe you one, buddy.”

  Thad ran his hand across the smooth leather, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “Let’s call it even. And besides, you would have done the same for me.”

  Hunter nodded a quick nod and walked back up the stairs.