Honora's jagged laser scar marks her thigh as she confronts the three muscled colony cowboys at the fence line. Their muscled presence offers the only shield against the rival's claims on her ranch, yet their nearness chips away at the independence that has kept her safe since the orphanage.

Dalton with his uneven stride leads the others in steady dominance, his guilt a shadow to her hidden fears. Side by side against the ticking deadline their shared silence and brushing hands stir a hunger that breaks every rule they set for professional distance.

At the workbench after the rover retreats, she reaches for the calibration tool and three sets of calloused fingers reach with her. None of them mention the rule about professional distance anymore. The deadline is coming, and losing the ranch means losing everything she fears most.