Chapters (53)
- Cover
- Endorsements
- Half Title Page
- Books by Elizabeth Goddard
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- Another Thrilling Story from the Author
- ONE
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
“Make it sound like we’re heroes. I know, Alex. You said that earlier tonight. Now I understand.” She stepped around him, leaving him to hold up the wall. “I trusted you, Alex.”
“And you can still trust me!” he said a little too loud and turned to face her. Anguish edged his tone.
Why was he pleading with her to trust him? He obviously didn’t care if she trusted him or not. Except the way her heart was beating at his nearness, the emotion pouring from him, she wanted him to care, and . . . she wanted to trust him. Still . . . “We should have made that decision together. You don’t know what you’ve done, Alex. Now, please get out of my room. I mean . . . your room. Whatever. Get out.”
Mackenzie maintained her composure as Alex turned and walked out. Then her entire body shook.
TWENTY-NINE
The next morning, Alex sat on a stool at the kitchen counter, listening to Terra and Jack’s discussion about jurisdiction issues between federal government lands—national forests, for which she investigated as a special agent—and state and county. Nathan nodded and added his two-cent opinion that he probably thought was worth a dollar. Erin’s mother, Celia, dumped biscuits into a bowl. Terra’s brother, Owen, crunched on bacon and watched his sister and Jack as if entertained.
Erin chatted with Nora and Mackenzie about all things Montana.
And Alex breathed a sigh of relief, though he remained on edge.
“You don’t know what you’ve done, Alex.”
Yes, he did. And no, he didn’t.
Mackenzie’s words had chiseled through his armor and eaten away at his heart. Hammered his bones. The words had multiple layers. Maybe Nebulous 2.0 would ramp up his schedule now—Alex didn’t know. That meant Mackenzie and Nora could both be in imminent danger.
He suspected that Nora had shared much more with her sister in the bedroom before he’d heard her raised voice, accusing Mackenzie. Then he’d stepped in.
But he could forget about Mackenzie sharing anything with him now. Unless he could somehow earn her trust again.
Mackenzie hadn’t looked at him this morning, but at least she hadn’t run. She still needed him for protection, or maybe it was more about him protecting Nora. Perhaps Mackenzie would have left the cabin, left Alex behind, if she were on her own. But she hadn’t let on to Nora that she was upset with Alex, and Nora seemed too caught up in the traumatic events to notice Mackenzie’s attitude toward him.
He’d tried to start the day right—like any good Montanan—to set the stage for a better day by bringing Nora and Mackenzie up to the big house for a hearty Saturday morning breakfast and some perspective. And fresh air, mountain views, and the presence of his law enforcement friends, both old and new.