The Wall Drug diner served pancakes, fried eggs, sausage, and hash browns for breakfast. I waited for the food, carrying it over to the table when it was done.

“Here you go,” I said, setting the tray down. “Breakfast is served.”

“That’s too much food, but thank you,” she said. “How did you sleep?”

I sat down across from her. “I’ve slept better. How about you?”

“I slept a lot better than I did yesterday.”

“I bet,” I said. “Considering you slept on the ground without a blanket.”

“That was not a good night.”

I poured syrup on my pancakes. “Do you still live in Colorado?”

She nodded. “Colorado Springs.”

“How far is that from Custer?”

“It’s about seven hours.”

I cut the pancake with my fork, then took a bite. “So what I want to know is, how did you find me?”

“That took some detective work. I picked up your trail in Cody, Wyoming. The clerk at the Marriott hotel was very helpful.”

“How did you even know I was walking? Or where?”

“Oh,” she said. “I promised I wouldn’t tell.”

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“I made a promise,” she said. “Do you want me to break a promise?”

“Was it my father?”

She just looked at me.

“All right,” I said. “Keep your promise.” I took another bite. Pamela went back to eating, slowly picking at her food.

After a moment I said, “I’ve thought a lot about our conversation last night.”

She looked up at me.

“The thing is, I’ve hated you for as long as I can remember. I suppose I just felt it was my moral obligation to hate you—a way of being loyal to McKale. You know, my friend’s enemy is my enemy.”

“I understand,” Pamela said.

“But truth, at least knowing the truth, can change things in an instant.” I looked into Pamela’s eyes. “And the truth is, I don’t know what I would have done in your situation. But I can’t believe that McKale would have been the person she was without those experiences.” My eyes moistened. “And I really loved who she was. Some of our most powerful bonding moments were when she was the most vulnerable and upset that you had left her.

“Back in Hill City you asked if McKale would have been mine the way she was if you hadn’t been the way you were. The answer is no. And for that I do owe you.”

Pamela’s eyes welled up with tears.

“You’ve suffered enough. More than you deserved.” I looked into her eyes. “I forgive you.”