Broken Trust by Leigh Bale

here in the fall, when all
the leaves change color.”
    “I’d like that,” Toni said.
    “We’ll plan on you next fall. You two
ought to stop this nonsense and get back together,” Hank said.
    “Dad.” Mac shot his father a
warning look.
    Hank pursed his lips, staring at
his son. “Well, it’s true. Anyone can see you’re both still crazy about each
other. And after what you’ve been through losing Eric, you should cherish life
together now more than ever.”
    Mac glanced at Toni and found her
staring into the fire. “Dad, please don’t.”
    Inez huffed, then headed for the
back of the cabin. “I’m done in. Don’t stay up too late.”
    Mac watched Toni, wondering at her
reaction to his father’s blunt words. Toni didn’t say anything, her eyes filled
with so much sadness he thought she might cry. Both of them knew she’d never
come here again. A sense of melancholy sifted over him and he turned away, wishing
he could go back in time and change things between them.
    Hank thumped around in the kitchen,
helping himself to another bowl of cherry cobbler. “You want some?”
    Both Mac and Toni shook their
heads. Considering the circumstances, Mac was grateful for the interruption.
    Toni folded Eric’s letter and
returned it to her purse as Hank plopped down on the comfy sofa and kicked off
his boots.
    She stood. “I think I’ll turn in,
too. Good night.”
    “Good night,” Hank called as he
stuffed a spoonful of cobbler into his mouth.
    Mac watched Toni follow Inez into
the women’s bunk room. A hard knot of regret lodged in his chest. He laid his
head back against the chair and closed his eyes, his mind filled with turmoil.
    More than anything, he wished he
could tell Toni the truth.
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Toni awoke in the middle of the
night. Her teeth chattered and she pulled the blankets higher about her chin.
When she glanced at Inez in the opposite bunk, she found the woman sleeping
soundly. Hank’s snores came from the men’s room next door, loud as a chain saw.
As she turned her head, Toni caught the glow of the crackling fire. Earlier,
Inez had opened the door so heat could filter into their room. It hadn’t helped
much. The fire burned low, its faint light still reassuring as she listened to
the smattering of rain outside her window.
    Surely the gunman had fled the
mountains by now. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to stay during a heavy
rainstorm. The thought brought her comfort. She’d prayed, asking the Lord to
protect them all. A feeling of peace rested upon her and she knew they were
safe for the time being.
    A murmur from Mac caught her
attention. She rolled to her left side, curling up to warm herself. From this
angle, she could see his head and shoulders as he lay in the recliner before
the fire. Dressed in a long-sleeved sweatshirt, he thrashed his arms, his brow
crinkled with anguish.
    “Incoming! Take cover!” he cried.
    Inez sat up and slid her feet into
her slippers before padding into the outer room. “Michael? Wake up, son. You’re
having another nightmare.”
    Hank’s voice rasped as he joined
his wife and called to his son. “Mac, wake up.”
    Toni lay still, watching as Mac
jerked and opened his eyes wide. Startled, he sat up too fast. The recliner
popped and the footrest snapped back, jarring his injured leg. In the shadowed
light, Toni saw his cringe of pain as he reached for his lower calf.
    “Steady,” Inez soothed and pressed
her hand against Mac’s shoulder. “Do you need another pain pill?”
    He blinked as Hank lit a kerosene
lantern and set it nearby on the desk.
    “No, sorry I woke you.” Mac spoke
between gritted teeth as he pressed his palms against the bandages.
    Toni couldn’t see Mac’s parents,
but she heard Hank’s gravelly voice. “It might help if you talk about it, son.
You can confide anything to Mom and me.”
    “You know I can’t. Not until the
investigation is complete.”
    Investigation? What did he mean?
    “Oh, phooey,” Inez