by Leigh Bale
Dad waved a hand and shouted. “Okay, Mac! Pull her up.”
Mac braced himself against the boulder. As he applied pressure to his injured leg, it trembled, pounding like a bass drum.
Hand-over-hand, he reeled in the line. For the first time in his life, he appreciated the hours he’d spent increasing his upper body strength. On the battlefield, he’d tossed injured men over his shoulder and run for their lives in a rush of adrenaline. This time the stakes were just as high.
He’d failed to save Eric, but he wouldn’t fail Toni.
Finally, she crested the ledge and clawed at the dirt as she pulled herself up. He reached to help as her head rolled against the soft-packed dirt, her body going limp.
“Toni!” A blaze of terror coursed through him as he knelt beside her and cupped her face in his hands.
He brushed his fingers across a trickle of blood at her temple. Even in the dark, he saw her ragged and bloodied fingernails. Tears trembled on her lashes like morning dew. She groaned and cradled her side with one arm.
His heart squeezed as he checked her for concussion. “Where do you live? What’s your address?”
She blinked. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you’re alert.”
“I’m alert. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
He stared into her eyes, looking to see if they focused on him, checking her reflexes, searching for broken bones. If anything happened to her….
“Stop that! I’m fine.”
“Can you say your middle name for me?”
She snorted. “You know my name better than anyone. I don’t have a concussion, Mac. I’m tired, hungry, and I want to go home. Please get me out of here.”
He would have chuckled at her demands, but her voice sounded thin and raw. She was done in, frightened and hurting. “Okay, I’ll take you home right now.”
“Thank you.” Her frayed voice held such trust that he didn’t know what to think.
When he touched her side, she sucked in a breath.
“Hurts, huh?” he asked.
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. “I slammed against the rocks when I fell, but I held on and I think it saved my life.”
“Good girl. You may have a cracked rib. We’ve got some binding back at the cabin and I can wrap it for you. You’re gonna be okay, but you probably ought to have an X-ray.”
“Right now, I’d settle for three aspirin and a good night’s sleep.”
“How did you find us without getting lost in the forest?” he asked.
She locked her jaw. “I know the way. I was fine until I pulled over to let another driver pass me on the dirt road. He cut me off and stopped, then got out of his truck and shot at me. I ran and the Lord took care of the rest.”
Her faith amazed him. First her parents died last year in a terrible car accident, leaving her to raise her teenage sister. Now her brother had died in Afghanistan. At the age of twenty-four, she had more reason than most people to resent God, yet she clung to her faith like a lifeline. A part of Mac wished he could feel the same. Instead, he felt lost and empty inside.
“Did you know the guy that shot at you?” he asked.
“No, and I have no idea why he tried to kill me. Road rage at its best, I suppose. I took off running.”
Mac bit his tongue as she went on to explain what the man looked like.
“Definitely not a local.” He grunted, a lump of tension settling at the base of his throat. “If Dad and I hadn’t heard your screams, you could have died out here and no one would have found you for ages.”
She touched his arm and her beautiful blue eyes regarded him with conviction. “But I didn’t. God sent you to find me.”
Something softened inside him. Seeing her, talking with her, renewed his spirits. For three short seconds, it made him believe in the possibility of redemption. Then, he came back to reality.
He helped her remove the climbing harness, then clasped her hand and helped her stand. The warmth of her soft skin tingled up his arm. He felt nostalgic with her here. She was his last connection to Eric and a normal life. He longed to open up his heart and share his own anguish, something he hadn’t done even with his parents. At one time, he’d confided everything to this woman.
The truth held him back.
Grunt nudged Toni’s arm. She gave a startled yelp and pressed closer to Mac. “That’s the dog that attacked the man shooting at me. The guy took off into the forest.” Her gaze darted about, searching the trees for signs of someone hiding within the shadows. “Do you…do you think the man’s still out there?”
Mac squeezed her arm. “Don’t worry. You’re safe with us. This is my new dog, Grunt. If the man returns, he’ll give us an alarm.” Mac patted the mastiff’s head.
Toni stared at the monstrous canine with skepticism. The dog sidled up against her, sniffing her bare feet and legs. He licked her ankles and she gave a short laugh, her voice hoarse. Fury filled Mac when he thought of someone chasing her down, trying to kill her. What if he and Dad hadn’t found her in time?
She bent at the waist and hugged his dog. “You saved my life, but you sure smell.”
Mac hid a smile as Grunt gave her another slobbery kiss across the face.
“My purse.” A brown leather handbag lay in the dirt close by and Toni snatched it up, then clasped it against her chest. Her gaze scanned the trees, her eyes wide. It might be some time before she felt safe again.
“Hey, you two!” Dad called. “You gonna’ bring me up or leave me down here all night?”
Mac chuckled. While he pulled up Dad, a battery of questions crowded his mind. As soon as they returned to his cabin, he and Toni needed to have a long talk. He had to know what had brought her all the way out here to see him.
Chapter Four
Toni took a shallow breath, grateful to be leaving the forest. Her attacker might still be here, hiding, waiting for the opportunity to shoot them. Then again, he’d probably left by now. Surely road rage wouldn’t linger this long.
A sliver of smoke rose from the treetops as they approached Mac’s cabin. Pine needles crunched beneath her feet. Mac had given her a pair of old tennis shoes he had stuffed in the bottom of his backpack. Several sizes too large, they flopped around on her feet and she picked her way carefully over the uneven ground. She worried about her car, but couldn’t do anything about it right now. Hopefully her assailant wouldn’t bother it.
Hank led the way down the narrow trail. Mac brought up the rear with Grunt. The dog panted, trotting along the thin path, his presence somehow comforting as Toni stared into the shadows.
The snap of a twig made her whirl about and stare blindly into the thick stand of timber. A sudden chill embraced her and she shivered. The hair stood up on the back of her neck. The gunman with the ponytail could be following them. She couldn’t shake a feeling of danger and wished they were indoors. Out here in the open, she felt too vulnerable.
“It’s okay. You’re safe, now.” Mac squeezed her shoulder from behind, his strong, gentle fingers offering reassurance. Doubt still plagued her mind. How could Mac protect her? Even he wasn’t impervious to bullets, evidenced by the wound in his leg.
At Eric’s funeral, Mac had been in a wheelchair, fresh out of surgery to repair torn muscles and tendons from the bullet wound he’d received in Afghanistan. He’d looked pale and gaunt and she knew he must have disobeyed his doctor’s orders and jeopardized his own health to attend.
Her dad had once told her God let His children be tested in order to strengthen their faith. Lately, her family seemed to be tested more than their fair share.
Determined to trust in God, she trudged up the hill. Her side ached with every breath she took and she struggled not to inhale deeply. When they reached the cabin, a wave of relief swept her and she hurried toward the door.
The large structure sat in the middle of the copse, built of red timbers. It puffed a stream of smoke from its chimney. The tangy scent of wood smoke and cooking meat filled the air. Toni
’s stomach rumbled like a starving hound. Golden lanterns lit up the yard, hanging on tall wooden poles. The two men clicked off their flashlights.
Comfy wicker chairs with flowered cushions and footstools sat around waiting for guests to enjoy the stunning view of the lake below. Memories swamped Toni of the numerous times she’d sat with Mac and Eric in front of the cabin, planning excursions into the mountains, Dutch oven cooking, or threading new lines on their fishing poles. Eric had loved it here. So did she. Before they’d broken off their engagement, Toni and Mac had planned to come here for their honeymoon.
“That’s a beautiful deck. It’s new.” She nodded at the spacious redwood structure extending outward from the door of the cabin into the front yard.
“Dad and I built it last week. It gave me something to do while I’ve been laid up,” Mac said.
She eyed his bandaged leg. “It doesn’t sound like you’ve been convalescing much.”
“That’s what I said. But he wouldn’t quit, so I had to help him build the thing.” Hank grumbled as he brushed past her and walked to the wood pile. He picked up several sticks of firewood, then followed Toni toward the cabin.
“Inez!” Hank called. “We’re home.”
The door burst open and Inez MacKenzie rushed out, wiping her hands on a checkered dish towel. “There you are. I was getting worried.”
Dressed in faded jeans and a red flannel shirt, Inez whipped the towel over her shoulder and patted her short, brown hair. When she saw Toni, she pulled up with surprise. “Toni! I didn’t know you were here.”
Toni smiled lamely. She wasn’t quite sure of Hank and Inez’s reaction to her coming here unannounced. They’d been more than kind at Eric’s funeral, but maybe they’d resent her. After all, she was supposed to have been their daughter-in-law and they’d naturally feel protective of their son. “I’m sorry. It was a last minute trip. I need to speak with Mac.”
Mac explained Toni’s condition. Inez’s rosy cheeks creased with concern as she hurried over and took Toni’s arm. “Are you okay, dear? You could have been killed.”
Toni gave a faint smile, trying to be brave. Her gaze constantly searched the forest for signs of an intruder. She tried to tell herself the gunman wouldn’t be back. That this was a one-time offense. But her fear stayed with her. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you. Could we…could we go inside? Please!”
“Of course, dear. You poor thing.” Inez hugged Toni, who cringed at the pain it caused her side.
“Not too tight, Mom,” Mac cautioned. “I think she’s got a cracked rib.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Poor dear.” Inez’s voice softened with sympathy.
“It’s not that bad,” Toni reassured her. Truthfully, it hurt so much that she wanted to lie down and bawl like a baby. Instead, she grit her teeth and tried to be brave.
Inez’s gaze swept her from head to toe as she led her to the door. “Obviously you haven’t seen yourself, young lady.”
Glancing down, Toni grimaced at her filthy, tattered clothes. Her hair hung across her face, matted with dirt and blood. Cuts and abrasions covered her arms and legs. She winced, remembering every detail of her fight for life. She must look a sight.
“I wish we had a radio or some kind of phone reception here in the mountains. The sheriff should know about this right away.” Inez bustled Toni up the steps to the deck.
“I’ll go into town and report Toni’s assault to Sheriff Parsons tomorrow morning,” Mac promised.
“Come inside and let me take a look at that cut on your head.” Still slim and surprisingly spry for a woman her age, Inez pushed the door open. “We’ll get you a bath and some ointment and you’ll feel a whole lot better.”
Toni glanced at Mac from over her shoulder. Lantern light illuminated his rugged good looks and dark, short hair as he hobbled along on his crutch. In spite of their broken relationship, his presence comforted her and helped her feel closer to Eric.
Inside the cabin, Inez pressed Toni down into a chair. “Hank, stir up that fire and haul in some water. I’ll need the first aid kit, too.”
Hank headed into one of the back rooms while Mac leaned his crutch against the wall. On one leg, Mac hopped over to the kitchen and balanced himself against the counter while he lifted two heavy pans to heat on the black cook stove.
“Mac, sit down right now, young man,” Inez commanded without looking at him. “I want you to rest your leg. Your father can heat up the stove in a few minutes.”
Mac politely ignored his mother and continued to pour water into the pans. As he stoked the fire and added fuel, the scent of wood smoke teased Toni’s nostrils.
“You hungry?” Mac asked Toni as he hopped over to a beat-up recliner and lowered himself into the chair.
“Ravenous.”
He showed a slight smile. “We’ll get you fed as soon as Mom has you cleaned up. It smells like we’re having homemade stew and biscuits.”
“And cherry cobbler,” Inez chimed.
Toni’s mouth watered at the thought of food. Now they were inside, she felt calm and secure.
Hank crouched before the rock fireplace, stirring up the coals. He laid another piece of wood on the fire. Armed with a hot pad and long, wooden spoon, he lifted the lid of a black Dutch oven. Steam and a tantalizing aroma rose from the contents and Toni’s stomach growled again.
Grunt padded across the room and plopped down close at her feet, a gentle giant. He rested his head between his paws and closed his eyes. Soon, he snored loudly.
Toni looked about, her gaze taking in the rustic furnishings of the spacious four-room cabin. Carved oak trim graced two sofas, chairs and footstools. Their plump cushions were made for curling up on cold winter evenings, or lounging on a warm summer day.
“That’s new.” She pointed at a long table sitting near the kitchen for taking meals. It included twelve chairs, the high wooden backs carved with soaring eagles, growling bears and roaring mountain lions.
Inez inclined her head toward the chairs. “You like them?”
Toni nodded with admiration. “They’re beautiful.”
“Mac carved them. He has the steadiest hands I’ve ever seen. I always told him he should go to medical school and become a surgeon.”
Toni studied Mac. His ears reddened a bit and he looked away. No doubt he was thinking of their breakup. Their separate goals had ultimately caused the end of their romance, but she couldn’t help wishing they’d found a way to make it work.
Inez went into the kitchen area for a wash cloth. The room contained a large pantry and Inez pointed at the carved oak cupboards, indicating Mac created them also. Thick cutting boards supplied an area for food preparation. Two steel wash basins installed in the cupboard provided a drain and faucet. Jugs of store-bought drinking water sat on one shelf. In this rustic kitchen, Inez prepared some of the best meals Toni had ever eaten.
Through the open doorways, Toni saw bunk beds and several small knotty pine dressers and trunks resting against the walls. One room for women, the other for men. In the summer, the MacKenzie’s often had guests. Backpackers, film crews, geologists, tourists, and military personnel.
Hank headed for the front door and Toni popped out of her chair. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t go out there.”
Hank hesitated, his eyes crinkled as he looked at her. “Don’t worry, Toni. I’ll be fine.”
“But that man might still be out there.”
“Grunt would have sensed him and warned us by now.” Hank went outside.
Toni sank back into her chair, trying to convince herself that he was right. The gunman was gone. She fidgeted nervously until Hank returned carrying two buckets of water, which he placed beside the stove. Over the next few minutes, he hauled hot water into the women’s bunk room, filling a tub for her bath.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Inez led Toni into the room and closed the door.
The woman helpe
d Toni get cleaned up and tended her wounds. They didn’t speak much, but Toni sensed Inez wanted to say something. After Toni and Mac had broken off their engagement, it had made things rather difficult in light of the fact that Eric and Mac were best friends. It didn’t help that Toni adored Hank and Inez. Toni’s parents had felt the same about Mac. They’d been killed two months before the breakup and Toni hadn’t spoken to Mac again, until Eric’s funeral. How she wished they had something joyous to celebrate instead of all this sadness.
When Inez left Toni alone for a few minutes, she slouched in the warm, sudsy water, her mind weighted with unease. Now she was here, she had so many things she must tell Mac, but where to begin? How could she ask for his help without dredging up the past and hurting him even more?
She curled her aching fingers against her bruised palms. Urgency coiled inside her when she thought of Eric’s last letter and the possible ramifications it might have on all of their lives. Somehow she knew nothing would ever be the same.
* * *
If Mac could walk decently, he’d pace the floor. Instead, he shifted his weight in the recliner, the throbbing of his leg a constant reminder that he had to face Toni sooner or later.
Thirty long minutes passed while Mom tended her wounds. When Inez came out carrying a basin of bloodied water, Mac gripped the armrests of the recliner.
“Is she gonna be okay?” he asked.
Inez nodded. “She’s mighty lucky. She’ll join us in a few minutes.”
Hank took the basin of water outside and dumped it far away so it wouldn’t draw animals to the cabin. When he returned, he helped Inez set the table. Mac felt useless as he watched them lay out tin plates and utensils, but his leg throbbed and he doubted he should stand on it again tonight.
Minutes later, Toni appeared dressed in a clean pair of Mom’s old blue jeans, a warm sweatshirt, and a pair of pink fuzzy slippers. Her pale face glowed in the firelight, her long blond hair brushed back in soft, curling waves. The sight of her brought a shot of warmth to Mac’s heart. He still loved her, and that hurt most of all. He looked away, remembering this was Eric’s sister. The woman Mac had wanted to marry. When he tried to stand, his stiff leg wouldn’t hold him and he fell back in the chair.
