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They’d
buried Mac’s older sister after a drunk driver hit and killed her eight years
earlier. Mac was all they had left. Gratitude filled him when he thought of his
parent’s many sacrifices on his behalf, yet they expected nothing in return. It
reminded him of the Savior’s selfless sacrifice for all mankind.
    Mac leaned his head back against
the worn chair. He longed to accept the Atonement, but he didn’t deserve it.
Not anymore. And he didn’t know how to be the kind of man Toni wanted and
deserved.
    A stilted silence descended on the
room and he set his bowl aside as he stared into the fire. Thirty minutes
later, Toni helped Mom wash the dishes while Dad rummaged around in a trunk for
more bedding.
    “You can sleep in the women’s bunk
room with Inez,” Hank told Toni. “Usually we have a full house of guests.
Tomorrow morning, we have six people coming in from Oregon. They’re hoping to
film some Desert Bighorn sheep.”
    “Wherever you put me will be fine,”
Toni replied as Dad dropped a pillow into Mac’s lap. She glanced between the
two men.
    “I sleep in the recliner lately, so
I can prop up my leg,” Mac explained.
    Dad took Inez’s arm and steered her
toward the outside door. “We’re gonna sit out on the deck for awhile and enjoy
the starlight. You two can join us when you’re ready.”
    “I wish you wouldn’t go out there,”
Toni said, her eyes wide.
    “Stop worrying. That man’s long
gone by now. Besides, we’ll have Grunt with us.”
    The dog followed them outside. When
they were alone, Mac indicated the rocker sitting before the fireplace. “Why
don’t you sit down?”
    Toni stood watching him, her eyes
filled with expectancy and concern. He didn’t know what to say. Before their
breakup, they’d talked for hours about anything and everything. So comfortable
around each other. Like they’d been good friends forever. Now, it seemed they
were more like complete strangers.
    “Can I get you something?” she
asked.
    He didn’t want her pity. His leg
still screamed with pain and he raised the footrest slowly, gritting his teeth.
Hopefully, she didn’t notice. He hated showing her any weakness.
    “No.” He shook his head. “How about
you? Can I get you anything?”
    An impish smile curved her lips,
charming and contagious. He smiled back.
    So much for small talk.
    “Mac, I didn’t plan on staying the
night. I’m sorry to be a bother.”
    He grunted. “Forget it. I’m just
glad you’re safe.”
    Her gaze scanned the numerous
framed photographs resting on the mantel. Pictures of him and Eric. He’d
removed the photos of Toni because they were too painful, reminding him of what
he’d lost. He kept them inside his trunk, digging them out whenever he felt
frustrated or lonely.
    He’d been looking at them a lot
recently.
    “Is this the baby deer you raised?”
She pointed at a picture of a fawn with a speckled rump standing in front of
the cabin.
    He lifted his eyebrows. “Yeah, Mom
found the photo in the bottom of her trunk. Since I returned from Afghanistan,
she’s been feeling nostalgic and dug out some old pictures.”
    Their gazes locked and they both
laughed nervously.
    She stepped away from the mantel.
Her brow crinkled and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He liked the way her
mouth curved and her cheek dimpled when she smiled.
    “I’ve missed you,” he confided.
    She looked startled, then tilted
her head in challenge and her bottom lip quivered. “I’ll bet you barely
remember anything about me, Mike MacKenzie.”
    “Try me.”
    “Okay, what’s my favorite ice
cream?”
    He didn’t hesitate. “Vanilla, with
peanut butter and strawberry jam on top.”
    “What’s my favorite rock band?”
    “The Eagles. I also know you love
reading travel books and eating Italian food.”
    Her mouth dropped open, then she
became very quiet, her eyes trained on the floor. “I’ll bet I remember just as
much about you.”
    “For instance?”
    “You’re an Eagle