Page 7 (1/2)

“Yes I even shot the moose you’re about to eat” He took a seat on the opposite side of the table

Emma blew on a spoonful of chili and took a cautious taste “It needs ti it “I’ve never tasted moose before”

“You were married to Boone, and you’ve never had moose?”

Ehed and put down her spoon “Is that my cue for the rest of the story?”

“You need to eat Your story can wait”

She shook her head “I’ll feelafter I’ve told you Be warned It isn’t pretty”

He propped the spoon on the edge of his bowl “I’”

John studied the wo her bare body Her da around her face in soft tendrils Even though he knew she was in her thirties, there was a look of alent hazel eyes, generous , but her features caether in a way that fell short of beauty Such a wo confidence when it caet for a man like Boone The fact that she had money put aould make her the perfect mark

Outside, the storm had arrived Thunder boomed across the sky Rain battered the s of the cabin as Ean her story

“I flew in last night on Alaska Airlines,” she said “BooneHe said he had a motel room for us, but” She flushed aardly “I didn’t want to spend the night with him until erehe gave n A minister friend of Boone’s performed the ceremony in a park with tote on the water I’d even brought along”

Her words trailed off She was close to tears It would be a kindness to stop her But John knew he had to hear the rest of her story He’d never et involved with this woht be about to hear, he was too curious to turn his back and walk away

He waited in silence while she fought to bring her emotions under control She seemed determined not to cry John liked her for that He re with dogs on her heels She ile as a violet, but she was a scrapper

“I’m sorry, this isn’t easy” She took a sip of ave Boone all ed clothes, he used soas and supplies and pocketed the rest Then we left town and droveroads, into the back country I’d dozed off, drea ho to raise our family there

“I woke up—literally and figuratively—when he stopped the truck and toldher chin “That hen I knew I’d been a silly, ro at a dilapidated house trailer, surrounded by junk Two huge dogs were chained by the front wheel—they didn’t look like they’d had anything to eat, except this old deer head they were fighting over So from a tree”

She shook her head “There was et the idea It ful But worst of all was the change in thein a play, and the play was over