Free Broken Trust by Leigh Bale Page A

some lab work, they’ll
reveal what really happened the night Eric died.”
    She understood, but she didn’t like
it one bit. All this cloak and dagger stuff had taken the life of someone she
loved. She didn’t want to lose anyone else. “Do you think someone betrayed your
team to the Taliban?”
    His expression darkened. “Yes. They
knew we were coming, that’s for certain.”
    A shiver of apprehension chilled
her heart. This was a serious accusation. “Mac, you’re talking about treason.”
    “That’s right, but I don’t know if
the ambush had anything to do with Eric. I think we need to find his missing
file before making any conjectures.”
    As they walked down the rocky terrain,
he stumbled and she took hold of his arm, wrapping her fingers around solid
muscle. She braced her weight to help him negotiate the steep path. When he
regained his footing, he extracted his arm and stepped away. Putting more
barriers between them.
    She couldn’t figure him out. One
minute he seemed warm and caring. The next minute, he pushed her away as though
he couldn’t stand to be near her. She suspected his mood swings had something
to do with his PTSD.
    She supposed it was for the best.
She tried to tell herself she didn’t want to be near him, either. Truthfully,
she felt a mixture of joy and sorrow every time she looked at him. She loved
him still, but she couldn’t help mourning the life together they had lost.
    Twenty minutes later, they reached
the pebbled beach. Normally, it would have taken only five minutes to walk this
distance. But Mac insisted on doing it without help. Stubborn, prideful man.
    While he hobbled into the water,
she picked up a heavy stick and held it with both hands as she sat on a tree
stump. She looked about and watched Grunt for any signs that he detected an
intruder. After being chased through the forest last night, she doubted she’d
feel completely safe here for a very long time.
    When the icy waves lapped at Mac’s
legs, he gasped and clenched his teeth. “Wow, it’s cold today.”
    “Move around,” she advised. “You’ll
warm up soon enough.”
    “Easy for you to say. You’re not in
this freezing water,” he quipped.
    When the water reached his waist,
Mac dove in and swam laps between two buoys bobbing on the water. Grunt bounded
into the water, paddling beside his master. Mac’s deep laughter echoed across
the lake, sending a flock of sparrows to flitter high overhead. The deep,
resonant sound caused Toni’s pulse to beat a rapid tattoo. She admitted to
herself that she’d missed him more than she realized.
    The forest surrounding the lake
blazed vivid green, the mountains a lovely backdrop for the deep blue water.
Toni felt God’s presence here. Memories swamped her, of Eric swimming beside
Mac, playing a game of keep-a-way. When Eric had tried to douse her with water
or dunk her under, Mac had always shielded her. She smiled at the thought,
almost forgetting the reason she’d come here to see Mac.
    Almost.
    After his swim, Toni watched Mac
hop onto the shore, dripping wet.
    “My toes are frozen,” he admitted.
    He accepted the towel she handed
him along with his crutch. He dried off, then pulled a dry T-shirt over his
head.
    While he tugged his shoe onto his
good foot, Toni lifted her face, enjoying the feel of the warm sun. “I’d almost
forgotten how lovely it is here.”
    “Yeah, it’s beautiful.” Mac looked
at her and she felt the heat of pleasure spread over her face.
    Mac’s wide chest expanded as he
breathed deeply. With his short, damp hair and sculpted chin, she thought him
more than handsome.
    Grunt scampered from the lake and
walked along the shore, shaking a shower of water from his large body. Then,
the dog took off up the mountain side.
    Alarm shot up Toni’s spine.
“Where’s he going?”
    Mac shook his head. “Who knows? But
he’d bark if he sensed someone nearby. We’re safe, Toni. And I’m glad you came
to see me.”
    In spite of their