Page 8 of When the Silence Breaks

“I didn’t think you’d recognize me without the mud.”

“It took me a second. But seriously, what are you doing here?”

That was easy. “Your mother forced me to join you for dinner.”

His concerned features morphed into a crazy, unexpected smile and a deep laugh.

And that tripped her up inside.

Four

He’d steered to the back of the house next to the gate and come out to investigate why Timber was barking. Then found a strange woman with a gun, looking like she might shoot Timber. Nobody messed with his dog. A stranger on his property aiming a weapon appeared to be a threat to him, and so he’d lifted his own gun, but he holstered it now.

Sarah had cleaned up, and he almost hadn’t recognized her. Relief rushed through him.

“Come here, boy,” Ryder said.

Timber whimpered and growled but obeyed. Ryder kneeled to pet the beast, and Timber calmed. “What got him so upset?”

“Whoever Timber was barking at disappeared into the woods.”

He hadn’t seen anyone, but he’d been focused on Sarah. Ryder stood and stared into the darkening forest. That couldn’t be good. “Well, they’re gone now. Timber scared them off. That’s what guard dogs are for. He was doing his job.”

Still, he’d like to know who had been back there and if that was something to be concerned about. A cool breeze swept over him and rustled the trees. Where someone could still be lurking and watching. “Let’s get inside.”

He’d investigate later.

Sarah didn’t move. “You laughed when I said your mother forced me to stay. Is this a regular thing with her?”

“No, not regular. But it’s something she would do.”

Sarah picked up her handgun—a compact Sig—and stuck it in her ankle holster. Her weapon readiness made him curious. Was she former law enforcement? Military? Federal agent? Or just someone who knew how to protect herself?

“Please don’t feel like you have to stay,” he said.

“Oh, I’m staying,” she said. “Your mother insisted, and I’m scared to find out what happens if I don’t. Besides, I’m depending on her to give me a ride home.”

Right. His mother knew full well that Ryder would be the one to take Sarah back to wherever she was staying. Something about this woman had intrigued his matchmaking mother enough to invite her over. “How did you meet her anyway?”

His mother flipped on the back porch lights and stepped outside before Sarah could answer. “Y’all coming or what? The pies are getting cold.”

“We’ll be right there.” He picked up the pace, as did Sarah. This was some kind of weird. Save a woman from a mudslide and his mother invites her to dinner. What was going on?

Mom had set the table and there wasn’t anything left to do. She’d put a beautiful bouquet in the center—fancier than usual—which he figured was for their guest. He and Sarah sat across from each other, and his mother sat at the end of the table.

Ryder said grace over the food. Mom poured everyone iced tea.

“I have to ask ... are you from Texas?” Sarah smiled at his mother.

“Why, yes. Let me guess. My accent gave me away.”

Ryder enjoyed the pot pie and let Mom explain how theGoodwin family—three generations ago—ended up in Mercy Ridge, Washington, from Midland, Texas. His mother, however, grew up in Texas, where she met his father, who’d been stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He married Mom and then settled back in the Cascades. Ryder took a sip of his iced tea and studied Sarah, then when she glanced his way and caught him staring, he dug deeper into his pie.

“How did you two meet?” he asked, since Sarah hadn’t had a chance to answer him before.

“She came by Adventures just as I was locking up. She wanted to thank you,” Mom said. “I persuaded her to join us for dinner. She put up a fight, but who can resist my chicken pot pies?”

Dinah Goodwin always got her way. “No one can resist you, Mom, but Sarah has that frozen-by-the-bright-lights look on her face.”