Broken Trust by Sharon Dunn

Author:Sharon Dunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2011-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

TEN

Christine had to take two steps for every one Wyatt took. When old man Denton came out on the porch, his face compressed into an expression that for someone who didn’t know him probably came across as distrust or aggression. Christine knew that Denton was squinting to see better. He had needed glasses for years, but refused to get any.

Christine waved as they drew within twenty feet. “Hey, Robert.”

Robert Denton waved back, but gave no indication he knew who Christine was. When they got closer, recognition spread across his face. “Howdy, Sheriff Norris. Quite a storm, wasn’t it?” His look hardened when he noticed Wyatt.

Christine stepped forward. “This is Wyatt Green, one of the agents called in to help me with the bombing.”

The introduction was enough to sweep away any of Denton’s suspicions. He held a hand out to Wyatt. “Pleased to meet you.”

Wyatt shook the man’s hand. “I’m afraid our pickup slid off the road and got stuck. Can we borrow your phone to call someone?”

“I can do better than that. I can roust Kenny out of the barn, and he can use the tow rope to pull you out. You two look like a couple of drowned rats. Kenny can handle things on his own. Why don’t you come in and get yourself a hot cup of coffee, sit by the fire and dry out while I get Kenny lined up?”

Wyatt and Christine entered the house as the older man lumbered toward the barn. The kitchen and living room were one continuous room. The far wall had firewood nearly stacked to the ceiling and a wood- burning stove with two easy chairs facing toward it. The sparsely furnished kitchen featured a worn Formica table and chairs. Faded wallpaper and ceramic canisters indicated that the room had been decorated with a rooster theme.

Christine stepped across the worn linoleum to a stove where coffee percolated. “Denton makes his coffee the old-fashioned way.” With a little searching, she retrieved two coffee cups from a cupboard. “This should warm us up.” A look of affection smoldered in his eyes and teased the corners of his mouth when she handed him the steaming cup. If she had had any doubt about what the first kiss had meant, the second one had swept all that away.

She pointed at a container on the table. “I think the sugar is in that ceramic rooster.”

Wyatt dipped the teaspoon into the sugar container and slowly stirred it in. “Do you suppose the storm changed Champlain’s plans, too?”

The thought of their only lead drying up frustrated her. “Hard to say. I don’t know why he was even headed in that direction.” Christine wandered toward the woodstove. “I thought for sure he’d drive toward Placerville and the badlands beyond that.” Christine sat down and leaned close to the stove. The wall of heat that hit her felt wonderful.

Wyatt took the other chair by the stove. “Given what we know, it seems like it would be the logical launching point for finding the camp.

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