“I trust you. You can stay,” Noah said.
Fin took one of the three chairs as Shay walked in.
“Maggie is going to be seriously pissed when I tell her I met you guys and you sang for us,” Fin said. “Unlike me she’ll know who you are.”
“Yeah, yeah, now shut up,” Cubby said. “Tell me what’s put those mean looks on your faces.”
Ryan told the story, and Shay filled in his details.
“And her words to you were, ‘I was pushed’?” Cubby was scribbling notes.
“She said someone pushed her down the incline and into the tree. She didn’t hear anyone coming, and only saw a tourist besides her and Shay on the trails.”
Ryan had tamped down his anger to a simmer, but it raged back to life. He wanted to find who’d hurt Faith and make them pay. Seeing her in pain and vulnerable had terrified him.
What happened if she was hurt again and he wasn’t there?
Ryan knew then just how important she had become to him. He just wasn’t sure what the hell to do about it.
Chapter 24
Faith had never been a good patient, because she was rarely sick. It was a constant source of annoyance to Noah that if there was something to catch, it was he who caught it.
She felt like the walls of her room were closing in on her, and if another well-meaning face appeared at her door, she’d scream. Lucy and Noah had decided to clean it, her twin muttering constantly about what a heathen she was. There was an especially bad moment when he found a banana peel under her bed.
He’d made her promise to either have one of the cleaners in here once a week or change her ways. She’d meekly agreed, but only because he’d brought her a chocolate-and-caramel muffin.
This morning she’d had enough and was determined to get some alone time and fresh air.
Tiptoeing slowly down the stairs, she checked for Noah and Lucy and saw no one, so she headed for the main doors and out into the fresh air.
She knew everyone was worried about her, and was humbled at the people who cared, but Faith needed just a few minutes outside.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Crap.” Faith spun to find Cubby. “You snuck up on me.”
“You get that ass of yours back to bed now.” He glared at her. “What are you thinking, being out here alone?”
“Breathing, walking, and getting some peace,” she muttered. “And you shouldn’t be swearing. You’re law enforcement. Set a good example, for pity’s sake.”
“I’m not law enforcement.” Lucy appeared. “And he’s right. What are you thinking?”
“I need some air.”
“You don’t have air in your bedroom? Shame on Noah for not seeing to that for you,” Cubby drawled.
“Is there a reason you’re both on my heels?” Faith walked gingerly down the bank, eyes forward, as her head did still hurt—but she wasn’t telling them that.
“I saw you leave—sneak out, actually.” Lucy moved to her side, concern etched on her face.
“I’m all right, Luce.”
“Noah will pitch a fit if he sees you out here. It’s only been four days.”
“I’m pitching a fit,” Cubby drawled. “Sit before you fall.” He grabbed her arm and urged her down to the grass.
“Give me a break here. I had Mrs. C and Hank visit this morning with cupcakes. Hank cleaned my room—which was already clean—folded my clothes, and then made me get out of bed so he could fluff my pillows.”