Page 9 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

“If it’s any consolation, the roast smelled good,” Erin said. “I’ve missed your cooking.”

“That’s nice to hear.” Mom crouched to wipe the floor. “But I just hate wasting food like this. I wanted to make you something special.”

Erin had to keep her mother looking at the positive side. “You can always make another roast. But tonight, we’re having pizza. That sounds good, right?” Erin felt like she was walking on eggshells around Mom, trying to stay upbeat and keep things positive, when really, if she hadn’t been told, she would never have known that her mother had taken an entire bottle of Valium, a benzodiazepine, and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the country. She didn’t know how long she could keep this up, or if she even needed to.

Erin washed her hands, and Mom tugged the plastic garbage sack filled with broken glass and their meal out of the can. She exited the back door to place the bag in the bigger garbage container outside.

Erin moved to the hallway and looked up at the attic door. Nadine was the one who found Mom on the floor in her room, the empty pill bottle next to her. Nadine claimed the attic ladder had been down. Erin wanted to search the attic to see if Mom had come across something that had disturbed her. In the meantime, she would encourage Mom to get back to her Bible study and prayer group—more spiritual activities that were good for her soul to go along with the medication prescribed by her doctor.

Mom came back in from outside as Erin entered the kitchen again, and together they worked to finish sweeping and mopping up the mess.

Erin had just put the broom away when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Erin and her mother spoke the words simultaneously.

Erin chuckled and headed to the door. “I bet it’s the pizza. Go ahead and get some dishes out.”

Mom nodded and reached for the cabinets. Erin opened the door and surprise filled her. Her best friend, Terra Connors, stood in the doorway, holding a pizza box.

Erin gasped out the words. “What? How did you—? Oh...”

Terra laughed. “I intercepted the delivery guy. Tipped him too.”

Erin opened the door wider. “Since you’re bringing dinner, come on in.”

Terra stepped inside. “Are you saying I couldn’t come in if I wasn’t bearing gifts?”

“You’re welcome any time of the day or night, with or without gifts.” Erin hugged her longtime friend. When she released her, Erin took in Terra’s appearance. Erin’s eyes were blue-green, and she wished she had bright blue eyes like Terra. And since she was wishing, she might as well wish for Terra’s long, dark mane instead of her own dirty-blonde mess. Then she realized something. “You’re letting your hair grow out?”

Terra shrugged. “For the wedding. Jack likes it longer.”

Erin set the pizza box on the table and glanced over at Mom as she went into the kitchen to grab another plate.

Terra leaned in and whispered, “Are you staying for a while?”

Erin had seen Terra only briefly since coming back to town and took this chance to explain that she’d made the decision to live here at least for a while. Most of Erin’s things remained at her apartment in Snohomish, for which she still had a lease, but she had a feeling she could very well be making this her permanent residence.

Erin’s mom returned to the dining room and set out another plate. They gathered at the table, and Terra said grace. Erin took a bite of the Hawaiian pizza and savored the combination of sweet pineapple and Canadian bacon. Her shoulders rolled forward as tension drained out of her. “This is so good. I needed this.” She quickly eyed Mom. “But your roast and carrots would have been just as good, Mom.”

Mom grinned, then shoved a slice toward her mouth and took a bite.

Terra leaned back and sighed as she chewed. Erin was glad for the extra company.

She and Terra first became close when their loved ones died in the same tragic accident. All SAR volunteers, Erin’s stepfather, Terra’s mother, and Alex Knight’s father died in an avalanche while trying to save someone stranded after a plane crash. Plaques now memorialized the fallen SAR team at the Rocky Mountain Courage Memorial that rested at the base of Stone Wolf Mountain. Since then, Terra, Erin, and Alex had forged a special bond. In fact, Terra was more like a sister to Erin. Alex, a brother, though he had also left Montana for a job that took him far from them.

“Tough day in the forest?” Erin asked.

“You could say that.” Terra suddenly stopped chewing and averted her gaze.

“All right. I know that look. You can’t fool me. What happened? Or are you not allowed to talk about it?”

Terra pressed both hands on the table. “There’s no easy way to say this. Nathan’s father was shot. It happened down by the river while he and Nathan were fishing.”

Erin’s pulse filled her ears as she let those words sink in. “Is he...?”

Terra’s brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “He was life-flighted to the hospital in Bozeman, but I don’t know his current condition.”

Erin stared at the slice of pizza on her plate. Concern for both Nathan and his father vanquished her appetite. “What happened?”

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