“We just need to find a clearing then try and direct Ethan to us.”
“He must be in hell knowing he left you here.”
She watched his shoulders rise and fall, but he didn’t speak.
“We'll get out okay, Brad. Those guys, Ethan, Jake, and Buster, they're part of the search and rescue around here. They'll find us.”
“And there's the strong girl I know.”
He was close enough so that if she wanted to touch him, reach out and stroke the angles and planes that made up his face, she could.
“Why do you believe I'm strong?”
“Any woman who raises a child on her own is strong, and add to that what you've been through and the challenges you've faced. From where I'm standing, that would add up to strong.”
Macy had always believed herself weak. People did stuff for her, cared for her, made sure she wasn't pressured or frightened, and she accepted it. But all the time she had wanted to be like Annabelle Smith and Branna O'Donnell. Not little Macy Reynolds, the broken one.
“I'm not strong like some.”
“Yes, you are, but you just don't stand up and show people. You've taken the roll-over approach. You let your friends like Jake and Ethan do things for you when you’re capable of doing them yourself.”
She felt her anger rise. “Don't talk about them like that. They're the best people I know. Without them I'd be alone.”
“I'm not insulting them, Macy, I'm telling you that you've let them protect you and take the lead, but you don't have to. You're strong enough to do it for yourself. You just have to believe that.”
She looked down at the sack that Jake had thrown from the helicopter. Opening it, she took out a muffin and handed it to Brad, then began to nibble on one herself. Was he right?
“I think after so long believing one thing, it’s hard to believe another, especially when it relates to yourself. Maybe I’ve just never really taken the time to see myself differently.”
“My dad made me dependent, and it took leaving to realize I was strong enough to make my own decisions. I enjoy being in control now, and won’t ever let anyone take that from me again.”
Macy watched him bite into the muffin and swallow.
“You're stronger than me.”
He looked at her suddenly, those piercing Gelderman eyes focused on her.
“You've just been shot at, watched your rescue helicopter fly away, and not fallen apart. I think even the tough Annabelle Gelderman would struggle with that. So cut yourself a break, Macy. You're tough, you just need to believe it in there.” He brushed a large finger along her forehead. “Now, finish that muffin and let's get moving.”
“I've never tasted muffins like his anywhere else.” Macy sighed as she swallowed the last mouthful of cinnamon and apple. “It's like he's magic and every mouthful is pure sin.”
“Agree, but you'd have to go some to convince me they're better than the chicken pie with cheesy crust.”
“You should start a club, Jake loves those pies too.”
He took her hand and they were moving again. Macy had to take two strides to his one, but she kept up. They searched for a clearing, anywhere that Ethan could land. She knew her friends would be scared for them, knew it and felt warm that they loved her as much as she did them.
“You and your brother are the same people.” Macy whispered the words even though he'd told her to be quiet. He didn't answer. Shoulders hunched, he just kept walking, clearing a path for her to follow.
Ethan was a protector, and Brad was the same. It was in his bones. He was a good man, and another day and time maybe there could be more to them, more that they could explore together. But not now. Right now she was still trying to fix what was broken inside her, and from what she could tell, he was trying to do the same.
“Your father's an asshole.”
“No complaints from me. Now, you think you could shut up?”
Macy huffed out a breath. They hadn't been shot at for ages, surely they were safe now?
“We'll stop here and wait.”
