"Well it's about time you showed up," Kayla heard Ellie say in a teasing voice as she walked in the door of the main lodge. "I was startin' ta wonder if you were gonna sleep til lunch."

Kayla blushed slightly. "Sorry," she said as she sat down at the table where Ellie and Lily were sitting. "I can't believe I slept so late. I guess I really was 'all tuckered out.'"

The women laughed at Kayla's attempted southern accent. "It's all right, sugar," Ellie said. "You're on vacation. You should get to sleep in." Ellie pointed to the baskets on the table. "There are some muffins and homemade donuts if you're hungry."

"Thanks." Kayla picked a blueberry muffin from the basket. Taking a bite, she nearly moaned. "This is delicious."

"It's one of Lily's specialties," Ellie said, smiling at her daughter-in-law.

Lily smiled shyly. "I'm glad you like the muffins. They're Roy's favorite too."

Kayla could see how Lily's eyes lit up at the mention of her husband. Kayla wondered if her eyes did the same when she talked about Steve.

"So if you got to sleep in, I guess that means the boys didn't wake you when they left this morning'?" Ellie asked. "I wish I could be that lucky. That husband of mine can stalk a deer without making a sound but he can't get dressed without waking the house."

Kayla and Lily laughed. "I know what ya mean," Lily giggled. "Roy's always tryin' to teach Darrell about walkin' softly so the deer can't hear 'em. Then this morning, he musta tripped three times just tryin' ta get out ta door."

"I guess I did get lucky," Kayla admitted as the laughter died down. "Or maybe I was just too asleep to hear St . . . stomping . . . I mean to hear Bill stomping around." Kayla cringed as she finished the sentence, knowing she sounded ridiculous.

"Well the sound probably don't travel as far in that nice cabin you got," Ellie said with a sly grin. "I'm not sure how y'all pulled that off, but I can't say I'm sorry. I'd rather see y'all enjoy it than listen to Cousin Wyatt complain about it."

Kayla joined the laughter again. "You'll have to ask my husband about that," she said with a sly grin of her own. Then thinking back to the previous night she added, "But we are definitely enjoying it."

"Oh really." Ellie raised a brow. "How long y'all been married anyway?"

That's a good question, Kayla thought silently. It depended on which wedding you start counting from. Figuring that was not a good answer, she counted from what her heart always told her was the real date. "A little over three years."

"Why you're practically newlyweds then. No wonder. . . ." Her voice trailed off as she gave Kayla a knowing look.

"How long have you and Roy been married?" Kayla asked Lily, wanting to change the subject.

"Nine years," Lily replied with the same shy smile as her eyes lit up again.

"Roy and Lily was high school sweethearts," Ellie said, smiling affectionately at Lily. "Seems like they got married 'bout five minutes after they graduated high school."

"Well, we had to get married before Roy left for basic training," Lily said, shrugging. "Otherwise, we would have had to wait months."

"Roy's been in the army the whole time you've been married?" Kayla could not imagine how difficult that must have been for Lily.

Lily nodded. "Sometimes it seems like we've spent more time apart than together. But he always wanted to be a soldier."

"Really?"

This time Ellie answered. "Yep. His daddy was a soldier and, ever since Roy was a small boy, all he ever wanted was to follow in his daddy's footsteps." She grew quiet. "And his cousin Randall. Randall was a lot older 'n Roy, but he lived with us and was like Roy's big brother. He was killed in Vietnam when Roy was just seven. Ever since, Roy always said he wanted to serve his country like his daddy and cousin."

"I'm sorry," Kayla said. "That must have been a terrible loss."

Ellie smiled sadly. "It was, but it was a long time ago and when you're a military wife and mother, you come to accept that's part of life." She shook her head. "Aw, who'm I kidding? I'm awful proud of Roy, but I can't say I don't sometimes wish he'd decided to be a bus driver instead." She shook her head. "Especially when he comes home with some new bullet hole in 'im."

Kayla's eyes widened at Ellie's remark. She knew the bullet hole Ellie was talking about was the wound Deakins had suffered while helping to rescue Steve.

"Ellie!" Lily exclaimed, nodding her head towards Kayla.

"Oh, stop it." Ellie rolled her eyes. "It's no national secret that Roy took a bullet to his side. Maybe he can't tell us how it happened, but anybody can see the dang scar."

Kayla suddenly felt very uncomfortable. These people had been nothing but warm and welcoming to her and Steve, and here she was lying to them. She could have told them both exactly how Deakins had been injured. A part of her wanted to do just that - and to thank them all for what Roy had done for Steve. But she also knew she could not reveal the truth.

"You okay, Kay?" Kayla looked up to see Lily and Ellie looking at her with concern. "Ya kinda seemed somewhere else there for a minute."

"I'm fine. I guess . . . I guess I was just thinking about . . . something."

"Like maybe that accident Bill was in?" Lily asked sympathetically. "That must have been real scary."

"It was." Kayla took a deep breath. "But it's over now and he's just fine. . . . assuming he doesn't kill himself on this hunting trip."

"Well, knowing my boys and this family, I can't tell you it's not a possibility." Ellie began laughing again. "Lordy, I think those deer might have the upper hand this time around."

Kayla and Lily again joined the laughter. When it subsided, Ellie excused herself to the kitchen and Lily went to check on her children, leaving Kayla alone at the table.

As they left, Kayla's smile faded. Wanting to get Roy Deakins to help Shane had seemed like the right thing to do, but now Kayla was no longer sure. Was it really right to ask Deakins to risk his career to help Shane? And what would happen to his family if he did? It would not just be Deakins who would be hurt. Ellie might have to see her son arrested. And Lily might lose her husband and the father of her children. These people who had welcomed her and Steve into their family. . . . They would suffer if Deakins did what Steve asked.

Now, Kayla had to wonder if they were right to be asking. She was not sure anymore.