“You don’t believe her,”Macksaid.
“Idon’tknow.”
“We could have Sheriff Hunt check out her story. It shouldn’t take him long toverifyit.”
“True, but I don’t know that it would change anything. She still lied to me. I don’t know if I can forgive her for that,”Drewsaid.
“Let’s see what the sheriff has to say and go from there. She seems like a nice woman, so it might be worth forgiving her, considering the circumstances. Think of it from her perspective. She came up here thinking she was going to meet the man she’d been talking to online and found out that it was really Madison on the other end of the keyboard. She could have screamed and yelled and made a scene, but she rolledwithit.”
“Because she’s hiding,”Drewsaid.
“All I’m saying is that you should give it a chance,” Mack said. “What does your bear thinkabouther?”
“He thinks she’s our mate,” Drewsnorted.
“And you don’t agree?” Mackasked.
“No. Our mate wouldn’t lietous.”
“Madison lied to me when I met her. A few times actually. But I understand why she did it. Sometimes there are valid reasons forlying.”
“I don’t know…but I’ll call the sheriff,” Drew said. “Let’s find out if she’s finally telling thetruth.”
Chapter8
Cindy stoodon the porch at the main house with her hand poised, ready to knock. She needed to find Drew. If she could find a way to make him understand why she’d lied, then maybe he’d want to talk to heragain.
The door swung open before she had a chance to knock. Madisonjumpedback.
“Oh, you startled me. I didn’t expect anyone to be standing on the porch. It’s freezing out here. Did you need something?” Madisonasked.
“I’m lookingforDrew.”
“I haven’tseenhim.”
“Do you know where he might be?” Cindy couldn’t keep the stress out ofhertone.
“I’m not sure. I was heading back to the B&B. We could wait for him there,”Madisonsaid.
“Okay.”
As Madison stepped over the threshold onto the porch, she leaned forward and grimaced. Her hand flew to herbelly.
“Are you okay?” Cindyasked.
“I keep getting these pains,”Madisonsaid.
“Have you been to yourOB/GYN?”
“Yes, but she said everything’s normal and that it’s probablyjustgas.”
“When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had terrible bloating,”Cindysaid.
“You have a daughter?” Madison’s eyes went wide as she returned to her fullheight.
“Yes. Her name’s Brooke. She’s six years old.” A twinge of pain sliced through Cindy’s heart. She’d give anything to be able to hug her only childrightnow.
“You never mentioned her when we were corresponding,”Madisonsaid.
