Chapter Sixteen
Maggie clutched a damp cloth and scrubbed the last remnant of jam from the round oak table. She had volunteered to clean up after their late breakfast so Richard and Ryley could take off for a few hours on the ATVs. Ryley followed his dad, revving the powerful four-wheeler and taking off, a little too fast, south on an old trail at the back of the property that led onto an old logging road near the state park.
Breakfast had been tense, but Richard had remained vigilant through everyone’s anxiety and kept the stilted conversation flowing. She felt like a guest and, through each bite, stared obsessively at Ryley. She knew she was making him nervous when he gawked at her with big startled eyes each time the conversation lagged. Richard covered her wrist with his supportive h
