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Chapter 5 - Mirage of Trust

Australia Flashback - Quinn, Part 1

The restaurant was louder than usual that night.

Robbie barely touched her food.

“You’re quiet,” Quinn said.

“Just tired.” But Robbie’s eyes kept drifting to the comm on the table.

The next morning, Robbie slipped out of bed early.

“I’m going for a run,” she said. “I’ll grab breakfast for us on the way back.”

“Give me a minute, and I’ll come with you.”

“No.” Robbie handed her a mug of coffee. “Stay in bed and relax. I’ll be back in an hour.”

Quinn didn’t argue. Maybe a little alone time would be good.

After Robbie left, Quinn took a quick shower and poured herself another mug of coffee. She grabbed a banana from the kitchen and stepped out onto the porch. She was looking forward to today. They had no special plans, but Quinn hoped they could explore another area of the city. Maybe The Rocks. The market would be open on the weekend, and Quinn had read about the different vendors. There were loads of restaurants, shops and galleries there too. She smiled when she thought about some shopping R&R.

Quinn glanced at the clock, surprised to see that almost two hours had passed.

Well, it’s Sunday. Maybe the café was crowded.

Another forty-five minutes passed.

Now Quinn was uneasy. She tried calling Robbie. The VID call went straight to messages.

Her stomach tightened. What if something happened to her? No one even knows where we’re staying.

Quinn began pacing the small cottage, her mind running through possibilities. Robbie could have run into someone she knew. Maybe she lost track of time.

Or maybe a car hit her. People drove on the wrong side of the road here. She kept pacing, peering out the window and opening the door to see if she was coming down the street.

At noon, four hours after Robbie had left, the door opened. Robbie strolled in as if she had only stepped out for a walk. Quinn ran to her and grabbed her, tears already spilling down her face.

“Where have you been? I was ready to call emergency services to see if there had been an accident.”

Robbie pushed Quinn gently away and held up her comm.

“I messaged you two hours ago.” Quinn’s head jerked up, searching Robbie’s eyes. For some sign. “I told you I was on a call with work.”

Quinn broke her gaze and searched her comm, thumbing from screen to screen. No message. She checked deleted messages. Checked spam. Nothing. There was no reason why she would have missed it.

“I never got it,” she said carefully. “Wait. It’s the weekend. A call from work? You’re on vacation in another country.” Quinn’s emotions started bubbling over again.

Robbie shrugged. “Well, I sent it.”

The certainty in Robbie’s voice made Quinn start to doubt herself. She stared at her phone. Had she deleted it somehow in her frenzy? Was she going crazy? Her heart sank. She never missed details such as this. Her training wouldn’t tolerate it.

She looked at Robbie and realized she was done with the conversation. Drained, she sat down on a kitchen chair and looked at Robbie.

Robbie opened the refrigerator and began searching for something to eat.

“There’s a problem with the resort,” she said casually. “Something about a guest identity issue. I’m going to have to go back early.”

“Work?” Quinn stared at her, her face reddened. “Now? Why?”

Robbie didn’t answer. She took a container from the refrigerator and began eating.

“Did you eat?” she asked.

Quinn stood so suddenly the kitchen chair nearly tipped.

“Did I eat?” Quinn glared at her. “I’ve been climbing the walls for four hours thinking you were dead.”

Robbie was already walking toward the bedroom.

“And what are you doing now?” Quinn asked.

“What does it look like? I’m packing. They sent me a ticket to fly to Japan tonight.”

Quinn stood frozen in the doorway.

Robbie noticed her moving toward the front door.

“Where are you going?” Robbie asked, her voice soft now. Almost innocent.

“I’m going out,” Quinn said. “Anywhere to get away from you.”

She grabbed her bag and comm, slammed the door behind her, and ordered a car.

Quinn stared out the window as the cottage disappeared behind them.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

She hesitated.

“Sydney Harbor.”

She had no plan.

She just knew she couldn’t go back.

When she stepped off the ferry dock, she heard someone call her name.

“Quinn?”

She turned.

Liz and Connie were sitting at a small table overlooking the water, glasses of wine already in their hands.

“Well, look at that,” Liz said. “You made it after all.”

“Where’s Robbie?” Connie asked.

Quinn shrugged.

“Work emergency. Japan.”

Liz and Connie exchanged a glance but didn’t press.

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Chapter 4 - Mirage of Trust

Earlier that year

Quinn pulled up the ticket Robbie had sent her.

The cheapest fare.

Three flights to Sydney. Thirty-two hours door to door. Premium coach, not first.

That’s not going to work. Not with her long legs.

She logged into the system she had used for thirty years with Homeland Security. Her tenure gave her lifetime upgrades to first class. The familiar Global Aircraft Services screen appeared.

Within minutes, she had rebooked.

Sabáka to Honolulu, where she could shower, stretch her legs, and get a proper meal in the lounge. Then on to Sydney. Even with the layover, it cut the travel time almost in half.

She glanced at the clock.

Four hours until departure.

She’d better move.

Quinn didn’t tell Robbie she had changed the ticket and would be arriving early.

On the plane, a glass of sparkling wine chilled her hand as she looked out the window. The desert below stretched endlessly and pale beneath the wing.

Life had seemed so different just a week ago. Simpler. Friends pitching in to help Raven prepare for the Centennial.

I’m so sorry I missed that.

Just today. Robbie couldn’t wait one more day.

Instead, she had sent Quinn two terrible itineraries and told her to pick one.

Am I looking forward to seeing her?

Robbie had promised a real vacation.

If that’s true, then maybe.

But trust was harder than it used to be.

Quinn studied the directions Robbie had sent for the cottage. Thirty minutes outside Sydney. Not on the harbor.

She says it’s near a ferry stop. Maybe that will be fine. And not a hotel. A rental with a kitchen. I wonder who’s cooking on this “vacation.”

Before drifting off to sleep, Quinn made a quiet mental adjustment.

I’d better change my tune before I see Robbie.

Hope for the best.

The landing in Sydney was smooth. The sun was dropping toward the harbor, turning the water copper and gold.

Quinn ordered an Uber.

Since she had not told Robbie she was arriving early, she did not expect to see her at the airport.

From the car, she sent a quick VID message.

Hi! Guess what. I got in early, and I’m on my way to the cottage. See you soon.

A few minutes later, her comm pinged.

I wasn’t expecting you yet. I’m in a meeting. I’ll see you at the cottage in a couple of hours. I’ve messaged the agent to let you in. There’s food in the kitchen if you’re hungry. Love you.

A meeting?

Who has a meeting in Australia when they’re supposed to be on vacation?

The story continues for Story Insiders. Stay with the story.

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By the fire pit, Quinn tells enough of the truth to sound honest. And hides enough to keep the shame alive.

Chapter 3 - Mirage of Trust

She had told Riley everything was fine.

It wasn’t.

A drone crossing the canyon valley wasn’t fine either. It was a large one, probably delivering groceries to someone in the lower flatlands. Drones weren’t supposed to deliver anything to the residents of Echo Canyon. She’d make sure she told Riley.

This was the first morning she had been up before Riley. Quinn stood on her veranda, coffee cooling in her hand, the early sun painting streaks of gold across the desert floor. She continued scanning the canyon sky. When she was satisfied that everything was quiet again, she relaxed back into her chair. Holding the mug between both hands, she ran her fingers slowly around the rim, lost in thought.

I’m not fine.

Quinn was already on her second cup of coffee when she heard her friend moving inside with the rhythm of someone who trusted mornings.

Quinn used to move like that, too. Certain and decisive. These days, she wasn’t so sure.

The truth was, she didn’t know why she kept rushing back to Robbie. Or maybe she did. But knowing wasn’t the same as admitting it.

Growing up as an Air Force brat, Quinn had always felt safe no matter where they lived. She spent as much time outside as possible, running through grassy fields and jumping from rock to rock in streambeds, always moving, always independent.

She loved the flowers in Hawaii when her mother was stationed there. Even in Germany, the summers were short but slow and comfortable.

Her favorite memory, though, was in southern Arizona. What was she? Maybe five or six?

Her father warned her not to waste her allowance on flowers. The intense sun would kill them. But Quinn’s fascination with plants had started early. She begged her parents for a small place to grow something, anything. They compromised with window boxes on the stoop.

She planted marigolds from seed and saved her allowance for geraniums. When the heat grew too intense, she convinced her father to borrow a wagon from the base so she could cart the planters to the shade of a mesquite tree. Her mother gave her a bucket to carry water to them.

She cried when they had to move again. She had named every flower.

Years later, that same independence carried her into a career that moved her across the world. It was during one of those assignments in Hawaii that she met Robbie.

Quinn met Robbie more than twenty years ago while stationed in Hawaii. From their first conversation, something clicked, like a door opening neither of them knew existed.

They spent evenings going out to dinner and exploring new places. Long conversations often turned into friendly debates as they stretched each other’s thinking and deepened their understanding of one another. That was one of the things Quinn liked most about Robbie. She wasn’t afraid to express her opinion. She did it directly, instead of flirting the way so many women Quinn dated had.

Within months, Robbie invited Quinn to move in with her at the elegant Big Island home.

Barefoot and sun-warmed, the women dreamed of a future that seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.

In the early days of their relationship, they raced from the house to the beach, challenging each other to be the first into the water. When they surfaced, they fell into each other’s arms, laughing.

“I won,” Robbie shouted above the crashing waves.

“No, I did. By an arm’s length.” Quinn raised her long arms in the air to prove her point.

But five years later, life intervened.

Quinn was offered a critical post in Vermont. She had only a month to relocate. At the same time, Robbie was being transferred to Japan to oversee a major resort development, one of the few women leading projects of that scale. It was a prestigious move for her.

Their timelines split like tectonic plates.

They tried to imagine making a long-distance relationship work, but the reality was sharp and unforgiving. With aching hearts, they parted.

That day had been horrific.

Robbie kept pleading with Quinn to stay. But with tears streaming down her face, Quinn shook her head.

“I don’t want to leave you. But I have to.”

Quinn had always been the practical one. Both careers demanded everything. As painful as it was, she boarded the plane and forced herself not to look back.

Years passed, and Quinn rose steadily through the ranks. Life became busy and complicated. Their paths diverged, yet the memory of that time together never fully faded.

At first, they VID-called often, the conversations usually ending with one of them in tears.

Eventually, Quinn decided she could no longer live inside that hope. There was no future for them together.

Hating that she had to be the one to say it aloud, she finally told Robbie.

“What are you saying?” Robbie shouted through her tears. “You don’t love me anymore? You probably never loved me. If you did, you never would have left.”

Quinn tried to explain, but Robbie couldn’t hear her through the tears. There was a crash. Robbie must have thrown the comm. The last thing Quinn heard was a scream before the line went dead.

Movement pulled Quinn out of her thoughts as Riley stepped onto the veranda.

“Well, look at this,” Riley said. “I can’t believe you’re up before me. What’s it been, five days now?”

She gave Quinn a friendly punch on the arm.

“I just wanted to say how glad I am you’re here. Do you have any ideas about what you’d like to do today?”

“I was just thinking about the past.”

Riley chuckled. “Well, that could be a long story, considering your advanced years.”

Quinn shot her a sideways glance. “Hey. I’m only a couple of years older than you.”

“Don’t look at me like that.”

Riley didn’t press further. Quinn had spent thirty years protecting secrets. She would talk when she was ready.

“So,” Riley asked gently, “what’s on your mind?”

“Remember when you came to my retirement party in Vermont, and I told you I was going back to Robbie? You were pretty mad at me.”

“You mean the girlfriend who convinced you to retire early?” Riley said. “Yes. I questioned the rush. I barely knew her, and you rarely talked about her. Sorry, but you shut me down with one look.”

“I know,” Quinn said quietly. “And I’m the one who should apologize. Looking back now, I think the doubts were already there. I just refused to listen.”

“You tried to tell me,” Quinn said quietly. “At my retirement party. You said I was rushing.”

Riley started to speak, but Quinn lifted her hand.

“You were right. I gave up thirty years of work, walked away from everything I’d built, because Robbie said she wanted me to.”

She looked down at her coffee.

“I’m that woman. The one who abandons her whole life for someone who…” She couldn’t finish.

Riley reached across and took her hand.

“You’re not ‘that woman,” she said firmly. “You’re the woman who had the guts to leave when it wasn’t working. That’s different.”

Quinn wanted to believe her.

“Years back, when Robbie and I were first together in Hawaii, everything felt idyllic. We explored the island, built a home together, and imagined what our lives might become.”

“When the job opportunities came up, we both knew what we had to do. Going our separate ways was the only real option.”

Riley studied her friend carefully.

“When you visited Echo Canyon last summer,” she said softly, “I felt like you were saying all the right things. You admired the canyon. My house. Even my life here. But something in your eyes didn’t match your words.”

“I know,” Quinn admitted. “And honestly, I’m glad you didn’t say anything then. I wasn’t ready to face the possibility that things with Robbie might already be over.”

Riley waited.

“So,” Quinn said quietly, “I think I’m ready to tell you what happened. Can we get some more coffee and sit out here? I need some open air for this.”

They settled back into their chairs with fresh coffee. Riley quickly put together a small plate of croissants, cheese, and fruit.

Quinn took a deep breath.

“First, I need to be honest with you,” she said. “When I called you from Hawaii and asked you to pick me up in Sabáka, I didn’t tell you the whole truth.”

Riley stiffened.

“I’m glad you called,” she said carefully. “But what did you lie about?”

“I left Australia early and went back to Hawaii.”

Seeing Riley’s expression darken, Quinn lifted her hand.

“I know. Just… let me start from the beginning.”

“Okay,” Riley said, shifting slightly.

“After my retirement party, I flew to Tokyo to meet Robbie.”

Riley nodded but said nothing.

“I arrived on a Thursday and spent a day recovering from the long flights. That weekend, we explored the area around Robbie’s apartment and talked about traveling around Japan whenever she could get away from work.

“We talked about everything. The years apart. How much we had both changed. How we would have to get to know each other again.”

“It was beautiful,” Quinn said quietly.

“We explored the city and took a trip into the countryside. At one point, we got lost and stopped to ask a woman for directions. She didn’t speak English, and we didn’t speak Japanese.”

“She showed us her geo-map, but of course, that didn’t help. Eventually, she brought out her daughter, who spoke excellent English. The daughter launched a drone and told us to follow it back to the main road.”

Riley laughed.

“You never told me that story.”

“Don’t give Channing any ideas,” Quinn said with a faint smile. “She’ll be running drone-led canyon tours.”

They both laughed briefly.

Then Quinn’s expression shifted.

“Within a few weeks, Robbie’s job began taking more and more of her time. Suddenly, she had meetings on days we had planned to do things together. I started going out on my own.

“Now you know me,” Quinn continued. “I can travel independently.”

She stared into her coffee.

“But after a while it started to feel different.”

“Different how?” Riley asked.

“It felt like I had become a burden,” Quinn said quietly. “Like Robbie didn’t want me there.”

Riley stayed silent.

“There were nights when Robbie called to say I shouldn’t wait up. I’d sit in the apartment looking out over Tokyo while dinner grew cold on the table. Eventually, I would throw it away and go to bed.

“The next morning Robbie acted as if nothing had happened.”

“You both discussed expectations, though?”

“Yes. She promised she would make time. She said the project was just intense at the beginning.”

Quinn shook her head.

“One night, I waited all night. Robbie never came home.”

Silence stretched between them.

“Tokyo was supposed to be the easy part,” Quinn said.

She could still smell the sea air from the bay that first morning. Robbie laughing. The sound of gulls fighting over scraps.

Quinn blinked and returned to Riley’s veranda.

“That’s when things started shifting,” she said. “Eventually, I told Robbie I was going back to Hawaii.”

“And?” Riley asked.

“She barely reacted.”

“When I arrived in Hawaii, it was hard. I thought maybe I just needed time to settle again.”

“I tried to go back to my routines. I worked in the garden. You remember the place. The bougainvillea had taken over the back wall.”

Riley smiled faintly.

“I started hiking again, too. I thought the trails might clear my head.”

She paused. “I even began fixing things around the house. The lanai door had been sticking for months.”

Riley waited.

Quinn slowly shook her head.

“But everything felt hollow.”

“It was like the house had emptied out while I was gone. Same walls. Same view. But none of it felt like my life anymore.”

“Where was Robbie?” Riley asked quietly.

“Tokyo.”

“And you talked?”

“Not really.”

Quinn looked down at her hands.

“For thirty years, I protected identities. Now I’m not sure what my own looks like without my badge.”

“I was sitting in a beautiful house in Hawaii,” she continued, “and I had never felt more alone.”

Riley reached across the space separating them and squeezed her hand.

“That’s when I booked the flight to Sabáka.”

“I wanted to come back to Echo Canyon. I knew you would be here.”

“I took the first available flight. I even spent the night at the airport because I didn’t want to stay where I wasn’t wanted.”

Riley squeezed her hand again.

“I’m so sorry, Quinn.”

She paused.

“Quinn… how can I help?”

Quinn shrugged.

“I don’t even know yet. It just feels good to be here. To have space to figure things out.”

Riley nodded. “And you can stay here as long as you need.”

Quinn relaxed slightly.

“I’m really unsure about Robbie and the house in Hawaii. I don’t even know who I am right now or what I’m going to do next.”

She gave a small shrug.

“But this isn’t like me. I didn’t create this situation, so I’ll figure out how to move forward.”

Her voice hardened slightly.

“I’ve sent text after text over the past few weeks and haven’t received a single answer.”

She exhaled sharply.

“That’s not how you treat someone you supposedly love.”

Riley remained quiet.

“Part of me wants to call Joe, the house manager in Hawaii, and have him ship the few things I left there. But that feels like running away.”

“And I don’t run.”

Riley nodded slowly.

“You deserve so much better, Quinn. Does Robbie have any idea you might not be going back?”

Quinn went still.

“Well… I still haven’t told you the other half of the story.”

She looked out across the canyon.

Then she turned back to Riley.

“Because Robbie didn’t just stop answering me.”

Riley frowned.

Quinn stood suddenly.

“She abandoned me in Australia.”

Riley blinked.

“Quinn… what in the world happened?”

Since you’ve made it this far, you’re already at the front door.

Story Insiders sit with the women of Echo Canyon on the veranda, as the story continues.

You Don’t Have to Leave

“She called. Then the line went dead.”

Read it Here

Quinn returns to Echo Canyon on a red-eye, asking Riley for a ride from the airport with very little explanation.

Something has shifted in her life. She doesn’t say what it is. Riley doesn’t ask. The canyon welcomes her back.

But the silence between them says more than either of them is ready to admit.

Chapter 2 Mirage of Trust

She didn’t want to VID-call. They would see the worry on her face. The garden circle had always been Quinn’s backup family, and Riley sent a quick message instead

Hi gang. Quinn came in yesterday. She’s exhausted. Once she’s rested I’m sure she’ll want to see everyone.

The responses arrived almost immediately.

Is everything okay? I can make her some restorative tea, Val wrote.

Bring her by the stables when she’s ready. A quiet ride might help, Raven added.

Skylar’s message came next. I’ll be back by the end of the week. Jim’s in town if you need anything.

Riley thanked them and said she would be in touch soon.

Putting her comm down, she started her routine with her potted plants. It had been a hot summer, with rain only coming this past week. Many of her annual flowers were barely hanging on, but the kumquat tree and Mexican honeysuckle were doing well. The giant pine trees on the west side of her property provided shade for the pots by four o’clock, helping them escape the sun’s intensity as it built through the morning.

Riley carefully inspected her garden, noting how her summer snaps had transformed into tall, vibrant beauties since the recent rain. The vinca were doing well too.

Her hands slowed in the pot. Ben would have noticed this right away. She wouldn’t have met so many people so easily, and she certainly wouldn’t have her garden. Ben had an easy way of showing people the path by introducing them to others. He could teach everything himself, but he didn’t.

As she thought about Ben, Riley lifted her head and peered through the back doors, as if expecting something. Her expression shifted to sadness as she remembered what Quinn had looked like at the airport, and when she had gone into the bedroom to rest.

Riley realized her hands were still hovering over the pot, clutching the pruners. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the plant and delicately pruned the longest branches of the vinca deep inside the foliage, knowing this would encourage new growth and result in a fuller, more robust plant. As she worked, she noticed the first signs of fresh shoots emerging from within, a reward for attentive care.

Satisfied, Riley gathered the best cuttings of summer snaps and vinca blooms to arrange in a vase. Intrigued, she added a few branches of Mexican honeysuckle, curious to see how they would fare in water. With a sense of contentment, she went back inside to brew a pot of coffee, hopeful that Quinn would wake soon and feel somewhat refreshed.

I’ve never seen Quinn like this. Her shoulders rounded, diminishing her height by inches. So reluctant to say anything. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, she always does. But God, I hope she’s okay.

Riley’s thoughts broke off at the sound of the guest room door opening.

“Hi! You’re up! Did you have a good rest? I’ve just made a fresh pot of coffee. Would you like some?”

“That’s nice, Riley. It smells good. Don’t get up. I can get it.”

Quinn opened the kitchen cabinet door and saw her favorite mug. Reaching for it, she added, “Yes, I’m starting to feel better. I feel like I haven’t slept in days. Can I top off your coffee? Maybe I’ll have one of these bananas.”

“Yes, please help yourself.” Riley held up her cup for a refill. How long has it been since you slept a full night?”

Quinn shrugged, not tasting her coffee. “Days without sleep. Weeks with poor sleep.”

Quinn pulled the comm from her pocket, glanced at it, and set it face down on the counter.

She hated that she wanted it to light up.

She hated that it didn’t.

Riley noticed but chose to slide past it.

“Well, now that you’re here, I’m sure you’ll sleep like a baby. I messaged the women to let them know you arrived.”

Quinn looked up, startled.

“You didn’t say anything, did you?”

Riley lifted her hand in reassurance. “No. I just said you came in and were really tired. I told them we’d be in touch when you’re ready to see everyone. They all sent their best.”

Quinn seemed satisfied and turned toward the veranda, leaving her mug on the counter.

The next morning started quietly.

Quinn did not come into the kitchen until nine. She poured herself some coffee and took a long drink, looking out toward the veranda. Riley sat in a deck chair, staring into the canyon. She didn’t seem to notice Quinn behind her.

“Good morning.”

Riley shifted in her chair and looked up. A quick smile replaced the blank expression on her face.

“Hi! Sorry. I didn’t hear you come out. I guess I was lost in thought. Did you get some sleep?”

“Yes. In fits and starts. My best sleep was actually from seven until now.”

“Well, you look a shade better. I’ve been up since six. You know me. Up with the sun. I baked some blueberry muffins, and there are still bananas if you’re ready for something to eat. It’s such a lovely morning here on the veranda, I decided to enjoy it.”

“Thanks, but not yet. I want to see your garden. Did you cut those flowers this morning?”

“Not today. Yesterday I was cutting flowers back, and there was no need to put them all into the compost. We’re fortunate the heat has pulled back. We’re finally out of the hundreds.”

“I didn’t even notice, Riley.”

Quinn looked down at her coffee. She used to notice everything. It had been her job. Now the days slipped past like they belonged to someone else.

Riley could see she was holding back tears.

Quinn stood and moved to the top of the stairs, hesitating as if she wasn’t sure she could go down. Riley moved over next to Quinn and took her hand, leading her down the veranda steps into the morning light, shadows stretching across the garden.

She’d spent the summer creating small naturalized areas. Pots tucked between boulders and ground plantings, succulents catching the long eastern sun.

They wandered through the garden and Quinn paused beside a gray vase filled with aloe.

“I love what you’ve done,” she said quietly. “It feels… settled.”

Riley caught the weight in that word.

“Thanks Quinn. It’s a labor of love. Come on,” she said gently. “Let’s get some food.”

Riley leaned toward Quinn, Riley stayed close as they climbed the steps.

They took their sandwiches into the great room and snuggled amidst the pillows on the couch. Quinn’s message alert sounded and she froze, then glanced at her watch like time could protect her. She looked up with tears in her eyes.

Cautiously, Riley asked, “Are you up to telling me what’s happening?”

The words came fast, tangled with tears. “How did I end up here? I’m supposed to be living the life, fully retired and traveling the world with my soulmate.

“Now I’m lost, alone, and devastated.”

Riley quickly set her plate down, moved closer, and drew Quinn in while she sobbed. She rubbed her back and whispered slow, soothing words until Quinn’s heaving stopped and she could push back into the sofa. Riley offered the box of tissues she always kept handy.

“I’m sorry, Riley. I thought I was done crying.”

“Oh, Quinn. Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you’re here and not alone. You know I’m always here for you. I would have come anywhere if I knew what you were going through.”

“I know, Riley. And I’m sorry I’m keeping you in the dark. I just can’t get into it yet.” Feeling a little guilty, Quinn gave Riley’s hand a squeeze. “Soon, I promise.”

After lunch, Quinn went back to her room. Riley was surprised that her usually energetic friend was taking another rest, but whatever had happened had taken its toll on her. She suspected Quinn was using the naps as an escape but hopefully it would work and restore Quinn to her normal self.

Riley puttered around the house, checking her auto-payments and online accounts, then emailing a few architecture clients about upcoming meetings. She wasn’t used to staying in so much, but there was no way she was going to leave Quinn alone now. She wished she could talk to Raven but she would not betray her trust. She was relieved when her friend came out several hours later.

“Hi! I’m glad you’re up.” Riley looked carefully at her friend to see signs of rejuvenation. She surged on. “Ben called while you were asleep and invited us over for happy hour. I said maybe you’d prefer he comes here, if you’re up for it.”

“I think I’d like that. I enjoy Ben. And I appreciate you letting me stay with you. How about I make something for his visit? We’ll sit outside?”

“Of course. I’ll call Ben and let him know to come over. Is an hour too soon? I had some more fresh blueberries, so I made a tart, and maybe we can get some cheese ready. I’m sure he’ll bring something over.”

Laughing slightly, Quinn rubbed her stomach. “You’re making me hungry again.”

“Well, I was just going to have a G&T, if you’d like one.”

Quinn sat at the breakfast bar, rubbing her eyes. “I can’t believe I slept again. I was out. Sure, the drink sounds refreshing. The tart smells really good.”

Riley made the drinks and brought them to the stools at the breakfast bar. The view through the back window stretched over the expansive backyard and the wooded area beyond. “I think we’re all set. Ben will be here shortly, so you woke up at the right time.”

Quinn shifted, wanting the conversation to stay on lighter topics, trying to distract herself. “What’s up with the gang? I haven’t been very reliable in staying in touch with our friends.”

Riley looked away for a moment. Not even me.

“They have been busy. Raven..” She glanced toward the back door. That’s got to be Ben knocking. He never knocks. Must be all proper for you. He’s just in time for the blueberry tart.”

Ben arrived with two cloth bags in hand. He set them on the counter, glanced at Riley, and at her subtle nod stepped toward Quinn with his arms out.

Quinn paused, not knowing if she was ready for a hug, even from someone who cared deeply. She took one step forward as Ben erased the distance between them and pulled her in tightly.

“Welcome back, Quinn. We’re glad you found your way home.”

Quinn slumped, and Riley was quick to shift the moment.

“Quinn, look what Ben brought. Loads of goodies. And Quinn, this one must be for you, the red Zinfandel you always ask for. What a spread we’re going to have.” She smiled. “For just the three of us.”

While Riley was displaying the food, Quinn and Ben had both turned toward her and, being the same height, draped an arm around each other’s shoulders. Quinn leaned gently against Ben, steadier now after his emotion-filled greeting.

They each grabbed what they could and settled on the veranda. Riley refreshed her and Quinn’s drinks and brought a fresh G&T out for Ben.

“I thought we could save the wine for the tart. They’ll complement each other well.”

The conversation stayed relaxed, local happenings, the garden tour Riley had attended, plans for shopping with Val and Skylar over the weekend.

Finishing her drink and setting the glass down, Quinn glanced at her watch before asking, “What happened to Whitman after he was ousted from the Centennial?”

Ben picked up the story first. “You heard that Eleanor, his wife and chair of the event, basically laid him out in front of the entire community, right?”

Quinn nodded, and Ben continued. “Well, if the land were the law, their divorce would have been final right then. Between that and the loss of community support for, well, anything, he’s gone, and good riddance.”

“That must be a relief for Eleanor. I can’t imagine living under the thumb of a person like him,” Quinn added, sinking further into her deck chair’s deep cushion.

Riley and Ben exchanged a glance, catching the potential meaning behind what Quinn had just said.

Riley added, “We’re all better without him.”

“Well, ladies, even though we haven’t opened the wine yet, I think I’m going to call it a night,” Ben said. “I’m going to the upper ranch tomorrow for the weekend. Donnie needs some help mending the fences, and I told him I’d come up. Maybe we can make a date with everyone at my house when I get back, if you’ll still be here, that is.”

Quinn looked away.

Catching herself and wanting to move away from Ben’s comment, she asked Riley, “What’s that structure out on the tree line? I hadn’t noticed that before.”

Riley glanced at Ben at Quinn’s rapid change of subject and quickly brightened. “Oh! I didn’t show you that. We, well, I mean Ben’s crew built a pagoda for al fresco dining and evening moon watching. It faces east so we have a great view, especially on full moon nights. Hey Ben, how about we check for the next full moon for happy hour? Depending on what time it rises,” she finished, chuckling.

Quinn leaned back in her chair as Riley spoke. “That sounds like a good plan.”

“Quinn, why don’t you sit still while I walk Ben out to his gate. I’ll be right back.”

“As lovely as it is out here, Riley, I’ll start taking these things inside. I’m ready to call it a night too.”

Ben quickly grabbed the glasses and a tray. “Eh, we’ll make short work of this right now. Charlotte taught me better than this, to leave dishes on a table. Then you two won’t be left with the cleanup, just the leftovers,” he added, chuckling. “The best part of a get-together.”

Riley and Quinn made short work of the final cleanup. As Riley washed the last glass, looking out the window, she said softly, “Quinn, you know you don’t have to do this alone.”

Quinn opened her mouth as if to speak, then shook her head no. She turned quickly and ran to her room.

The last thing Riley heard was the creak of the old floorboard right outside the guest room door.

Then the door closed firmly.

Riley stood still in the quiet kitchen.

Quinn’s comm was still sitting on the counter.

Face down.

There are things Quinn hasn’t said yet.

And questions Riley is choosing not to ask.

If you feel that pull to stay a little longer,

to sit in these moments with them…

you don’t have to leave.

Stay Inside

Five women in their sixties and seventies standing at life’s crossroads, refusing to let their best years be behind them.

Step Inside

Mirage of Trust is Book 2 of the Women of the Canyon Series.

You can start here without reading Book 1, Whispers of Echo Canyon.
But if you want to meet the women from the beginning, you can find it on Amazon.

Or, become a Story Insider and stay inside Echo Canyon as the story unfolds.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

She Called. Then the Line Went Dead

Quinn is home, but something has changed. Riley sees it and chooses to wait.

Chapter 2

She Didn’t Ask

Riley senses Quinn is hiding something and chooses not to push.

Chapter 4 Begins the Story Insider Experience

Free subscribers continue receiving chapter excerpts and weekly visits to Echo Canyon.

Story Insiders receive every complete chapter of Mirage of Trust as I write them, along with a permanent seat on the veranda with the women of the canyon.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already inside.

You Don’t Have to Leave

Chapter 1

After throwing a few groceries into Quinn’s condo refrigerator, Riley headed north toward Sabáka airport. She had stocked the fridge automatically, as if Quinn would walk into her own kitchen later that morning. As if nothing were wrong.

Quinn had switched the vid off before she spoke.

“Riley. I’m coming in on the red-eye tomorrow morning. Could you pick me up?”

Her voice had been tight. Controlled. As though each word had to pass inspection before leaving her mouth.

Riley didn’t sleep much after that.

The sun rose to her right as she drove. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight, even on the horizon. A normal desert morning. It always struck her when she left the canyon. The sharp contrast between the temperate climate in Echo Canyon and the barren stretch of road in the desert leading to Sabáka.

She tried to focus on the road, on the steady rhythm of tires against pavement, on anything other than the hesitation before Quinn had said goodbye.

She put on a podcast. Turned it off thirty seconds later.

Ben had told her not to fret.

“You’ll know soon enough.”

Riley didn’t want soon enough. She wanted now.

A message buzzed as she pulled into arrivals.

We landed early. I’ll meet you at the curb.

Riley eased into the first open space.

When Quinn stepped through the automatic doors, swiping her palm past the biometric reader, Riley felt something drop inside her.

Her friend looked smaller. Tensed. As if she were holding herself together from the inside.

Riley lifted the hatch, set the suitcase inside, and pulled Quinn into her arms.

“I’ve got you. Whatever it is, I’ve got you.”

Quinn pressed her face briefly into Riley’s shoulder. Then she stepped away and slid into the passenger seat without speaking.

They drove in silence.

Halfway home, Riley glanced over.

Tears streamed down Quinn’s face. No sound. Just steady.

Riley reached across the console and rested her hand on Quinn’s forearm.

Quinn did not pull away.

The guilt sat heavily in her chest. Not for what had happened. For the silence. For not calling. For not telling Riley the truth.

She tried to steady herself. Tried to take something from the warmth of Riley’s hand. Something familiar. Something she could still trust.

They climbed toward Echo Canyon as the sun cleared the peaks. Wind nudged the SUV as they rounded the bend.

“That’s odd,” Riley said quietly.

“What is?” Quinn’s voice sounded thin.

“Clear sky and a push like that.”

Quinn looked at her. “Since when does land push back?”

Riley almost smiled. “Often. When we pay attention.”

They drove the rest of the way without speaking.

Instead of turning toward Quinn’s condo, Riley continued up the road.

Quinn noticed. “This isn’t my turn.”

“I made an executive decision,” Riley said. “The guest room’s ready. You always sleep better there. I’ll make something warm. We’ll decide the rest later.”

Quinn studied her for a moment, then nodded.

“You traveled light,” Riley said as she lifted the suitcase.

Another nod.

Inside the old house, a familiarity passed through Quinn. She was in her comfort zone. She desperately wanted to sit down on Riley’s comfortable couch and tell her everything. Quinn paused at the bedroom door.

“I think I’ll lie down,” she said. “See if I can find a human somewhere inside this body.”

Riley swallowed. “There’s water on the nightstand. And an apple.”

Quinn gave the faintest smile. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“Anytime.”

The door closed softly.

Riley stood in the hallway for a moment, listening. The house felt different. Even the refrigerator hum seemed louder.

She stepped outside.

The canyon was bright now. The wind moved through the mesquite. Not strong. Just present. It lifted a dry leaf and spun it once before dropping it.

Smiling, Riley pulled out her comm and typed two words.

She’s here.

Ben replied almost immediately.

Good.

Riley slipped the comm back into her pocket and looked across the valley.

Whatever had followed Quinn home was here now.

And Echo Canyon does not ignore what enters it.

Don’t miss any chapters of Mirage of Trust.

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I’ve been quiet since December.

Not because I stopped writing. Because I stopped talking about it. I had good reason. I was preparing Whispers of Echo Canyon for release.

That took everything. And it’s only been 12 days since it started selling. I can’t immediately rev back up to the pace I held while editing Whispers. That kind of push isn’t sustainable.

Today I’m saying it clearly: I’m drafting Book 2.

Mirage of Trust is Quinn’s story. You met her in Whispers.

For thirty years she worked in Homeland Security. Identity protection. Border security. Espionage cases. Controlled. Precise. Unshakeable.

Until she wasn’t.

When I finished Whispers of Echo Canyon, I knew Quinn’s steadiness had a crack in it. She called Riley from Hawaii, after returning there from Australia, and asked to be picked up at the airport. The line went dead.

That was the moment the canyon stood still.

For the next six weeks, I’m focused. Drafting. Tightening. Locking in the first arc. No wandering into side projects. No marketing rabbit holes. Just writing.

Here’s how April will work.

Chapters 1–3, published weekly starting in April, will be fully free. Anyone can read them and settle into the story. Subscribers, followers, the casually curious.

Beginning with Chapter 4, the door closes. The rest moves inside Story Insiders, my paid subscribers.

Readers told me they want to hold my book in their hands, not skim past it. That’s what I’m building.

If you haven’t met these women yet, Whispers of Echo Canyon is where it begins. https://mybook.to/WhispersofEchoCanyon

For free subscribers: To come inside, see the private journals from these strong five women, hear bits about my writing process and read the chapters first, upgrade to Story Insiders today.

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