Page 80 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

Misty’s lungs felt like someone had doused them in gasoline and set them on fire. Finally, the door in the corner opened and her brother walked in. She sucked in a breath, the burning intensifying with the addition of oxygen.

So much in her life had been cleaned up and cleaned out. But seeing her brother threw her right back to her life in that tiny apartment. The two of them alone, the cupboards bare, huddled together on a mattress on the ground, where they slept once the light faded.

She took a breath and steeled herself against the memories. Danny’s eyes met hers, and she lifted a hand in a wave. Pure light entered his face, and Misty told herself over and over not to cry. She might get to hug him before they took him away again, and she nodded at him, hoping that would give him some strength.

He looked clean and well, which was more than she could say the night she’d gone to see him in jail after the bar fight. He seemed well-fed, healthy, and of good spirits as he sat at the table in front of her.

A man in a suit joined him, and they waited for the parole board to come in. Misty had not volunteered to speak for her brother, and she simply sat at rapt attention while they read the report from his behavior in the last year.

His lawyer spoke. Danny ran through his time here, what he’d been working on, how he’d improved. Then someone said, “Mister Granger, do you have anyone to speak for you?”

Danny turned to look at her, his eyes begging her to say something. Misty had no idea what she’d say. Last time, she’d had something prepared, and she’d been so disappointed he hadn’t been released.

Her robot-body took over, and she stood. “I have something to say.”

Every eye came to her, but she managed to move up to the microphone. “I am Misty Granger,” she said. “Danny’s sister.” She swallowed and thought of Link standing beside her. If any of the Glovers ever got in trouble, this room would not be able to hold them all.

“I have stayed in touch with my brother,” she said. “Via email and phone calls. According to his report, he is excelling here. He has friends, performs his duties, and is fully reformed.”

She took a breath. “He is the strongest person I know, because he has been dealt a horribly terrible hand of cards, and instead of giving up and walking away, he’s done the best he could.” Her emotions clogged and choked her, but she swallowed them back. Again, and then again.

“I raised him the best I could from the age of ten, and while I didn’t do a perfect job, or even a good job, I tried. That’s all any of us can do: Try. Humans have the extraordinary ability to change, and that’s something I’ve only learned in the past few months, sir.”

She gestured to her brother. “He is not perfect, but he is good. He got into a bad situation, but I’m older now, and so is he. Together, we’re stronger. Together, we’ll be brave enough to leave the past behind us and build a better, brighter future.”

Misty’s legs started to feel weak, and she added one last thing. “He has served two-thirds of his sentence, and I believe he is worthy to be released on parole.” With that, she returned to her seat, a little too scared to look at her brother. Danny reached out and touched her hand, and she squeezed it as she went by.

The parole board read through another report, and then the man sitting in the middle of the row said, “Thank you, Mister Granger. We have reviewed your case, your progress, and the statements provided. Does anyone here have further questions?”

Misty felt like a heavy drape had been thrown over the room. She could barely get a breath as the moment lengthened. No one said anything, and the parole board chairman said, “After careful consideration, we have decided to grant you parole, Mister Granger.”

He continued to speak, but Misty’s hearing seemed to disappear. Only white noise existed, and she only clued back in when Danny said, “Yes, I understand. Thank you for this opportunity.”

“You have the power to change your future,” the chairman said. “This hearing is adjourned. You must meet with your parole officer to sign the terms of your parole before you can be released. We wish you the best in your reintegration into society.”

The hearing broke up then, and Misty stood on trembling legs while Danny turned toward her, his arms outstretched. “I love you,” she whispered fiercely as he enveloped her in a hug.

“I love you too,” Danny said in her ear. “You’ll wait for me?”

“Right outside,” she promised. He got led away with his lawyer and his parole officer, and Misty stood there and watched.

“Ma’am?” someone asked. “We need this room for the next hearing.”

“Of course,” she said, finally getting herself to move. Outside in her car, she started typing out messages to Link, and this time she sent them, one after the other.

Her mind raced and ran ahead of her, and she just kept typing and typing until everything had been vomited out.

Only then did she slow down and go back to what she’d said. She’d told him about her travel. About her brother. About the hearing. How she’d be here for the full week now that she knew he’d need her to help him get settled.

Then she’d said, I’m going to try to get him to come back to Three Rivers with me.

He’ll need a job, of course. And Link, I know this is really crazy, but I’m wondering if you have somewhere for him at Shiloh Ridge.

Or maybe you know of a ranch where he could work. He just needs a chance, and I have found so many second chances, love, and acceptance from your family, and from the town of Three Rivers.

You don’t have to answer right now.

Just think about it, and I’ll see you when I get back next week.

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