Page 8 of Ranger Bravery

Emma eyed him up and down. “What’s a Texas Ranger?”

He crouched to her level. “It’s a fancy name for a police officer.”

“Oh, like Aunt Piper. Except she works for the sheriff. And she’s a detective. Are you a detective?”

He chuckled. “Kinda.”

“Is Aunt Piper the boss of you? She’s the boss of me when my mommy isn’t here. Or when she’s sleeping.”

“Aunt Piper isn’t the boss of Ranger Barker.” Ava pulled Emma toward her with an apologetic look in Jackson’s direction. “It’s time to get ready for bed. Say goodnight, please.”

There was a flurry of activity as Mary and the kids went upstairs to start the bedtime routine. Ava followed at a much slower rate, sitting on the stairs one at a time and pulling herself up backward. Moxie followed, his tail wagging wildly, as he repeatedly kissed Ava’s cheek.

Jackson toed off his boots to avoid tracking dirt on to the faded carpet. “Nice kids.”

“They are.” Piper grinned. “Sorry about Emma. Her favorite game is twenty questions.” She gestured to a door near the staircase. “There’s a small bathroom, if you’d like to wash up for dinner. Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

“Take your time.”

Jackson dipped inside the tiny room and scrubbed his hands. His chin bore thick whiskers and his shirt was rumpled after tramping through the woods. He needed a shower, but that would have to wait. Probably for hours. The investigation into Elena’s murder was just getting started, and after dinner, he’d return to the crime scene.

Distressed cabinets, dated appliances, and a small kitchen nook gave the space a homey feel. A picture window overlooked the backyard. The scent of warm pasta and tomato sauce caused his stomach to growl. The sounds of footsteps overhead indicated Ava and kids were moving around on the upper floor.

A moment later, Piper joined him. She must’ve taken a quick shower before changing into a soft pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Her hair was dry—she hadn’t washed it—but the blood was gone from her hands and arms.

“Sorry about the noise. Sounds like a herd of elephants.” Piper raised her gaze to the ceiling. “It’s mostly Moxie. And Emma. If only I had the same level of energy they did.” She shook her head affectionately before glancing at Jackson. “What can I get you to drink? There’s soda and water. Or I can make a fresh pot of coffee.”

“Water is fine for now. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Nope, it’s all ready. Have a seat.”

He settled in a chair and watched her bustle around the kitchen. It was strange to be with Piper. Unsettling and yet familiar too. Her movements were graceful and efficient. She’d been through an ordeal tonight, but looking at her now, no one would know. Piper had always been good at compartmentalizing her emotions. Clearly that hadn’t changed in the last ten years.

“Here you go.” Piper set a plate on the table in front of him. It was piled high with lasagna, a side salad, and fresh garlic bread. She’d fixed a smaller plate for herself. Within moments, she had silverware and glasses filled with water on the table too.

Once everything was ready and Piper was seated, she met his gaze. “Why don’t you lead us in grace?”

Jackson nodded and then bowed his head. “Lord, we thank you for the food we are about to receive. May it nourish our bodies. We also ask that you watch over the investigators as they gather evidence, and we pray for Elena’s family. May You be with them in their heartache. Amen.”

“Amen.” Piper’s eyes uncharacteristically shimmered with tears. Derek was right. The incident in the woods had shaken her more than she would admit. For good reason. Elena had died in her arms.

Jackson couldn’t stand it. He placed a hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Piper. I meant what I said earlier. You did all you could.”

She squeezed his hand and then pulled away to take a sip of water. Her gaze avoided his. Jackson didn’t know what he’d hoped her response would be, but discussing emotionally charged topics had never been her forte. Anything that couldn’t be changed went into a vault.

They discussed lighthearted things for the rest of the meal. The weather, Emma’s new artwork hanging on the fridge, and Jackson’s vacation to Hawaii. Eventually, the quiet settled over them, punctuated only by the scrape of the fork against their plates. The footsteps upstairs stilled. As Jackson’s stomach filled, his energy returned. He’d been hungrier than he realized, and the lasagna was the perfect dinner after a long day. “You outdid yourself, Piper. The food is amazing.”

“Thanks.” She cleared her throat and then took a drink of water. Fiddled with her napkin. “Truth is, it was a way to get a quiet moment with you away from the scene.” She took a deep breath and raised her gaze to meet his. “I owe you an apology, Jackson. For leaving like I did.”

He pushed away his empty plate. “It was a long time ago, Piper. You were hurting. I understood.”

The trouble was, he did. Piper never had it easy. Her childhood was spent bouncing between her mentally ill and drug-addicted mother’s house and Grandma Mary. She’d endured nasty gossip from some of the less well-meaning townsfolk. Through it all, she held her head high and fought to be respected.

The assault shattered her. Her feisty and determined nature had been subdued. She’d jumped at her own shadow and suffered through fresh whispered gossip from neighbors. So no, Jackson didn’t blame her one bit for fleeing a town that held such terrible memories for her.

What really hurt was that she never asked him to go with her.

He would have. In a heartbeat. Yes, they’d been ridiculously young, but he’d envisioned dating throughout college. Marriage. Supporting each other’s careers and, eventually, children. The way Piper left… breaking up with him in a letter… it’d punched a hole in his heart. And maybe that was the crux of the entire problem. He’d loved Piper more than she had him.

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