Page 48 of Ranger Belief
“Bre!” Laney hurried toward her sister and embraced her in a tight hug. “What happened?”
“Someone broke in and attacked Papa Earl.” Bre swiped at the tears on her cheeks.
The EMT leaned out of the ambulance. “Are you riding with him, ma’am?”
“No, I have to stay here with the baby. My husband, Marcus Sullivan, is a nurse in the emergency room. He’ll meet you when you get there.” Breanna pulled out her phone and texted Marcus as the ambulance drove off.
Jonah and Scout joined them on the walkway. Laney quickly filled Jonah in on what Breanna had shared with her. The front door to the house hung wide open, but from Laney’s vantage point, it didn’t appear to have been busted down. She turned back to her sister. “Can you tell me exactly what happened?”
“I was putting Asher to sleep when there was a thump from the living room. I was worried Papa Earl had stumbled or fallen,so I went to check on him.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. “He was lying in the foyer, unconscious, and the front door was hanging open. I caught a glimpse of someone wearing black running across the yard. He got into a vehicle and drove away.” She looked bewildered. “Who would hurt a helpless, elderly man?”
Laney felt a burst of anger flare inside her. “Did you catch the make and model of the vehicle the perpetrator escaped in?”
“It looked like a Jeep Cherokee. Black or dark blue.”
The anger cemented into an icy rage. Laney met Jonah’s gaze before wrapping an arm around her sister and shepherding her inside. “Did you hear the doorbell ring? Or a knock?”
“No, but I was nursing Asher and his white noise sound was on, plus my bedroom and the nursery are in the back of the house. I would’ve heard the doorbell, but its possible someone knocked and I missed it.”
They bypassed some deputies and went into the kitchen. Laney pushed her sister into the closest chair and began making tea. The sound of crying came from the baby monitor. Breanna rushed from the room to check on Asher.
Jonah lingered in the doorway, speaking to a deputy. Chief Deputy Williams arrived. They all conferred quietly and then examined the doorframe. At some point, the chief deputy and her subordinate stepped outside with Jonah.
After a little, he joined Laney in the kitchen. “No sign of forced entry. Looks like Papa Earl must’ve heard a knock and answered the door. Then he was attacked.” His expression was grim. “This has to be connected to the murders. Garrett couldn’t have done it. He was sitting in an interview room down at the sheriff’s department?—”
“But Mitch could have.” The water in the kettle began boiling, and she poured it into a cup. “We need to check the other area of the park Garrett showed us on the map. The one close to Bear Creek.”
“Not tonight. It’s too dangerous.”
He was right. Even with numerous law enforcement personnel, it would be risky to traipse through the woods after a potential killer. Plus, there was the threat of more thunderstorms closing in. The Labor Day weekend had turned into a wet one. She wondered how many of the campers had abandoned their reservations or checked out early. With a killer on the loose, Laney was tempted to close the entire park down. She said as much to Jonah.
“It’s worth thinking about. Rain will be on and off all week though. Considering the weather, I don’t think you’ll have that many people hiking or camping out.” He placed a hand on her back, between her shoulder blades. “You’ve got rangers on patrol throughout the night, plus Tate and Ryker will stay at a cabin at the park. So far, the killer seems focused on you. I’m more worried about that.”
“He isn’t focused enough on me.” That she could handle. But this… “He’s gone after my family. After you.” The rage churning in her stomach heated her from the inside out. “What game is he playing? If he wants me, then just come after me.”
“No one’s getting close to you. I won’t allow it.” His mouth quirked. “Neither will Scout. She’s practically glued to your leg at the moment.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Laney laughed. She reached down to stroke Scout’s soft ears, and then, seeking comfort, closed the gap between her and Jonah, wrapping her arms around his waist. He immediately embraced her. The scent of peppermint soothed her raw nerves. His shirt was soft against her cheek, and the sound of his heart beat against her ear. Strong. Steady. Just like the man.
The thought of losing him…she couldn’t bear it . She just couldn’t. “I’m scared.”
He let out a long and low sigh. “Me too, sweetheart.”
The vulnerability in his voice made her heart ache. It also made her feel less lonely. Less lost. Laney lifted her head until she could look him in the eye. The warmth she found there was familiar, and yet…more intense. She realized with a jolt that Jonah had always held back. He’d been careful with his touches, cautious with his words, and guarded when he looked at her. Constantly afraid to show her the truth. Worried about how she might react.
And she realized then, in that moment, what it must’ve cost him. All those years of hiding his true feelings.
She didn’t want him to hide. And she didn’t want to hide anymore either.
So before the fear could take hold, Laney rose and kissed him.
His lips were warm and firm against hers. She tasted peppermint on his breath, felt the gentle pressure of his hands cupping her face as if she were something precious. Her pulse raced. As if of their own accord, her fingers traced a path up his chest and to the base of his neck where they buried themselves in the soft strands of his hair.
Jonah deepened the kiss, and she was lost. It was like coming home and stepping into the unknown all at once. Precious as a sunbeam, as fragile as a petal. The feeling was all-encompassing. And when Jonah finally pulled back, they were both breathless.
Jonah ran his thumb over the curve of her bottom lip. It tingled from his kiss. “Not that I’m complaining, but…why did you do that?”
“I…” She wasn’t sure how to answer that. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, the pulse picking up as the fear settled in. “I didn’t think about it beforehand. It…was…”
