Ranger Courage

anything.”
No, she couldn’t. The university was being very careful about what information was shared. Avery set the photograph on the end table and got up from the couch. Cooper groaned and stretched before following her down the hall to the bedroom.
“I heard on the news this evening that you brought in the Texas Rangers,” Savannah said. “You aren’t working with Luke on this, are you? I thought you told me Megan went into labor.”
“She did. And before you ask, I haven’t heard anything about the baby yet. As for the case, another ranger is working with me. Weston Donovan. He’s very nice and has an excellent reputation.”
He was also handsome and smart, but Avery wasn’t about to share those qualities. Not even with her sister. Avery picked up a brush from her dresser and ran it through her hair.
“Where have I heard that name before?” Savannah asked. “Wait. Isn’t Weston the guy Megan was trying to set you up with?”
“Don’t start, sis. Weston and I are working together. Besides, I’m not interested in dating. Which is exactly what I told Megan.”
“Not every guy is like Jeffrey, Avery.”
She winced thinking of her ex-fiancé, Jeffrey Strikes. He was a prosecutor, and they’d met while she was a homicide detective with the Houston Police Department. Avery had foolishly thought they were in love, until she walked in on Jeffrey fooling around with a junior attorney on his staff. The cheating had been devastating, and she’d broken off their engagement. But the bigger problem was grappling with her knowledge of the affair. Jeffrey’s junior attorney was a subordinate. Having a relationship with her was against department policy.
Ultimately, Avery informed Jeffrey that if he ended the liaison, she would keep silent. Instead of taking her advice, Jeffrey counter-punched. He went to Avery’s boss and said she was cheating on him with a subordinate officer. His accusation set off an Internal Affairs investigation and nearly ruined her career. Avery’s name had eventually been cleared, but the entire experience had taken a toll on her.
“I know what Jeffery did was horrible,” Savannah continued. “And he hurt you deeply. But there are good men out there. Honest ones. I don’t want you to close yourself off to the opportunity for happiness if God places someone in your life.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I’m just not ready. And dating someone I’m working with is never going to happen again.” She set the brush down. “Let me finish getting ready. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Avery hung up. Cooper growled, drawing her attention. The dog was standing at the bedroom window. He’d parted the curtains with his nose and was staring at something. Avery joined him. The wide expanse of the grassy yard ended in a tree line.
“What is it, boy? What do you see?” She waited a moment, her gaze flickering from one area of the yard to another. Shadows caressed the trees, but nothing moved. “I don’t see a thing. Not even a squirrel.”
She patted Cooper on the head before crossing the room and entering the bathroom. The mirror wasn’t doing her any favors. Avery grimaced at her pale complexion and the circles shadowing her eyes. She splashed her face with cold water before digging out some makeup. A bit of lip gloss and a touch of mascara did wonders.
Cooper hadn’t moved from the bedroom window. He stared intently at the glass and the yard beyond. Avery paused midstep. “Coop?”
He glanced at her before turning back to the window. He growled again. The hair on the back of Avery’s neck stood up. Cooper wasn’t a trained guard dog, but he also wasn’t one to bark and growl at nothing either. Before she could even consciously decide, her feet were moving toward the nightstand. She slid open the small drawer. Inside was her Harrison University Police Department badge and weapon. Avery picked up the Glock 22, her fingers wrapping around the grip, and flipped off the bedroom lights. She let her eyes adjust to the darkness before moving back to the window and scanning the yard and the tree line, looking for anything that could’ve raised Cooper’s suspicions.
There. Her heart skipped a beat. Was that a person? The shape was nothing more than a shadow. Still, her hand tightened on the gun. She quickly moved to the front door. Avery slipped on her work boots and a jacket to protect her from the cold. Cooper, sensing she’d finally listened to him, joined her.
“Sorry, bud, you have to stay here.” The dog was more likely to put her in danger than save her from it.
She slipped onto the porch, plastering herself against the brick to avoid triggering the motion-sensor floodlights. The scent of wet grass and damp earth enveloped her. Keeping her gun pointed at the ground, she moved quickly toward the corner of the house. Avery’s heart thumped hard against her rib cage, but her steps were sure and measured.
Using the house to provide cover, she peered into the woods. It was nearly dinnertime and the sun had set. The encroaching darkness deepened every minute as night took over. Leaves rustled and a shape moved.
“Police!” Avery raised her gun. “Come out with your hands in the air.”
“Don’t shoot me, Avery.” Weston stepped out of the trees. “It’ll create a whole lotta paperwork you don’t want.”
She lowered her weapon and struggled against the sudden wave of anger. “What are you doing sneaking around my backyard?”
“A perimeter check. Didn’t you get my text message?”
“Clearly not, since I’m out here holding you at gunpoint.” Her phone had beeped a few times earlier indicating some emails and text messages coming through, but Avery’s headache had been so bad, she’d ignored them. She pulled her shoulders back and glared at Weston. “You do realize I’m a trained police officer. You don’t have to babysit me. We aren’t even sure the killer is after me.”
“True, but we aren’t sure he isn’t after you either.”
Her jaw tightened. She wasn’t in denial, but all they