Ranger Courage

at my grandmother’s tonight. You’re welcome to join us.”
He was starving, but crashing a family dinner wasn’t polite. “I don’t want to impose—”
“Don’t think twice about it. My grandmother loves having guests. It’ll make her day.” Her mouth twitched. “Besides, I know you’re going to follow me over there anyway. I can’t have you lurking around Nana’s yard. My sister was in the Army for almost a decade. She’ll spot you faster than I did.”
He laughed. “That’s a convincing argument. I’ve already had one Madison woman pointing a gun at me tonight. No need to make it two.”
“Give me a few minutes to feed Cooper and then we can go.”
“You got it.”
Avery disappeared into the kitchen. Cooper followed along, tail wagging. Weston crossed to the window and moved the curtains to look into the yard. Nothing stirred. Was he wrong about someone being in the yard? His gut said no.
A King’s pawn opening. That line from the note bothered him most of all. The killer was organized. Patient. He was also operating on some kind of plan. Leaving Avery alone was out of the question. Yet working this case would require coordinating with several law enforcement agencies, gathering evidence, and speaking to witnesses. Weston was smart enough to realize he couldn’t be in multiple places at once. He needed help.
He took out his phone and dialed a familiar number.

Five
Later that evening, Avery shoved aside a collection of Christmas decorations and peered into the dark recesses of her grandmother’s attic. The dim bulb above her cast long shadows. Framed paintings were stacked against the wall. Chances were her father’s notebooks were long gone, but Avery wanted to be sure. She stepped farther into the attic toward a stack of unmarked boxes. Dust scattered in the air and she sneezed.
The stairs behind her creaked. Savannah, her older sister, appeared. They were two years apart but looked enough alike to be mistaken for twins. Both shared the same copper-colored hair, heart-shaped face, and green eyes. The physical traits came straight from their mother, who’d died when Avery was a year old.
Savannah paused on the last step. “Nana sent me to help you.”
Avery used a knife to slice through the tape sealing the box and peeked inside. More Christmas decorations. “Weston still eating?”
“He’s on his third bowl of chili. Nana is thrilled.”
Avery chuckled. “Remember how much Dad loved her lasagna? He could eat a whole pan by himself. He and Grandpa used to fight over who was going to get the last piece.”
Her sister laughed. “Poor Nana. You and I don’t eat the same way.”
“Thank goodness. I’d be two hundred pounds if I did.” Avery opened another box. More decorations, but this time they were for Easter.
Savannah retrieved a roll of tape resting on the windowsill. She used her fingernail to work up the edge. “Weston’s nice. And he seems very smart. I know this case you’re working is stressful and…well, I’m glad he’s on your team.”
“So am I.” She paused. “Have you heard from Henry?”
Savannah’s husband was in the Navy, and on his final deployment before his contract ended. After he got back, they planned to buy a house in town. Until then, Savannah was living with Nana.
“No, Henry hasn’t called yet.” Savannah blinked rapidly as of holding back tears. “I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything…”
Avery abandoned the boxes and hugged her sister. “It’s only been a few days since Henry left. You know how these things go. It can take a while to get situated and be able to call home.”
“I know. I was a soldier. It’s just hard to stop worrying.” Savannah squeezed Avery before pulling back. Tear tracks lined her cheeks and her eyes were red. “I’m a mess. I have no idea what’s wrong with me.”
“You’ve never been on this side of a deployment before. You were always the one leaving.”
“Ugh. I don’t like it.” She scrubbed her face with her palms. “Let’s say a quick prayer for him.”
The two women joined hands and prayed. It seemed to center Savannah, something Avery was thankful for. Afterward, they returned to opening boxes. None contained her father’s notebooks. Savannah glanced at the stairs. “Come on. We shouldn’t disappear for too long since we have a guest.”
Her sister was right. It was rude to leave Weston. Avery held the final box closed while Savannah taped it, and then they went back downstairs.
The scent of warm chili and cornbread lingered in the kitchen. Nana was seated at the table with Weston. Approaching eighty-five, Marla Madison retained the echo of youthfulness. White hair, perfectly styled, accented her bright blue eyes and olive skin. Nana’s hands were wrapped around a steaming mug of tea.
Weston was plowing through a chunk of chocolate cake. The fork looked like a children’s toy in his massive hand. Avery noticed the tension in his shoulders had disappeared. For the first time since she’d met him this morning, he looked…relaxed.
“Hey.” Weston lifted his fork and grinned. His dimpled flashed. “Hope you don’t mind, but I couldn’t resist diving in.”
She felt herself grinning back. “Depends. How many slices of cake have you eaten?”
“That’s his second one.” Nana chuckled. “Good thing y’all came back when you did. Another ten minutes and there’d be no cake left.”
Weston held up a finger to his mouth. “Shhhh. Don’t give it away. There’s still a chance they may leave again.”
Avery stood in front of the chocolate cake on the counter, as if to guard it. “Not a chance, Ranger. You might be a guest, but dessert is where my manners end.”
They all laughed. Avery cut a slice of cake for her sister, then packaged one for herself to go. She was still stuffed from dinner.
Nana took a sip of tea. “Did you find your father’s notebooks?”
“No, ma’am.” Avery pulled out a chair and joined them at the table. “Is there any other place they could be?”
Nana’s brow wrinkled. “You could try the storage shed in the backyard. Not the one with my gardening supplies. The one