Page 41 of Valor

“Ross,” he said in a low voice. She frowned, confused. “Ross,” he repeated. “My legal name is Owen Ross.”

“Thanks for telling me.” She wanted to hug him. “I’m so glad you’re willing to stay with me, Owen. I know this is all going to work out for the best.”

He gazed up at the sky for a long moment. “You really believe in God?”

“Yes, Owen.” She released his hand just long enough to set Bear down on the ground. The puppy ran in circles, then found a place to get busy. “I wish I had a Bible with me so that I could be more eloquent as to why I believe. I don’t have that many verses memorized either. I’m not an expert like our church pastor. I will tell you that the Bible speaks the truth about how God sent his only son, Jesus, to walk among us. To preach God’s word and to heal those who were sick so that we may believe. Jesus prayed for us, expected us to follow God’s word, and He ultimately died for us. So that our sins would be forgiven and that those who believed would have everlasting life. Not in body, but in spirit.”

He nodded. “In heaven.”

Hope filled her heart. “Yes, in heaven.” She reached for his hands. “Oh, Owen. I can’t wait until we’re back in Cody. I’ll take you to church with me so you can learn the truth for yourself.”

He offered a sad smile as he tugged free of her grip. “I don’t think that’s how things will work out.”

“Emily?” She turned when she saw Ranger Campbell striding toward her. His stern expression caused alarm bells to go off in the back of her head. “You and Owen need to come inside.”

“What’s happened?” She bent to scoop Bear into her arms. The puppy wiggled, wanting to go back down.

“I spoke to your brother again.” This time, Ranger Campbell turned a wary gaze toward Owen. That’s when she noticed he held a pair of handcuffs in one hand. “You both need to come inside with me.”

Owen abruptly turned and sprinted toward the truck. Acting on pure instinct, Emily rushed toward Campbell, stepping in front of him and grabbing his arm. “Wait! What’s going on?”

“Owen, get back here!” Campbell shouted. “You’re under arrest!”

“No! Wait! This is a mistake! Owen is in danger too!” The words were barely out of her mouth when Campbell shook free of her grip and dodged around her to chase after Owen.

But the ranger was five seconds too late. Just as Campbell got close to the truck, Owen put the vehicle in reverse and shot backward. Then he abruptly turned and drove away, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

Campbell cursed and spun toward her. “Why did you let him get away?”

She stood frozen, sick at heart as the truck sped off. Owen would have cooperated with Doug if only her brother hadn’t told Campbell to arrest him.

Now he was gone for good.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Owen foughtan overwhelming sense of dread as he barreled away from the ranger station. He’d known the minute he’d glimpsed the ranger carrying his handcuffs that Doug had ordered his arrest.

When push came to shove, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t stand the idea of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Or maybe he was just a coward.

Realizing his hands were shaking, Owen slowed and made a right-hand turn down a side street. He willed his pulse to settle as he drove around the block. He slowed until he reached the end of the road.

Stopping the truck, he placed the gearshift into park, killed the engine, and scrubbed his hands over his face.

His time with Emily was over. The events of the day rolled over and over in his mind. And the thing that stuck out the most was the way Emily had tried to protect him. She’d yelled at the ranger to stop, pointing out how Owen was in danger too.

Humbling to know how much she cared.

Far more than he deserved.

He sat for long minutes, staring out at the street leading to the ranger station. His earlier exhaustion returned with a vengeance. Maybe bone-deep weariness was the reason he was struggling. Because even as he sat there, he was inexplicably torn between jumping on the interstate to head east, getting as far away as possible before anyone could find him, and going back to make sure Emily was safe until her brother arrived.

There was no reason for him to be worried about Emily’s safety. The armed ranger would protect her.

But he still couldn’t shake the feeling that one of the supposed good guys was involved. Hernandez must have been working with one of the guys in law enforcement. In his mind, he went back and forth between DEA Agent Colin Granger and his police contact, Will Minor.

His gut leaned toward Will Minor as being the bad guy. Owen had called him first after leaving the Double D Ranch. Will Minor had sounded absolutely shocked to hear from him but had quickly agreed to arrange a meeting with Juan Sanchez to get him back into the drug operation. Owen knew Minor was a Colorado cop who worked on the drug eradication task force with Granger.

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