Page 14 of Ranger Belief
“Sure thing.”
They stepped out of the boathouse and into the sunshine. Jonah’s hat shielded his face, but his eyes squinted at the drastic change in light. The lake looked cool and inviting. Some ducks swam by, creating ripples on the smooth surface.
Laney made sure the boat door stayed open before joining him on the trail leading back to the visitor center. “What do you think?”
“He’s lying about where he was last night, and he was jittery. How often do you recheck criminal records?”
“Rangers are checked annually, but administrative employees—like Eddie—are checked every five years.”
“How long has he worked here?”
“About ten years.”
“He doesn’t like Scout much.”
“No, but no one’s perfect.” Laney laid a hand on his arm, pulling him to a stop under the shade of an oak tree. “Eddie's an outstanding employee. He gets top marks on his reviews every time. He's a team player, and to my knowledge, no one has ever had a bad thing to say about him. Last year was the only exception. His dad had Parkinson's and passed away, and then Eddie went through a divorce. He showed up late frequently and made mistakes, but he's pulled it together since then. He's not a cold-blooded killer.”
“They don’t wear signs, Laney.”
“Check yourself there, Foster.” Her tone was level, but there was a hint of anger thrumming through it. “I may not have as many years of investigative experience as you do, but I’m not a rookie. Don’t treat me like one.”
He deserved that. Jonah blew out a breath. “Yeah. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“So was pushing me out of the way to enter the boathouse first. I’m not helpless.”
“No, but there’s not a chance on planet Earth that I’m going to let you walk into potential danger first.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he shook his head hard. “It’s not because you aren’t capable. I know you are. But you’re also my best friend, and I’m going to keep you safe at all costs. It’s who I am, Laney.”
Their gazes met, and her expression softened. Jonah realized that what he’d said may have revealed a bit too much, so he booped her on the nose because he knew it would irritate her. “Build a bridge and get over it.”
She swatted his hand away. “You’re annoying. Why do you always make it so hard to stay mad at you?”
“It’s part of my charm.”
He was rewarded with a brilliant smile that stole his breath. Laney’s chocolate-brown eyes crinkled at the corners as she tried to muster up the energy to continue the argument but couldn’t. It was a lost cause anyway. Jonah respected Laney to his core, but he wouldn’t apologize for protecting her.
A scream ripped through the air.
EIGHT
Laney’s heart jumped into overdrive as she scanned the grassy clearing dotted with oak trees. A little girl, around four years old, lay crumpled on the ground, tears streaking her face. Her knee was bleeding. Laney jogged across the distance between them, Scout at her side, and then crouched down next to the child. “Hi there, sweetheart. My name is Laney, and I’m a park ranger. This is my dog, Scout.”
The little girl’s pigtails swayed as she lifted her head. Freckles dotted her nose. “I fell while running.”
“I see that. You hurt yourself.” Laney smiled warmly. “We need to get you inside the visitor center so we can clean up your knee and that scrape on your arm. Do you think you can walk?”
Tears swelled behind sage-green eyes. “I don’t think so. It really hurts.”
“How about if I carry you?” Jonah bent down. His expression was soft and caring. “Would that be all right?”
She studied him for a moment, her small fingers reaching out to brush the Texas Ranger badge pinned to his shirt. “Are you a police officer? Because my mommy said I can ask for help from police officers.”
“Your mommy is a smart lady. And yes, I’m a Texas Ranger, which is a type of police officer.”
The little girl beamed and then reached out her hands, showing he could lift her up. Jonah swept her effortlessly into his arms. Laney's heart did a pitter-patter as she watched this side of him emerge. The broad-shouldered lawman with perpetual scowls and grumpy remarks transformed completely by a child's trust. His large hands held the little girl with gentleness, and the tenderness in his blue eyes was captivating. He peppered the child with questions while his long legs ate up the distance to the visitor center.
Alli was indeed four. Her mom’s name was Sarah, and she was at the mess hall. They lived in a big house with roses in the garden. She enjoyed camping but didn’t want to touch worms while fishing.
Inside the visitor center, Jonah set the little girl down on a chair while Laney fetched the first aid kit from behind the front desk.
