Page 59 of Ranger Belief
Brett Morrison also survived. As Laney concluded after the attack, his helpful attitude had landed him in a dangerous situation. He’d moved back home to Colorado while recovering from his gunshot wound, and decided to stay there permanently.
“Even with this stupid thing, I’m still better looking than you.” Ryker shook his head and sighed. “You sure Laney wants to marry you? I mean, waking up next to your ugly mug every day would make me question my life choices.”
“Stop it.” Hannah lightly smacked her husband on the shoulder. Her blonde hair was put into an intricate updo, but several strands framed her face, which was glowing. Jonah was one of the few people that knew she was pregnant. Nearly two months. He was over-the-moon for his friends. They were going to make a formal announcement next month, once they passed the first trimester. She assessed Jonah with the scrutiny of a seasoned prosecutor. “You look perfect.”
“Thank you, Hannah.” He glanced at his other groomsman. “Tate, you ready?”
“Yep.” He rose from the armchair he’d been resting in and grinned. “I just gotta ask. Do I get a prize for being the last man standing? It’s weird being the only single guy in Company A.”
“Oh, I have someone I can introduce you to,” Hannah grinned. “Let’s talk after the ceremony.”
“Dude.” Ryker shook his head. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
Hannah laughed. “Don’t scare him.” She hooked an arm through Tate’s. “I’ll tell you more as we take our places. Come on.”
They filed out of the room and Ryker paused, his hand on the knob. “Hey, Jonah, you coming?”
“I’ll be right there. Just need one more minute.”
“Got it.”
Ryker left and the silence settled around Jonah. He removed a jewelry box from the pocket of his suit and opened it. The bracelet was silver, delicate, with a cross and the date of their wedding etched in it. He’d intended to give it to Laney after the ceremony, but suddenly felt it couldn’t wait.
Would she like it? He turned the bracelet in his fingers, remembering all those years he’d spent in doubt. That persistent feeling that somehow he wasn't quite enough. Not smart enough for his academic family. Not accomplished enough compared to his Olympic sister and doctor brother. And for years, not the right man for Laney.
But he’d been wrong. He was the right man for her.
And he was good enough. Had always been.
Laney taught him that.
He left the room and headed down the hall. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind as the case that’d started all of this came to a close.
Mitch Caldwell had died in the shootout and Garrett Wheeler would never see the outside of a prison cell. He’d made a deal with the prosecutor to plead guilty if they gave him life in prison instead of the death penalty. Capturing the killer hadn’t stopped the victims’ families from suffering the loss, but Jonah prayed it brought them some measure of peace. Especially since Garrett explained everything in his confession.
He’d become obsessed with Ava, and when she turned him down for a date, he grew angry. Vengeful. Seeing her with Tyler in the ice cream shop at the end of the summer was the final straw. Jealous and bitter, Garrett put his darkest thoughts into action. He murdered Lisa and Nolan as practice. Then Tyler and Ava for his own gratification.
Laney arriving on the scene hadn’t been part of the plan. But it’d set in motion a chain of events.
At first, Garrett wanted to kill her because she was a witness.
Then he became obsessed with her. Saw her as the ultimate challenge.
And Mitch…well, Garrett discovered Mitch was back in town, living in the woods, and decided to “mentor” him. With the threat of blackmail and the promise of money, Garrett ordered Mitch to keep an eye on Laney when he couldn’t. That progressed to convincing Mitch to attack Papa Earl and helping with the final attack.
Jonah stepped out of the visitor center and into the brilliant October sunshine. People mingled about near the chairs and gazebo that had been set up on the grassy lawn leading to the lake. For the first and only time, Piney Woods State Park was closed on a Saturday. As the new superintendent, Laney had mixed feelings about shutting the park down to the public, but Andy insisted. In the end, she relented, because it was the only way all of her rangers and staff could attend the event.
Jonah slipped around the side of the building and jogged a short distance away to the nearest cabin. He knocked on the door and Breanna opened it. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to see Laney.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you going to do something stupid?”
He blinked, confused about her meaning and then scowled. “Do you take me for a complete idiot? I’ve been in love with this woman for years. You think I’m gonna break up with her on our wedding day? Not a chance.”
Scout trotted to the door. She had a pretty green bow wrapped around her neck, and her fur gleamed with a fresh bathing and brushing. The lab would walk down the aisle with the ring bearer and flower girl. Jonah bent to pat the dog and then tried to peer around Breanna. He could hear the faint sound of Laney’s laughter, but couldn’t see her. “Where’s Laney?”
“No!” Breanna held up a finger and stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind her. “You can’t see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony.”
