Page 47 of Ranger Devotion

“Oh hon. Of course you are. Love is terrifying.”

Annie recoiled. “You think I’m afraid to love?”

“Why wouldn’t you be?” Brooke’s tone was gentle, her expression sympathetic. “I remember the first six months after James died. You kept putting one foot in front of the other, pouring everything you had into this place, but it was clear how much you were hurting. Evan and I were worried about you. Why do you think I kept inviting you to dinner at our house when Evan was working the night shift?”

“I thought it was because you enjoyed my company.”

Brooke laughed. “That too. But most of all, I didn’t want you to feel alone.” She placed a hand over Annie’s. “You’re older now. Wiser. You’ve given your heart away and had it ripped to shreds. Piece by piece, you put yourself back together. And now here’s this guy, this handsome Texas Ranger who reminds you of who you used to be.”

“The girl who fell in love so freely because she never knew how badly a heart could get broken.”

Brooke nodded. “And it’s terrifying. But also exciting.”

It was. “My feelings for him are so…intense. I don’t know if I can trust them. If I can trust myself to see him clearly.”

“I think you see him just fine.” Her friend smiled. “Tate isn’t the only one who’s changed. You have too. You’ve honed your instincts and your ability to stand up for yourself when it matters.” She arched her brows. “I’m not sure Tate knows what he’s getting into. He steps one foot wrong, and I have no doubt you’ll make sure he knows it.”

She had. When Tate suspected Evan, she’d argued with him about it. And instead of brushing her off, or telling her she was wrong, he encouraged her to stand on her convictions.

Maybe Brooke was right, and her fear had very little to do with Tate.

Maybe it was about herself.

Brooke patted Annie’s hand before collecting her mug. “I’m going to check on my husband.” She poured hot chocolate into yet another mug, topped it with marshmallows, and left the kitchen.

Quiet filled the space. Annie took a deep breath. Then another. She hadn’t had a moment to herself since this entire ordeal began. She touched the cross at her neck. It’d once belonged to her grandmother, passed down through the generations, a lineage of strong women who relied on faith.

Annie had leaned on God after the death of her husband. She’d found solace in prayer and peace in church. The quiet moments had eased her grief and given her the strength to build Haven Ranch into a successful summer camp. She’d thought her heart was healed, but perhaps there was more work to do.

God, I don’t know where You’re leading me with Tate. It’s probably silly to even be thinking about this, or praying about it, with all the danger around us. But it’s weighing heavy on me. I see his heart. I believe he’s changed. So I’m asking You to help me stop being so afraid, to give me the strength to take a leap of faith, even though I know the risks.

She didn’t sense an immediate shift in her worries, but some of the pressure on her shoulders eased and her mind felt clearer. Less troubled. She opened her eyes, her gaze landing on the yearbook. She pulled it closer and removed her cell phone from her pocket. Within seconds, she’d located a picture of Seth and placed it next to the ones of his father and brother.

Definitely a family resemblance. Still…something niggled at her. She stared at Marcus. They’d hired outside contractors to build the mess hall this fall. Had he been one of the workers? She couldn’t be sure.

Taking her radio from her waist, she called for Dwayne. He answered immediately.

“I’m sending you a photo of someone via text. He might’ve worked on the ranch temporarily when we built the mess hall.”

“Signal’s not good enough for me to receive a photo. The storm is letting up some. I’ll come to the main lodge.”

She glanced out the window. The wind had died down, and the rain had abated. Would a break in the weather give the killer an opportunity to act? She feared it would. “I don’t like you leaving the staff alone.”

“Jensen’s former military. He can handle it.”

Paul Jensen was a disabled vet. Dwayne had left him in charge of the staff after the tree fell. She didn’t like it, but figuring out who was behind these attacks was a top priority. “Okay.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Tate entered the room. His jaw was shadowed with stubble, and exhaustion carved lines around his eyes. But when he saw her, the weariness eased from his expression. “I overheard you and Dwayne talking. You recognized Marcus, huh?”

“I’m not sure.” She gestured to the yearbook. “I can definitely see the resemblance to Seth, but whatever’s tugging at me feels like more than that.” Annie tried to concentrate, tried to tease out the thought hovering at the back of her mind, but couldn’t.

Tate crossed the room, checked the lock on the rear entrance, and swept a glance over the UTVs and the darkness beyond before coming back to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned over to get a better look at the pictures. He frowned. “You’re right…there is something...” He paused and then shook his head. “I don’t know what. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Same.”

The pressure of his hand on her shoulder was both reassuring and inviting. She followed the line his arm up to his face, and their gazes caught. The desire to be wrapped in his embrace, to feel safe, rose in her. Instead of fighting it, as she had in the past, Annie stood and hugged him.