Page 275 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Tall windows.

A bronze bell hanging over the front door that had welcomed generations of kids searching for adventure between the pages of a book.

Tonight...

We were searching for the truth.

Wolf parked beside me.

Before either of us could climb out, the front door opened.

Nora hurried onto the porch, pulling a light sweater tighter around herself.

"You made good time."

Wolf smiled.

"You sounded nervous."

"I am."

She glanced toward the open doorway.

"I called Doris."

Trigger chuckled.

"I figured you would."

"I wasn't about to come looking for something Emily Ross hid without the woman who worked here for forty years."

The smile on my face grew.

Of course she had.

The moment we stepped inside, the familiar smell of old books surrounded us.

Nora locked the front door behind us.

"We're closed."

Doris snorted.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous."

"We've never been closed."

I looked toward the reading tables.

Every one of the Magnolia Ladies sat waiting.

Doris.

Mabel.

Hazel.

Evelyn.