Page 282 of Rangers Unexpected Return

She looked at me.

"You ready?"

I nodded.

"As I'll ever be."

She carefully lifted the cassette tape from the box.

Then the envelope.

The tiny pressed bluebonnet remained in the bottom.

Doris smiled sadly.

"Emily always picked them for me every spring."

Rylie gently touched the faded petals.

"I remember seeing them at camp."

Judy turned the flower over.

Written in neat blue ink were five simple words.

Hope blooms where truth survives.

Nobody said a word.

Judy carefully opened the envelope.

Inside rested a single folded sheet of notebook paper.

Across the top...

Emily Ross.

The handwriting was young.

Neat.

Steady.

Almost as if she'd forced herself not to let fear show.

Judy looked toward Sheriff Tate.

He slowly removed his hat.

"I should've listened eighteen years ago."

The room grew quiet.

Judy unfolded the letter.

"If you're reading this..."

"...then someone finally believed me."