by Lynn Shannon
The chief arrived right before Winston attempted to wrestle the gun away, causing it to go off. Jackman had provided first aid until the ambulance arrived, saving Winston’s life. Janet was grateful. Although she hadn’t purposefully fired the gun, it would have haunted her to know Winston had died and she’d been a part of it.
“We’ve all been blinded by someone we care about.” Callie nudged Janet’s hand, and she ran her fingers through the dog’s silky fur. “In the end you did the right thing. That’s what matters.”
Todd nodded. “There were a lot of mistakes made. If Lacey and her sister had told the truth about Valerie’s disappearance, it would have made a difference as well.”
“It’s no excuse. I have to take the blame for my own actions or—in this case—inaction. I’ve apologized to Valerie as well and…” His voice choked off and he lowered his head. “She’s given me grace I don’t deserve.”
Janet wasn’t surprised. In the last few days, she’d spent a lot of time with Valerie and found her to be warm and generous. She wasn’t going to recover overnight from the kidnapping, but with therapy and prayer, she’d get there.
With a wave, the chief got in his vehicle and drove away.
“Time to tackle your bathroom.” Todd marched toward the front door. He paused and cast a glance over his shoulder. “Unless you have another crime up your sleeve you want help solving.”
Janet laughed. “No, I’ll leave the crime solving to the professionals from now on.”
“Smart woman.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them in anticipation. “So, bathroom it is.”
“About that…” She drew in a fortifying breath and tightened her hold on the railing. Like the sledgehammer, swing and break it.
“Listen, I know you stuck around to help me finish my renovation, but after everything, I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to leave town. Nearly getting killed by crazy kidnappers wasn’t part of our bargain. So, don’t worry. You can go and there’s no hard feelings. I’ll hire someone else to finish the house…”
Janet realized she was rambling and forced herself to stop talking. Todd’s boots thumped over the porch. She lifted her gaze from the floor, over his jeans and flannel shirt. Her hand, seemingly of its own accord, reached out to tug on the hem, straightening a wrinkle. She bit her lip as tears pricked her eyes.
“Actually, I was thinking of sticking around Sweetgrass.”
She blinked. “You were?”
“Yeah.”
His hand closed over hers, the calluses from years of hard work rubbing along the skin of her knuckles. He pressed her palm over the steady beat of his heart.
She swallowed hard, not quite daring herself to hope. “For how long?”
“Well, it depends.” He ducked his head until she was forced to meet his gaze. “I’ve spent a long time running from love, but God had a plan to help me heal the whole time. I’m pretty sure it involves you and a future together.”
She inhaled sharply, scanning his face. The curve of his lips, the stubble along his jaw, the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. She savored the moment, knowing it would be with her forever, a story to tell her grandchildren.
Todd bent his head and brushed his lips with hers. “So, the way I see it, the question isn’t how long I’ll stay. It’s how long will you have me.”
Her heart soared. “How does forever sound?”
“Sounds perfect to me.”
Thank you for reading Vanish! I hope you enjoyed it. Want more suspense and romance? Keep going for information on Ranger Protection, the first book in my Texas Ranger Heroes Series.
When Dr. Tara Sims is robbed, she fights back to protect her daughter and nearly pays with her life. Evidence links the attack to a homicide and Tara turns to Texas Ranger Grady West for help. Untangling a web of secrets makes them the target of a madman, and it’s only a matter of time before the killer strikes again…
Click here to pick up Ranger Protection today!
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Afterword
From the moment Janet appeared in Ranger Protection, I knew she needed her own story. A few days later, I stumbled across the cover of this book, and the idea for the opening scene popped into my head. The rest, as they say, is history.
The tunnel underneath Janet’s house was inspired by a true piece of Texas history. The Belknap Tunnel in Fort Worth was used to transport prisoners from the courthouse to the prison and vice versa in safety. The courthouse has since moved, and the tunnel has been sealed, but it’s an interesting tidbit that was fun to include in my novel. If you’d like to learn more about the Belknap Tunnel, click here for a great article.
Thanks for reading!
About the Author
Lynn Shannon worked as a family law attorney before becoming a full-time author. Her novels combine intriguing mysteries with heartfelt romance. You can learn more on her website.
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