Page 21 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

Freckles dashed through the door, and the other two dogs barked and welcomed him like he’d been gone for a year. Aunt Nadine flipped on the lights in the backyard.

“Freckles wanted to take a walk, so I took him with me. We were out putting up posters, that’s all. You were supposed to help.”

Guilt surged. “I’m sorry. I got caught up with work. But it’s after ten at night. You can’t blame me for being worried about you. You shouldn’t be out putting up posters late at night.” Something could happen. But he’d scolded her enough.

Aunt Nadine glanced at the clock on the wall over the sink, a confused look in her eyes. “We left right after dinner. It was still light out.”

That was hours ago, but saying so now wouldn’t help her.

Time to lighten the atmosphere. “It sounds like you got caught up with work too, putting up those posters so Freckles can find his boy.” Jack grinned. He hated that he wasn’t nearly as hopeful as his aunt about reconnecting a dog and a boy who had lost each other.

Trembling, she pulled a chair out from the table and sat.

Jack opened the fridge and took out some orange juice. He poured his aunt a drink without asking if she wanted it and set the glass on the table in front of her. She drank it as though her mind were somewhere else.

He thought she had medication that she took at ten every night.

What am I going to do?

He joined her at the table and watched helplessly as her eyes filled with unshed tears. Was she thinking about Sarah, her granddaughter who had run away with her boyfriend and then disappeared? Jack wouldn’t bring Sarah up if his aunt didn’t.

Aunt Nadine suddenly shook her head and her face brightened. The tears disappeared.

“I never thought you’d come back here,” she said. “That day you left to go learn how to work in the FBI, you were determined. You wanted to get out of here. I had hoped when I brought you here to give you a good home that you could forget what happened.” She shook her head. “I was only fooling myself, yet here you are again. And look at you. I couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve done with your life. What you’ve become. First FBI and now a detective for the county.” She gasped and locked eyes with him. “The girl you left behind that day, what was her name?”

Of course, Aunt Nadine would have to remember. “Terra. Robert Vandine’s granddaughter.”

“Did you ever talk to her again? Make things right?”