Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard (shoe dog free ebook .txt) 📗

you. I don’t need that kind of responsibility.”

“You’re the best person to raise her. The truth is, Sheridan and I were planning to divorce. Terra would have ended up here with you anyway. Do this for your daughter and your granddaughter.”

“You leave, and you’ll break her heart. She doesn’t need it broken over and over again. If you leave now, don’t ever come back.”

Pain and anger edged his voice.

Terra rushed in and hugged her father, sobbing, hanging on to him. In the end, she wasn’t able to stop him from leaving, and he crushed her.

Alex and Erin were her lifelines not only because of the bond they shared after losing a loved one in that avalanche, but also because Terra had lost so much more. She felt unwanted by her father and her grandfather. But she knew Gramps loved her.

Then she made the mistake of falling for Jack, who left her too.

She’d lost people she loved—by their own choices or by the hand of the mountain.

Either way, why did people keep leaving her?

FORTY

Jack felt like a jerk for asking Terra to share about Mr. Archaeologist. He wished he could somehow make it up to her. He wished he could take his question back. She didn’t owe him an explanation.

He was definitely a jerk.

She nudged a few tears away and sat taller, composing herself.

He never should have crossed the line into a personal discussion or allowed unfounded jealousy to direct his mood and conversation.

His cell alerted him to several texts. Good. He needed to focus on their investigation.

“Anything important?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe. Let me read. The Montana State Lab says the small wire in Jim’s hand was a nose ring.”

“Huh. That’s one I haven’t heard before,” she said.

“I’ve heard stranger, honestly.”

“You think he fought his killer? Pulled the nose ring out, was stabbed and pushed? That messes with my theory that Jim was killed at the cabin and then carted to the cliff.”

“Well, at least we have more information, unless Jim wore a nose ring.”

He read the next text out loud. “Star Oil Company had to halt drilling plans three years ago due to an archaeological discovery.”

“Could Neva have taken something then and found her way into trafficking?”

“It would make sense,” he said.

Terra said nothing more, and Jack was fine with that. He’d dodged her questions about his job at the FBI, and in the meantime, they’d learned a bit more about the investigation.

“Your turn,” she said. “You insisted I talk first. Now, I want to know why you left the FBI.”

“You know some of it.”

“Only that you worked undercover and somehow that involved the guest ranch family.”

“There’s not a lot to tell, actually. I worked my way up in an organization until I was like the right-hand man to a guy at the top. Things went sour. Someone died.” Jack stared out at the passing trees. I couldn’t save her.

He wasn’t sure how he was even living with himself now.

“Jack?” Terra’s voice was soft. She’d been so good to share so much, and yet he knew she’d kept some of her deeper thoughts close. And he would do the same. Now wasn’t the time to open up that festering wound and bleed out on her. If he did, he would become much too exposed.

“Yeah,” he said.

“I heard mention of you getting wounded.”

“I got shot, yes.”

She grabbed his hand and squeezed. He almost brought her hand to his lips to kiss it.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” She released his hand. “So, you really did come back because of Aunt Nadine.”

“Yes.” And because of the guilt that plagued him. The secret that burdened him.

She didn’t press him further, and they spent the rest of the drive in silence, lost in their own thoughts. And for that, he was grateful.

When Terra dropped him at the county sheriff’s office, he couldn’t have been more relieved. He opened the door to get out, feeling like he was escaping the somber mood in the vehicle. Though, at the same time, he hated leaving Terra for even a moment.

“Jack.”

He leaned toward her, his gaze landing on her lips. The desire to kiss them hit him at the worst possible moment, but he reined it in, forcing his eyes to meet her crystal-blue gaze. “Yes?”

“Owen will be disappointed if you don’t show up to the party tomorrow.”

Jack doubted Owen would even notice. Maybe Terra was the one who would be disappointed.

“I’ll be there.”

The next afternoon, Jack steered along the drive, passing a long line of vehicles at Stone Wolf Ranch. Aunt Nadine rode next to him.

His gut clenched.

“Oh my.” Aunt Nadine pressed a hand to her chest.

His sentiments exactly.

“I should have expected a big crowd here.” She stared down at the splint on her wrist and adjusted her shirt sleeve as if hoping that would hide it. “Lots of people know the family.”

Owen definitely wouldn’t have missed him, but Jack came for Terra. Plus, this was a great opportunity to get out of the house with Aunt Nadine.

“I’m going to pull around so you can get out at the door, and then I’ll park.”

“I don’t want to have to wait there alone.”

“Aunt Nadine, you know most everyone there. You won’t be alone.”

“I’d prefer to walk with you.”

Jack found a recently vacated spot between two cars. As soon as they got out, the aroma of grilled food made his mouth water. Food instead of smoke. He was glad the recent wildfire had been contained and the air wasn’t filled with the stench and haze or the threat of fire so they could enjoy the day. He escorted Aunt Nadine to the house, careful not to bump her injured wrist, and the door swung open as if automatically.

A young brunette girl and who appeared to be her younger brother held the doors. “Welcome to the party. Head through the kitchen to the patio out back.”

Aunt Nadine chuckled. “Why, thank you. You’re doing a great job welcoming the guests.”

The boy giggled, and the girl frowned