Chapter 27
Six weeks later
Jonah straightened his green tie before settling his tan cowboy hat on his head. In half an hour, he was going to be marrying the woman of his dreams. He turned around to face Ryker. “What do you think?”
“You’re still ugly.”
Jonah snorted. “You’re just mad because you’re still stuck in that sling for another two weeks and it doesn’t go with your suit.”
Ryker had taken a bullet to his left arm during Alli’s rescue.
The impact had fractured bone, requiring surgery and weeks in a cast. Now, the doctors had cleared him for light movement, but he still had to wear the sling until his next evaluation.
With rehab, they promised, he’d regain full strength and range of motion.
Thankfully, little Alli had also fully recovered.
The sedative Mitch had given her wore off with no lasting effects, and she remembered nothing of her ordeal.
Her parents had sent a gift, along with Alli’s handmade thank you card, several weeks later.
Laney kept the card on her bookcase in her office.
Brett Morrison also survived. As Laney concluded after the attack, his helpful attitude had landed him in a dangerous situation. He’d moved back home to Colorado while recovering from his gunshot wound, and decided to stay there permanently.
“Even with this stupid thing, I’m still better looking than you.” Ryker shook his head and sighed. “You sure Laney wants to marry you? I mean, waking up next to your ugly mug every day would make me question my life choices.”
“Stop it.” Hannah lightly smacked her husband on the shoulder.
Her blonde hair was put into an intricate updo, but several strands framed her face, which was glowing.
Jonah was one of the few people that knew she was pregnant.
Nearly two months. He was over-the-moon for his friends.
They were going to make a formal announcement next month, once they passed the first trimester.
She assessed Jonah with the scrutiny of a seasoned prosecutor. “You look perfect.”
“Thank you, Hannah.” He glanced at his other groomsman. “Tate, you ready?”
“Yep.” He rose from the armchair he’d been resting in and grinned. “I just gotta ask. Do I get a prize for being the last man standing? It’s weird being the only single guy in Company A.”
“Oh, I have someone I can introduce you to,” Hannah grinned. “Let’s talk after the ceremony.”
“Dude.” Ryker shook his head. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
Hannah laughed. “Don’t scare him.” She hooked an arm through Tate’s. “I’ll tell you more as we take our places. Come on.”
They filed out of the room and Ryker paused, his hand on the knob. “Hey, Jonah, you coming?”
“I’ll be right there. Just need one more minute.”
“Got it.”
Ryker left and the silence settled around Jonah. He removed a jewelry box from the pocket of his suit and opened it. The bracelet was silver, delicate, with a cross and the date of their wedding etched in it. He’d intended to give it to Laney after the ceremony, but suddenly felt it couldn’t wait.
Would she like it? He turned the bracelet in his fingers, remembering all those years he’d spent in doubt.
That persistent feeling that somehow he wasn't quite enough.
Not smart enough for his academic family.
Not accomplished enough compared to his Olympic sister and doctor brother.
And for years, not the right man for Laney.
But he’d been wrong. He was the right man for her.
And he was good enough. Had always been.
Laney taught him that.
He left the room and headed down the hall. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind as the case that’d started all of this came to a close.
Mitch Caldwell had died in the shootout and Garrett Wheeler would never see the outside of a prison cell.
He’d made a deal with the prosecutor to plead guilty if they gave him life in prison instead of the death penalty.
Capturing the killer hadn’t stopped the victims’ families from suffering the loss, but Jonah prayed it brought them some measure of peace.
Especially since Garrett explained everything in his confession.
He’d become obsessed with Ava, and when she turned him down for a date, he grew angry.
Vengeful. Seeing her with Tyler in the ice cream shop at the end of the summer was the final straw.
Jealous and bitter, Garrett put his darkest thoughts into action.
He murdered Lisa and Nolan as practice. Then Tyler and Ava for his own gratification.
Laney arriving on the scene hadn’t been part of the plan. But it’d set in motion a chain of events.
At first, Garrett wanted to kill her because she was a witness.
Then he became obsessed with her. Saw her as the ultimate challenge.
And Mitch…well, Garrett discovered Mitch was back in town, living in the woods, and decided to “mentor” him.
With the threat of blackmail and the promise of money, Garrett ordered Mitch to keep an eye on Laney when he couldn’t.
That progressed to convincing Mitch to attack Papa Earl and helping with the final attack.
Jonah stepped out of the visitor center and into the brilliant October sunshine.
People mingled about near the chairs and gazebo that had been set up on the grassy lawn leading to the lake.
For the first and only time, Piney Woods State Park was closed on a Saturday.
As the new superintendent, Laney had mixed feelings about shutting the park down to the public, but Andy insisted.
In the end, she relented, because it was the only way all of her rangers and staff could attend the event.
Jonah slipped around the side of the building and jogged a short distance away to the nearest cabin. He knocked on the door and Breanna opened it. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to see Laney.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you going to do something stupid?”
He blinked, confused about her meaning and then scowled. “Do you take me for a complete idiot? I’ve been in love with this woman for years. You think I’m gonna break up with her on our wedding day? Not a chance.”
Scout trotted to the door. She had a pretty green bow wrapped around her neck, and her fur gleamed with a fresh bathing and brushing.
The lab would walk down the aisle with the ring bearer and flower girl.
Jonah bent to pat the dog and then tried to peer around Breanna.
He could hear the faint sound of Laney’s laughter, but couldn’t see her. “Where’s Laney?”
“No!” Breanna held up a finger and stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind her. “You can’t see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony.”
His heart pounded. She was in her wedding dress.
This was actually happening.
He still couldn’t believe it.
“I need to see her.” He showed Breanna the box in his hand. “I have a gift for her.”
“I’ll give it—”
“No.” He yanked it away from her. “I want to give it to Laney. Tie a blindfold around my eyes before you let me in. That way I won’t see her in the wedding dress, but I can still give her the gift.”
Breanna huffed. “Stay here.” She went back inside and appeared moments later with a slip of fabric. “Tie this around your face.”
He tucked the box back in his pants pocket and then did as she instructed. Jonah sensed Breanna waving a hand in front of his face, but he couldn’t see it. “You’re being ridiculous,” he growled. “I can’t see anything, so can I finally talk to Laney now?”
Breanna escorted him inside and then called for Laney. “Your groom is being a royal pain. It’s not too late to change your mind, you know.”
“Never.” Laney’s voice was confident and then Jonah sensed she was in the room with him. A burst of laughter sputtered out of her. “What did you do to him?”
“He can’t see you in your dress. You two have five minutes.”
Jonah couldn’t see it, but he sensed Breanna left the room. The chatter of women’s laughter filtered in from the back of the cabin.
And then a whisper of air brushed across his skin before two delicate hands framed his face and brought him down for a sweet kiss.
He basked in the love she so freely gave.
That moment in the woods, when she told him she loved him, had been the catalyst, but since then, they’d shared their deepest worries and darkest fears.
And it’d only made them fall more and more in love.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he deepened the kiss. When it was over, Laney breathlessly said, “I’m not sure we’re supposed to do that before the ceremony.”
“The rule said I can’t see you, not that I can’t kiss you. Besides, you started it.”
She laughed. “Yes, I did.”
“I have something for you.” He pulled the box from his pocket and extended it. Laney’s fingers brushed against his as she took it, and his already galloping heart kicked up another notch.
She gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
“I intended to give it to you after the ceremony, but…I couldn’t wait.” He paused. “I need you to know, I will always choose you. When life gets bumpy, or when you’re struggling, you can hold on to me. I’ll be your rock. I’ll hold steady and keep the faith.”
“Oh, Jonah…” She rose and kissed him again, lightly and ever-so-soft.
“I know that. You’ve been everything I’ve ever needed.
Always. I was just too stubborn and too scared to admit it.
Thank you for being my friend. For waiting for me to get myself together…
” Her voice choked up. “Ugh, I can’t cry or it’ll ruin my makeup and Breanna will kill me. Or you.”
He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m not scared of your sister.”
“Well, you should be!” Breanna called out. “I know what your middle name is and I’ll use it, Jonah.”
His mouth dropped open. “You told her?”
“She saw it on the marriage license. It’s not my fault,” Laney hissed. She turned him and steered him toward the door. “Better get out before she publicizes it.” Crisp air cooled his heated cheeks. Before Laney could close the door, he put a hand against the wood to stop her. “I love you, Laney.”
“I love you too.” She blessed him with another kiss. “Hurry. I can’t wait to marry you, so let’s get this show on the road.”
“I’ll meet you at the end of the aisle.”
She laughed. “I’ll be the one in the white dress.”
Thank you for reading Ranger Belief! I hope you enjoyed it.