Rangers Mountain Rescue (EAGLE RIVER RANGER’S #4)

Aspen

Everything in me wants to tell him not to go.

To ask him to stay.

To choose us instead.

But I can’t.

Because this is who he is.

And I won’t be the reason he stops being that.

My chest tightens.

“I’ll be here,” I say quietly.

Not just for him.

For Dylan.

For this life we’re trying to hold together.

Dylan steps out beside me, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Buddy immediately abandons his post and runs to me.

The dog sits on his boot like he’s filing an official complaint.

“You’re not going with him,” I tell him.

Buddy tilts his head.

Disagrees.

Dylan looks up at Havoc.

“You’re going to stop the bad guys?”

“That’s the plan,” he says

He nods seriously.

“Be careful.”