Chapter 87 Aspen
Aspen
Buddy won’t stop growling.
Low.
Constant.
Deep in his chest like he knows something the rest of us don’t.
I glance down at him where he stands beside grandpa’s chair, body stiff, ears alert, eyes locked on the strangers across the room.
The CIA.
Even thinking it feels wrong.
“Easy, boy,” I murmur, resting a hand on his head.
He doesn’t relax.
Not even a little.
And honestly?
Neither do I.
Outside, the town is awake now.
Not out in the open.
Not brave enough for that.
But watching.
Curtains shift.
Lights flick on.
Silhouettes move behind windows. Deputies drive by slowly, trying to see who is here.
Everyone knows something’s happening.
No one wants to be part of it.
I don’t blame them.
Not anymore.
A sharp voice cuts through the tension.
“Well, this just looks like a whole lot of nonsense.”
I blink.
Turn.
And there they are.
The Magnolia Ladies.
All three of them.
Standing right in the open doorway like they didn’t just walk into the middle of a high-risk situation, and they brought food.
Like, this is a church social, not a tactical lockdown.
“Oh no,” I breathe.
Beside me, Havoc goes completely still.
Not the same still as before.
This one?
This one’s… disbelief.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Briggs mutters.
The lead Magnolia lady—Mable, I think—plants her hands on her hips and looks around the Tavern like she’s inspecting a poorly run bake sale.
“What in heaven’s name is going on?” she demands.
No one answers.
Because no one knows where to even start.
Her gaze lands on me.
Then softens instantly.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she says, stepping forward. “We saw the lights, and Doris said she heard gunfire, and I told her that was ridiculous, but then Harold said—”
“Mable,” Havoc cuts in.
Calm.
But firm.
She stops mid-sentence.
Looks at him.
Really looks at him.
“Well,” she says slowly, “you look like trouble. Take this food and set it on the counter so everyone can eat.”
Briggs chokes on a laugh.
I bite mine back.
Havoc doesn’t react.
Of course he doesn’t. But he takes the food along with Trigger and Ace.
“Thank you,” Ace murmurs.
“Ma’am,” Havoc says, “you need to go home.”
Mable blinks.
Then straightens.
“I most certainly do not,” she says. “Not when there’s clearly something going on in my town.”
Her town.
Of course.
Behind her, the other two ladies nod in agreement.
One of them squints at the CIA agents.
“I don’t like the look of them,” she says.
Buddy growls louder.
“See?” she adds. “The dog knows.”
I almost laugh.
Almost.
The tension cracks just enough to breathe.
But Havoc?
Havoc doesn’t budge.
He steps forward.
Places himself between them and the rest of the room.
“You need to go home,” he repeats.
This time, there’s no room for argument.
Mable studies him.
Really studies him.
And something shifts.
She sees it.
The danger.
The seriousness.
The line he’s not letting anyone cross.
Her expression softens slightly.
“Well,” she says, quieter now, “you could’ve just said that nicely.”
Briggs snorts.
Havoc doesn’t even blink.
“I am,” he replies.
A beat.
Then—
“Fine,” Mable sighs. “But I expect an explanation tomorrow.”
“Noted,” Havoc says.
She points a finger at him.
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
She nods once.
Satisfied.
Then turns toward me.
Her expression softens again.
“You be careful, sweetheart,” she says gently.
My throat tightens.
“I will.”
She nods.
Then gestures to the others.
“Come on. Before we get shot or something equally ridiculous.”
“About time,” one of them mutters.
They turn—
And pause.
Looking at the Rangers.
“Well?” Mable says. “Are you boys just going to stand there, or are you escorting us home?”
Briggs looks at Havoc.
Havoc looks like he’s reconsidering every decision that led to this moment.
Then—
“Two of you,” he says, already turning back into command mode. “Escort them. Stay alert.”
Ace and Briggs step forward immediately. I think they were ready for some air.
The Magnolia Ladies look entirely pleased with themselves.
As they head toward the door, one of them glances back at the CIA agents again.
Still suspicious.
“Don’t trust them,” she mutters loudly.
The entire room hears it.
Briggs coughs to hide a laugh.
I definitely don’t hide mine this time.
Just a small one.
But it’s there.
And for a second—
Just a second—
Everything feels… lighter.
Havoc turns slightly.
His eyes find mine.
And I see it.
That shift again.
Not just the fighter.
Not just the protector.
The man.
The one who just made sure a group of stubborn women got home safe… in the middle of a crisis.
Because that’s who he is.
Always.
Even now.
Buddy finally stops growling.
Just for a moment.
And leans against my leg instead.
Like he knows.
Like we all know.
This isn’t over.
Not even close.
But for one brief, unexpected second—
We breathe.
And somehow…
That matters too.