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Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Elizabeth Goddard
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. TWENTY
  27. TWENTY-ONE
  28. TWENTY-TWO
  29. TWENTY-THREE
  30. TWENTY-FOUR
  31. TWENTY-FIVE
  32. TWENTY-SIX
  33. TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. TWENTY-NINE
  36. THIRTY
  37. THIRTY-ONE
  38. THIRTY-TWO
  39. THIRTY-THREE
  40. THIRTY-FOUR
  41. THIRTY-FIVE
  42. THIRTY-SIX
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. FIFTY-FOUR
  61. FIFTY-FIVE
  62. FIFTY-SIX
  63. FIFTY-SEVEN
  64. FIFTY-EIGHT
  65. FIFTY-NINE
  66. SIXTY
  67. SIXTY-ONE
  68. SIXTY-TWO
  69. SIXTY-THREE
  70. SIXTY-FOUR
  71. SIXTY-FIVE
  72. A Preview of Book 2 in the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COURAGE Series
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgments
  75. About the Author
  76. Back Ads
  77. Back Cover

Jack remained standing. The plan was for Nathan to ask the questions. Jack perused the photographs on the walls. The fireplace mantel. The side table. Then he turned his attention back to the conversation.

He approached and eased into the chair nearest the woman while Nathan engaged in small talk. Jack was anxious to get down to business and leaned forward.

She smiled at Jack. “Detective.”

“Just call me Jack.”

“And you can call me Ruby, please.”

“All right, Ruby.” Jack shared a look with Nathan, letting him know he would take it from here. “I was involved in the shooting last night.” Then again, might as well get right to the point.

Her eyes widened, and her gaze dropped to his arm. “You’re wearing a sling. Is that because of last night?”

“Yes, ma’am. I was almost killed, along with another law enforcement officer, who also happens to be a dear friend.” Jack didn’t miss that I-told-you-so expression on Nathan’s face. Terra would be a “dear friend” to Jack even if he had no romantic feelings for her. He cleared his throat. Focused on the topic. “When I heard that you insisted you hadn’t heard the gunshots last night, I had to hear that from you myself, Ruby.”

Ruby’s demeanor shifted to one of shame. Her shoulders sagged, and she stared at the floor. “My Will died this last spring. My son Butch comes from the next town over to check on me now and then. He manages the crops. Drives the combine. Hires help as needed. But at night, I’m alone. I still can’t get used to this old house. Every creak, every noise wakes me. I stopped watching those murder mysteries. That did help me some, but then . . .”

“It’s all right, Ruby. Take your time, dear,” Jack said.

She gave him a shy smile. “When I heard the guns go off, at first I thought it was firecrackers. I went to stand on the porch, and I realized someone had machine guns. I . . . I was scared. I did like Will always instructed me to do. I ran down into the basement. He kept a loaded shotgun for me down there. It’s our safe room. I bolted the door and grabbed the shotgun. Down there, I couldn’t hear the gunfire. I’d planned to call the police, but I’d left my cell upstairs.” Ruby glanced at Jack. “I waited for what I thought was a good long while, then I started back upstairs. But that’s when I heard someone come inside the house. I thought I would have a heart attack. I froze in the shadows down under the stairwell, holding that shotgun I never had need to use in over six decades.”