Page 139 of Rangers Last Promise

“You shot a deputy.”

Hampton's face hardens.

“He fired first.”

“You had a weapon.”

“I was leaving.”

“With my case.”

“I needed those coordinates.”

“You could have asked.”

“Would you have given them to me?”

“No.”

“There you go.”

“You also searched Mara’s mother's house.”

“Yes.”

“You terrified Mara.”

“I didn't know she was there until I heard her upstairs.”

“You could have hurt her.”

Hampton looks at me.

“If I wanted Grant’s sister dead, she would be dead.”

My hand closes into a fist.

“Don't ever say that again.”

Something in my voice wipes the amusement from his face.

“I never wanted Mara hurt.”

“Someone does.”

“I know.”

“Who?”

“That's where we're going.”

I look ahead.

The pasture ends at a line of trees. Beyond it, I can see an old service road.

“Where?”

“A place Fred Miller should have told you about fifteen years ago.”