Page 214 of Rangers Last Promise

For a while, neither of us speaks.

Eagle River is quiet.

The Last Stand Tavern glows several blocks away.

Somewhere a dog barks.

Ordinary sounds.

I forgot how much I missed ordinary.

“You should go back to Fort Worth,” Mara says.

The words hit harder than I expect.

I look at her.

“Do you want me to?”

“No.”

She answers too quickly.

Something in my chest loosens.

“Then why say it?”

“Because you had a life before this.”

“Did I?”

“You had a job.”

“That's not the same thing.”

Her eyes find mine.

“What was your life like?”

I consider the question.

Work.

Apartment.

Takeout.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Once or twice a year, search Mara Ellis.

Make sure she's alive.

Close the computer.

Keep going.