Free Protecting Her Daughter (Wrangler's Corner) by Lynette Eason Page A

still alive, but unconscious. I’ve got a deputy on him and orders to be notified as soon as he wakes up so I can question him.”
    “Do you know who he is?” Zoe asked.
    “Peter Garrett. A guy with a rap sheet as long as your arm. Robbery, assault—”
    “Murder?” Aaron asked.
    “No, everything but that.”
    “Well, he was willing to add it to the list yesterday,” Lance muttered.
    “Yeah. Fortunately, he failed. We did manage to take into custody a man by the name of Cody Jansen.”
    “Blond hair, blue eyes and mean as a snake?” Aaron asked.
    “Sounds like one and the same.” Clay tapped the screen of his phone and brought up the mug shot. He turned it around so Aaron could see. Zoe moved closer to look over his shoulder. She gave a small gasp. “That’s him.”
    “Yep,” Aaron agreed.
    “He’s got a bullet in his shoulder. He showed up in a Knoxville hospital, and officers there nabbed him. He’s under arrest, but so far is refusing to talk.” Clay rubbed his eyes, and Aaron thought he looked tired.
    “I might have shot him, too.” He blinked as he remembered pulling the trigger as the man came through the small hallway. “There was so much chaos, bullets were flying and all I could think of was to make sure I got Zoe and Sophia out of there before one of them got shot.”
    Clay clapped him on the back. “Not to worry. We’ll get it all figured out. You won’t be held responsible for defending yourself and them, but when all this goes to court, you’ll have to testify.”
    “I’m ready.”
    “I figured you would be. I’ve already got your gun from yesterday so we’ll have ballistics run tests to see what bullets came from what gun. I hope to return the weapon to you before too long.”
    Aaron nodded. “It’s fine. I have another one at home I can carry until then. How’s Sabrina?” Aaron asked.
    Clay swallowed. “She’s fine. Just fine. Really good. Yeah. She’s...fine.”
    “Okay,” Aaron said with a raised brow, “maybe that was the wrong question. How are you ?”
    Clay scowled at him. “I’m fine, too. Or I will be as soon as the baby gets here.” He huffed out a breath and shook his head. “Can’t stand all this waiting.”
    Aaron clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, that’s no surprise, you’ve never been good at being patient. Hang in there, big brother.”
    “Yeah.” Clay settled his Stetson back on his head. “All right, I’m out of here then. Ginny, you want to head on over to the hospital to relieve Ronnie? I’m sure he’s ready to get home.”
    “Sure thing, Sheriff.” She finished off her last bite of eggs, grabbed her coat and gloves. “Thanks for the breakfast,” she said to Zoe. “It was delicious. Wish I could cook like that.”
    Zoe smiled. “You’re welcome. And anytime you want to learn, I’m happy to give you a few lessons.”
    Ginny grinned. “I might just take you up on that. Tracy would flip.” She slipped out the door and Aaron heard her cruiser engine come to life. He looked at Zoe. Cooking lessons? Did that mean she planned on sticking around for a while? The smile slipped from her lips, and her eyes shadowed. Was she wondering the same thing?
    Clay started to leave then turned back to her. “Who did you tell that you were leaving Knoxville and coming to Wrangler’s Corner?”
    “No one. The day after someone tried to run me off the road, I went home from Nina’s, packed my car with what I thought we’d need, and left.”
    “Did you notice anyone following you?”
    “No. And I was looking. I drove around for hours before finding an out-of-the-way hotel. We stayed there for about a week before Amber got back to me with this ranch-sitting opportunity.”
    Clay blinked. “Amber got you this job?”
    Aaron explained what she’d told him last night. Clay shook his head. “Glad to know she’s talking to someone,” he muttered.
    Aaron understood. Their sister’s job as a travel writer took her all over the world, and she