SATURDAY, 5:30 P.M.
DALLAS, TEXAS
Harper stared at the long mirror in the hotel room she shared with Emily.
She had hoped she’d be staring at a changed version of herself by the time she’d finished photographing the national parks. Well, there was at least one small change. She had a scar at her hairline. Now she wished she had opted to get bangs. Too late for tonight’s event. But the changes she had hoped to see went much deeper than her skin. Admittedly, it was clear she’d held on to a lot of false hopes.
For one, she had hoped to be well and free of the past. She’d tried, believing the therapist’s suggestion that focusing on beauty instead of death and murder would help her. But instead of healing from the past, more baggage than she’d known existed had followed, and it was as if she’d come full circle, gathering painful thorns as she walked through a harsh wilderness she’d never meant to travel. She had no control over what had happened, over what her uncle had done.
She never should have gone back.
Emily hummed in the bathroom, pulling Harper’s attention back to the moment. Permanent worry lines had taken over her brow and she worked to soften the look. Take the edge off.
Tonight was for Emily, and Harper wanted to focus on her sister, especially after she’d almost lost her to that maniac. Maybe tonight was for Harper too, if only a little.
And Heath?
He could have stayed in Wyoming close to his ranch and his friends. His family—Liam was there, and Heath should spend time with him, catching up. But he had surprised her with plane tickets for two to Dallas. A romantic overture? To some extent that confused her—was he here out of a sense of responsibility that Taggart had assigned him or that he’d assigned himself? Or was it something more? And if his being with her was about exploring a future together, was Harper truly ready to take that risk? Even if she was, Heath might run away when he saw how broken she remained inside.
Regardless, she didn’t dare to hope. Not yet. Not until this was over once and for all. Not until Uncle Jerry was behind bars. Shock rolled through her again. She supported herself against the vanity. Squeezed her eyes. She could make it through this night. She would make it through this.
God, please let them catch him before he hurts or kills anyone else.
Emily rushed out of the bathroom and headed to the closet for her shoes. “You have five minutes.”
On the outside, Harper was ready. On the inside, she was a work in progress who had taken a huge detour and gotten lost. She had done her best to smile and not let on that she carried new burdens. If anything, Emily suspected the pain in Harper’s eyes was due to the bomb in Grayback. That was part of it, sure, but maybe the least of it.
How and when should she share the news about their uncle with Emily?
Blinking back tears, she drew in a steadying breath and scrutinized the black dress Emily had let her borrow. Time to focus on the present.
Flashing a brilliant smile, Emily stepped up behind her.
“I know that’s not for me.” Harper could almost be swept up in Emily’s ability to put aside the gloom for an evening.
“Of course it’s for you. You look marvelous, darling.”
“Thanks.”
Maybe Emily had sensed Harper’s less-than-enthusiastic response because she immediately hugged Harper long and hard. “I’m so glad you’re okay. The last few weeks have been so trying. But we’re here together. You couldn’t have surprised me more.” Emily released her, then added, “And maybe you don’t feel it, but on the inside, you’re amazing and beautiful. I’ve been so jealous of you for so long.”
“What? Why?”
“Because, Harper . . . you’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever known. I’ve been thinking a lot about this since I came home. What you’ve thought of as a weakness, a defect, is actually a strength. You are a survivor, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m sorry for what I said to you before, and that I blamed you for not looking that night when Dad was shot. If you had, you could have been killed too. Instead, you’re alive and show me every day, through your determination, how I can be strong too. I know Mom and Dad would be so proud of you. I can only write about detectives and crime scene photographers, but you? You put yourself in the middle for others. Please don’t ever change.”
Harper wanted more than anything to absorb Emily’s words as truth. She didn’t want to see herself as broken, as someone who would fail others when it counted most. And maybe she didn’t have to.
“When we were still living in Jackson Hole,” she said, “we’d see Grand Teton all the time, especially if we had to drive into town. That mountain is so big, and as a kid anyway, it made me think of God. And I used to think if I was that mountain, nothing could move me or scare me. Nothing could hurt me. Now I think I’m finally getting it. God is like that mountain for us and we can hold on to him.”
“And no matter what happens in this life, nothing can take us away from him.” Emily looked at the mirror. “Oh, look. You’ve made me cry and now I have to go fix my makeup.”
Emily dabbed at her eyes, then glanced at Harper in the mirror and smiled. “That’s much better. I do believe that little black dress has found a home. You are now the rightful owner.”
Laughter bubbled up inside. Harper released it. For Emily, but for herself too. “Seriously? I look homely in this compared to you and your cobalt blue sparkles.”
“When do I get to dress like this? Since I get to walk up on that stage to be honored in this way and give a speech, I want to dazzle them with more than words.” She leaned in close, her face next to Harper’s, and lifted her cell phone. “Selfie time.” Emily snapped the picture.
Harper hadn’t been ready. “Give me some warning next time.”
“Okay, I’m going to warn you about Heath. He’s downstairs and he looks gorgeous.” The mischief in Emily’s eyes sparkled as much as her dress.
“How do you know?”
“James just texted me a selfie they took in the lobby.”
Harper had met James—Emily’s previous editor—when she’d first arrived in Dallas.
“Let me see it!”
Emily held back her cell. “That would spoil the surprise. Heath needs to see your reaction.”
Okay, now she was nervous. She found a towel and wiped her hands. Emily’s teasing grin said she saw more than Harper was ready to reveal.
“What’s that look for?” she asked. “It’s not like a date or anything.”
Emily nodded, but her expression shouted loud and clear that she didn’t believe it.
“What about your date?”
“What about him? I’m fine admitting that it’s a date. Well, sort of. James was having some issues finding a babysitter for his four-year-old and had to bring him on this trip. His son will be attending the gala with us. He’s a handful. But you know what? That’s fine. Dawson’s adorable. I think I might be in love.”
“With James or Dawson?”
Her eyes shining, Emily pursed her lips. “We need to get going.”