Chapter 1

Shampoo, dog cookies, paper towels, detergent, chips. I pushed the basket to the next aisle and selected two bags of potato chips. I tossed them in beside the paper towels and checked them off my list.

“Stick um up!” I turned around slowly and looked past the barrel of the silver plastic six-shooter with a white pearl handle to the man who stood pointing it at me with a grin on his face. I glanced down at the real gun at his hip before looking back up.

“You forgot your bandana, I can see your face.”

“Huh. I knew I forgot something,” he responded, winking, and pitching the plastic gun on top of the potato chips. “I guess it’s a good thing I chose the side of the law.” I reached down and picked up the toy gun.

“Why are we buying this?”

“I had one like this when I was six years old. Every Saturday I’d sneak around the house arresting bad guys.” He took the toy gun and turned it in his hands, smiling. “Mama used to call me Cowboy Jack.” When he looked at me hopefully, I couldn’t stop myself from returning his smile. “If you let me have it,” he said, with a seductive grin, “I promise to kidnap you and hold you for ransom when we get home.” I had become very familiar with the gleam in his eyes.

“I’m going to hold you to it, Cowboy.”

After checking out at the dollar store, and making a quick stop at the gas station, we headed out of town toward home. I gazed out the window at the countryside as it passed by.

“Babe, are you okay?” I turned to him when he touched my arm and tried to remember what he had been talking about.

“I’m sorry, my mind wandered off, what were you saying?”

“Nothing important. You’ve been quiet ever since you got off work. Is something bothering you?” I turned back to the window and gazed out at the world flying by. It was July and the fields and pastures were full of color. Cattle grazed on green grass and crops waved in the light breeze in fields on either side of the road. I dropped my eyes to my lap when Jack reached over to hold my hand.

“Erica Strong called and wants to meet with me Tuesday morning.”

“The victim’s advocate? About the trial?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Babe, she just wants to touch base with you, make sure you know what to expect.” He slowed down to turn off the road and onto our driveway. Indie, our large white Pyrenees mix, flew off the wide porch and danced his way across the yard to my side of the car. He smiled in the window at me as Jack walked around to open my door.

“Back up, Indie,” Jack told him, waiting for the dog to sit down. When he opened the door, I climbed out and sat on the porch steps inviting Indie into my lap. I snuggled my face into his warm neck, let out a long breath, and relaxed. We sat together while Jack carried the shopping bags into the kitchen. A few minutes later he walked back out and held his hand down to me. I followed him inside and through the kitchen to the living room where I found cookies and a soft drink setting on the coffee table. I turned and smiled up at him leaning up for a kiss.

“I love you,” I said against his lips.

“I love you back.”