Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) Read Online Free

been fourteen years old then, long before she worried about the implications of snitching on a classmate, who turned out to be Hannah’s boyfriend at the time. Dane. Yeah, that had turned out real well. She’d nearly lost her best friend over that one.
    But Hannah wasn’t here. She was still stationed overseas in the military. And Dane, well, he’d forgiven her quick enough. Especially when all the punishment he’d gotten was to work fences for the county for the summer to pay restitution. His scrawny kid frame had turned every muscle in his body hard and sculpted. Hannah had eventually thanked her for that.
    “Hi, Mrs. Wayland,” she said to the dispatcher sitting behind the window.
    Mrs. Wayland’s smile was sympathetic. “How are you holding up, dear?”
    “Well, you know me. Is Officer Bancroft here?”
    “He’s still in the back with Cole and that Texas Ranger fella’ that is investigating the accident at your ranch.”
    She forced the lump down her throat and took a deep breath of air.
    “If you could tell Dane that I’m here, I’d appreciate it.”
    Mrs. Wayland picked up the phone and dialed. “Miss Liberty Calvert is out front.”
    She put down the phone and motioned to the seats in the waiting area with her hand. “Coffee is fresh…and good. I made it myself. Nothing like that mud the others pass off as coffee. Why don’t you make yourself a cup while they finish up in there?”
    Libby poured herself a cup of coffee and topped it off with milk. She wanted cream, but there was none. She didn’t bother to take a sip. She just sat down in the cold metal chair and wrapped her fingers around the warm paper cup. She waited the better part of an hour before Dane finally came into the waiting room.
    “I thought you might have taken off,” he said. Despite the fact that Dane had been in law enforcement for several years, Libby still had a hard time getting used to him wearing a uniform.
    “Where else would I go if Cole is still here? He is, isn’t he? Still here?”
    Dane nodded. “Ranger Gentry is still talking to him.”
    She lifted her head high. “Okay. Then I can make bail for him now, right?”
    “Bail?”
    “Yes.” Libby dug into her purse and pulled out the envelope that held the cash she’d taken from the safe in her father’s office. “If memory serves, you need cash to bail someone out. I have cash.”
    Dane lifted his lips to a slow smile. “If Cole is arrested, and he hasn’t been arrested for anything, you’re going to need more than the hundred dollars you and Hannah came up with to bail me out of jail fifteen years ago.”
    “I have more,” she said, resolutely. How much more she’d need for whatever charges Jackson Gentry drummed up on Cole, she didn’t know.
    The door opened and Jackson walked out into the hallway along with Cole.
    “Cole!” Libby said as she ran to him. She gave him a squeeze and gave him a good look over.
    Jackson glared at her as if he were hurt. “Don’t worry. I didn’t beat him up.”
    “I wouldn’t put it past you the way you were so focused on him yesterday at the ranch. What do we do now?” Libby asked. “Is there going to be a hearing? When can I pay the bail so we can go home?”
    “Cole hasn’t been arrested. There is no bail.” Jackson looked at Cole hard. “We just had a talk.”
    “Is that true, Cole? You haven’t been arrested?”
    The haggard expression Cole had when he’d emerged from the interrogation room faded as he gave her the brotherly look she’d come to rely on. “I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.”
    “Then we can leave?”
    “Sure,” Jackson said. “As I told you yesterday, I just needed more details about the accident.”
    “Good. Then I’m sure you’ll wrap all this up and be headed out of Liberty.”
    Jackson shook his head. “On the contrary. I don’t plan on leaving Liberty any time soon.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’ve decided to stay on, I still need to write up my report. If I have