Cold Case in Cherokee Crossing

Cold Case in Cherokee Crossing
Rita Herron

A decades-old cold case is testing everything one Texas Ranger thought he knew about obtaining justice A lot of men on death row profess their innocence. Those men are mostly just scared of dying. Jaxon Ward understands that, but as a Texas Ranger he needs to uphold the law. Yet the story Avery Tierney tells him He’s convinced her brother is awaiting execution while the real killer remains at large. Searching for the murderer opens old wounds for Avery, and now she has to face a past so traumatic she blocked it out. A past not so dissimilar to Jax’s. Before long, the only comfort they find is in each other’s arms. Avery’s lost everything once before. And now, if she loses Jaxon, she fears she’ll never recover.

“Send her in.”

Nothing Jaxon had read in the file prepared him for the beautiful woman who stepped inside. Avery Tierney had been a skinny, homely looking kid with scraggly, dirty brown hair and freckles, wearing hand-me-downs. She’d looked lost, alone and frightened.

This Avery was petite with chocolate-brown eyes that would melt a man’s heart and curves that twisted his gut into a knot.

Although fear still lingered in those eyes. The kind of fear that made a man want to drag her in his arms and promise her everything would be all right.

“You have to help me stop the execution and get my brother released from prison,” Avery said, her voice urgent.

“Why would I do that, Miss Tierney?”

A pained sound ripped from Avery Tierney’s throat. “Because he’s innocent.”

Cold Case in Cherokee Crossing

Rita Herron

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Award-winning author RITA HERRON wrote her first book when she was twelve, but didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded storytelling to kids for writing romance, and now she writes romantic comedies and romantic suspense. She lives in Georgia with her own romance hero and three kids. She loves to hear from readers, so please write her at PO Box 921225, Norcross, GA 30092-1225, USA, or visit her website, www.ritaherron.com (http://www.ritaherron.com).

To my beautiful daughters who, as counselors, are the real heroes.

Love you,

Mom

Contents

Cover (#ue1efacc4-373b-58b1-a7e9-b4e6a39c2fcd)

Excerpt (#u09971861-5899-59dd-9dbf-1409b2a91173)

Title Page (#u0d462e30-c98a-5e6d-896a-c322879b1867)

About the Author (#uf271a61b-8578-5f0d-a7cc-a92a65938cdd)

Dedication (#uf493d1a5-e21f-5b26-8601-76ca04fcc8d9)

Prologue (#ulink_a371ea5f-1347-532b-8061-de1eb7fcd093)

Chapter One (#ulink_ae49b310-040a-503d-a4dc-2cf1514f3b93)

Chapter Two (#ulink_64d24372-570d-54f9-a651-33b9211ac74d)

Chapter Three (#ulink_097da73e-8310-5003-b13b-f0addf7cd5f8)

Chapter Four (#ulink_cd2b1a93-4c7c-504a-b147-c66bf3eda9ca)

Chapter Five (#ulink_6dfe8735-a524-5b60-891c-af60c8a98b87)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue (#ulink_f398bd3e-595b-5915-b33f-2d234425f2c3)

Blood splattered the wood floor and walls. So much blood.