Almost Forever Read Free Page A

attention on Justin, checking him out with perceptive eyes. Apparently impressed by his shiny badge, she smiled. “Are you a policeman?”
    “I used to be, but now I’m a Texas Ranger,” he explained, smiling down at the curious child, who looked like a mini-me version of her mother.
    “Do you ride a horse?”
    “Yes, but not usually on the job.”
    “I love horses.” She heaved a long sigh. “We used to have horses…but I was too young to remember.”
    Justin wasn’t sure what to say. He could stare down killers, but he had no idea how to talk to a kid. He cleared his throat nervously.
    The girl studied him solemnly. “Are you here to arrest someone?”
    “No, I’m just here to talk to your mother…” He hesitated when the girl frowned, still concerned about his surprise appearance.
    “…and to go to the festival,” Justin hurried to add, hoping to take away her doubt. “It was very nice.”
    It worked. The girl’s frown relaxed, replaced by a sunny smile. “Yes, it was. I helped. My name is Mackenzie. What’s yours?”
    Justin held out his hand. “Justin Archer. Nice to meet you, Mackenzie.”
    She shook his hand, then released it.
    “We’ll have dinner after everyone leaves,” Lori told her with a gentle shove toward the main building.
    “Okay.” With a flip of her ponytail, Mackenzie galloped away.
    “She thinks she’s a horse,” Lori told him. “I went through that phase when I was a kid. But we lived in the city, so I had to get my horse fix at the rodeo every year.” She watched until her daughter disappeared inside before she turned back to Justin. “Follow me.” She led the way back to the winery building and through the arched double-wide oak doors.
    Justin had to walk fast to keep up with her and then paused just inside the door as his eyes adjusted from the bright sunshine to the cool darkness. The fragrance of fresh grapes mixed with oak filled the air. All of the workers were outside cleaning up, so there was no one else in the building. Lori continued through the large processing room to a small area in the back that was furnished with several high-topped tables and comfortable barstools. Two upholstered couches were in one corner, creating a cozy seating area. The floor and walls were stone, and the ceiling was wooden with heavy oak beams.
    “This is our private tasting room for special customers,” Lori explained and motioned for him to take a seat on one of the couches.
    Justin waited for her to sit, then sat across from her. “Very nice,” he said, referring to artwork that had lined their path and decorated the walls.
    “They’ve been in the family for years.” She picked up a decanter on the coffee table and poised it over a long-stemmed goblet. “Are you still going to pass on that glass of wine, Ranger Archer?”
    “Unfortunately yes, Mrs. Roberts. Maybe another time.”
    “You should stop by when you’re off duty. We have live music every weekend and all sorts of events until the end of the summer.” She poured a glass for herself and lifted it to her lips. “And please, call me Lori.”
    Justin smiled, then remembered that he wasn’t there on a social call, and the smile quickly disappeared. He looked at her and struggled to keep from getting lost in her clear blue eyes. He wished they could talk about the vineyard, her daughter, where Lori liked to go on vacation, her favorite food…how she felt about dating lawmen…anything but what he really needed to discuss with her. In all his years of police work, he had never been so distracted by a person involved in a case.
    “So, Ranger Archer, if you don’t mind my cutting to the chase, what exactly can I do for you today?”
    Justin forced his thoughts back to the matter at hand. Ignoring her request to use her first name, he said, “Mrs. Roberts, as you are probably aware, a survey team found a body behind your property two months ago.”
    She sipped her wine and watched him over the rim of the glass.