Page 284 of Rangers Last Promise

Wolf and Trigger are several yards to our right.

Blaze, Ace, and Havoc circle toward the far end of the runway with two deputies.

“Where’s Vance?” Doc asks.

Tate studies the hangar.

“Inside.”

“And Harlan?”

“I don’t see him.”

A man steps into the light.

Robert Vance.

Older than the photographs.

Gray hair.

Dark jacket.

A pistol in one hand.

Grant’s silver key in the other.

For fifteen years, he has hidden behind other men.

Now I can finally see him.

Vance looks toward the dark runway.

Waiting.

A low sound rolls across the hills.

An aircraft engine.

Doc lifts his head.

A small jet descends toward the airfield with no landing lights.

“Harlan,” I whisper.

Vance steps onto the runway.

The jet touches down.

Its engines reverse.

It slows near the hangar.

Sheriff Tate speaks into his radio.

“Hold positions. Nobody moves until we identify every person on that aircraft.”

The cabin door opens.