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“Sure.”
“We’ll find this guy,” Ryan assured them. “He obviously knew you didn’t go to the police in Nashville because you were afraid of people hearing about what happened to you, and he’s deluded himself into thinking he can get away with terrorizing you until he gets the money.”
“Going forward, I’ll do whatever I have to in order to help y’all,” she said. “I want him behind bars. And out of my life.”
“I’ll call you this evening if there’s any news,” the sheriff told her. “Where are you planning to stay?”
“The Painted Horse,” Sam answered for her.
Sky stared up at him. The alarm in her big blue eyes made his gut wrench.
“Now wait a minute,” she said. “If Mac has been watching me, he might end up at the ranch. We can’t risk that. Not with all the people out there who could get hurt. Reese. Caleb. You. The horses.”
“Doubt he’d make a move with all the activity on that property,” Ryan interjected.
“And you know we’ve got ample security,” Sam reminded Sky. “We’ll double the number of guards that patrol the grounds if we have to. My cottage is the safest place for you.”
She clearly couldn’t argue the logic. With resignation in her tone, she said, “Fine. If it’s okay with Caleb.”
“You know it will be.” His brother wouldn’t balk. In fact, Sam knew it’d be the first thing he suggested. The additional patrolmen being the second.
The sheriff gave her a hug and said, “We’ll be in touch.”
She and Sam headed out. They walked down the sidewalk, Sky apparently lost in thought until she caught sight of the reverend and his wife.
“Jonathan, Lydia,” she said as they approached the Bains. They exchanged friendly embraces.
Lydia said, “We heard you were in town and hoped to see you. But…” Her gaze narrowed on Sky. “You are just as white as a ghost. What in heaven is wrong, Sky?”
“I’m a little under the weather,” she said. “Nothing to worry about.” To Reverend Bain, she said, “I’ll see you in church on Sunday.”
“Be a nice treat if you’d sing with the choir. If you’re feeling up to it.”
She smiled. “Sure, I’d like that.”
“You let us know if there’s anything you need,” Lydia told her. “Anything at all.”
“I will. I appreciate your concern.”
“I have to run along now,” Lydia said. “The mayor’s wife is my first appointment this morning, and we all know better than to keep Emelda Grant waiting.”
They all chuckled, because the woman’s reputation of being the Queen Bee of Wilder preceded her.
The Bains continued on in one direction, Sky and Sam in the other.
She said, “I’m glad to see Lydia’s mellowed out.”
“Thanks to Ginger taking her to task.”
“I heard Lydia was in an uproar when Ginger opened her lingerie store.”
“There was a lot of tension in this town until the Bains got off their high horse.”
“Lydia used to be so much fun,” she mused. “We pulled a few pranks together in high school. Snuck out from time to time with a couple beers and a radio that we’d take out to the lake. Jack was always with us. Then Reese.” She sighed. “I am not looking forward to the conversation I have to have with her.”
He draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side. “Darlin’, this goes well beyond unpleasant, but you’re doing the right thing.”
“I hope so.”
