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He reined in his horse in front of the sheriff's office. After dismounting, he secured the animal, then made his way inside. Wyatt was pacing the floor. At the sound of the door opening, he spun around.
"Sheriff! You're back. Am I glad to see you."
Justin fought against the uneasy feeling that swept over him. "What's wrong?"
"You've got to go see Megan, ah, Mrs. Kincaid right away."
His heart beat faster. "Is she hurt?"
"No." Wyatt stared at him. "It's the damnedest thing. She was in here this morning demanding I tell her when you'd be back. I told her I didn't know exactly. She said that last night someone climbed in an upstairs window and tried to kidnap Bonnie."
Justin stared at his deputy, then swore loudly. He took off running. He tore out of the building and down the boardwalk. Wyatt followed on his heels. If anything happened to either of them— Dear God, he couldn't bear to think about it.
"Thomas is out questioning people," Wyatt said between breaths as he caught up. "I asked her if she wanted me to stay in the store with her, but she said she'd be safe with Mrs. Dobson and Andrew there with her. If you hadn't shown up by noon, I was going to start wiring the towns and find out where you were."
They ran across the dusty street, dodging a wagon and a man on horseback. Justin saw the gleaming front glass of the store up ahead. He raced to the door, then flung it open.
"Megan!" he roared as he entered the building. There were half a dozen shoppers who all turned and stared at him. Several of the women backed up a step or two. He looked around the building and saw Bonnie sitting beside Mrs. Dobson.
The little girl squealed with excitement and came running toward him. "Justin, you're back!"
She flung herself at him. He opened his arms wide and drew her up against his chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
"How's my girl?" he asked. He felt as if he'd been gone a year. He knew it was silly, but he thought she might nave grown in his absence.
"I missed you."
"I missed you, too, Bonnie," he said quietly. He wanted to ask if she was all right, but he didn't want to upset her. Then he heard soft, familiar footsteps and turned toward the sound.
Megan walked down the left aisle of the store. Her blue calico dress was neatly pressed, her hair pulled back and tidy. But her appearance didn't deceive him. He saw the shadows under her eyes and her hands twisting together in front of her waist. After the way they'd parted, he'd been determined to maintain his distance, but he couldn't. Not after what he'd just been told.
He shifted Bonnie so he could support her with one arm, [then held out his other. Megan ran those last few feet and [threw herself against him. He drew her close.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I should have been here."
She raised her face to his. He saw tears glistening in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Even her smile was brave. When had Megan gotten so strong?
"It's not your fault. You couldn't know what was going to happen. Bonnie and I are fine, aren't we, honey?"
The little girl nodded. "Megan's got a gun."
Justin raised his eyebrows.
"It's just a little one. A derringer. My father bought it for me years ago, when I started staying late at the store."
"Your father had more sense than I did," Justin said, realizing he should have thought of that himself. But this was Landing and it had never occurred to him Megan or Bonnie could be in any sort of danger.
He looked down at the little girl and gave her a smile. "I need to talk to Megan for a couple of minutes. Can you stay with Mrs. Dobson?"
Bonnie nodded. "We're reading. I read a whole book by myself!"
"Good for you. Maybe tonight you'll read it to me." If he was still here.
"Really?" Bonnie's eyes widened. "All the story?"
"Sure." He set her down.
She grinned. "I'll go practice." She skipped across the wooden floor and excitedly told the widow her plan.
Justin looked around the store. The shoppers weren't even pretending interest in anything other than the drama unfolding around them. "Wyatt, stay here for a few minutes. I'm going to need your help. Megan, let's go in the back and you can tell me exactly what happened."
