Page 50 of Lost and Found Cowboy

Her hands trembled as she picked up the note and recognized Lyle’s handwriting.

A sob caught in her throat as she read the words. “Whatever you have belongs to me too.”

So, hehadbroken in.

What else had he done while he was inside her office? Her shop? Her space that she had so lovingly created on her own.

And that now was sullied by his very presence.

It appeared that all he had done was steal the money from the petty cash box. Oh, and left a terrifying note behind to let her know that he could get to her. No matter how many locked doors she put between them, no matter how many tall cowboys were in her life, he wouldalwaysbe able to get to her.

She stuffed the note in her pocket and slammed the box shut, her eyes madly searching the room to spot any other signs he had been there. Nothing else seemed amiss.

Forgetting about the money for the carnival, she hurried back outside, taking a few extra seconds to double-check thatshe’d locked the front door behind her. Although now she had to wonder if it even mattered.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart as she walked toward the minivan where Mack was standing with the side door open and deep in apparent conversation with her son about why frogs were green.

He looked up at her, and his happy expression clouded. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She’d tried to keep her voice steady, but it had come out hoarse.

“You’re white as a sheet. What happened?”

She cleared her throat and tried again for a calm nonchalance. It wouldn’t help anything for her kids to see her upset. “It’s nothing, really. But it seems like our frienddidget into the shop after all. The petty cash box was empty.”

She would tell him about the threatening note later.

Now was not the time. Not in front of the kids.

She turned away and lowered her voice so her son wouldn’t hear. “We can talk about it later.”

“Andgive Knox a call,” Mack said.

“Yes, but after the carnival. Max is so excited about tonight. I don’t want anything to take that away from him.”

He nodded. “Okay. I can respect that. What do you need from me?”

“Nothing. I’m good.”

His face fell. Then he pulled her to him. “Well, I’m giving you a hug anyway.”

She’d take it. In fact, she wanted to melt into him and have him take all this craziness and drama away. But she knew she couldn’t put that on him.

She had to figure this out on her own.

She had to decide how to stand up to this bully who had terrorized her for so many years. She had to do it for herself. But mainly for her children.

And to do any of that, she needed time to think. By herself.

She drew in a deep breath as she pulled away. “Thank you. I’d better get these kids home. We’ll see you in a few hours.”

“I’ll be there,” he said.

“Save room for a corn dog,” Max called to him as he headed for his truck. “And some funnel cake.”

Mack smiled at her son and waved. “Don’t worry. I’ve always got room for funnel cake.”

The carnival wasin full swing as Lorna leaned over and picked up the three rings of the final toss of her and Max’s shift and passed them to the parent and child who were taking over for the next shift.

---