Page 9 of Nate

“I’d go with you, but the store is so busy.”

“It’s fine. I’m not even going to leave until Saturday morning. Clifton is only four and half hours from my hometown in Idaho. I’ll leave early. The bad thing is, I’ll have to stay overnight, but I’m going to get a hotel room.”

“How are you going to explain that?”

Markie shrugged. “I’ll just tell her I want to leave very early Sunday morning.”

“That’s good.”

“I will not stay there with that man in the house.”

“I don’t blame you at all.”

“I’ve stayed before and I was so afraid he’d try to come to my room that I kept the door locked, with a chair under the knob and sat up, staring at the door most of the night.”

“That’s just too scary.”

“I know. I’m ready to head home. How about you?”

“Yeah, let’s go. I have to get up early.”

“For the ranch?”

“Yes. Someone or something has been tearing the fence down in the west pasture and we’re going to be putting up stronger fence. If it’s an animal taking it down, it will stop when it hits a harder wire.” Sydney shook her head. “I hope it’s an animal. Celine was telling me that a lot of rustling was going on lately. She said Killian was very busy.”

“Oh, I met him. He is so handsome.” Markie smiled.

“Yes, he is. Lucky bitch,” Sydney said, laughing.

“You love Celine, and you know it.”

“I do, but she is lucky. Not a bitch though.”

Markie laughed. “Let’s have Siobhan to get our purses and we’ll go.”

After getting their purses and paying the tab, they made their way through the crowd, and outside. The heat of the day still lingered.

“I hate this weather. It’s never this warm in May,” Sydney said. “Give me fall anytime.”

“I agree. When I was younger, I loved summer because I loved swimming, but as I got older, I didn’t get to go swimming much. I was too busy studying all the time.”

“You need to buy a house with a pool.”

“I happen to be very happy in my little apartment above the hospital.”

“That is a great place. I remember when Tess lived there.”

“Now, if we’re talking handsome men, her husband is gorgeous.”

“He’s not called the sexy sheriff for nothing.” Sydney laughed.

“He is? Seriously?”

“Yes, and he hates it.”

“I’m sure he does, but it fits.”

“He’s even heard Tess saying it and tells her not to call him that.” Sydney laughed.

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