Page 89 of Embracing Desire

“Oh, I will.”

Katie put the money in the register and sighed.It had been busy most of the day at Gran’s booth.The Felton’s Creek Celebration always brought a lot of people in.While she had dinner each night this week with Ry and Jed, she’d only seen them in passing today.

Jed had a small ring set up for pony rides, and Ry would roam around while leaving his deputy with the SUV, looking absolutely delicious in his uniform.

“Why don’t you take a break?”Gran asked.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go.”She patted Katie on the shoulder.“Go find your men.”

Katie grinned and kissed Gran’s cheek before leaving the booth.Gran was such a wonderful woman.

She was halfway to the riding ring when little Tommy Miller ran into her, his blond hair sticking out and his shirt dusty.

“Oops, sorry, Miss Katie.”

“It’s okay.”After helping Tommy gain his footing, she straightened to see her father and Walter standing in front of her.Her stomach dropped.She’d hoped they left town for good.“What do you want?”

“We need to talk,” her father said.

Tommy wrapped himself around her legs.Katie knelt.“Tommy, go to the riding ring, right now,” she whispered in the boy’s ear.“Let Jed know I sent you.Nowhere else, understand?”

Tommy nodded, let go of her legs, and took off running.She could only hope he’d tell Jed what he saw.

Chapter Nineteen

“Sheriff, sheriff.”

Ry turned from the horse ring at the sound of the young voice.Tommy Miller came running up to him out of breath.“Easy, Tommy.”He knelt and took the small boy by the shoulders.“Where’s the fire?”It was a question he always asked when kids were like this.

“Miss Katie sent me to get Mr.Jed,” he panted.“There are two scary men with her.”

Ry jerked his head up, trying to see to Miss Mazie’s booth, but he couldn’t.“Good job, Tommy.”He stood.“Jed, we’ve got a problem.”

Jed hopped the fence and marched over to him.“What’s up?”

“Katie’s in trouble.”He looked down at Tommy.“Where was she, Tommy?”

“Over there.”He waved his hand in the direction of the tea booth.

“Thanks, buddy.”Ry smiled.

“Go get your ride.”Jed turned Tommy toward the ring and gave him a pat on the head.

Together, they sprinted in the direction Tommy had waved.It didn’t take a genius to guess that her father and the ex were here and harassing Katie.Well, it was time to show them a united front.It didn’t take them long to find her.Katie was standing with her feet apart, her hands on her hips as she gave the two men standing in front of her hell.

“What’s going on, sweetheart?”Ry asked as he and Jed encircled her.His arm went around her waist, and Jed’s went right above his.Ry brushed his lips against her right temple.

Jed did the same on her left.“Okay, Kitty Kat?”

“Better,” she whispered, melting into their embrace.

The older man in front of Katie made a noise, and Ry looked him over: his hair gray, his pinched lips, and the lines creasing the man’s forehead.Katie’s father.The man standing next to him was younger, and his expression of distaste made Ry want to laugh.The ex was less of a threat.

“I told you to leave,” Katie said, steel running through her voice.

Ry was proud of her.She wasn’t going to take any crap from these two.

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