Quick-Draw Cowboy

“Guess I’m lucky you got here so fast,” she said.

But she felt certain that wasn’t the motivation for the vandalism. The culprit was that rotten James Haggard. He was devoid of any decency. A scoundrel who was determined to steal the trust fund of a motherless girl he claimed was his own flesh and blood.

Riley took off the jacket to his tux and wrapped it about her shoulders. That was when she realized she was trembling.

“I know you’ve got a major clean-up job here,” he said. “The good news is there’s very little costly damage. The best news is neither you nor Constance was home at the time of the break-in.”

“I agree,” she said. She wasn’t sure if Haggard had only come by to threaten her again and then decided to break in when she wasn’t here, or if vandalism had been his goal.

“I wouldn’t advise you to try and stay here tonight,” Cavazos said. “The lock on the back door is busted. Fact is, the whole door is busted up. It will have to be replaced, and it will likely be Monday before you can get someone out to take care of that for you.”

“I’ll secure it until the door’s replaced,” Riley said. “And I’ll replace all the locks once the door is in, just to be on the safe side.”

“Good idea,” Cavazos said. “Now if you two will excuse me, I need to return a phone call. The deputies will be finishing up here in a few minutes. After that, the place is yours, but if you think of anything I should know about, give me a call on my private line.”

He handed them each a business card. He spoke briefly to his deputies and then left through the front door.

Dani’s mind was reeling. Cleanup seemed all but insurmountable and she wasn’t sure she had the strength or willpower to even start on it tonight.

And then there was Riley. She’d known him one day, yet he’d taken over tonight as if they were lifelong friends—or more. He was protective, and far more clearheaded than she was at the moment.

He was both of those things now, but he could be gone tomorrow. She couldn’t start depending on him.

“You don’t have to stay tonight, Riley. Really, you’ve done so much already. I’m starting to feel guilty about taking up all your time when you’re in Winding Creek to visit your brothers and Esther.”

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