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"Co like a fool running alongside the tractor "You have to be reasonable Get off that da stubborn!"

The ancient tractor bounced along in the gathering dusk, shooting up clouds of powdery dirt to spray over Ben's immaculate sheriff's uniform Colby waited until he was totally out of breath and at a coe before she stopped the tractor and sat staring moodily out over the field Very slowly she pulled off her leather work gloves "I' tired of these visits, Ben Just whose side are you on, anyway? You knowhere and they certainly don't have the right to try to force me to turn over my brother and sister to them"

Ben swiped at the dirt covering hiainst his frustration He took several deep breaths before he answered her "I didn't say it was right, Colby, but the Chevez family have the De La Cruz brothers on their side, which nore theo away You have to talk to the to take you to court People like the De La Cruz brothers don't lose in court" He raised his hands to grasp her small waist before she could jue to shake so possession for a moment "You have to do this, Colby I mean it, honey, I can't protect you froer"

Colby pushed away fro her head so her disheveled hair spilled out fro in her eyes Ben quickly looked away, pretending not to notice A man would have to kill for her if she cried, and anyone witnessing her tears would be very likely to take the brunt of her anger

"Fine" Colby beganacross the field at a fast pace "I presume you have the entire lot of them camped on my porch?"

"I knew Ginny and Paul were gone tonight" Ben had ensured his sister-in-law invited Colby's sister and brother over for homemade ice cream

"Like that was hard to see through" Colby tossed the words sarcastically over her shoulder at hiarten She was certain he persisted in thinking of her as a wild, untaht, when she was perfectly capable of running a ranch all by her little loneso so for some time She wanted to box his thick skull

"Colby, don't go in there like a powder keg These people aren't the type to be pushed around" Ben easily kept pace with her

"Pushed around?" She stopped so abruptly that he had to rock back on his heels to keep fro to push ant I want to sic the dog on the, Ben Instead of kissing up to Mr Moneybags and his entourage, youon out here All re with thethe rich and infaain, her s fury

"Colby, you and I both know it's a bunch of kids playing pranks Probably friends of Paul," Ben said, trying to soothe her

"Pranks? I don't think stealing is a prank And what aboutperson's report? Have you even tried to find Pete for me?"

Ben raked a hand through his hair in sheer desperation "Pete Jessup is probably off on a binge For all you know that old s to pay for his alcohol"

Colby stopped again, and this time Ben did run into her and had to catch her shoulders to keep froe s when my father died, you turncoat! He's been invaluable around here"

"Colby," Ben said, his voice persuasive and gentle, "the truth is you took in that hooodness of your heart I doubt if he did more than eat your food every day He's a broken-doboy, a drifter He's just taken off somewhere He'll turn up eventually"

"You would say that," she sniffed, truly aggravated with him "It's just like you to let the disappearance of an old o by the wayside so you can mix with some rich idiots who are here to try to steal my brother and sister"

"Colby, come on, they proved they're relatives and they claim they have the children's best interests at heart The least you can do is listen to them"

"You probably agree with theroup You don't know anything about it, or theant no one could stand hi she was a second-class citizen because she's feht to hell for all I care!"

Although it was early evening and still relatively light, the sky suddenly darkened as ominous black clouds boiled up out of nowhere A cold wind arrived on the wings of the darksharply at Colby's clothes A shiver of apprehension blew straight down her spine For a gle for entrance

"What is it?"

Colby could see Ben was clearly uneasy as he turned in a slow circle to scan the surrounding area He had his hand on his gun, unsure as stalking the from, but he obviously felt it as well