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“Few cuts Dan already cleaned up and bandaged for ency room, I assure you”

She breathed a sigh of relief and swiped at the fat drops rolling down her cheeks “What happened?”

The others had filed out of the diner and gathered around

Ryan said, “Our thieves have been apprehended One shot in the leg, thanks to the sheriff The other went down a bit easier Tackled hier

More tears flowed and she flung her arratulated and thanked hier, he said, “I already typed up ht”

“Yeah,” she said “Me too” Her nerves were shot, after all

The group dispersed, leaving Ginger and Ryan on the sidewalk He lifted her hands to histo take in a stray, sweetheart?”

Her heart ed to say, “If it’s of the six-foot-two-inch, Adonis-like variety”

Ryan chuckled

In a er added, “I know I said I couldn’t do this I don’t kno I’d survive it if so happened to you But the truth is… I can’t be without you either way So, yes Come stay with me”

He wrapped his arht there on Main Street for everyone to see

When they ca you do is so over the top, Ryan Bain”

He grinned at her “Liked the flowers, did ya?”

“That bouquet is one for the Wilder history books”

“And what about the card?”

She pulled away “Oh darn it I never got the chance to read it What’d it say?”

He gave her a coy look as he told her, “I knoe agreed to not er Monroe, I am very much in love with you—and felt compelled to tell you as much on that card And in person”

Her insides lit up brighter than a Wilder night sky on the Fourth of July She couldn’t contain her ss “And I am very much in love with you, Ryan Bain”

“Well, then I guess it doesn’tyou on a street corner” And he did it again—ht