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Her nerves were shot Daarette

The thought triggered a desperate plan The as blowing out of the west, back toward her pursuer Yes, it could work

Except for a few scratches, the Harley appeared unda one of the panniers, she took out a box of cookies she’d picked up days ago at Shop Mart Duround, she tore the box open flat, clicked her lighter and touched the flaht she tossed it under a tinder-dry bush In the seconds it took to rev up the bike and speed away, a wall of fire flared behind her, wind blowing the flames toward the wash

She’d covered a good half mile when she heard the blast of a fiery explosion Behind her, a tower of black shtened in a satisfied s who’d tried to kill her had been inside the SUV when it blew, but she wasn’t going back to find out

With a hoop of victory, she swung back toward the main road She’d done it She was safe

By the ti smoke and flame back toward the Rimrock, Marie was too far away to care

CHAPTER 19

Sky stood next to Lauren as her father’s casket sank into the sunbaked earth The brief service in the family plot was sparsely attended Will and Beau were there to support Lauren and pay their respects to their lifelong neighbor Natalie orking, but Tori had co with Randall Clawson, who ed the ranch for the syndicate, and Reverend Bunker Sykes froathering

Jasper had refused to go, declaring that anything good he had to say about Garn Prescott would be a lie Bernice, who’d sent over some fresh banana bread, had chosen to stay home and look after her brother

Sky glanced at Lauren’s downcast profile Beneath her narrow-briany hair that the hot wind had loosened fluttered across her cheek He’d seen no tears today She and her father had barely had a civil relationship, let alone a close one But he knew she was ht have been and now could never be

During the final prayer her hand

had crept into his, fingers holding on tight He was all she had now He wanted to let her know he’d always be there for her But before he complicated her life with a proposal, Lauren would need tio of the past

It was a relief to get out of the burning sun and into the air-cooled house Lauren lifted off her hat and tossed it onto the back of a chair Only Sky kne deeply the day had drained her strength

“Sit,” he ordered, guiding her to the couch “I’ll get you a plate and some cold lemonade”

“Thanks” She gave hi to sleep around the clock when this is over”