Last Stand Ranch by Jenna Night

Author:Jenna Night
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

“It feels good to be doing something useful for someone,” Olivia said to Denise while peeling open a garbage bag and using it to line a plastic trash can.

Denise raised her eyebrows. “Whatever floats your boat.”

Olivia paused on the cracked asphalt parking lot in front of Tinker Time Crafts and Hobbies and looked around. Quartz Creek was a hardscrabble little town without much in it. That was probably why the store’s grand reopening had attracted such a good crowd.

Stay aware of your surroundings. Elijah’s warning came back to her. It was part of the deal she’d agreed to so she could come on this road trip with Vanquish.

Colorful flag pennants tied to signs and light posts fluttered in the steady breeze. The riders from Vanquish the Darkness had lined up their bikes with perfect precision in front of the tinted glass windows with the store’s name painted in metallic gold letters. Hamburgers and hot dogs sizzled on a barbecue. Popcorn popped in a small booth. Cool water and cans of iced soda were being passed around. And the man who had been introduced to Olivia as the proud owner of the shop was walking around profusely thanking everyone for being there.

Olivia was tempted to let go of fear and see only the happiness of the occasion. But she couldn’t afford to do that. Not yet. Maybe someday.

Denise tucked a chunk of dark hair behind one ear.

“I can’t think of the last time I saw someone so happy to change garbage bags,” Denise said. “But good for you.”

After hearing Olivia talk about the outing, Denise had offered to bake some goodies and donate them. At the last minute, she’d decided she wanted to go along and ride in the van with Olivia. Vanessa had stayed at Claudia’s house to participate in a couple of conference calls for work. She still had a few more vacation days to use, but in typical workaholic fashion she couldn’t stand to be out of touch with the latest developments in her cases back at the office.

Elijah and Mark had ridden their motorcycles behind the van, making sure no stranger followed them from Painted Rock. Everyone in Vanquish knew about Olivia’s situation, and they were all keeping an eye out for her. Especially Elijah, who never wandered far away and oftentimes was already looking at her when she looked at him. Each time her gaze met his, she felt her face turn warm.

The sound of a child’s squealing laughter caught her attention, and she looked toward a play area set up in the strip of grass beside the craft store. Kids chased each other through an inflatable castle, took turns at lawn bowling or fished for plastic goldfish in a wading pool. Members of Vanquish, decked out in their jeans, leather vests and heavy biker boots, wandered around and helped.

Olivia’s gaze snagged on Elijah standing in a shaded, out-of-the-way spot at the end of the building. He was praying with a man and woman. The three of them stood holding hands, heads bowed.

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