The Runaway Rancher by Leigh Riker

Author:Leigh Riker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-03-30T18:00:35+00:00

* * *

GABE POUNDED UP the stone steps to the library, prepared to eat crow. He’d given Sophie a few days to cool off, but he’d been out of line at Sweetheart. She’d clearly been irritated with him, and he owed her an apology. It wasn’t her fault the walls seemed to be closing in on Gabe. That there were things he couldn’t tell her.

As he opened the main doors, he removed his Stetson and took a deep breath.

Sophie wasn’t at either of her usual posts behind the front desk or in her office.

“You just missed her,” Rachel Whittaker told him. “She’s giving a talk at the sheriff’s department.”

Gabe was impressed. Bingo night, the church luncheon, now law enforcement. After Sophie’s initial reluctance to campaign, she’d taken the bit between her teeth. He liked her new look, too. Those red boots were killer.

“Thanks. I’ll try to catch her there.”

Rachel’s mouth tightened. “If you ask me—which no one did—she should do something about Averill McCafferty instead.”

“What about her?” Gabe didn’t know her or Rachel, and he was surprised she would bring that up. All he knew was that Max appeared to have an interest in Averill. And that, as Sophie had said, there seemed to be a missing book.

“Perhaps you could urge Sophie to take a stand.”

“Not my business,” he muttered, but Gabe made a mental note. He’d mention this to Sophie because why was her assistant using him as a go-between?

Gabe put on his hat, tipped it in Rachel’s direction and left the library. He jogged down the steps to his truck parked out front.

And missed Sophie at the sheriff’s department, too.

Gabe had no choice but to finish his chores in town.

He’d see her later.

Since the silent auction Gabe had refocused his attention on getting more donations to the general fund for the sesquicentennial, and he’d been approaching as many people as he could. So had Sophie. He’d done okay, if not as well as she had, but the latest numbers Sophie had showed him meant he needed to do more.

Gabe liked the fact that Sophie had seemed to enjoy their last ride together, if not his mood. He couldn’t call that an official riding lesson, and when they were back at the barn she’d hopped down without needing his assistance, given the mare a last pat on the neck, then tossed her reins at Gabe. He’d watched her stomp off to her car, not that he could blame her. He’d been lousy company, and she had every right to be annoyed with him. He shouldn’t have taken his sour mood out on Sophie.

He also wished he hadn’t told her about Lauren hunting for a secret.

Is there one? Sophie had asked.

Gabe didn’t like hiding things from her, but he had no choice. Yet how could he spend even more time with her and not risk blurting out a confession? Gabe knew what would happen then. For now, his apology would have to be enough.

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