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He reined in his horse in front of the sheriff's office After dis, he secured the ani the floor At the sound of the door opening, he spun around

"Sheriff! You're back Alad to see you"

Justin fought against the uneasy feeling that swept over hi?"

"You've got to go see Megan, ah, Mrs Kincaid right away"

His heart beat faster "Is she hurt?"

"No" Wyatt stared at hi de I tell her when you'd be back I told her I didn't know exactly She said that last night someone climbed in an upstairsand tried to kidnap Bonnie"

Justin stared at his deputy, then swore loudly He took off running He tore out of the building and down the boardwalk Wyatt followed on his heels If anything happened to either of them— Dear God, he couldn't bear to think about it

"Tho people," Wyatt said between breaths as he caught up "I asked her if she wanted me to stay in the store with her, but she said she'd be safe with Mrs Dobson and Andrew there with her If you hadn't shown up by noon, I was going to start wiring the towns and find out where you were"

They ran across the dusty street, dodging a wagon and a lass of the store up ahead He raced to the door, then flung it open

"Megan!" he roared as he entered the building There were half a dozen shoppers who all turned and stared at him Several of the wo and saw Bonnie sitting beside Mrs Dobson

The little girl squealed with excite toward him "Justin, you're back!"

She flung herself at hiainst his chest She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck

"How's one a year He kneas silly, but he thought she rown in his absence

"I missed you"

"I missed you, too, Bonnie," he said quietly He wanted to ask if she was all right, but he didn't want to upset her Then he heard soft, familiar footsteps and turned toward the sound

Megan walked down the left aisle of the store Her blue calico dress was neatly pressed, her hair pulled back and tidy But her appearance didn't deceive hi together in front of her waist After the way they'd parted, he'd been determined to maintain his distance, but he couldn't Not after what he'd just been told