Page 48 of The Rancher

“I asked the deputy to keep us in the loop. We should know something tomorrow. In the meantime, you clean up and then we’ll get something to eat. You need to get some food into you.”

She nodded. What else could she do? He was right. “Can you come back in twenty minutes? That will give me time to shower and change clothes.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Sure.”

“Hey, you’ll get blood all over you.” She tried to push him away without using her hands.

“It doesn’t matter. I already do. I hugged you earlier, remember?”

She melted into his embrace and sighed. “I suppose you did.” Lyris looked into his blue eyes and drew strength from his closeness. “Thank you.”

He helped her back into the vehicle, then climbed behind the wheel and drove to the guesthouse.

When he stopped, Lyris unfastened her seatbelt.

Ray killed the engine and climbed out of the truck. He walked around the front to her side and opened the door.

Lyris slid from the passenger seat to the ground and into Ray’s open arms. Then she looked up at him. “I’ll see you in twenty.”

He kissed her forehead. “Okay. I’ll be back. But I need to shower and change clothes, too. I’ll be back in a half hour. How’s that?”

“That will be great. See you then.”

He let her go and headed toward the big house.

Lyris went inside the guesthouse and walked straight to the bathroom. She stripped, left her clothes on the floor, and climbed into the shower which she’d turned on as hot as she could stand it.

When she was clean and dressed, she combed her hair and then ran her fingers through it to fluff up the curls. By the timeRay returned, she was ready to go and face the inquisition from Maddy and Amy.

They’ll probably ask how she could get taken, but hopefully they would understand she couldn’t let anything happen to the horses. Would they know about Marissa’s shooting? How much could she tell them without harming the police investigation?

After an early supperand the conversation with the family, Lyris was exhausted. She and Ray walked back to the guesthouse.

Ray locked the door behind them and then took Lyris into his arms. “How are you?”

She leaned back, knowing he would hold her, and shifted her gaze to his. “I guess I’m a little numb. Thank you for coming for me and being here. I don’t want to be alone.”

His gaze softened. “Lyris, I want you to understand something. I tried to give you the time you needed. I tried to stay away. But I will always come for you when you need me. I will always be here for you. I want you in my life, in Maddy’s life, forever. I don’t know how much clearer I can be to you.”

Her heart pounded and she smiled with joy. “Is that a proposal? I want to make sure, before I answer.”

Grinning, he nodded. “Not a very good one I guess, but yes. Will you marry me?”

She nodded.

He lifted a brow. “I need a yes.”

She grinned, turned, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“I love you, Lyris. I think I fell for you as soon as you stepped out of your Yukon and strutted your way over to me.”

“That’s good because I fell for you when I looked in your eyes. Your beautiful blue eyes. I didn’t want to. I fought it, but in the end, I couldn’t deny what I felt. I love you, too,”

He lowered his head.

She closed her eyes.

His lips met hers.