The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 3. Сьюзен Мэллери

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      Chapter Thirteen

      The crowd surged around them like water in a river. Randi Howell, a.k.a. Rita Howard, tried to remain calm.

      “You okay?” Brady Jones asked.

      She nodded. “I think I’ve been isolated too long. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be out among people.”

      “I get that feeling myself.” Brady slipped his hand through hers. “I won’t let them steal you away,” he promised.

      “Thank you.” As his fingers entwined with hers and he tugged her close to his side, she was able to smile. With Brady around, she might actually start to relax.

      The livestock and horse show drew buyers and exhibitors from all the western states. In addition to the animals, booths displayed everything necessary for a well-run ranch as well as plenty of items for the home. There were western clothing manufacturers and leather companies, people selling odd jars of spices for making everything from beef to rattler more tasty. Various universities sold sweatshirts, while conservationists preached about the value of recycling.

      Then there was the food. Beef on a stick, churros, ice cream, hot dogs, pretzels, Mexican entrées, and more exotic fare including venison and snake.

      Randi wanted to get lost in the crowd, but for now, she was too nervous. Part of what she’d told Brady was true—she did find it uncomfortable to be around so many people. When she’d first gone on the road, she’d stayed away from busy places because it was safer…or so she’d thought. But over the past couple of months, she found she liked a more solitary existence. On the ranch, there were plenty of people around if she wanted to have a conversation, but Brady and the cowboys were different from a crowd full of strangers.

      The other reason she was nervous was that she kept expecting to see someone she knew. The idea was ridiculous. What were the odds of a friend from Grand Springs showing up here? Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling of impending disaster. If not a friend, what about those men with guns from her wedding?

      She clutched Brady’s hand tighter, enjoying both the physical connection and the feeling of safety. With him around, she knew she was going to be all right, no matter what happened.

      But as the mass of people increased, she found her nerves drawn tight. Telling herself she was unlikely to be recognized didn’t help. While the crowd protected her, it also made it impossible for her to stare at every face. She shouldn’t have come with him.

      Yet she hadn’t had a choice. In the past week, she’d had a sense of time running out. Soon, she would have to move on to another temporary place, or back to Grand Springs and face what she’s done. Either way, she was going to have to leave Brady behind. And she didn’t want to. Not yet. Not ever.

      “You hungry?” Brady asked.

      Randi touched her free hand to her stomach and tried to sense anything but faint fear. “I could probably eat.”

      “Rattler tacos?”

      She glanced up at his smiling face and wondered how she would survive without him. She grinned in return. “Sure, but I want to watch you eat one first.”

      “I’ve had rattler before.”

      “Let СКАЧАТЬ