also stuck together like a school of fish. Their ranks were solid and next to impossible to break. So even though he was a Wright—which meant he had a snowball’s chance in hell to ever date her seriously—he couldn’t resist pretending he had a shot with her. “I’m about to go down to the market and grab a couple of sandwiches and eat on the park bench. Want to join me?”
“It’s kind of early for lunch.”
“I know. But I’ve been up for hours. And I’d rather eat outside instead of in the store.” Since she looked interested but just as skittish as a new foal…he kept talking. “Dinah, I know you’ve got to be prepared for just about anything…but I figure if you’re in the town square, you’ll be able to swoop down and stop any jaywalkers that might come upon us.”
“I do more than stop jaywalkers.”
“I know. I’m also starting to get the feeling you don’t eat all that much.”
“I have Snickers bars.”
“Maybe you should supplement your candy-bar diet with some turkey every now and then.” Her eyes widened with surprise. “Just saying.”
“Austin—”
“Yeah?” He braced himself as he waited for a perfect freeze-out.
But instead of that, she nodded. “Sure. I mean, why not?”
Deciding it would be best to not give her any more time to think about things, he said, “Listen, you go scope us out a seat. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, no. I’m coming with you and ordering my own sandwich.”
“You, Dinah Hart, are a bit of a control freak.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
He smiled, but his heart softened. There really was so much more to the woman than most knew.
* * *
DINAH WOULD HAVE NEVER imagined Austin Wright as a tuna-salad type of guy. Roast beef would have been her pick. Turkey, maybe. But tuna salad on whole wheat? It kind of struck her as funny.
But maybe that had more to do with her choice, the Italian Stallion on a hoagie. And of course, barbecue potato chips and a Coke to wash it down.
Austin looked amused as he watched her take her first unhealthy bite. “You’re a regular heart attack waiting to happen, Dinah.”
“Not usually. Usually I watch every little thing.” Except for her stash of Snickers bars, of course. Those she kept on hand for easy access. And emergency purposes.
And whenever she got particularly stressed.
“I’ve got to keep in shape, you know. For the job.”
Frank appreciation appeared in his eyes before he tamped it down. “You’ve done a good job with that shape, too.”
Now she was embarrassed. “I wasn’t fishing for a compliment.”
“I would have given it to you no matter what.” He shrugged. “And I’m not complimenting you as much as stating a fact.” Looking mildly uncomfortable himself, he took a good-size bite of his tuna and chewed.
“So, do you do this often?”
He shrugged. “I like being outside. I like the diner, too, but sometimes this is easier. And cheaper.”
“More of a tuna guy.” She tried hard, but the smile she was fighting still slipped out.
“I like fish. And the deli uses low-fat mayonnaise for me.”
Because no one else was around, she let herself giggle. Just a little bit.
Austin’s gaze warmed. “So you do laugh. I’ve been wondering.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“About what you’d imagine it does. Usually, I only see you with your game face on.”
It was tempting to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about, but she did. “I have to be serious when I’m on the job.”
“And other times?”
“And other times,” she agreed. “Getting reelected is important to me. Keeping everyone’s respect is important to me, too. I don’t want Duke to ever regret working with me. And I especially don’t want the citizens to change their mind.” Already full, she pushed the second half of her sandwich to one side.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. Everyone knows that Duke thinks you’re doing a good job. Other folks think so, too.”
“They might not think that way much longer,” Dinah admitted. “A lot of people are real upset about the string of robberies, and I don’t blame them. Money’s tight right now, and folks are having to put out more money for better security systems and lighting. Some outfits have even had to hire on extra hands to help with patrols. Though everyone knows we’ve got a police force of two and a big area to patrol, that doesn’t always count for much when the bills come in at the end of the month. Plus, people are still missing their tack.”
“I hear you.”
She lowered her voice. “Sometimes I worry that even my family is losing their faith in me.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
She appreciated the trust, but Dinah knew the truth of the matter. “Midnight’s disappearance has stressed out just about everyone, especially my mom. If we can’t track that horse down real soon, I worry that my mom is going to sell the ranch.”
Austin shook his head in that confident way of his. “Ace wouldn’t let that happen. Thunder Ranch is y’all’s legacy.” Eyeing her wrapped-up sandwich, he said, “Think you can eat another two bites?”
“You sound like my mother!”
“Naw, just trying to look out for you. Eat another bite, D.”
Before she knew it, she was unwrapping the sandwich and taking one more bite. Just to please him.
His eyes lit up, looking pleased with himself. And that made her more than a little uncomfortable.
Quickly, she swallowed and got back on track with their conversation. “I know that Ace’s judgment is good, and most times I don’t mind following his directives. But all of us agree that no home is worth our mother’s health.”
“Dinah, I hear what you’re saying, but I’ve got to tell you—you look like you’re almost causing the end of the earth. Surely your family isn’t blaming you for the flurry of thefts in the area. And what happened with Midnight is a crying shame. But if someone had really wanted that horse, then it stands to reason he took it far away. For all we know, that horse could be on the other side of the country by now.”
Though she didn’t like hearing his hypothesis, she appreciated his faith in her. It seemed she spent most
