the only one to have done so by bodily dragging a convicted felon from his vehicle and then hoofing him in the family jewels. While being completely unarmed, I might add."
Everyone turned to see Adam Kendall standing in the doorway of the kitchen, the door held wide open by his muscular body.
Carrie guessed that anyone sitting near the doors could have heard that statement. And likely did, judging by the smiles she saw on the faces of Warren and Edward Jessop, who were the town's EMTs and sitting at the small table just behind Adam.
Adam let the door swing closed behind him and gave his wife a sunny smile.
"Boy howdy, Adam Kendall, just you wait until you do something in the heat of the moment that in hindsight you realize is risky. Then we'll have us a discussion about leavin' the past in the past." Ginny scooped the plate of food and made a great show of skirting her husband with her head held high as she headed back out to the dining room.
Adam followed her with his eyes. "God, I love that woman."
Carrie guessed he certainly did if that satisfied, partly smug grin on his face was any measure of his feelings.
And then the words he'd said in such a casual manner sank in. She felt her jaw drop. "That tiny woman hauled a man out of his car?"
Matthew got to his feet, stretched, and then grinned. "She did indeed. But Adam misled you slightly when he said that she dragged him out and kicked him in the balls. First she punched him in the face, and then she kicked him in the balls when he came at her. By the time we pulled up, the bastard was curled into a fetal position on the ground, unsure if he should cover his head or his already-abused dangly parts. See, Ginny was still kicking at him and screaming at the top of her lungs."
Adam narrowed his eyes as he looked at his deputy. "At least she wasn't running away from a maniac with a gun after discharging said gun into a car windshield, yanking the car keys from the car, and tossing them out onto the road."
Matthew actually winced. "Don't remind me." He wagged his finger at his wife. "You were lucky that asshole Connors had so much glass in his eyes from that exploding windshield he couldn't see well enough to take up that gun and shoot you dead."
"Yes, darling, so you and Steven have said, many, many times."
Adam rocked back on his heels, his smile as wide as Matt's had been. "She could have been blinded, too. That was a hell of a lot of glass the uncles had to pick out of her cheek, neck, and hair."
Kelsey proved herself a smart woman then. She went over to her husband, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him.
Carrie looked over at Adam, who winked at her. "There's still no response to the alert issued on Lockwood," he said. "Of course, you know I'm just here to relieve Matt."
"Of course. I just wish this was all going to be finished soon. Maybe the Rangers will find him before he even gets here - though that makes me sound kind of cowardly compared to my kick-ass coworkers, here."
"No!"
Carrie blinked because, not only had the men said that, so, too, had Kelsey and Tracy.
Kelsey had already stepped back from her husband. Chuckling, she came over to Carrie and rubbed her arm. "I know how it feels to be, well, under a kind of mental siege - waiting for something bad to happen. I have been there. But hang in there, Carrie. Despite all our teasing, and, well, appearances to the contrary, the women of Lusty do have faith in their men."
"You should have faith in your men, too," Matt said. "Chase and Brian are determined to keep you safe, honey. We all are."
Carrie nodded, and felt her mouth slide into a smile of contentment as it inevitably did whenever she thought of her men. "I know those two cowboys will do all they can to protect me." They'd already done so much, including mobilizing the entire town. "And I know and appreciate that y'all have my back."
She just hoped that while everyone was focused on watching out for her, they'd be careful for themselves, too.
Because with each new dawn the feeling grew within her that something very bad was waiting just around the corner.
Chapter 19
Chloe stood, her lips pursed, her hand