Free Ryelee's Cowboy by Kathleen Ball

cattle. Apparently, the rustlers took not only cows
and steers, but they also stole one of Burke’s prize
bulls.
    “Miss Snyder, if you have a moment?”
the Sheriff asked.
    “Call me Ryelee.” She tried to keep
her voice steady as the blood rushed out of her face, leaving her
cheeks cold.
    “Yes, well, Ryelee, I need to speak to
you privately.”
    Ryelee nodded as she stood then
followed the Sheriff into Burke’s study. She grew increasingly
jumpy when he closed the door behind them.
    “Please have a seat,” he said,
motioning to the leather chair in front of the desk. He leaned
against the desk, hovering over her.
    “What can I do for you,
Sheriff?”
    Perching on the desk emphasized his
size, big and tall, and his lecherous smile made her shiver. She
couldn’t imagine why he smiled at her like that.
    “Ryelee, are you listening to
me?”
    “What was that?”
    “I wanted to know when the last time
you saw your father?” he repeated, sounding annoyed.
    “Why?”
    “He bragged about a big payday coming
his way. He said he had a lot of outside help, and he was going to
be rolling in it.”
    “It wasn’t at the Lite Up, was
it?”
    “I can’t say.”
    “Well, he’s always drinking and
running his mouth. I never knew what was true or not. I don’t know
what to think.” Ryelee looked away from his intense stare. He had
been ogling her ever since they were alone. He made her skin crawl,
and it had nothing to do with the rustling. She could tell he liked
to make her squirm.
    “Okay, then, if you hear anything let
me know. Any time, day or night. I’m here for you,
Ryelee.”
    “Yes, I’ll do that,” she said
uneasily.
    “I have a lot to do. Take care,
Ryelee,” he said as he left the room.
    The beating of her heart echoed in her
ears. Perspiration formed on her brow, and it left her dizzy. She
had faced down many things in her life, but this time it was her
own doing. The guilt overwhelmed her. Something was off with Bubba.
He seemed to be toying with her.
    She put her hands over her stomach and
thought she felt a slight movement. A calm serenity filled her. As
she walked out of the study, she vowed she would do anything
necessary to protect this little one.
    Rheenie came rushing at her. “Can I go
hunt rustlers, Ryelee? Please, Ryelee?” She cocked her head and
smiled while batting her eyelashes.
    Ryelee wanted to laugh. Where had she
learned that? Clint was going to have his hands full when Rheenie
grew up. A sharp pain lanced Ryelee’s heart as she realized she
wouldn’t be a part of it.
    “I think this is a grown-up
thing.”
    “Oh, pooh! I never get to do
anything!”
    “Rheenie Maloney! We do not talk that
way!” her father scolded.
    Rheenie scowled at him and crossed her
little arms in front of her. “Pooh, pooh, pooh, pooh, pooh, pooh,
POOH!”
    Clint picked her up and told Ryelee to
grab their coats. “I have something to take care of,” he told the
rest of the men. “I’ll be right back.
    As the door closed behind them, they
could hear laughter. Ryelee knew Clint would have laughed, too, if
Rheenie wasn’t his daughter. He looked back at Ryelee as she tried
to keep up with his long legged stride. She was worried. She had
never seen Clint discipline Rheenie before. Although confident it
wasn’t a trip to the woodshed, as her father had done to her, she
hoped he would be gentle. She couldn’t bear it if he turned out to
be abusive.
    Once inside, he placed a dining room
chair in the corner then sat Rheenie on it. “You stay here and
think about what you did.”
    Ryelee finally caught up and had to
seal her lips together to keep from laughing. All her worries were
for naught.
    “When can I get down, Daddy?” Rheenie
asked, once again cocking her head, smiling and batting her
eyelashes.
    Ryelee had to turn away. She couldn’t
look at either one of them without laughing. “I’ll make coffee and
fill a thermos for you to take with you. It’s a cold one today,”
she called