Free Stolen Kisses (Leap of Love Book 2) by Paige Powers

her part to be with him. He would be happy to just see her smiling face and feel the touch of her soft hands. That would be more than enough for him at this point.
    He knew that Sheriff Dyer was correct in his approach. He should go about rescuing Lily patiently. It was beginning to be the theme with her. Patience. Waiting. Taking his time. He would have to listen if that was where all the signs pointed. Winning Lily's affections was well worth the wait.
    Once Brent arrived in town, his first stop was at the telegraph office. He wanted to send a word to his mother and family back in South Carolina that he and Adam were doing fine. Anything that would put their minds at ease about his decision to move. He also had to send off a letter to his brother Ben in California.
    "Well, hello Mr. Abbott."
    "Good day, Sir," Brent said as he tipped his hat to the worker.
    "You are right on time. There is a telegraph here for you."
    "Really? Thank you."
    Brent took the telegraph and sent his own off to his family back east. After completing his first task, he walked out of the office. Flipping open the paper, he saw the words printed there.
     
    Half breed for sale. Mexican Indian mix. Young enough to breed babies. Well worth the money.
    See Lawrence Jones for details.
     
    Brent crumbled the paper in his hands and almost ripped it up. He was glad that he did not because he needed to show it to Sheriff Dyer. They needed evidence that Jones was up to no good and there it was. But who would have sent that to him directly?
    It was obvious that Jones was toying with him. To send something like this was a blatant gesture of disrespect and a ploy to get Brent to make a move.
    It worked.
    Brent burst back into the telegraph office, brandishing the telegram.
    "Who sent this wire?" his voice boomed.
    The worker looked startled. "I don't know," he stammered. Please let me check Ranger Abbott. His trembling hands opened the ledger and he surveyed the list.
    "It seems that it has come from Miguel del Sol."
    "And who is this Miguel del Sol?" By this time, Brent was leaning over the table, practically ready to jump down the workers throat.
    "Leader of the banditos ." The worker's hands were in the air in surrender.
    Brent backed off.
    So the banditos were involved in this as well. Brent exited with such fury, the office door almost came off its hinges. This situation was getting more and more intense by the minute and they did not have time to be patient anymore. He needed to make sure he had the proper backup behind him for what needed to be done.
     
    *
     
    "So apparently the banditos are involved in this as well." Brent went immediately to the sheriff and shared the information he had just learned.
    "Well now, looks like we have a real live fight on our hands. Those banditos are always up to no good. Somehow always find out what's going on in town and driving up the price of safety. I can bet in this case, Jones went to them to sell Lily and they brought this to you so they could present for a ransom. You can bet you will get Lily back if you pay the ransom to them because all they are concerned about is the money. They just want to get the highest price from whomever will pay. The trick is to get her back without paying that ransom."
    "Sheriff, I don't think we can wait any longer. We have to devise a plan of attack. The only way that I will get Lily back is if I fight for her. And I'm willing to do that."
    "Son, love is a splendid thing when you find it. It just so happens to be the kind of thing that makes a man go crazy from time to time. You have to be in your right mind going in to this."
    "Sheriff, I have never been more in my right mind. I need to do whatever I can to save Lily. Now where do we get started?"
    "Meet me here tonight at around eight o'clock. We will go over everything then."
    The time to meet could not come quick enough. Brent could barely keep his mind on the tasks at hand. All he could think of was ways that he could go and