Page 41 of Wild Spirit Revival

Brodie’s broad shoulders tensed as he surveyed the damage inside the jail. Moments later, the sheriff emerged, Jubal and Elijah right behind him, his face a mask of frustration and anger. “The window’s been torn clean out,” he growled, gesturing behind him. “Cell’s empty. They’re long gone by now.”

He looked at his deputy. “Did you see which direction they headed?”

Jubal shook his head. “Down the alley to the south. They could be anywhere by now. Flatrock, maybe. Or Black Canyon.”

Annalee stepped closer to Brodie, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “Maybe we need to warn everyone. Cancel the fireworks, get people inside.”

“No,” Brodie said, surprising them all. “We can’t let these outlaws disrupt our lives more than they already have. They’re long gone by now. The fireworks go on.”

Molly raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that, Sheriff?”

His gaze hardened. “It’s exactly what we need to do. Show them we won’t be cowed. Besides, it’ll keep folks in one place, where we can watch over them.” With himself and just one deputy, Brodie knew chasing the gang would leave the town defenseless. He also knew he could no longer put off talking to the mayor about hiring another deputy. “I’ll be back soon. There’s someone I have to talk to.”

Annalee watched him leave, disappointed but knowing Brodie wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t important.

Jubal, still nursing his head, looked after him. “The sheriff was right. Those outlaws aren’t going to come back. At least not today.”

The sound of fireworks whistling into the sky made them all look up. It was time to enjoy what was left of the July Fourth celebrations.

The moonlit silhouettes of ponderosa pines were a familiar sight as Elijah Beckett and his siblings rode their horses back to Wild Spirit Ranch. The July Fourth fireworks still echoed in his mind, though Molly O’Sullivan’s radiant smile consumed his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the image of her emerald eyes sparkling in the glow of the fireworks, her infectious laughter ringing out over the crowd’s cheers.

“Quite a show tonight.” Annalee’s voice cut through Elijah’s reverie. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she nudged her horse closer to his. “I noticed you watching Molly more than the fireworks.”

His jaw clenched, his grip tightening on the reins. “No more than I watched anyone else,” he muttered, avoiding his sister’s knowing gaze.

Joshua chuckled, shaking his head. “Sure you were. And I’m the King of England.”

“Leave him be,” Nathan interjected, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “We’re all too tired to appreciate your teasing.”

As they crested the final hill before the ranch, Elijah’s thoughts drifted back to Molly. Her fierce independence and quick wit had caught him off guard, challenging his preconceptions about city women. He found himself yearning to know more about her, to unravel the mystery behind those captivating eyes.

The group dismounted at the barn, their movements sluggish with fatigue. Elijah’s muscles ached as he began unsaddling his horse.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us tomorrow,” Joshua said, stifling a yawn. “The new corral won’t build itself.”

Annalee lifted the saddle off her horse’s back, a tired smile playing on her lips. “And don’t forget about mending the fence line in the horse pasture. The herd will run right through it if they can.”

Elijah nodded, his mind already mapping out the tasks ahead. “Parker and I will take care of the new corral,” he offered. “Nate, you and Josh can work on the fence line.”

As they finished tending to their horses, Elijah found himself lingering in the barn. The sweet scent of hay and leather surrounded him, a comforting reminder of home. Yet, for the first time in years, he felt a restlessness stirring within him.

“You coming, Elijah?” Joshua called from the doorway.

He shook his head, forcing himself back to the present. “Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

As he followed his siblings toward the house, Elijah couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Would Molly visit the ranch again? The thought sent a thrill of anticipation through him, even as he tried to temper his growing feelings.

As Elijah tried to sleep an hour later, his thoughts were filled with flashes of green eyes and the sound of laughter carried on the Montana wind.

He tossed and turned in his bed, the moonlight streaming through his window. His mind consumed with thoughts of Molly. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the images away.

“She’s leaving,” he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. “She’ll be gone soon, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Try as he might, Elijah couldn’t shake the warmth in his chest when he thought of her. He sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Control yourself, Beckett,” he chided himself. “She’s a city girl. This isn’t her life.”

As the first hints of dawn began to color the sky, Elijah gave up on sleep. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, setting his jaw. There was work to be done, and he refused to let some fleeting feelings get in the way of his responsibilities.

He dressed quickly, his movements quick and efficient. As he made his way down to the kitchen, the floorboards creaked under his boots.

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