Page 36 of Running to the Mountain Man

“Babe, look! It’s her! It’s Goldie! She’s here!”

Nobody is shaking anyone’s hand. There’s too much hugging.

Barrett clears his throat. “Why don’t we take this reunion outside?”

“Sounds like a fine idea,” some annoyed customer says in the next booth.

Out in the parking lot, we gather around, and Barrett and I are introduced to Wylie, Ellis, Jake, Ennis, and Curly. I learn that Ellis is a farmer who’s technically Louisa’s boss, which makes no sense because no one in their right mind would hire Louisa to work on their farm, but we can discuss that later. Wylie, Ennis, Jake, and Curly all live up at Sterling Ranch, where Orlyn shot at Wylie and where Nevyn was arrested last January. But the biggest news is that Louisa and Olivia are married, and I missed all of it.

“Are you mad?” Louisa asks, wincing.

I think about it, and I am disappointed. But it’s better this way. “It’s a good thing. The smartest thing, actually. The church can’t have any claim on you now that you’re legally married.”

A comforting hand is on the back of my neck. I turn and see Barrett staring at me. “Hey. I’ll marry you too if that’s what it takes.”

“Speaking of weddings!” Olivia shouts, interrupting our little moment. We’re picking up Georgie tonight. She’s supposed to get married tomorrow, but somehow she got ahold of Curly’s phone number? I don’t understand it, but you all should come with us!”

“Georgie?” I gasp, clasping my hands over my mouth. I can’t believe it. We’re going to get her.

“Absolutely not,” Barrett says. “It’s too dangerous. You’ve been through enough.”

Chapter Eighteen

Barrett

If three women could maim me with one look, they would have done so right then and there.

And so, that’s how I get mixed up with a midnight rescue of a runaway bride from the Celestial Order of Covenant Kinship.

Whoever doesn’t fit in the cab of Curly’s truck piles in the bed with tools and landscaping equipment. Curly even goes so far as to slap on a decal to the side of his truck, with a fake logo and everything.

Goldie and I follow them in my truck since the compound is on the way to the cabin.

We act as spotters along the highway while the rest of the crew help this girl named Georgie sneak out of her mother’s house in the middle of the night.

“We’ve got it from here. You guys go home. It’s safer if we all split up,” Curly says when it’s all said and done.

Home.

Our home.

“That was…that was crazy,” I say as we pull up to the cabin.

“Exciting,” Goldie says.

“Yeah. Let’s never do that again,” I say.

Goldie turns to me. “But we have to meet them at the safe house in Bozeman tomorrow. Just to make sure that poor girl has everything she needs. She’s only 18. She only has the clothes on her back.”

I nod. “Okay. I just don’t like the idea of you getting mixed up in any more trouble.”

“I’ll be fine. If you’ll stay with me.”

Leaning in, I kiss her flat on the mouth, cupping the back of her head. Then I press my forehead against hers. “I’m never taking my eyes off you again.”

The doors and windows are locked.

The house is warm and safe.

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