“Atlee,” he greets me, his weathered face creasing into a smile. “How’s that man of yours holding up after yesterday? Damned travesty, those arrests.”
And so it goes for the rest of the morning. By lunchtime, I’ve stopped being surprised by it and started accepting their well-wishes with simple gratitude.
“You tell Devlin that we’re behind him all the way,” Ellie Travers says as she picks up her son’s asthma medication. “My husband is already talking about organizing the other ranchers. We’re not letting the Morrisons get away with this water grab.”
“I’ll tell him,” I promise, touched by how quickly the town has rallied.
When there’s finally a lull in customers, I text Devlin again after he checked on me earlier.
Me
Everyone at the pharmacy has read the article. You’ve got a lot of supporters in town. Even Mrs. Henderson called you courageous, and she doesn’t impress easily.
Devlin
Glad to hear it. Stay alert, though. Noah won’t take this lying down.
The warning sends a chill through me, but I push aside the fear. I refuse to let Noah Sanchez dictate how I live my life.
“You must be very proud,” Reverend Miller says as I ring up his allergy medication.
And I realize with a start that I am. Fiercely, unequivocally proud to be with a man who stands up for what’s right, even when it’s dangerous. Even when it comes at a personal cost.
“Yes,” I tell the reverend, a smile spreading across my face. “I am.”
He nods approvingly. “Good. He’ll need that pride and belief in the days ahead. The Morrisons won’t surrender easily.”
The reminder of the battle still to come sobers me, but doesn’t diminish the warmth in my chest. Whatever happens next, Devlin won’t face it alone. He has me, he has his brothers, and now, it seems, he has most of Grizzly River standing behind him too.
As closing time approaches, I start the end-of-day routine. Payton has already left, her shift ending an hour before mine. I’m alone in the pharmacy section, the store quiet around me as the last few shoppers finish their business in the grocery section.
I check my phone, seeing a message from Devlin.
Devlin
Running a bit late. Wait inside for me?
I text him back.
Me
Will do.
I get back to finishing closing procedures. The quiet is peaceful after the busy day, giving me time to process everything that’s happened. In just a few weeks, my life has transformed completely. I went from someone who didn’t know if they’d ever find love to finding it and being happy with it.
I’m so absorbed in my thoughts that I don’t immediately register the bell above the door chiming, signaling someone’s entrance. It’s only when I hear the gasps and startled exclamations from the few remaining customers that I look up.
My blood freezes in my veins.
Noah Sanchez stands in the doorway, his uniform rumpled, his face flushed with what might be anger or alcohol or both. But it’s not his disheveled appearance that stops my heart. It’s the gun in his hand, pressed against Carson’s temple.
“Everyone stay calm,” Noah announces, his voice carrying through the suddenly silent store. “This is official police business.”
Carson’s eyes find mine, wide with fear but also a warning. His hands are zip-tied in front of him, his lip bleeding from what looks like a recent blow.
“Noah,” I say carefully, stepping out from behind the pharmacy counter. “What are you doing?”
His gaze snaps to me, and there’s something unhinged in his eyes that terrifies me more than the gun. “Atlee Walsh,” he says, almost conversationally. “Just the woman I was hoping to see.”
