Page 96 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

“Now, obviously, there are people we must protect, and if anyone does not want to be involved, they are more than welcome to step back. A curfew will be in effect, and everyone must stay in their homes unless they wish to participate. As for the tourists, they will stay at the inn. The goal is to have this settled quickly and contained with as few complications as possible. I’m going to call up Rick Diaz to discuss the particulars of what we’re up against.”

Rick squeezed Kaylee’s hand and stood, making his way to the mic. He stared out into some familiar faces, but more of them were strangers to him, and he felt out of place. Then Paulette started clapping, and the whole town joined in, whistling and cheering. Rick took the mic with more confidence, and he said, “I know that none of you asked for this, and if I could take Kaylee and find somewhere to hole up, I would. But right now, I think there is safety in numbers.”

There was a rumbling in the crowd, but he kept going, hoping Jolene was right. “I got a call tonight that upward of thirty men are headed our way. They are armed and dangerous, but I think if we work together as a town, we can take them down, protecting one another. I know I am just a visitor here, but this woman loves all of you.” Rick pointed to Kaylee, who blushed scarlet. “She loves this town, and she would never want to put you in danger. In fact, she did her best to remove the danger from all of you by herself.” Rick stared her down for a minute because he still hadn’t quite forgiven her for that. “Another resident stepped in and saved her. Miss Jolene, will you stand, please?” The older woman struggled to her feet, and Rick continued, “If this woman, who is spry and determined, can take on a man twice her size, I think we can stop a group of thugs from coming in here and hurting someone we all care about.”

“How are we gonna do that?” Benny asked.

“Me!” Kaylee stood, her chin lifted stubbornly. “I will draw them out.”

“Absolutely not. Sit back down,” Rick said, his tone a raw growl.

“What are you talking about?” she argued, moving out into the aisle and stalking toward him. “They want me. I’m the only bait you have.”

Rick leaned over the stage so they were nose to nose. “You are not going to put yourself out there like a hunk of meat.”

“I actually am, well, no, not like a hunk of meat, but I’m going to lure them away.”

Paulette put a hand on his shoulder. “She’s not wrong.”

Rick gritted his teeth, knowing she was right. “Fine.”

“Really?” Kaylee said, her mouth hanging open.

He ignored her as he continued addressing the room. “We’re gonna put everybody who’s under eighteen in a safe space.” There was a series of adolescent protests by a group of teens, including Noah and Quinton, but the women sitting next to them whispered angrily, and the teens stopped grumbling.

“There’s a basement under the inn that only people who work there know about,” Wilma Perkins offered. “The entrance is hidden.”

“Good.” Rick’s gaze swept the crowd, his gaze lingering on Kaylee as she returned to her seat. “Everybody else who’s not involved, stay in your homes. We’re gonna need about fifty or sixty men.”

Paulette cleared her throat, and Rick amended, “And women, ready to zip-tie and detain these dirtbags. I appreciate y’all coming out.”

The mayor took over the mic, and Rick went back to Kaylee, sat down, and took her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held fast.

“You’re not going to talk me out of this,” she said.

“I know I’m not, but I don’t have to like it.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

Kaylee

The ride back to Kaylee’s place was quiet, and she knew Rick wasn’t happy about her volunteering to be bait, but what other choice did they have? She was scared out of her mind just thinking about it, but it was their only chance for everyone to come out of this alive.

Rick got out of the driver’s side of his car and came around the front, grabbing her open door for her. As they headed up the walkway toward the steps, Kaylee tried to breach the silence with small talk.

“So that meeting was pretty intense,” Kaylee said.

Rick grunted as they climbed the steps. “Yeah, it was, but it’s a solid endeavor. I never expected so many civilians to step up to protect this place.” Rick reached out, brushing a hair from her cheek. “And you.”

“Jolene tried to tell you.”

Rick chuckled. “So she did.”

She slipped the key into the lock, murmuring, “It’s almost like this is our last night on earth.”

“I hope not,” Rick said, laughing uneasily.

He walked through the door ahead of her, and she shut it, leaning back against it. “I’m just saying that we might not walk away from this.”