The door to the diner opened and Lila Richards walk in with one of her men—she had three. Jenna wondered how the hell she managed that. Three men seemed extremely daunting to someone who’d never even had a long-term boyfriend. As she watched the way Trace looked after Lila, keeping a hand on the small of her back to guide her and pulling out a chair at the same table where Savannah sat with her two husbands, she felt that wistfulness grow.
She stood and left some cash on the table before making her way outside. Stopping for a moment, she closed her eyes and tilted her face up towards the sun. She’d never take being outside or being free for granted again.
Suddenly, she heard someone cry out. As she opened her eyes and turned, a person bounced into her, sending her flying back against the pavement. Her breath left her in a whoosh of air as she landed, scraping her elbows and butt painfully against the hard ground. A heavy body landed on top of her, winding her. Then the person scrambled up, stepping on her hip as they launched themselves forward. She lay there trying to catch her breath, heart racing, and body trembling. Then there was another loud yell, and she turned as tires screeched. A horn blasted as the man who’d banged into her ran in front of a car, causing it to come to a sudden stop. A man jumped from the car and raced after the guy.
“Jenna, you okay? Don’t get up, you might have injured something.”
She smiled up into Max Ferguson’s concerned face. His wife, Savannah appeared beside him.
“Are you okay, Jenna?” she asked.
“I thought I told you to remain in the diner.” Max glowered at his wife.
She just shrugged, looking unintimidated despite his firm voice. Jenna wasn’t attracted to the rancher, but that tone of voice made her insides stand up and take notice. Maybe because Max reminded her of Curt. Not in looks. Curt’s dirty-blond hair was always in need of a cut, and where Max was quite handsome, Curt had a harder, craggy appearance. But they both had a take-charge attitude, something that made you listen and take notice.
Max pressed his hand against her shoulder as she started to move again.
“I’m fine. I just scrapped my hands and elbow a bit.” She held them up, and his frown increased. Behind him, a crowd gathered, looking down at her in concern.
Damn this is embarrassing.
“What did that kid think he was doing?” Mr. Britely, who owned the general store, asked.
“He had a purse in his hand,” someone replied.
Max’s face darkened with anger.
She heard a dog bark but when she looked around all she could see were people gathered around her.
“Max, I’m fine. Let me up.”
“Wait for the doctor,” he told her.
“I am the doctor.”
He gave her a look. “Doc Harper is on his way.”
The barking started up again. “Where is the barking coming from?”
Savannah straightened and looked over. “It’s Daisy. She seems to be guarding Mrs. Childs.”
“Mrs. Childs?” she asked in alarm. “Is she okay? Did he knock her over as well?”
“It was her handbag he took.” This time it was Abby, the new hairdresser in town, who spoke up. “Mrs. Childs had just left the salon and was walking over to get Daisy, who was tied up beneath the oak outside the salon. This guy just bowled into her, snatched her bag, then took off.”
She frowned slightly wondering why Abby wasn’t helping Mrs. Childs.
The younger woman rubbed her hands together in agitation, her face pale. “I’m not good with big dogs, that’s why Mrs. Childs leaves Daisy outside.”
Savannah stepped back and wrapped her arm around Abby who trembled. “Don’t w
orry, Lila and Trace are with her. And anyone would be scared of Daisy right now.”
Other people nodded around her.
“Daisy is standing over Mrs. Childs, not letting anyone get close to check on her,” Savannah explained.
Jenna was surprised. The big dog was always so gentle and happy.