Vaughn didn't even look back. He stared into Casey's eyes, despite her refusal to look at him. He placed his hand on her leg, catching her attention. She stared into his sorrowful eyes from her elevated position on her horse.

"Please, Casey," he said gently. "a.s.sure me you don't intend to do anything stupid."

"No, I already did that the other night," she announced simply, removed his hand from her leg, and sent her horse into a gallop across the fairgrounds toward the woods.

Vaughn watched her ride across the back of the fairgrounds. She disappeared onto the trail in the woods. He frowned and groaned with disgust. Melanie and Abby approached him from behind and stared after Casey as well.

"Poor Vaughn," Melanie announced with a sigh. "Casey Remington slipped through your fingers once again." She then smiled slyly. "When are you going to learn your lesson?"

Vaughn didn't bother looking back at either, although his look conveyed his emotions. "Go to h.e.l.l, Mel," he scoffed and headed toward the gate and his police blazer.

Melanie hurried after him while Abby walked behind in less of a rush. Melanie walked alongside him, kept stride, and maintained her grin. He refused to look at her.

"Face it, Vaughn," she announced. "You and I were meant to be together."

He didn't stop and refused to respond. Melanie remained persistent and followed him to his blazer. She stepped in front of his police cruiser, stopping him from opening the door with her body. He finally looked her in the eyes.

"Get out of my way," he growled.

"I'm not giving up on this relationship," she replied.

"There is no relationship," Vaughn retorted hotly. "There's just you being a b.i.t.c.h as usual."

Abby hung back to give them some privacy. Melanie was a little surprised by his tone but brushed it off and managed a smile.

"I'm willing to forgive you for dumping me," she informed him.

"Well, good for you," he remarked, "but I'm not willing to forgive you for that s.h.i.t you pulled on me."

Melanie suddenly became offended and sneered at Vaughn. "She's going to bomb in the talent show."

"What are you talking about?" Vaughn remarked impatiently.

"Casey's act for the talent show," she replied. "She's going to embarra.s.s herself in front of the entire town and possibly the whole county."

"I don't have time for this, Mel," he announced. "Go bother someone else." He pushed her aside.

Melanie purposely fell to the ground and clutched her shoulder.

Vaughn looked at her and appeared unimpressed. "I'm not falling for that," he informed her.

Abby ran to Melanie's fallen side and helped her to her feet. She turned and glared at Vaughn. "What's wrong with you?" Abby launched hotly. "What sort of man a.s.saults a defenseless woman?"

"I didn't push her that hard," he snapped. "She threw herself to the ground."

"You threw her to the ground!" Abby appeared enraged while clinging to Melanie, who milked the sympathy for all it was worth. "I'll have your badge for this!"

Vaughn climbed into his blazer, slammed the door, and glared at Abby. "Be my guest," he scoffed then drove out through the main gate.

The Remington farm was peaceful early Sat.u.r.day morning. It was nearly three o'clock in the morning and the fair was starting in just a few hours. Grey sat on the porch railing and stared out across the moonlit pasture. The porch door opened, alerting him. Dina walked onto the porch in a camisole top and floppy shorts. Her hair was slightly mussed, and she appeared exhausted. Grey shifted on the railing and appeared slightly uncomfortable.

"Trouble sleeping?" he asked.

Dina sat on the rocking chair with her legs curled beneath her and clung to her slightly chilled, bare arms. "Bad dreams," she replied softly.

Grey snorted a soft laugh and returned his head to the support beam behind him. "That's the only kind I ever have anymore," he replied with some humor to his sad existence.

"I don't doubt our nightmares are similar," Dina replied gently. "I think about that night constantly. Your mother and father were the closest thing to parents I'd had since I was little." She inhaled deeply and stared off at nothing in particular. "After you and Casey left, I felt like I lost everything."

Grey took a deep breath and avoided looking at her. "Yeah, Casey felt bad about leaving you like that, but she was in a really bad place for a long time. There were times I didn't even want to know her."

Dina looked at him. He met her gaze. She stared at him a long moment with a strange look. "It wasn't just Casey I was missing," she said gently. "You were a bigger part of my life than I'd realized."

He stared back at her with some surprise but didn't comment.

She smiled timidly and shrugged. "After Melanie dumped Deputy Tucker for Vaughn, I had my chance with him," she announced gently then snorted a soft laugh. "I couldn't do it. I pa.s.sed up my opportunity with Tucker, because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I just wanted you back in my life, so I could make things right."

Grey uncertainly straightened on the porch railing while staring at her with his mouth hanging open. "You liked me?"

"I still do," she said softly while staring at him.

He slowly moved off the railing, approached her in the rocking chair, and held out his hand to her. She accepted his hand, allowing him to pull her up from the chair and into his arms. As he held her against him, she ran her hands along his chest while staring into his eyes. Grey gently touched her face then kissed her warmly but pa.s.sionately. Dina immediately returned the kiss with added aggression. He became tense, broke off the kiss, and appeared embarra.s.sed.

"I, uh, haven't been on a date in over two years," he told her gently and avoided looking into her eyes. "I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do."

Dina smiled warmly and caressed his chest, causing him to meet her gaze. She smiled l.u.s.tfully and appeared unaffected by his admission.

"Well, we could start by lying naked together in your bed and see what happens," she cooed softly and brushed her lips past his.

Grey stared at her while nearly speechless and unable to move. He fidgeted then grinned like a schoolboy. "Uh, okay."

Dina smiled, took his hand, and led him back inside.

Chapter Twenty-four.

It was late morning on Sat.u.r.day. The Darwood Falls Annual Fair was filled with people from visiting towns as well as locals crowding the fairgrounds. There were games, food, and entertainment of every kind. Small children crowded midway for the overpriced rides that attracted them with lights and sounds. Excitement was everywhere. Vaughn was seated in the dunking booth, completely dry, in a pair of shorts and a white t-shirt with the sheriff's logo printed on it. The soaking wet mayor stood near the counter with a towel around him. He joked with some of the locals about purchasing b.a.l.l.s to dunk the sheriff. A young man pitched b.a.l.l.s and got nowhere near the target.

"Come on, Tim," Vaughn egged him on. "College is making you soft."

He missed all three attempts. Vaughn appeared humored and possibly a little arrogant as the boy walked away.

"And the sheriff stays dry once again," Vaughn announced cheerfully. "What kind of farm boys do we have around here? Can't even pitch a decent softball."

Diesel and Ruger approached the dunking booth. Diesel handed his funnel cake to Ruger, who attempted to juggle the funnel cake and several stuffed animals under his arms. Vaughn eyed them, groaned softly, and managed a smile. Diesel played with the first ball and grinned.

"Sheriff--"

"Diesel--"

Diesel threw the ball. It struck the target with tremendous force. Vaughn's seat fell out from under him, and he plunged into the cold water. Vaughn surfaced with a loud gasp.

"Oh, s.h.i.t! That's cold!"

Diesel chuckled softly and played with the second ball while Vaughn reset the seat above the water. He wiped his face as he positioned himself on the seat and looked at Diesel.

"I know Casey put you up to--"

Diesel threw the second ball. It again struck the target. Vaughn was once again dropped into the tank of cold water. Vaughn surfaced with a gasp, wiped his face, and nodded.

"Okay, I see where this is going."

Vaughn set up the seat and returned to it while wiping his hand over his face. Diesel played with the third ball and slyly eyed Ruger, who watched with little interest.

"I like this game. What's it called?" Diesel asked Ruger.

"Drown the sheriff," Ruger casually replied.

Diesel grinned. "Okay--"

He threw the ball. It again struck the target and Vaughn once again fell into the water. He surfaced with a gasp and appeared reluctant to reset the seat.

"Do we have time for another three?" Diesel asked.

"Not if we eat our way to the horse show," Ruger simply informed him. "We want good seats."

Diesel grinned at Vaughn. "Later, Sheriff."

Vaughn gasped for air and gave them a slight wave as they walked away.

The horse show was already in progress by the time Diesel and Hunter arrived. Diesel had even more plates filled with junk food. They joined Grey in the stands. There were eight events at the horse show, although Casey was only partic.i.p.ating in the advanced events, leaving the easier events for children and teenagers. She entered barrel racing, pole bending, walk/trot/canter, and the keyhole race. All three men cheered on Casey in the speed events. She had the shortest time for barrel racing and pole bending, but her horse stumbled during the keyhole and added precious seconds onto her time. During the walk/trot/canter, both she and Storm were flawless, and the professional judges were impressed with the horse's beautiful canter. She won first place in three of the events and second in the keyhole race. After her events, Casey rode up to Grey, Ruger, and Diesel, with his plates of food. She handed Grey her three first place ribbons and one second place ribbon. Grey eyed the second place ribbon and shook his head.

"Second," he scoffed. "You're such a loser."

She just sneered at him. Casey stretched in the saddle and suddenly felt anxious about her next project. A frown crossed her face. "How much time do I have before pimping out my lips?" she asked dryly.

"Forty minutes," Ruger replied while giving her a quick once over. "You may want to clean up a little. No one's going to want to kiss you smelling horsey."

"Speak for yourself, man," Diesel announced.

"Relax," she muttered. "I have a change of clothes and there's a shower in the locker room. One of you will have to unsaddle Storm for me and put him in one of the stalls in the arena barn."

"If it helps you smell better, I'm on it," Grey informed her while grinning.

She effortlessly dismounted her large horse with style and grace, landing near Diesel. He leaned closer, sniffed her ponytail, and grimaced.

"Oh, that's rank," he announced.

She s.n.a.t.c.hed one of his French fries, glared at him, and bit into the fry. He glared at her for having touched his food. It was just something you didn't do. Casey turned and walked away. Diesel and Ruger headed in the opposite direction, making their way toward more game and food vendors, while Grey led Casey's horse to the arena barn. Ernest and his four sons stood nearby and watched the others go their separate ways.

"Well, I know what I'm doing," Ryan scoffed. "I'm taking out my revenge on Casey at the kissing booth."

"You'll do no such thing," Ernest growled in response while glaring at his son. "Sheriff Holt is already sympathizing with her. If you do anything out in the open, you'll be giving him cause to point blame at us."

"Then what the h.e.l.l are we doing here?" Wayne demanded. "If my wife catches me here after I told her I wouldn't come with her, she's going to kill me."

"Still a little p.i.s.sed about that video, huh?" Blain teased.

Wayne glared at his brother. "Shut up."

"All of you shut up," Ernest snapped and looked at his four sons. "According to what Abby told me, Casey's going to bomb in the talent show, so she doesn't need any help from us to look stupid. That leaves Dina. We'll make our point by sabotaging her performance. She's Melanie's only real compet.i.tion anyway."

"I don't know," Fred announced softly and appeared tense. "Maybe we should let it go."

His father and three brothers suddenly glared at him. "What's your problem, boy?" Ernest demanded.

"That new girl of his has him whipped," Ryan scoffed then meowed like a cat.

"She does not," Fred protested. "After what happened the other night, I'd think you'd learn your lesson."

"What are you talking about?" Wayne demanded.

"I know you were up to something at the Remington farm," Fred replied. "Someone saw you and got the slip on you. Do you want to end up naked and tied to a cannon again? I think they're just watching and waiting for you to try something else. Face it; they're smarter than we are."

"And maybe they're getting some help," Wayne growled and took a step closer to Fred.

"Not from me," Fred protested. "I wasn't included in either of your recent attacks."

"What do you mean either?" Ryan demanded to know while giving Fred a strange look.

"That thing at the tavern with Dina," Fred announced. "Slashing her tires and then stalking her. Now I hear Sheriff Holt is trying to link her attack to the murders. Dumb things like that could raise suspicion about our alibis for the night of the murders."

"We had nothing to do with what happened to Dina," Ryan suddenly protested. "And you better watch what you say."

"I'm not saying anything that Sheriff Holt isn't already investigating," Fred informed them. "I overheard Deputy Tucker and Deputy Mitch.e.l.l discussing it."

Ernest stared at Fred a long moment then looked at his other three sons. "Fred's right," he announced. "It's too public here. If we're seen, it could open a whole other can of worms. We need to do something they can't trace back to us. I'll need time to give it some thought." He glared at his boys. "Until then, Dina and the Remington's are off-limits."