“I oughta make you pay in Dylan’s place since you’re the one who let him go.”

“Nobody around here will let you get away with that, and you know it.” South Park didn’t have a resident lawman, but that didn’t mean justice wasn’t served when needed.

Bat leaned again toward one of his men. They exchanged terse words before Bat straightened, holstered his gun, and gathered his reins. “You tell Dylan he’s a dead man if he so much as steps one toe in South Park without my money.”

“I suspect Dylan already knows that.”

“And you better watch your back, Bliss. You mess with me again, I’ll make sure you pay.” With the final taunt lingering in the air, Bat and his men spurred their horses away, climbing up a gradual incline.

Jericho watched until they were out of sight before he hoisted himself up onto the wagon bench. As he clucked the team forward, a strange sadness sifted through him for Dylan. The fellow didn’t complain about living in Chicago and never mentioned that he missed his family, but when Jericho had left, he’d seen the desire on Dylan’s face to come with.

The truth was, Dylan needed his family in a bad way—needed their love, stability, and guidance. But after Bat’s threats, Dylan wouldn’t be able to return for a long time—if ever.

Ivy took the outstretched letter from Judd and stuffed it into her pocket before Greta or Astrid could see the Utah address on the front.

Then she resumed stirring the large ladle through the thick jam bubbling in the pot.

The older man cocked one of his fluffy white eyebrows at her.

She was relieved that Greta and Astrid had their attention on Ty and Ellie fighting with each other over a game they’d been playing at the table.

Judd reached for a mug from the shelf above the stove and then the coffeepot on a back burner.

While he poured the steaming liquid, Ivy avoided his gaze, her pulse speeding at the thought of anyone figuring out what she was up to. It was the same excited and yet frightened feeling she’d had the day she’d gone to Steele’s house for the first time to let him know she was interested in his land.

Of course, she hadn’t left Steele’s house the second time with any excitement, not after he’d all but told her she wouldn’t need a place of her own when she got married and had children. Thankfully, Jericho was an understanding man. Maybe she hadn’t exactly spelled out to him her need to have the land because of everything that had happened to her ma. But he knew how she felt about not wanting to be weak and dependent like her ma had been with Rusty.