I gripped the edge of the bar, fingers digging into the glossy wood. I hated the idea of Bell staying here, even if Kenna was planning to stay. What would the two of them do if someone bigger and stronger broke in? “I guess I’ll be staying in the office.”

Hunter’s lips twitched. “On that ratty old couch?”

“Dad’s stayed there a night or two.”

“When he was in the doghouse. And he always came home moaning about his back.”

I chuckled. “But it was his pained looks that would always get Mom to forgive him.”

Hunter shook his head. “She’s always had a soft heart.”

Crosby grinned. “Maybe your pained looks will get Bell to take pity on you.”

Hunter snorted. “Yeah, right. She’s not as easily won over.”

And wasn’t that the damn truth?

The night moved slowly and quickly all at the same time. We were busier than usual, but not because of any live band playing. People were coming in to ask what had happened, if the sheriff had caught the intruder, how Bell was doing. I fought the urge to bite people’s heads off. Instead, I asked them to spread the word that if anyone had seen something suspicious, to contact the sheriff’s office.

I felt a little bad for Sheriff Raines. He had no idea the number of calls his office was going to receive tomorrow. Everyone from well-meaning citizens to nosy grandmas would be dialing him up. But maybe one of them had seen something helpful.

“Need anything else, boss man?”

I glanced up from wiping down the bar. “No, you go on home, Hank.”

He shuffled his feet but didn’t move towards the door. “You’re staying, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll sleep in the office, but leave the door open so I’ll be able to hear if anyone tries to break in.”

Hank’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Good. Take care of our girl.”

“I will.” I was glad Bell had found good people like Hank who would have her back, who’d had it while I was gone. Now, I just needed to prove that I could be one of those people, too.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Caelyn jolted as she came around the corner, hand flying to her chest. “Ford, geez, you scared the crud out of me.”

I grinned, but it was half-hearted. “Crud, huh?”

She smiled. “Gotta try to keep the cursing to a minimum around the tiny terrors.”

“Understandable. How are they?”

“They’re good.” Caelyn rested her palms against the bar. “How are you?”

There was genuine concern in her eyes as she asked, and my shoulders sagged in response. I was so damn tired. Exhausted from trying to prove myself to Bell, worrying about her, and now the nightmare of today. “I’m still fighting the good fight.”