One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 65
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One Summer Evening Part 65

"How dare you talk to me like that?" Her eyes filled with tears as she

swung away, only to smother a groan. Tyler had left the corral and was headed toward them.

"Perfect tuning, I'd say," Austin drawled.

She ignored him and waved at her son, who didn't stop running until he stood in front of Austin.

"Did you see me?" he asked, his eyes sparkling.

"You bet, and you did super. Why, you'll be riding by yourself in no time."

"Can we come back. Mom?"

"I don't think" -- "Sure you can," Austin interrupted smoothly.

"Any time you want to."

"I'll bring my good luck charm back with me," Tyler added.

"And what is that?" Cassie made herself ask for the sake of

conversation.

Her conversation with Austin had rattled her so she couldn't think at all, much less think straight.

"This." Tyler held out his hand, and in it was a small toy train car.

Cassie frowned, not recognizing it.

"Where did you get that?"

Tyler's expression sobered.

"I found it in that room where that man took me."

"May I see it?" Austin asked.

Cassie cut her eyes toward him. It wasn't what he said that drew her

attention but the way he said it. His voice sounded choked, and his face was devoid of color. Suddenly she was afraid, only she didn't know why.

"Do you mind if I keep this for a few days?" Austin asked.

Tyler shrugged.

"Okay." "Austin, what's going on?" Cassie asked.

"Let's go," he said in an abrupt tone.

She had no choice but to grab Tyler's hand and follow.

Thirty-One i to Oo what's the pervert been up to lately?"

Cassie almost smiled at the way Jo Nell referred to Lester. But nothing pertaining to her ex held any real humor.

"All's quiet for the moment," Cassie responded. "Which makes me even

more nervous."

She and Jo had been talking on the phone for a while, catching up on day-to-day happenings.

"I hope you're not letting Tyler out of your sight," Jo said.

"He's either under my eagle eye or someone else's. However, I'm trying

to keep Tyler from picking up on that. He's been through too much already."

"Anything new on the kidnapping?"

"No, but I'm counting the days until Lester's arrested for his part in

it."

"That goes without saying," Jo said, then asked, "So how are things at the hotel? Have you decided to go forward with the renovations?"

' "Yep. I finally met with the architect and contractor, though I

haven't given them the definite go-ahead. First, I have to pin Austin down. He has to get our money back."

"I'm sure you'll find a way to convince him."

Color swept into Cassie's cheeks. She was just glad Jo Nell couldn't see through the phone line.

"What's that snide little remark supposed to mean?"

"You know what it means, and you know what I think about it, too."

"You're right, of course," Cassie said in a dejected tone. She wished

she could stay away from Austin. That would certainly solve the emotional and mental anguish she was going through.

Since she had admitted to herself that she'd fallen in love with him,

she was in a mess, a mess she didn't know how to clean up.

"Enough lecturing for the time being," Jo said decisively.

"I have to get back to work. My next appointment just came in."

"I'll talk to you soon," Cassie said absently, then hung up, her mind

already back on Austin.

Suddenly the phone rang again. She jumped; then, ridiculing herself for lack of control, she reached for the receiver.

It was hotel security.

"We need you down in the lobby right now."

Cassie knew something was wrong. The urgency in Fred's voice was a dead

giveaway.

"What happened this time?"

"One of the guests took a tumble, tripping on Lord only knows what."

"Did you call 911?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll be right down. Meanwhile, find Mr. McGuire."

"Will do. Right away."

Fuming, Cassie tore out of her office. Austin would get the company's

money back on that land deal today, and the renovations would be done.

She wouldn't settle for anything less.

* * * Randall never knew what hit him; Austin made sure of that.

"You broke my nose, you bastard!"

Randall's hoarse cry fell on deaf ears as Austin jerked him up again and

looked into the attorney's face, which did indeed sport a bloody nose.

"If you don't stop whining, I'm going to throw a broken jaw into the pot."

"Please, let me go," Randall begged.

"My pleasure." Austin let him go so hard that if it hadn't been for the