We love you, too.”

Ginger watched as Evan, her fiancé and the father of her unborn child, drove out of the driveway and turned on the blue lights. Please be safe. She wiped her eyes as she closed the door and walked toward Evan’s brother, Mitchell, and his fiancée, Kayla (known as “Mak” to only Mitchell).

“Jimmy said we can pick up Mak’s car. You ladies want to get out after we finish breakfast?”

Kayla cut her eyes to Mitchell. “Are you serious? I finally get my car back?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“It’d be nice to get out even if it’s just to ride to the garage. Do you think we could stop to look at wedding dresses, too?” Ginger asked.

The color drained from Mitchell’s face. “Um…I didn’t think men were supposed to do that. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Evan asks me every day for a date. I’ve got to give him some kind of progress report today, and we’ve got to shop sometime. So are we taking a day and going to Charleston or Savannah?” Ginger said.

“I don’t know,” Mitchell replied.

“If I can’t leave here without you or Evan until they arrest Frank Smith, it’s going to be hard to get a wedding done.”

“I can see that, but Evan will kill me if I let you go out alone,” Mitchell countered. His eyes begged for understanding from Ginger and Kayla.

“There’s no rule about you not seeing my dress. You just can’t see Kayla’s,” Ginger said with a smile.

“Mitchell Riverton, a girl only gets married once. It’s been a long time coming for us, so dammit, I want it to be something to remember.” Kayla scowled with her hands on her hips.

Mitchell’s eyes were wide as his hands went up. “Okay, okay. We can swing by the shop on Main Street that usually has wedding dresses in the window. We’ll go before we head to Jimmy’s.”

With a big smile on her face, Kayla stood to kiss Mitchell. “Thank you.”

He wrapped her in a tight hug. “You’re welcome.” His forehead was resting on Kayla’s when Ginger gasped loudly. As they turned toward her Mitchell asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ginger shook her head as she slid her phone toward Mitchell and Kayla. Mitchell looked at her screen and reassuringly said, “Ginger, you know this doesn’t mean anything.”

“I know, but he’s been gone what…a half hour and someone’s already reporting that Ruby is at the police station?”

“If she is, it’d have to be official business. She wouldn’t go there otherwise.”

“I know, and I trust him. I just want this to stop. When will they leave us the hell alone?” Ginger’s voice rose with her anger. “I swear the next person who mentions Ruby Johnson to me, I’m going hormonal on their ass.”

“Calm down,” Mitchell said. “It’s not good for you or the baby. If something happened to y’all, it wouldn’t be just me Evan killed. He’d hunt down whoever is sending those texts. Let’s get dressed and get out of here.”

Ginger went to her and Evan’s wing of the house while Kayla and Mitchell went to theirs. With both couples sharing the house on Riverton Ranch, it was nice to have four separate wings in the home.

Ginger wanted to send Evan a text letting him know the grapevine was out in full force this morning but didn’t want to worry him even more. She knew what this life was going to be like, but the Riverton Crossing grapevine was relentless. She’d have to figure out a way to block it out, but right now her emotions were all over the place.

Maybe once they got married, the gossip would stop.

* * *

Mitchell retrieved a small handgun from the lockbox in their closet. He was checking that it was loaded and the safety was on when Kayla walked out of the bathroom.

“Is that absolutely necessary?” she asked.

“According to Evan and Ben, yes. Ben made sure I had my concealed weapons permit the day he told Evan that Ginger couldn’t leave the ranch without one of us. Dammit, I hope they figure this shit out soon.”

“Me too.” She walked up to Mitchell and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you for doing this. You don’t have to come inside with us. Ginger isn’t a flashy person, but she doesn’t know if she wants a formal dress or not. She just needs to see what’s out there. I’m sure it won’t take her long.”

“You can make it up to me later, baby,” Mitchell said as he wiggled his brows up and down.

“Deal.” Kayla’s lips stretched into a big smile.

Mitchell put the gun in the small of his back and swatted her ass as they walked out of their room. By the time they made it to the kitchen, Ginger was there staring at her phone again.

“What did this one say?” Mitchell asked, knowing she must have received another text.

Kayla took Ginger’s phone and looked at it. “Ruby was there for thirty minutes, and then Evan escorted her out.”

“Ginger, I think it’s best if we leave your phone here. I’ll let Evan know you’re with me,” Mitchell said.

Ginger nodded and didn’t pick up her phone when Kayla laid it on the table. With an arm around Ginger, Kayla said, “Come on, girl. Let’s go see what kind of wedding dress you like.”

They walked out and got into Shelby, Mitchell’s silver mustang.