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She just blurted it out, as if they were talking about the phone Maddie held rather than her calling her husband Daddy.

Daddies weren’t like phones. Everyone didn’t have one. Well, most places anyway. Had she wound up finding the one town on earth, other than the one she’d grown up in, where everyone had a Daddy? Or at least wished they did.

“I do. I’m so glad you understand. I didn’t mean to just blurt that out.”

Kenzie laughed. “Oh, she understands all right. Tildi is with Boone.”

“That’s wonderful. So, you do understand then. I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of you.”

Derrick made a show of clearing his throat. “I’m sure Kenzie and Tildi came into town for a reason. You can talk more tomorrow at the Friendsgiving Feast. We need to get home and have that discussion.”

Maddie scrunched her nose. “I guess I have to go. I may be feasting while standing up, but I’ll see you tomorrow. Nice to meet you, Tildi. I think you’re going to fit in here in Wilder just fine.”

Derrick led Maddie back in the direction they’d come from.

Kenzie headed back down the street, but Tildi had questions. “Okay, spill, Kenzie. I knew most of the men on the Ranch were Daddies, but does that extend to the town of Wilder, too?”

Kenzie shrugged. “Sure. The men that settled here originally were Daddies, and the town just kind of drew people who lived the same lifestyle.”

They pulled into the parking lot of a quaint grocery store called The Mountain Market. On the outside, it looked like a huge mountain cabin. It had to be owned by someone local. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen a single chain store on the drive into town. “Do you have any big box stores around here?”

“Oh, sure. We shop there sometimes, but I like to buy local when I can. I love the people here, so I want to do my part to help them stay in business. Now, let’s go grab those Red Hots to spice up our hot chocolate.”

As they put the groceries they’d bought in the back of the SUV—because no one ever left a grocery store with only what they went in for—a woman in a bright red coat called out to them. Looking up, Kenzie smiled and waved. “Hi, Maggie. You’re going to be at the house tomorrow, right?”

Maggie smiled back. “I wouldn’t miss the Daniels’ Friendsgiving. You know that.”

Kenzie grinned. “Outstanding! Maggie, this is my new sister, Tildi. Tildi, this is Maggie O’Byrne.”

Tildi did her best not to jump and squeal at Kenzie introducing her as a sister. Smiling at Maggie, Tildi wondered not for the first time just how big the Daniels’ annual Friendsgiving was.

If hearing Kenzie describe Tildi as her sister surprised Maggie, she didn’t show it. She just reached into the shopping cart and started helping them load the bags. “It’s nice to meet you, Tildi. I didn’t know Kenzie had a sister. Just a butt ton of brothers.”

Kenzie didn’t hesitate to explain. “She’s Boone’s girl. He rescued her on his latest mission. It was love at first sight, so he saved her life. It’s all very romantic, don’t you think?”

Tildi braced and waited for the questions to start, but Maggie just laughed. “I don’t know if it sounds romantic, but it does sound very interesting.”

Kenzie nodded. “Hey, I know you’re coming tomorrow, but would you like to come out today, too? We’re finishing up the baking and looking for expert taste testers. Say you’ll come.”

Maggie grinned and patted her own rounded bottom. “I think you can tell I never turn down the opportunity to taste testyours and Ruby’s baking. Let me grab my car and I’ll meet you at the ranch. It’s nice to meet you, Tildi. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”

Kenzie led the way back to the ranch with Maggie following in her car. The next few hours were filled with laughter, good coffee, and fantastic tastes of what had to be every dessert known to man. Maggie was fun and easy to talk to. She fit right in.

If only Tildi’s phone would stop blowing up with texts, life would be perfect. The messages were growing more and more threatening as the day progressed. They were still general threats and insults. There was nothing particular to Tildi and her past. No reason to assume they were sent by Nico Midnight or one of his men.

But what if they were? What would it mean? Was he trying to scare her, or would he be escalating from words to actions?

She didn’t want to think like that. Didn’t want the answer to that question.

If she knew Nico was coming for her, she’d have to leave. She couldn’t draw danger here when everyone had been so nice to her. She’d never be able to live with it.

Even if he were coming after her to get to Boone, Nico would probably follow her rather than take on the men of Wild River Ranch. It just made sense. She’d be alone and on the run, maybe for the rest of her life.

Tildi jumped when Maggie put a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right? You look like something is bothering you.”

No way was Tildi drawing anyone else into her crazy drama. “Sorry. No, just tired, I guess. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

Maggie grinned. “I’ll bet. You are still in the honeymoon stage, right?”