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There was a beat of silence. Then a voice spoke from behind Beau, a voice that chilled his blood. “Don’t be so sure of that, Beau. Drop that rifle and turn around . . . very slowly.”
Still holding the Winchester, Beau turned far enough to look over his shoulder. Hoyt Axelrod was standing next to the truck’s open passenger door, a 9 mm Taurus pistol aimed at Sky’s head. He must have slipped around the silo and come on the truck from behind.
“Ironic isn’t it? After all that time in Iraq, you come back to Texas to die,” the sheriff taunted. “Now throw that rifle down or I’ll blow the half-breed’s brains out.” His voice darkened. “Do it. And don’t try anything.”
Faced with the hard reality that anything he tried would never be quick enough to save Sky, Beau had only one option left—to make sure Axelrod didn’t get away with this. And his weapon would have to be the cell phone in his other hand.
With exaggerated slowness, Beau cast the Winchester aside, making use of the magician’s favorite trick to divert Axelrod’s attention while Beau hit the video record app on the cell phone. Keeping his hands raised and the cell phone pointed in the sheriff ’s direction, he turned to face him with the pistol now aimed at his chest. “Your quarrel is with me, not him.”
“He’s going to be what you military boys call collateral damage.” His glance flicked to the phone. “Called Life Flight, did ya? Too bad he isn’t going to last that long. I’ll make sure of it. When the paramedics arrive, they’ll find three dead men. Lute, the half-breed, and you—with the Barrett in your hands. And don’t worry. I can fake a crime scene. I’ve had plenty of experience. Since I’ll be here to meet them, my story will be that you shot the other two, and I had to kill you with my pistol. In self-defense, of course. All very believable, don’t you agree?”
“Sounds like you thought of everything.” Beau caught some vague movement in his side vision, but he didn’t want to break eye contact with Axelrod, hoping to catch a half-second warning before the man fired; maybe it would give him enough time to dive sideways and keep that first shot from being fatal, allowing him to live long enough to reach the rifle on the ground.
“You’re damned right I have.”
“I don’t think so, Sheriff.” Natalie’s voice was accompanied by the ominous and unmistakable double click of a shotgun being racked. “Drop the gun or I’ll blow you in half. And I’m too close to miss.”
There was a sick look on Axelrod’s face even as he blustered, “You won’t shoot.”
“Why? Because I’m a woman? Are you willing to bet your life on that?” She stood near the truck’s tailgate, cold and determined.
Unwilling to risk it, Axelrod lowered the pistol and held his hands out to the sides in a show of surrender. Beau immediately stepped forward and relieved him of the weapon, then backed up to cover him. For an instant, Natalie sagged against the side of the truck, hands shaking as she lowered the shotgun. Beau motioned her to his side. She stumbled a bit on the first step, then made a wide circle around the sheriff to join him.
“Nothing’s changed,” the sheriff told them. “I’ll still have you for the murder of these two.”
“I don’t think so.” Beau smiled and wagged the phone in his free hand. “I video-recorded your confession.”
Natalie released a shaky laugh of relief. “It’s really over,” she murmured, and leaned against his side.
“All over,” Beau confirmed, and brushed his lips over the top of her dark curls. “Better see what you can do for Sky.”
“Of course.” As she moved away, they both caught the telltale chop of an approaching helicopter.
EPILOGUE
Sky came home to a celebration. Bernice had baked one of her spectacular sheet-sized chocolate cakes, and Cecil, who ran the cookhouse, had pit-barbecued a steer. Will had invited all the hands and their families to come by the house, share a Saturday afternoon picnic, and give Sky their good wishes.
After almost two weeks in the hospital, all Sky had really wanted was to get back to training his horses. But the doctors, whose skill had pulled him back from the brink of death, had insisted that he rest. And, truth be told, he was secretly touched by the warmth of the Tylers’ welcome. It was almost like he was family.
Some things had changed in his absence. Spring had deepened into the beginning of a hot, dry summer. Erin’s foal was growing into a strong young colt. Beau and Natalie were engaged and planning a fall wedding. Both of them had been cleared of all charges.
The FBI, who’d taken over the investigation after Axelrod’s arrest, had interviewed Sky in the hospital. Despite the blood loss and pain after the shooting, Sky had been conscious the whole time and had heard everything. He’d been able to corroborate Beau’s and Natalie’s stories down to the last detail.
Ironically, Stella Rawlins had been interrogated and released. Despite some suspicious circumstances, no evidence could be found to link her to any illegal activity. Whatever Axelrod knew about her, he was saving it for a likely plea bargain.
By the end of the afternoon, Sky was worn out. It felt good just to sit on his own porch with Jasper and the dog for company and watch the day fade into twilight. Gazing down toward the paddock, he could see Beau and Natalie walking hand in hand along the fence line. They paused to enjoy a lingering kiss. If ever two people deserved a long, love-filled life together, it was those two, Sky thought. They’d earned their right to happiness. “So how are you really feeling?” Jasper asked.
“Not bad, just tired. I wasn’t expecting a party.”
“I know you weren’t. But the family wanted to let you know how glad they were to have you back. You like to think people don’t notice you much. But you’re appreciated—a helluva lot more than you realize.”
Sky shifted in the chair, feeling the ache in his healing wound. He was still on antibiotics and painkillers and had been cautioned not to ride. Might as well tell him not to breathe.
“I still can’t believe Will and Beau gave me blood,” he said, remembering how Beau had joked afterward about their being blood brothers now.
Jasper’s gaze narrowed. “You’re lucky they had your blood type, since the hospital was almost out of it. AB isn’t all that common.” Reaching behind his back, he drew out the manila envelope Sky had given him for safekeeping. “It’s time, Sky,” he said. “Open it.”
Sky’s hands shook as he slid a finger under the sealed flap. Jasper pretended to look the other way as he drew out a two-page document. His breath caught.
