AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Each of the men beside him stood a little straighter, and Gray’s heart warmed at the sight. He wasn’t alone in this.
Gray met Sunshine’s gaze, then Preacher’s. Gave them a tiny nod. They each straightened, watching him, poised to spring into action the second they had a chance.
“Enough!” Josiah finally shouted. “Clear the streets! Send them away, Woodson,” he said, jerking his head at the men with him. When Gray didn’t make a move, Josiah marched to Mercy, pulled a gun with his uninjured hand, and jabbed it into her head hard enough that she cried out. “Send them away or she dies.Now.”
Utter stillness swept over Gray, creeping into his very consciousness. Bringing him back to that place he’d never wanted to go again.
“You’ve got till the count of five!” Josiah shouted. And he began his countdown.
Gray’s breath slowly left his lungs. He counted along with Josiah. And when Josiah reached three…
Gray pulled his guns and fired.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
It happened so fast, everyone stood staring, dumbstruck, at what had just happened.
The man holding the gun on Mercy had been struck in the shoulder and was lying on the ground, howling in pain. The one holding Sunshine had taken Gray’s bullet in his thigh. The man next to him got one in the arm. Two others behind them also went down as they got hit in their pistol hands.
And Josiah…as much as Gray had wanted to put a bullet straight through his chest, he didn’t want to murder a man in front of Mercy. He would have, had there been no other way. But Josiah, when it came right down to it, was a miserable little coward who didn’t deserve a quick death. Gray would much rather he suffer a long, long life in prison.
So instead, he’d shot him in his thigh.
Josiah gripped his wounded thigh, putting all his weight on his other leg, and looked around him, sputtering in disbelief. A couple of his men started to raise their guns again, but Gray waved a finger at them. “Boys, I’ve got more bullets.”
They holstered their weapons.
“You might want to rethink employers, gentlemen,” Gray said. Then he pressed his fingers to his lips and whistled.
Martha and her grandparents stood up, brandishing their guns. Doc moved from where he’d been standing behind the post on his porch, his rifle trained on Josiah. Mrs. DuVere and Frank also showed themselves, Mrs. DuVere shoving her shotgun through the window that Gray hadn’t even noticed she’d broken.
And then one by one, more people stood. From every rooftop. From behind every barrel and post. From every alleyway.
Gray watched them all in amazement, his throat growing tight. They’d said they take care of their own. And they had. Damn it all, they’d all shown up when he’d needed them. Nothing could have proven to Gray more that he was finally home.
Josiah’s men looked around. And almost as one, they seemed to realize it was over. They were outnumbered. Several just turned and ran, remounting and riding out of town as fast as they could.
But Josiah still stood beside Mercy, watching his plan fall apart, his gun still drawn, helpless rage mottling his face.
And Gray saw the exact moment the man decided to go down shooting. Josiah’s gaze turned back to Mercy. His gun raised.
A shot rang out.
And Josiah screamed, dropping to the ground and staring at the bleeding hole in his hand.
Gray walked toward him, kicking his gun out of the way, and Josiah’s eyes widened with terror. But Gray turned, ignoring him completely so he could drop to his knees beside Mercy. The other townsfolk swarmed them, helping Sunshine and Preacher, and Doc moved in to check on Josiah.
Gray disregarded all of them. He gently pulled the gag from Mercy’s mouth and kissed her as softly as he could. “God, I love you,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers.
