by Barb Shuler
“Hey, my little fur butts. Come here. I have a snack for you. The place I found on the web said this would be good for you,” I bent over and held my hands out. A few slices of apple, a banana half and carrots filled them. “That’s it, you can have them.” Once my hands were empty of food, and covered in donkey slobber, I got up, scratched their heads and then made my way out. I locked the door to the stall behind me and gathered up the bowls the dogs had licked clean.
“Good girls. You did good. Now, you go night night and I will be back in a few hours okay?” I said, scratching their heads. I got a couple of licks of thanks for my ear scratching. I moved back from them and gathered up everything and headed back across the yard to the house.
When I walked passed the main barn I heard a noise. It's a ranch, so there are always noises, but this was kind of weird. A grunting, thumping sound. There was no one here, so I knew it couldn't be anyone playing hide the snake or something. I moved to the door and sat the tray down on the ground out of the way and slowly opened the door. I made my way in quickly. My hand automatically moved to the left wall to flip the main switch. The barn lit up a moment later. Everything looked to be in order. I heard the noise again and it startled me. Following the noise, I made my way down the row. The walkway was clear and with my tennis shoes on I was moving soundlessly. Maybe it was one of the horses whacking the feed bucket with its nose. Was that weird dude feeding them? Ugh, if he wasn't, his balls were gonna get a kiss from my size eight sneaker. Huffing, I walked back to the stall where the noise was coming from. I pushed the door open and gasped.
“Oh. My. God!” I whispered the words as I moved into the stall. My knees hit the hay covered floor as my hands moved to push the cloth covering the man's mouth to the side.
“Where-” he swallowed and tried again as I tugged at the ropes holding his hands together, “Where is he?”
“Who? Who did this?” I should have asked who he was first, but that wasn't important now.
“Some man. I've not seen him before,” he said, rolling his neck. I saw him wince once. “I came in, looking for you. Or I'm guessing it would be you. You Tate’s girl, Georgie?”
I nodded, my eyes widening slightly. He knew me? It was apparent I was missing something here. I just needed these ropes to come off. I growled at the rope and hurried to my feet.
“Don't leave me here like this!” he called out and I shook my head. There was no time for words I ran to the tack room, pulled the string for the light and grabbed a box cutter. They used them to slice the feed bags open so I knew it was sharp. I ran back to the stall, once again falling to my knees and started sawing at the rope. As soon as it was pulled apart we were on our feet.
“Are you hurt? We need to call the Sheriff,” I said in a rush.
“No, I'm fine. But when I find that fucker he won't be,” he growled out his words.
“Who…” I swallowed hard when he grabbed my arm. When he got to his feet he was a lot taller and wider than I was.
“Name’s Rooster. I'm afraid you have someone on this ranch pretending to be me. Don't know why or how yet.”
“I-” My head shook as I pulled back from him and made my way out of the stall. “I'm callin’ the Sheriff. Right. The. Fuck. Now.”
I ran then, straight for the door. This was not happening to me. No, this had to be some sick, twisted joke. I heard steps behind me and my heart skipped a few beats. As the barn door came open before me I shrieked. My footfalls slid to a stop as I stared down the man calling himself Rooster. I took a step back.
“Well, this is unfortunate,” he said stalking towards me. I was pulled back and pushed behind the real Rooster. That name needed work, but now wasn't the time to worry about that. I peered around him to see the man before us.
“Who are you? What do you want?” I asked. My voice wavered slightly as I saw the look in his eyes.
“Let's not worry about that yet, princess,” the real Rooster said. In the blink of an eye he was launching himself at the other man. They slammed into the barn door and started to grapple. I took off out the door. There was nothing for me to do right now but call the Sheriff. I stumbled and fell against the porch as I ran up the stairs. I could hear cursing behind me as the sounds of flesh on flesh increased.
I flung the door open and stumbled my way to where my cell phone was plugged in. I could hear Tango upstairs barking and snarling. Shit. I dialed the Sheriff’s office as fast as my fingers would allow.
“Sheriff’s office. How may I direct your call,” the older woman’s voice filled my ears. I held back a sob as relief flooded me.
“Need help at the Cannon ranch. A man has been attacked.” I heard a shot, Tango’s barking increased, and then I heard a “thud” from upstairs.
“Ma’am, can you tell me the address?”
I rattled it off as fast as I could and tiptoed to the stairs. Someone was upstairs. Tango’s claws were scrambling against a door and then I heard someone shriek. I ran up the stairs as I yelled into the phone.
“Please! Someone's in the house. Someone is shooting!” I hung up and slid my phone in my back pocket as I got to the landing. I peeked around the corner to see Tango latched onto someone's hand. Oh, hell no! “TABITHA!” I sneered.
“Get him off me!” She shrieked and kicked my dog. I saw red. Tango whined as I pushed him back. I gave him a command to release, and kicked the bitch as she reached for the gun she dropped. With a woosh of air she curled into herself.
“You made a mistake coming here, lady,” I said, grabbing Tango’s collar and pulling him with me to Abbie’s nursery. I scooped her up and pulled her blankets from the bed.
“She’s mine!”
“No, she’s not!” I said as I ran out of the room. I held a wailing Abbie pressed against my chest. Tango was on my heels as I ran down the back staircase and out the back door. I had to hide Abbie. God, of all times for that crazy ass woman to show up. I slipped around the house, checking around corners before I bolted across the darkest side of the yard. I made it to the small barn Abe used for his clinic animals and we slipped inside. I hurried to the back of the barn and sat Abbie in an empty crate. I tucked her blankets around her.
“Shh, baby, it's okay. I won't let that bitch get you. You stay with the babies, okay? I'll be right back. Ma Ma has to go check on uh, Rooster,” I said in a whisper before kissing her head. “Be right back.”
I got up and all three dogs were staring at me. I made a face and pointed to Tango, giving him the command to guard. No one but me would get back in there. Of that there was no doubt. I slipped back up the dark corridor and stopped at the door. It was getting to be super dark already. Good thing I knew this yard like the back of my hand now. I slipped out the door and ran towards the prone body on the ground. Skidding to a stop I knelt down and sighed when I felt a pulse. The smell of blood made me wrinkle my nose. Damn.
“Help’s on the way. Stay with me, Rooster,” I whispered while looking around. I stood slowly. My eyes adjusting to the darkness was making me see things in the dark. Right? Or was that someone coming towards me? I ran towards the other barn, drawing the shadow further away from Abbie. I had to tug on the door a couple of times before it registered that the latch was down.
Jesus, Georgie, focus.
With a shaking hand I flipped the latch, pulled the doors open and ran for the back of the barn. I'd run this joker all over this ranch if need be. The Sheriff wouldn't take that long to get here… right? No. I wasn't going there. I pushed the bar across the door and flung it open. I took three steps and someone grabbed me. I screamed and flung my head back. There was a crunch and the arms around me loosened. I ran back into the barn. I was making my way to the front when there were steps behind me and I was slammed into the floor by a brick wall.
I could feel the slow fire burning through me as I shoved at the floor. I had to get him off of me. I was failing miserably to catch my breath more and more with each attempt I made to get free.
22
Georgie
Breathe. I had to breathe. There was an excruciating pain rolling through me as I was snatched up from the ground. There was no stopping the tears that rolled along my cheeks. The man - his fingers biting into my bicep - snarled as he jerked me towards him.
“You stupid bitch!” I blinked a few times and just had enough time to dodge the hand he flung towards my face.
I kicked at him, my foot connecting with his knee. He grunted, and his grip slipped from my arm. I stumbled into the wall, hitting it hard. I groaned, trying to push back the pain. As he lunged for me again, I scrambled back, my hand landing on something hard. I gripped the object and pulled it up before me. It was a shovel. Okay, this could work. I flipped it around. The handle would knock him good if he got too close. For each step he took towards me, I took two back.
“Come here, girl,” he sneered. I bristled. He had some nerve. I glared as I stopped. I could feel the door behind me. One more step back and I could run for it.
“I'm not a girl, asshole!” I jerked back. The door flung open hitting someone or something with a loud thud. There was a shriek as I swung my foot out and kicked the door again. I took a few steps before the jackass had his arms around me. I slammed my foot into the top of his, shifted to break his hold, and kicked him again in the knee. My hand slid down the shovel. My fingers tightened on it and when he got closer I swung just as I would if I'd have had a bat in my hands. The sound of it hitting him made my stomach roll. The sickening sound of flesh against wood and metal wasn't something I'd ever get used to. He stumbled but didn’t fall. He staggered closer to me, his arms reaching out for me - I panicked.
I swung again, this time knocking his hands away from me. He cried out in rage and what I can only assume was pain before he hit the ground hard. The groaning sounds were all that came from him now. It made me pause and take a step back.
“You little bitch!”
I spun to see Tabitha standing there, her hand raised, the metal of the gun in her hand shining. I swallowed hard.
“Put that down and leave. I've called the Sheriff,” I rushed to say. My heart was beating a rhythm now that would rival any beat boxer. My fingers flexed on the handle of the shovel.
“Leave? No, not until you give me my granddaughter. I want her now!” Her words rang out across the quiet yard. I could see lights bobbing out in the darkness behind her. The road. They were coming from the road. Thank you, baby Jesus. I straightened slightly. I had to keep her talking.
“Tabitha, she's not yours to have. I will not give her to you!” I gritted my teeth as I spoke.
“She's not yours! I've been watching you, you little whore. You've thrown yourself at him. You and that lying sack of shit… You think you can have my granddaughter?” She snapped.
“I have her. I love that little girl with all my heart. I won't let you or anyone else hurt her.”
“This would have been much easier if I'd just killed you myself. My boy wanted to get a piece of you first. You know, see what had Tate all but sniffing up your skirt like you were a dog in heat.”
“Boy?” Holy heavens. Was that crazy man her son? That would explain a lot. That kind of crazy don't fall far from the tree. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed.
“You've hurt him. He's not like other people,” she spoke as she looked at him. I side stepped and tried to get closer to the barn door. If I could get inside she’d have no way to shoot me. Maybe? Did bullets go through thick doors like these? Crap, I didn't know.
“You did this! All of it! I want my granddaughter, now!” Her words echoed across the yard. She shifted and the gun was pointing at me once again.
“Your crazy ass daughter started this by trying to kill that precious little girl. How dare you! Maybe you're just as twisted as she was. How about you put that gun down and I'll give you some of what I gave that no good piece of shit son of yours!”
Without another word the gun sparked from the end and I did my best to jerk out of the way. I failed. I was no Superman, and the bullet was a lot faster than I was. The pain vibrated through me as my shoulder was lit on fire. I screamed and fell back onto the compacted dirt. I had dropped my only weapon. The shovel lay a foot or so away from me, but the barrel of the handgun Tabitha held me in place.
“Don’t-”
My words were cut off when a snarl rolled across the air. The dark blur that hit Tabitha sent her sprawling out across the ground. I tried to sit up, only to cry out again at the pain in my shoulder and arm.
“Son of a bitch….”
I took a few deep breaths and finally managed to sit up. The stars dancing before me had my stomach rolling. One of the dogs had Tabitha pinned to the ground, the other stood between us, hair standing straight up, her tail straight out behind her. It was all I could see with only the moon for light. I got to my feet, a cry of pain escaping me before I clamped my mouth shut.
“Get...it...off...of...me,” Tabitha panted and I snorted. Yeah, no. I stumbled into the big barn, and flipped the switch so the outside lights would come on, momentarily blinding myself. I gingerly made my way back outside and stumbled over to where Rooster lay on the ground, panting. Sweat coated his face.
“He had a knife,” he said as he pressed a hand to his gut. Oh, God. “I'm not as fast as I used to be,” he joked.
“Hang on,” I said as I got to my feet. The lights of the cars coming this way were getting closer. I now hated that it was almost three miles to the main road from here.
With my injured arm held to my side, I stumbled over to Abe’s barn and made my way inside. I went searching for Abbie. She was crying when I got to the hiding spot.
“It's okay, baby, I'm here,” I said. Tears started to run down my cheeks as I knelt down and scooped her up with my good arm. I kissed her head and breathed her scent in. I stood, biting my tongue to keep from letting the pain take me over again.
“Tango, good dog,” I smiled before giving him a new command. With my good arm holding Abbie I was as useless as a springless pogo stick. He lead the way, hair bristling as his ears twitched. “Tango,” I whistled to get his attention. “Take,” I tapped my shoe against the big first aid kit that sat against the wall. He grabbed the handle and tugged. It drug the ground but the case would protect the contents.
We made our way over to Rooster and I sat Abbie down beside me. “Hold on, princess. We need to help Rooster, okay? He has a boo boo.” My voice cracked as I flung the clip on the first aid kit open. I grabbed the oversized gauze pads and piled them to the spot where Rooster was bleeding. There was a scuffling and I heard Tango’s growling increase. When I glanced up the fake Rooster was getting to his feet. I whispered a word to Tango and he lept. He hit the ground so hard it knocked him stupid for a minute. He tried to stab Tango and as I watched the horror play out Tango let out a yip. He dodged and had the ass’s knife hand in his and was tugging.
“Abbie, stay here. Can you stay for me?” I was panicking. I wasn't going to let that ass hurt my dog.
“I've got her...go,” Rooster rasped out. He wrapped his arm around Abbie and I jumped up, stumbling over to the gun on the ground. I aimed and fired before I really thought about it. I hit the ground right next to the bastard’s head. He went utterly still.
“Move again and… I won't miss,” I stumbled over the words. What was happening? I didn't feel so good all of a sudden. I shook my head and pointed the gun at Tabitha as she screamed for him to kill me.
“Kill her, you pathetic fool!”
“Tango, release.” He did and moved back a few steps, his teeth still bared. “Dogs,” I whistled. “Come, girls.”
“You worthless excuse for a man. Just like your father. Not worth a hill of beans!” Tabitha shouted.
I moved closer, pushing the dogs back. The world around me was spinning, and the lights that were now in front of the house swayed. I blinked a few times. I could hear Abbie crying, Tango barking, someone calling my name and then… n
othing.
* * *
Tate
* * *
There have been many days in my life where I've felt anger, sadness, worry and other feelings run through me, but today, right in this moment, there is a fear unlike any other searing my insides.
We’d just gotten back to the McKinley Ranch, stretched out our legs and were ready to load the horses up on the trailer when Jen - the McKinley’s eldest daughter - came out to say the Sheriff had called. We needed to get back to the ranch, there had been an accident.
I jumped in the truck with Pop and Abe and we took off towards the Ranch. Everyone else would follow once the horses were loaded up. My heart was hammering the entire drive. What could have happened? When we made the last turn and the house came into view I cursed. There were three Sheriff’s vehicles, the EMS bus and an unmarked car with flashing lights spread out over the yard. I jumped out of the truck before it came to a full stop.
“GEORGIE! ABBIE!” I yelled as I made my way closer to the crowd of people. I came to a stop and moved around the deputy closest to me.
“Tater, call him off. We can't even get close to her. She's bleeding but we don't know anymore than that,” he said.
“Tango,” I moved closer giving him one of the commands Georgie had made me learn. Thankfully it seemed to be the right one. I sucked at German. As soon as he backed away the EMS guys were at her side. I got a good look around and swallowed hard.
“What- what happened here?” I asked as a deputy came over to me. His eyes cut to Tango before he spoke. We were joined by Pops and Abe. Abe moved in closer and I watched as he went down on one knee. He was looking Tango over.
