Comeback Trail

by Carolina Mac

  All the tables and booths were crammed, and the dance floor was crowded and rowdy. Miss Jane had hired a country band for the whole weekend and the noise inside the roadhouse was deafening.

  “Where can we sit?” asked Bonnie Sue.

  “Nowhere,” said Jack. “I already looked around. We’ll have to wait until somebody leaves.”

  “I’ll ask Ricki to watch for a table for us,” I said. All Miss Jane’s servers were working—running was more like it—and I couldn’t see Ricki anywhere.

  “I hope Miss Jane don’t run out of beer before we get served,” said Jack.

  “Has she ever?” I asked.

  Jack shrugged. “Have to ask her.”

  “I’ll go look for Ricki.” I pushed my way through the crowd of people at the edge of the dance floor trying to recognize Ricki in the dim light. I didn’t see her anywhere, but I did see Laney and Kate sitting at a table with a couple of tough looking biker guys. I turned around and made my way back.

  “Get us a table?” Jack was holding cans of Lone Star he’d purchased from the bar.

  “Nope, but I saw Laney and Kate at table. The girls are with a couple of bikers.”

  “Family members,” snarled Jack. “Here, hold my beer. I’m going to talk to them.”

  I shook my head, but it was too late. Jack was gone.

  “I wish we could see Jack,” said Bonnie Sue. “I don’t want him getting into trouble with bikers. Let’s try to get closer.”

  She led the way fearlessly, and I followed carrying the beer. We couldn’t see Jacky boy, but we could hear a bit of hollering going on closer to the stage.

  “Tell me where your Daddy is,” Jack was yelling over the loud music.

  “Don’t know where he is.”

  “Get away from us, Jack McKenna. You think you’re tough, but I’ll show you how wrong you are.”

  The sound of chairs scraping across the wooden floor was a sound I recognized—the sound of many a dust-up about to commence.

  “Hurry, Logan,” said Bonnie Sue. She pushed us forward, saying, “Excuse me. Excuse me.” Until we were close enough to see Jack with his fists clenched, about to face off against two big bikers.

  “Rocky.” Miss Jane’s voice rose above the others and Rocky Peaks, the bouncer for the roadhouse tore across the floor ready for action.

  “Take it outside, gentlemen,” said Rocky. A big black cowboy turned bouncer who’d worked for Miss Jane for as long as I could remember.

  One of the bikers pushed Rocky and that was his first mistake. Rocky grabbed the biker’s leather jacket, twisted it tight against his tattooed neck and propelled him towards the back door. His buddy followed and the two girls were left behind.

  Kate and Laney grabbed their purses and ran to catch up with their dates.

  “Hold onto the table,” I said. “I’m following Laney.”

  “I should be doing that,” Jack protested.

  “You stay here with Bonnie Sue and wait for Dakota. I’ll call the sheriff if I get a location.”

  “Don’t get hurt, Logan,” said Bonnie Sue.

  “I’ll be careful.” I could hear Jack cursing and saying he should be coming with me.

  I ran, but the bikes were already on their way rumbling out of the parking lot when I made it to my truck. Hitting the gas harder than I should have, I caught sight of the Harley’s rolling right on Main Street. They were heading north.

  Following at a fair distance behind, I watched every turn they made and followed them out of town. They took route 207 for about five miles and turned into a one-storey motel in a sparsely populated area. Two of the rooms had cars parked in front. A couple of bikes and a dark blue Ram were parked in front of the end unit.

  I turned around, beat it back to the first gas station I came to and called Sheriff Tucker.

  “Logan, is that you? Bonnie Sue okay?”

  “She’s with Jack and she’s safe. I followed Swain’s daughter from the Spur, and she went straight to her father. He’s holed up at the Lariat Motel on route 207. His Ram is parked in front of the last unit.”

  “Good work, Logan, although I’m not in favor of civilians messing in one of my cases.”

  “They messed with us first, Sheriff. Come up here and arrest his ass.”

  “I’m coming, son. Don’t you do anything crazy.”

  “I’m parked at a gas station down the road.”

  “Good. You stay there.”

  JACK ordered a pitcher after he found Dakota in the crowd, and he hunkered down with the two girls at the small table on the edge of the dance floor.

  “Wonder what’s taking Logy so long.” He kept checking his cell.

  “We should have gone with him,” said Bonnie Sue. “What if he gets into trouble?”

  Dakota’s eyes were wide listening to the conversation.

  Jack’s cell rang in his hand and he dropped it on the table. He grabbed it up. “Logy, where are you?”

  “I’m at Max Gas and Convenience on 290, waiting for Sheriff Tucker. Swain is at a motel just up the road.”

  “I’m coming.” Jack jumped to his feet and pulled out his wallet. He tossed down a couple of bills and motioned to the girls. “Come on. We have to help Logy.” He ran for the back door of the roadhouse and the girls followed.

  “Did he find Swain?” asked Bonnie Sue. She was in no condition to be running but she did it anyway.

  Dakota was ahead of her in perfect shape and not even breathing hard.

  Once they were in the truck and rolling, Jack caught them up. “Swain is in a motel. Logy saw his truck.”

  “Sheriff Tucker on his way?” asked Bonnie Sue.

  “Yep, Logy is waiting for him at the gas station.”

  “This is the break we’ve been waiting for,” said Bonnie Sue. “The breaks come but sometimes it’s a long wait.”

  “I’m shaking,” said Dakota. “I’ve never ridden with deputies before chasing after a bad guy.”

  Lariat Motel.

  SHERIFF Tucker slowed down as he passed to make sure I saw him, and I left the gas station and followed him north to the motel.

  He drove straight to the end unit and parked. He and Ivan hopped out and strode right up to the door of the motel and knocked.

  I called Jack to see where he was. “Sheriff’s going into the motel with Ivan. Where are you?”

  “Passing the gas station. I’m almost there. Why didn’t he wait for me?”

  Five minutes later Jack parked his truck beside mine. We all spilled out and Jack didn’t stop to chat. He ran down the row of rooms to the last one.

  I could see the door wasn’t closed all the way and as we hurried along behind Jack we could hear the hollering inside.

  Bonnie Sue pulled her gun out of her waistband and waited outside the room with me.

  “I think I’ll wait in the truck,” said Dakota. “I’m scared.”

  I nodded my head. “Go back to the truck and lock the doors.”

  Dakota turned and ran.

  “She shouldn’t be here,” said Bonnie Sue.

  JACK ran into the motel room and pulled up short behind Sheriff Tucker and Ivan. The small room was crowded with people. Beer cans, whiskey bottles and pizza boxes were scattered everywhere, and the room reeked of weed.

  Carson sat perched on one of the beds with a drink in her hand and Micky stood in front of the sheriff looking down at him.

  “You’re under arrest, Swain,” said Sheriff Tucker. “Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head.”

  Ivan stood beside the sheriff, ready with a pair of handcuffs in his hand.

  Jack tried to watch everybody in the room anticipating a move by one of them. And the first move came from one of the bikers—Laney’s boyfriend. He leaned forward, pulled a knife from his boot and lofted it underhand at Ivan. He didn’t have clear aim at the sheriff because Swain was standing directly in front of Tucker.

  The knife whizzed through the air and caught Ivan in the upper right ar
m. He squealed like a stuck pig and it was enough of a distraction to let all hell break loose.

  Fists and bodies flew in all directions. Swain slammed Tucker in the face with a fist of iron, knocked him to the floor and ran for his truck.

  “Daddy, Daddy, wait for me.” Laney came barreling across the room trying to catch up with her father.

  Jack turned with his gun in his hand as Swain booked it through the door.

  Bang.

  Swain stumbled, staggered and kept running to his truck. He jumped behind the wheel and burned out of the parking lot.

  “Call 911, Logy.” Jack had taken command. “Ivan is bleeding bad and this is a crime scene.”

  Bonnie Sue ran into the room and helped Sheriff Tucker up off the floor. His left eye was closed tight, and his face was turning blue. He wasn’t over his last round with Swain.

  “Lock the door, Bonnie Sue, and keep your weapon trained on all these people. They are all under arrest.”

  “Copy that, Sheriff.”

  Local law enforcement arrived ten minutes later and everyone in the room was taken into custody. Sheriff Tucker told the responding officers he’d let them know the charges he was bringing against each and every one present.

  The ambulance took Ivan to the Preston hospital for stitches.

  Jack joined Logan and Bonnie Sue outside after he’d given his statement and he asked, “Where’s Dakota?”

  “She waited in the truck,” said Bonnie Sue. “She was nervous.”

  “We can go now,” Jack said. “Let’s drink a pitcher on the way home.”

  “I’m with you, Jacky. At least you slowed Swain down. I saw the bullet hit him in the back of his left leg.”

  “I’m not much of a shot,” said Jack. “I’m waiting for Dakota to make me into a sharp shooter like her.”

  Broken Spur Roadhouse.

  SOME of the crowd had cleared when we got back to the roadhouse. Ricki showed us to a booth and brought us a pitcher and frosted glasses. “Linda was here looking for you, Logan. I thought I saw you here earlier, but then you were gone.”

  “Thanks, Ricki. I had an emergency.”

  I texted Linda.

  “Sorry I missed you at the Spur.”

  “I wanted to make up.”

  “We’ll talk tomorrow at court.”

  “See you there.”

  I finished my beer and glanced across the table at Bonnie Sue. Her head was propped up on her hands and she was half asleep. “Jack, you and Dakota enjoy your date. I’ll take Bonnie Sue to the ranch. She’s worn out.”

  “Thanks, Logy. I won’t be late. I’ve got work in the morning and now Ivan is on the DL.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Tuesday, May 26th.

  Preston Courthouse.

  JACK and I drove separately to the courthouse. Once Jacky boy delivered Bonnie Sue into the hands of the bailiff, he had to head for work.

  I was meeting Miss Jane in the courtroom and hopefully Linda would be there too. Miss Jane intended to arrive early to save seats near the front for us. We were keen to hear Bonnie Sue testify and see Harper’s reaction to the truth.

  I parked in the best spot I could find. The parking lot was littered with media vans splattered with call letters and sprouting antennas. Reporters waving mics like weapons were roving around looking for people arriving who would be newsworthy.

  On my way to the building I shaded my eyes against the morning sun and glanced around for Linda’s truck and didn’t see it anywhere. What I did see was Fiona parking her red Bronco.

  I picked up the pace and kept walking, pretending I didn’t see her. She hopped out of her truck smiling and came running towards me. I wanted to run but didn’t want to act like an idiot. Turns out I should have.

  Linda drove in at the moment Fiona ran towards me and she had to pass us. The glare she cast Fiona as she drove by was frightening even to me. There was nothing I could do except wait for Linda out of politeness.

  Linda parked her truck farther down the row and jumped out hollering at Fiona. “Stay away from Logan.” With her purse slung over her shoulder and her blonde hair flying, Linda ran towards us at warp speed.

  Fiona saw Linda coming and threw her arms around me. She pulled me close to her and kissed me before I could stop her. I pushed her away. “Don’t, Fiona. Stop it. Please stop it.”

  “I can’t stop, Logan. I want you and I have to have you. I’m hopelessly in love with you.”

  With my hands on both her arms, I held Fiona at bay in front of me. “No, you’re not, Fiona. You’re playing some kind of game and I want you to stop. I mean it. Stop now.”

  Linda caught up, red in the face and breathing hard. “He said stop and he means it.” Linda was shouting and people were turning their heads to watch.

  “Or what?” Fiona sneered at Linda and before I could stop her, Linda balled up her fist and punched Fiona right in the face.

  Fiona screamed and covered her face with her hand. Blood gushed through her fingers and ran down her chin.

  Linda turned and said, “I’m going inside to get a seat, Logan. Are you coming?”

  Not knowing what to do about Fiona, I took Linda’s hand that she was holding out to me. “I’m coming.”

  Girls hadn’t been fighting over me since I retired from the rodeo. I didn’t like it then and I didn’t like it any better now.

  JUDGE Warren Vance took his place on the bench and the court came to order. I leaned over and congratulated Miss Jane on the great seats she had snagged for us. She must have been waiting outside when they unlocked the doors.

  We were crowded in at the end of a row, but we had a clear view of the witness stand and the mop of red hair belonging to Harper Gabriel sitting with her back to us at the defense table.

  The judge wasted no time getting the ball rolling. “Call your first witness, Mr. Pace.”

  “Thank you, your honor. The prosecution calls Deputy Bonnie Sue Dempster to the stand.”

  Bonnie Sue was escorted across the courtroom by the bailiff and sworn in. She looked official in a clean crisp uniform, her dark hair neatly in place. She sat down and Pace began questioning her.

  Her story was virtually the same as mine and Jacky’s but shorter. After the part where she was shot, her testimony ended.

  Now came the hard part for Bonnie Sue. Harper’s lawyer, Big Sandy Shaver was going to grill her and try to make it look like Harper shot her to save her own life.

  Linda reached over and squeezed my hand as Shaver stood up and walked towards Bonnie Sue. Broad shouldered and formidable looking in his silver custom suit, he loomed large over Bonnie Sue.

  “Deputy Dempster, have you ever shot anyone in the line of duty before?”

  “Yes, once.”

  “Then you would know better than most people to have your sidearm locked and loaded in a volatile situation, would you not?”

  “I didn’t think I’d have to use my gun,” said Bonnie Sue. “I had no idea anyone in the house was armed.”

  “Don’t you think you should have been ready for that possibility?”

  “I should have been, yes.”

  “Let me ask you one question. When you pointed your gun at Harper Gabriel did you believe you were going to shoot her?”

  “I wasn’t going to shoot her if she put the gun down.”

  “But if she didn’t put the gun down you intended to shoot her?”

  “What choice did I have?”

  “I’m asking the questions, Deputy Dempster. If Miss Gabriel didn’t put the gun down did you intend to shoot her?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “No further questions.”

  “You may step down, Deputy Dempster,” said the judge.

  “I wish the jury hadn’t heard that last part,” said Miss Jane.

  “Me too,” said Linda.

  The judge banged the gavel down and called for a ten minute break before Sheriff Tucker testified.

  MISS Jane was determined to hold on to our stell
ar seats, so Linda and I left the courtroom in search of coffee. When we stepped into the corridor Sheriff Tucker was there with Jack by his side.

  “There she is, son. Take her in and process her. I have to testify next.”

  “Yep, I’ve got this, Sheriff.”

  I focused on Jack’s face and couldn’t get a read on him. He wouldn’t look at me, but he was staring at Linda for some reason.

  “I have to take you to the sheriff’s office, Linda,” said Jack. “You’ve been charged with assault and you have to come with me.”

  Linda laughed. “You’re kidding, aren’t you, Jacky?”

  “Sorry no, I’m not kidding. Doctor Lonnigan brought charges against you and I have to take you in and process you. It’s the law.”

  Linda turned and looked to me for help, but I couldn’t help her. She was the one who punched the doctor. “I’ll come with you, Linda,” was all I could say.

  “Would you, Logan? Thanks. This is my own fault. I shouldn’t have hit the stalking bitch.”

  My eyes widened in surprise. I’d never heard Linda talk like that.

  Sheriff’s Office. Preston.

  JACK took Linda in the squad car and I followed behind in my truck to the sheriff’s office on Main Street.

  Inside, Jack led the way down the hallway past Sheriff Tucker’s office. We were the only ones in the station except for the dispatcher, old Mrs. Graham, who didn’t have anyone to dispatch except for Jack.

  Not an expert with the fingerprint kit, Jack tried a few times to get the card right. Then he stood Linda in front of the height chart and took her picture for her mug shot.

  “I have to put you in a cell until your lawyer comes, Linda. Sorry, there’s nothing I can do about it. You can use your phone to call your attorney, then I have to take your phone and put it in the bag with the rest of your belongings.”

  I marveled at how much stuff my little brother had learned inside of a week. I’d never pictured him being a cop. Daddy would have been so proud of him.

  As I looked on and watched Jacky boy, I realized I couldn’t help Linda. She had broken the law and Fiona had charged her. It was up to Linda’s lawyer to figure it all out.