Chapter 6 #2
She motioned to the crowds gathering at the different food trucks and games. Lights were strung across the streets in a crisscross fashion for the street party later on tonight. Families laughed together, the children running through the crowds and wanting to pet the horses being used today.
Jenna frowned. “I don’t see anything except families.”
“Exactly. Everyone is enjoying themselves.” Aubrey leaned in. “You wouldn’t know it, but police and US marshals are here. You just won’t be able to see them unless, God forbid, something happens.”
“That’s my prayer for today,” Jenna said. “That things will be calm and go well.”
Mine too. They strolled through the venue and stopped back in front of St. Mark’s Community Center, where the cast and crew assembled.
The stagecoach robbery would take place here, in the open. The old First National Bank was situated across from the community center and had now been converted to a restaurant. Aubrey pulled her checklist out of her purse and began to recheck supplies, the sound system, and props.
“I just have this really bad feeling,” Jenna said.
“Shush. It’s going to be fine.” Aubrey straightened the hat on one of the actors. “Ethan and his team are here.”
If Aubrey repeated it often enough, maybe it would settle into truth. A whispered prayer that everything would be fine, that the reenactment would unfold the way it was meant to.
“You’re right.”
Aubrey said, “I know I am.”
Jenna exhaled. “Let’s pray for today’s activities.”
As they held hands in the shadow of the old church, Jenna prayed for everyone’s safety. Especially the actors and animals involved. Aubrey echoed her amen and they hugged.
Some of Aubrey’s tension eased, but there was still that underlying doubt and fear. A sixth sense telling her to be on guard, that something was off.
This was the hard part. When things were going well, it was so easy to trust God and His provision and protection. But now? This was where her faith would be tested.
Trusting God when she didn’t know what the future held.
The way she always wanted to.
Ethan sat astride the black mare and waited for his cue so they could get this done and get back to the office—and find that plane.
The sun beat down on the city of Renegade this morning.
He removed his Stetson and wiped his damp head with a bandanna while a trickle of sweat rolled down his back.
Wearing jeans, chaps, and a long-sleeve shirt didn’t help his discomfort.
He adjusted in the saddle, and his mare danced a bit, her hooves kicking up some dust.
Tilting his hat back, he scanned the crowd of spectators, looking for Aubrey. Standing on the old church steps, she was easy to spot, with her deep-auburn hair and large sunglasses. She waved, and he touched the brim of his hat in salute.
“Butler.” Montgomery rode up on his mare, looking at ease in the saddle, and grinned as his gaze followed Ethan’s. “See anything of interest?”
Ethan grunted. No way was he going to spill what he really thought about the office admin. “You look like you’ve done this a time or two before.” Ethan scanned the gathered crowd, checking to make sure the marshals on duty were interspersed with the festivalgoers.
“Yeah.” Montgomery adjusted the brim of his hat. “Every summer, I’d head to my uncle’s ranch in Texas and help out with the cattle. It’s where I learned to ride. You?”
“I’ve ridden a few times over the years.” Ethan twisted in his seat to see the rest of his “posse.” That was enough information for now. No use spilling his secrets to everyone in the office.
“What are you two discussing over here?” Liam sauntered over on his horse.
Montgomery smirked. “He’s checking out our administrative assistant over there.” Adam pointed with his chin to where Aubrey stood under an awning.
Ethan glared at them as they laughed. Hilarious. “I’m not checking her out.” Okay, maybe he was, but he had no time in his life, either personal or professional, for a relationship. He had a plane to find and cats to feed. “You two about finished with your crowd surveillance?”
Liam held up his hands and returned to his place at the back of the group.
Ethan checked his watch. “It’s almost go time.” The horse skittered sideways. “I don’t think this beast likes me.”
“Aww, you just have to show her some love.” Adam grinned and patted the side of his horse’s neck, but then his smile faded. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.” When was this thing supposed to start?
Adam leaned closer. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this event today.” He exhaled and then straightened.
Ethan stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“I dunno.” Adam shrugged. “Something just feels…off.”
Ethan tilted his hat back on his head. “Yeah, I feel it too.”
If he had his way, he’d cancel this entire shebang right now and sequester Aubrey until they could figure out what was going on and why the judge and Mrs. Silano had been killed. He hoped Aubrey wasn’t a target as well, but he couldn’t be sure until he knew who had killed them and why.
The biggest item on his list was finding enough evidence of wrongdoing that he could apprehend Roger Rousseau and bring him in for questioning about the syndicate. And about the dirty marshal in his office.
“Well, what are going to do?” Adam asked.
His answer was automatic. “Pray.”
Adam shifted in his saddle. “Look, I know you’re a Christian. But seriously? How is that going to work?”
Ethan sent up a prayer for wisdom and then angled in his saddle to face the young deputy. “Let me ask you a question—have you prepared for this event?”
“Well, yeah, I suppose so.”
“And you trust your horse.”
Adam shrugged. “Sure. She’s been trained.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not sure I’m following you.”
Ethan’s gaze drifted to Aubrey one more time and then focused on his colleague.
“It all comes down to trust. You trust the saddle won’t fall off while riding, because the livery guys prepped the horses and tightened the cinches properly.
You trust Aubrey to have planned this event down to the minute details.
You trust me to direct you once this thing starts. ”
“Yeah, but I can see you.”
“True. But what about unseen threats? We’ve discussed exigency plans, what would happen in an emergency, etc.
Maybe nothing will happen, or maybe your horse will step in a small hole and break its ankle.
So it comes down to trust again. Trusting each other.
I trust the Lord with my safety every day.
Do bad things happen, or could they happen?
Sure. But I know that God’s plan for my life is perfect.
He doesn’t want to see us harmed. But sometimes, God does allow it.
His definitions of harm and good don’t look like ours. ”
Adam rested both hands on the saddle horn. “That’s all good, but what about evil men?”
“There will always be evil men and women in this fallen world, and that’s why we’re here.
To protect the innocent. We’re a shield, a buffer.
‘The Lord is my shield and buckler, my strong tower.’ That’s who God is.
He’s our refuge when times get tough. He wants us to come to Him, to rest and find strength in His presence. ”
Ethan leaned over his saddle horn and continued, “I know I haven’t been the best example, but I’m trying to be the man God wants me to be. To trust Him in every aspect of my life, even this job. This career. I’m learning to lean on God more.”
Liam called out from the back of the group, “Amen to that.”
They all sat there for a minute, each one lost in their thoughts.
Ethan said, “I know I’ve given you a lot to mull over, Adam. But anytime you want to talk, I’m available.”
His earpiece crackled to life. “Butler, the stagecoach is on at the edge of town. Get yourself and your crew ready.”
“Roger that. In position.” Ethan grinned at the others, realizing he was actually excited for this. “And now the fun begins.”
He turned in the saddle and gave his posse the agreed-upon hand signal. Lining up the horses, he could feel the wave of anticipation in the air as a cloud of dust and clapping from the crowd announced the arrival of the main attraction.
The roar of the crowd and the echo of gunshots grew louder, as if they were riding a cresting wave on the ocean. The horse stomped her feet, and he patted her neck.
“Easy there, girl. It’s almost go time.”
The horse pricked her ears and snorted.
The red Wells Fargo stagecoach rumbled down the street, to the delight of the kids and adults in the crowd, while the “bandits” chased the coach, shooting their old-fashioned six-shooters into the air.
Crack.
Ethan flinched. That wasn’t from the six-shooters.
Then suddenly, the whoops and hollers of joy turned ominous. Children’s screams filled the air, and chaos erupted. Some of the crowd dispersed, others were frantic, running into the street, directly into the path of the stagecoach.
This wasn’t part of the plan.
“Clear the streets!” Ethan yelled to his nearby team.
“What’s going on?” Liam pulled back on the reins.
The marshals used their horses to corral frightened spectators off the street and onto the sidewalks.
Zip.
Ethan’s head whipped around.
That was a sniper shot.
The stagecoach careened around a corner, taking the sharp curve with two of the antique wooden wheels high off the ground. Another rifle shot ripped through the air and whizzed past Ethan’s head. He ducked low over his mare’s neck, trying to keep her from running away.
“I’ll get the lead horse!” Adam shouted over the chaos, charging ahead as if he were in a John Wayne Western. He grabbed the reins of the horses, which slowed and eventually stopped, their sides heaving and covered in sweat.
Another shot pinged past him.
Spectators were screaming, running for cover behind the old-fashioned props, entering shops, trying to escape the sniper’s bullets.