Chapter 35
Dillon cocked the shotgun and brought it up to her shoulder as she stared down the barrel at Cal. He halted in his tracks, his hands lifting skyward slowly.
“Don’t shoot,” he said and gradually turned to face her.
“I thought I made it clear that you were never to return.”
He glanced toward the stables. “I understand you’re upset.”
“You know nothing. What are you doing here? How did you get on my land? Oh, wait. Let me guess. You cut the fence and came from Ivy Ridge.”
He licked his lips, looking remorseful. “Actually, the fence that was cut when Legacy was stolen still isn’t fixed.”
She frowned, not wanting to believe him. Emmett promised that he had fixed that days ago. How would she know for sure, though? It wasn’t as if she had ridden out to see for herself.
Because she was too scared.
Anger that had been simmering began to bubble furiously.
She stared into gray eyes that she had thought kind and trusting.
It might have taken her a bit, but she finally saw Cal for who he really was.
Her heart was broken, but the only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that she would win this battle. Somehow.
“Whatever you’re doing, you’re leaving now,” she told him. Dillon then motioned with the gun for him to start walking.
“Dillon,” he started.
“Don’t,” she stated over him in a firm voice. “Get moving. Or I’ll shoot.”
He glanced at the ground. “No, you won’t. Because you’re a good person.”
“Care to test that theory?” To affirm her statement, she put her finger on the trigger, ready to pull it.
“I do.”
Dillon’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Hank Stephens’ voice behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see that Hank had a gun pointed at her. When she looked at Cal, he couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Take the shotgun,” Hank ordered Cal.
Dillon ordered herself to pull the trigger. It was her only play that gave her any kind of an advantage. No matter how many arguments she gave herself, she couldn’t shoot Cal. And if she did, Hank would shoot her. How could she fight for the ranch then?
As if sensing her decision, Cal lowered his hands and walked to her. He pushed the barrel away from him and wrapped his fingers around it. His gaze held hers.
“Asshole,” she said as she released her grip on the gun and shoved it at him, causing him to stumble back a step.
Hank laughed behind her. “Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Come on. We’re going for a little walk. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
Dillon pivoted to glare at him. “No.”
“Come on,” Cal said and took her arm.
She yanked it from his grasp and cut him a scathing look that he didn’t seem to notice. “Don’t you dare touch me.”
He held up his free hand, fingers splayed. “Suit yourself. But you need to walk.”
“Where?” she demanded, looking from Cal to Hank.
Hank jerked his chin toward the stables. “There.”
Dillon studied her options. The problem was, she didn’t have any.
Les was expecting her in Dallas, but that was a good four-hour drive.
He wouldn’t start searching for her until then.
Chet was already gone, and she hadn’t seen Emmett or Dusty since Chet had been there a few hours earlier.
There was no telling where they were on the ranch.
Hank pointed his gun at her. His gaze told her he wanted her to give him a reason to pull the trigger.
Before the day was up, he would most likely do just that.
But she needed to give herself time for Dusty or Emmett to arrive for help.
So, she started walking. Hank lowered the gun and continued on.
So much for her getting to Dallas to be safe. She hadn’t even made it to her truck. Dillon wished she had brought the handgun with her, too. She could’ve hidden it and given herself a bit of an advantage. Even a knife. Why hadn’t she thought ahead?
Cal stayed just behind her while she followed Hank to the stables.
The entire time, she thought of all the various ways she hoped the two of them would die for what they were doing to her.
When they reached the stables, she wasn’t surprised to find Isaac Gomez leaning against a stall.
Dillon looked around for some type of weapon, but unfortunately, there was nothing close.
“Stop,” Hank ordered her as he halted next to Isaac.
She halted and faced the three men. So, this was where she would die. Funny, but she never imagined she would go out in such a fashion. Then again, she hadn’t expected to be betrayed in such a manner, either.
Isaac reached into his back pocket and produced folded documents and a pen. “We’re going to need you to sign the rights to the Bar 4 over to us.”
“Go to hell,” she told them.
Isaac’s brown eyes shone with malice so deep that her heart dropped to her stomach. “It wasn’t a request.”
“No.” Despite her fear, she lifted her chin, daring him.
Hank sighed and raised his gun. “One way or another, we’re going to get your signatures on those documents.”
Cal almost smiled when Dillon lifted her chin, radiating defiance, and stated, “No.”
“Yes!” Hank bellowed, spittle flying from his mouth as he lost his temper. “I’ve waited long enough to claim what’s mine.”
“What’s yours?” Dillon asked with a snort. Her eyes raked over him with pure disdain. “This land isn’t yours.”
“It ought to be.”
She rolled her eyes, seemingly unconcerned that she faced two men wishing to do her harm. “Wanting it doesn’t make it so.”
Hank stalked indignantly to her until he towered over her, attempting to intimidate her. “I always get what I want. Always.”
Cal shifted, not liking how close Hank was to her.
In the next second, Dillon jerked up her leg, slamming her knee into Hank’s balls.
He let out a strangled cry, grabbing his crotch with his free hand as he dropped to his knees.
He let out a keening sound of anguish as his hand holding the gun lowered to the ground to keep himself upright.
Before Cal could react, Isaac was before her in two strides.
He backhanded Dillon so hard she spun around, catching hold of the stall door to keep herself standing.
Cal gripped the shotgun tightly, ready to lift it and fire at a moment’s notice.
If Dillon wasn’t so close to either Hank or Isaac, he could have the two at gunpoint already.
“You bitch,” Hank ground out as he slowly climbed to his feet. His face was flushed as he glared at her. “I’m going to make you pay for that.”
Everything in Cal wanted to reach for Dillon and pull her against him so he could comfort and protect her.
She wouldn’t accept his help, and he couldn’t fight her and the others.
Which meant he had to wait to make his move.
Cal hated to admit it, but he wasn’t sure there was a way out.
He didn’t want to kill anyone, but he would do it to save Dillon.
Her hair covered her face. She tried twice to get her feet firmly under her before she could stand on her own. When she finally faced them, her left cheek was bright red. Cal slid his gaze to Isaac and thought about lifting the shotgun right then.
Hank raised his gun and pointed it at Dillon. “Sign the fucking papers.”
“No,” she said once more.
“Sign or die,” Hank threatened. “I’m not going to tell you again.”
She shook her head, standing defiant and resilient. “You’re going to kill me anyway. Why should I make things easy for you? Oh, and I should warn you, that if I die, you’ll never get this ranch. Ever.”
“What?” Hank asked in shock.
Isaac chuckled, unfazed by her words. “Don’t listen to her. She can’t keep us from getting the ranch.”
“I’ve waited too fucking long,” Hank said as he kept the gun trained on her. “I’m not waiting any longer.”
Dillon crossed her arms over her chest.
Hank took a step toward her. “Sign the papers.”
“Go to hell,” Dillon said.
Dillon had never been so terrified as she was staring down the barrel of the gun aimed at her head. She wanted to run and hide, but she had to take a stand. They were going to kill her anyway, and that was the only reason she was able to keep somewhat calm.
“You did this all wrong,” she told them.
“If you wanted me to sign easily, then you should’ve made me believe I was going to live.
For all your planning, y’all suck. I mean, did you really think I wouldn’t find out what was in the ground?
Did you really think you could take it from me?
It’s not going to happen. I can promise you that. ”
Hank’s smile was pure evil. “I’m going to make you suffer. I tried to be nice. I tried to be fair, but you just wouldn’t take the hint and leave.”
“I’d sign if I were you,” Isaac said.
Dillon noticed that Cal didn’t have the shotgun pointed at her.
He hadn’t said anything, which concerned her.
She didn’t think for a second that he was having second thoughts about helping his cronies.
He might not have the gun raised, but she wouldn’t underestimate him, either.
He’d stolen her heart easily. He could take her life just the same.
Isaac’s nostrils flared, anger darkening his eyes. “Sign.”
“No.”
“I’m going to make you sign one way or another,” Hank said and took a step toward her.
“No, you aren’t,” Cal replied.
Dillon was unsure why Cal would suddenly speak up.
The fury that flashed in Isaac’s eyes made her wonder if the three were as tight as she had thought.
Then she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
When she turned and spotted Emmett, hope flared within her.
She shouted his name. But what little optimism she felt faded when Emmett didn’t even look her way as he walked to the men.
“I told you how to handle her,” Emmett said. “Now, this will be harder than it had to be.”
Dillon started shaking. This couldn’t be happening. Not Emmett. She had trusted him above all others. She stared at him, willing him to face her. And the truth struck her—something she hadn’t wanted to see. “You killed Dolly.”