Chapter 23
“Fuck,” Kevin whispered as he listened to what the FBI agent told Jake. He knew about the men’s military career on paper, but had never seen them in action, so he would have to trust them.
He looked at Ryan, and they both drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
They looked up at a noise, and since Ryan was standing in the shadows of the barn, he eased further out of the way, and lifted his rifle, pointing it to a little before Kevin.
There was an unspoken line that he would not cross, it was only so he wouldn’t block Ryan’s shot if one was needed.
Kevin watched as Cole and Harmon arrived in the golf cart, parked near the barn, and got out. Cole pointed to the driver to tell him where to park, and waited for them to exit the vehicle. Only three men came out, and Kevin knew where the other five were.
“I’m Cole Mercury, I’m the one that called to set up today’s meeting. I’m the manager here at the ranch. This is my right-hand man, Harmon.”
“And him?” Shedrick pointed to Kevin.
“Oh, that’s one of my horse trainers, Kevin Lassiter.” It had been agreed that they would use Kevin’s whole name to see how these three would react. What happened, no one anticipated. It was over before it began, and Kevin would have to learn about it in the retelling hours later.
As soon as Cole said Kevin’s name, one of the men with Shedrick lifted his arm and fired a gun three times, each bullet hitting Kevin square in the chest. Not only did he jerk from those bullets impacting, as he started to stumble back, two bullets hit him from behind, and he fell forward.
The last thing he heard was more gunfire as his world went black.
Ryan had a bead on Shedrick, but as soon as he saw the movement from one of the other men, then the retort of the gun, he fired his own rifle, and the man who had fired three shots at Kevin was on the ground with a bullet through his shoulder.
Then more gunfire rang out, and as Kevin jerked and fell to the ground, shots were fired from behind them.
As soon as the screaming and shooting stopped, Ryan ran to Kevin, felt for a pulse, breathed easier, and looked around wildly.
When Harmon dropped to his knees on the other side of Kevin, Ryan only gave him a look.
“In custody.”
“Call the sheriff,” Ryan barked out.
“On it,” Stone said as he pulled his phone to dial his wife and her boss. The three men who had gotten out of the vehicle all had bullet holes in them. One in the shoulder, one in the thigh, and the other had one in the upper arm. The shots fired by the military were meant to maim, not kill.
“How is he?” Clark asked as he dropped down beside Ryan, and they rolled Kevin over.
“He has a pulse, and he’s breathing.” They ripped his shirt open, and saw the bullets wedged in the bulletproof vest. Ryan closed his eyes and breathed easier, he hadn’t realized he had tears streaming down his face until he looked up at a scream and saw Yvonne running toward them.
“He’s alive,” he said, but had to clear his throat to say it again. Not two minutes later, six cop cars came screaming down the drive, and Jim Faulkner hurried over to them. Caleb was right behind him.
“Dad!”
“Does he need an ambulance?”
As soon as he said that, Kevin’s eyes opened, he sucked in a deep breath, and screamed.
“Son of a fucking bitch! That fucking hurt. Help me up.” He was helped into a sitting position, and when he had his breath back, he stood.
The first thing he did was rip off his shirt, then the vest, and looked at the bruises.
“Shit, that’s going to leave a mark.” He grinned at Yvonne and his son.
“I’m fine.” With his arm around Yvonne, he hugged his son to him, and looked at the sheriff. “Someone shot me in the back.”
“This guy,” Jake said as he rose from tying a handkerchief around the arm of one of the men from the van. He was identified as one of the ones that slipped out of the back when Yvonne went in to call Cole.
“I’m assuming there is video evidence of this assault?” Jim shook his head when everyone looked at him with a grin.
When it was noted that the guys with the gunshot wounds didn’t need an ambulance, but would be taken to the hospital for treatment, the FBI agents came forward and read them their rights as they were cuffed.
It was discussed that because the vehicle the criminals arrived in was large enough to transport them, they stuffed them inside, and Jim said he would escort them to the hospital in Colorado Springs.
Harmon was the one that drove the vehicle, and he said he would be back for his things.
The entire thing lasted three hours from the second Shedrick drove onto the property, until he was driven off. He had a bullet wound in the thigh.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Yvonne asked quietly of Kevin when the others started making the calls that it was safe to bring the horses back, and for the others from the other locations to come over. Within thirty minutes, everyone was there, and Kevin still hadn’t put his shirt back on.
“Ouch,” Erin said as she wrinkled her nose. “I know no skin was broken, and this is probably the most stupid question ever asked, but how do you feel?”
“Like I was run over by a train. I’ll be stiff and sore for several days.”
“Take all the time you need.”
Caleb stepped up to his dad and gave him a look.
He pointed a finger in his face. “Don’t hit me, or I’ll knock your ass out.
” He held up his hands and gently laid them on his father’s chest, then gently worked his way down his ribs.
With his eyes on his father’s for his reaction, he applied slight pressure, and nodded when he didn’t feel any broken ribs, and Kevin didn’t flinch.
“I didn’t feel anything, but do you think there are broken ribs? ”
“No, it’s mainly sore from the impact of the bullets into the vest. I’ll be bruised for about two weeks.
” He looked at his son and shook his head at him.
“I understand your concern, but this isn’t the first time this has happened.
However, it is the first time being shot from the front, and the back simultaneously.
” At his son’s look of shock, he shook his head.
“The first time was before you were born, the second, you were six, the third you were thirteen, and now.”
“Damn, Lassiter,” Erin said as she stood there with her arm wrapped around Reid. “How many lives do you have?”
“Hopefully I have several more left, because I want to spend the rest of them with Yvonne.” He made the announcement to everyone and turned to her. “I love you, and I understand if you want to wait. Will you marry me, but until that happens, will you move in with me permanently?”
“Yes,” she yelled, and then glared at people when they attempted to slap Kevin on the shoulder to congratulate them. Once all the horses were returned, turned into their stalls, and they started to leave, Erin asked them to wait.
“I know we’re all happy for Kevin and Yvonne, and I’m not stealing from her thunder.
I want to say something to all of you. One, thank you for working with me.
Two, thank you for continuing to keep us all safe.
Three,” she said as she laid her hand on her lower stomach, looked directly at Reid, then turned to the group.
“Reid and I are pregnant.” It took about thirty seconds before the back slaps, congratulations, and hugs started.
After everyone went to their own homes, Kevin still stood there with his arm wrapped around Yvonne.
“I’m happy for them. I love you, and I can’t wait to start our lives together.”
“Me too, Lassiter, me too.” Yvonne reached up, with her hand gently on his chest, she brought his head down to kiss him passionately.
“Let’s get you home. We can sort out the logistics of what’s going to happen to those assholes later.
There’s nothing more we can do. It’s all in Harmon’s hands now. ”
“I agree. Let’s go home, and you can wash my back.
I’m not saying I’m in the mood for sex, but I want to get the dirt off me.
” He wrapped his arm around her and they started walking toward their cabin.
When he finally settled at the kitchen table that night, he looked at with a sappy smile. “Did I tell you that I love you?”
“Yes, but I won’t get tired of hearing it. I love you too.”