22. Beast
BEAST
Something wasn't right.
I felt it.
The same way I'd felt ambushes.
The same way I'd felt danger.
The same way I'd stayed alive when other men hadn't.
The ranch looked peaceful.
The mountains looked peaceful.
Everything looked normal.
That was the problem.
Danger rarely announced itself.
It waited.
Watched.
Picked its moment.
Just like Gerald.
The sun disappeared behind the mountains.
Darkness settled over the ranch.
Lights glowed from the house.
The barn.
The equipment shed.
I stood near the porch railing.
Coffee in hand.
Watching.
Always watching.
The screen door creaked open.
Sadie stepped outside.
A blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
She looked tired.
The last few days were taking a toll.
I didn't like it.
Didn't like the shadows beneath her eyes.
Didn't like the worry she tried hiding.
Didn't like any of it.
She sat beside me on the porch swing.
For several minutes neither of us spoke.
Just listened to the evening sounds.
Crickets.
Wind.
Horses shifting in the pasture.
Then Sadie sighed.
"I hate this."
My grip tightened around the coffee mug.
"I know."
"I keep looking over my shoulder."
The admission sounded painful.
Honest.
"I know."
"I keep wondering if he's watching."
That one hit harder.
Because I already knew the answer.
Yes.
He was.
The question wasn't if.
The question was where.
I looked toward the tree line.
Toward the darkness.
Toward the places a man could hide.
"If he's watching..."
My voice stayed calm.
"...he's watching me too."
Sadie looked up.
"What does that mean?"
I finally looked at her.
"It means he's seeing exactly what happens if he comes near you."
Something soft appeared in her eyes.
Something dangerous.
At least for me.
Before either of us could say anything else?—
A horse screamed.
The sound exploded across the ranch.
Every muscle in my body locked.
The coffee mug hit the porch.
Shattering.
I was already moving.
Running.
The scream came again.
From the north pasture.
The far fence.
The one nearest the trees.
Not a coincidence.
Not tonight.
I cleared the porch steps in a single jump.
Behind me, the house exploded into motion.
Doors opening.
Lights flashing on.
Voices shouting.
Hank.
The boys.
Everyone.
But I was already halfway across the yard.
The pasture gate stood open.
Wide open.
My pulse surged.
It had been closed an hour ago.
I'd checked.
Personally.
The horses were running.
Panicked.
Circling.
Something had spooked them.
Or someone.
I drew my weapon.
Kept moving.
Fast.
Silent.
Focused.
The moonlight spilled across the grass.
The wind shifted.
And suddenly I saw it.
A figure.
Near the fence line.
Moving toward the trees.
Male.
Tall.
Running.
My blood turned to ice.
Then fire.
"GERALD!"
The figure looked back.
Just once.
Long enough for me to see the face.
Long enough to know.
It was him.
The coward smiled.
Then disappeared into the darkness.
I ran.
Faster.
Closing the distance.
Years of Ranger training taking over.
Branches whipped past.
The woods swallowed us both.
I heard movement ahead.
Footsteps.
Breaking brush.
Running.
Running hard.
Good.
Because so was I.
For the first time in weeks...
Gerald wasn't watching from a distance.
For the first time...
He wasn't hiding.
For the first time...
I had him.
Or so I thought.
Then something slammed into the side of my head.
Pain exploded.
The world spun.
I hit the ground hard.
A second figure stepped from behind a tree.
Not Gerald.
Someone else.
Waiting.
My vision blurred.
The man raised a metal pipe.
And smiled.
"Got him."