Authors: Kathleen Brooks
Marshall felt the bottle crack over his skull and for a second his vision went blurry. In that moment rage overtook him as he whirled around and with a quick kick took out the knee of the drunken man with tattoos covering most of his visible body. He went down with a howl and Marshall silenced him with a right cross.
He turned back to the wall and vaulted over it and into the ring. The man with the leather vest just smiled and pulled out a large blade. He didn't have time to look at Katelyn as he aimed his gun and fired. Nothing. He was out. He waited until the man was closer and then threw the gun as hard as he could, hitting the man in the face. It didn't do any damage, but it did give him time to formulate a brief plan of attack. He pulled out his knife as the man swiped away the blood running down the side of his face.
Katelyn looked at the man and the dog, guessing the dog was more dangerous. She pulled herself up and in her sternest voice yelled at the dog. Unfortunately, he was too much like his owner and just found it amusing as he stalked her and Ruffles.
Suddenly the devil figure bounded over the wall and landed in the ring with a gun drawn. She couldn't believe it. It was Marshall. He was here! Hope soared in her until she heard the click of his gun. Empty. He was going to be killed! She watched in horror as he pulled out a knife and held it so it lay against his forearm. He and the man started to circle each other lashing out with their knives in battle. The man slashed and then threw a vicious hook. Marshall was able to block the knife, but the man's fist crashed into his eye.
The dog took advantage of her distraction and lunged. It was too late to react, she had lost focus. She waited for the pain of the massive jaws to clamp down on her arm and she closed her eyes in fear. Instead of feeling the pain of the vise-like grip she heard the most horrific war cry. Her eyes flew open just in time to see Ruffles meeting the dog in a mid-air collision, the force of the hundred pound pit bull knocking her to the ground with a loud thud.
The dog landed on top of her, his mouth open and ready for the kill as Katelyn screamed and lunged forward. A menacing growl came from behind her and Katelyn braced for another attack from a loose dog. A black dog streaked through the air and over the wall, landing on top of the big brindle and sinking its teeth into his thick skin. The dog was much too small and was easily tossed by the brindle. The black dog with the pink collar landed near Katelyn and she gasped - Alice!
Katelyn dove for Ruffles and put herself in front of her to protect her from the brindle that was advancing on them. She wanted to scream for Marshall, but one look showed that he was fighting for his life. The sound of metal against metal rang out in the ring.
The dog lunged again and Alice threw herself in front of Ruffles and Katelyn, growling and snapping at the brindle that was easily twice her size. Katelyn chanced a glance at Marshall and stopped breathing when she saw the man thrust at him, his knife hitting Marshall right in the stomach. Marshall bent over slightly, but hooked his knife into the man's side before falling back.
"No!" she screamed. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she felt as if her heart had been pierced with the knife as well.
She watched as he fell, rolled, and then grabbed the brindle's discarded leash before bounding up. A large cut was in his t-shirt revealing the flak vest underneath. She breathed a sigh of relief but it was cut short as the brindle dog lunged at Alice again. Marshall snapped the leather leash as he raced toward the dog. The loud noise drew his attention away from Alice and solely onto Marshall. The two circled each other as Marshall widened the loop at the end of the slip lead.
The dog lunged and Marshall slid the leash over his head and pulled tight. They struggled, dog thrashing, man holding on for power until Marshall was able to maneuver the dog to one of the hooks in the wall and tie him up. The dog jumped and snarled, but couldn’t get free.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
"Ruffles was knocked down hard. It looks like she has a bite on her shoulder too. She saved my life," she cried, petting Ruffles' head as she lay on the bloody dirt floor.
"Get the door, I got her. What a good girl you are, Alice. I don't know how you got here, but thank God you did."
Alice thumped her tail and gave him a kiss when he bent to pick up Ruffles. He carried her out of the ring and looked over the clearing. People lay injured or dead in the trampled grass, either from his doing or their own. When the gunshots started some people realized he was a cop and started shooting at him, but others just started shooting. Soon it was hard to tell who was shooting whom in the crossfire. Tables and chairs were knocked over. Some people were still trying to get their stuff together while others had sped away in their cars.
"We’ve gotta get out of here. Go that way, through the woods," Marshall nodded his head across the clearing.
Katelyn led the way for him with Alice sticking close to Ruffles as he carried her through the clearing. Ruffles barked in pain whenever her shoulder was moved. Katelyn was anxious to get to safety and look her over. If they could get into the woods, he wouldn't feel so exposed. They were approaching the tree line when he heard Alice start to growl.
"Katelyn, wait," he loudly whispered.
"Yes, why don't you wait? Didn't your mother ever teach you not to go playing in the woods at night? It's not safe." Andre stepped out of the darkness with a gun held level to her head.
Marshall's hand tightened on the knife he still held, hidden under Ruffles. He wished he had kept a hold of all his guns. After he ran through his magazines, he had just tossed the guns where he was at that time. So, they lay in various places in the clearing and one in the fighting ring.
"Yes, the big bad wolf may get you," a woman laughed as she came out from a different part of the woods holding a rifle aimed at Marshall.
Marshall recognized them instantly. It was Andre and Camille Watkins. The large barbwire tattoo on his neck was a dead giveaway.
"You have messed everything up for us again. We had top leaders from all the important divisions in the international level and you embarrassed us. You think I’m going to just let you walk away after you ruined our lives?"
Andre stalked forward and shoved Marshall to the ground. Alice growled and ran to Ruffles as she fell to the ground. Katelyn had made a move towards him, but Camille stopped her by shoving the barrel of her rifle into her side. Andre loomed over Marshall, his large Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum revolver held loosely in his hand as he pointed it at Marshall's head.
"What exactly did we ruin?" Marshall asked, needing time to change his position so he had a chance at knocking the gun out of Andre's hand.
"We had drug and weapons dealers from all over the world here tonight. We had representatives from the International Warrior's Association. We were this close to being invited to join and get out of this Podunk town! And you ruined it, just like you did last time. I should’ve killed you and her when I had the chance instead of just playing with you."
"The guy who came to pay me a visit seemed to want to do more than just play."
"A lot of good that did. He'll be next on my list after I get done with you."
Andre pulled the hammer back on the gun, the sound of it clicking into place reverberated through the clearing. Marshall shoved himself forward and landed a square hit on Andre's knees, sending him teetering backward, and landing hard on his backside.
Marshall scrambled for the gun in Andre's hand while Andre clawed at him with his free hand, trying to fight him off. They rolled on the grass - Andre trying to aim the gun and Marshall managing to hold him off as his fingers climbed up Andre's arm toward the gun.
With a swift motion, Marshall brought his knee up and repeatedly struck Andre in the kidney as he used his arms to hold him in place. Andre grunted and brought the gun down on his shoulder. Marshall used both hands to grab at the large gun. He shot out his elbow and heard the satisfying crunch of Andre's nose. Andre instinctively reached for his nose and Marshall took full advantage. He wretched the gun away from Andre and with a strong punch to the midsection sent him rolling on the ground in pain.
"Not so fast. You move and I kill her," Camille said from behind Katelyn. Marshall looked for a clear shot, but couldn't see one.
"Now, I’d be much obliged if you put that gun down and let go of my granddaughter." Beauford's stern southern voice rung clear through the woods.
Camille whipped around and hesitated at the sight of Beauford in a three-piece suit holding an antique rifle almost as big as her.
"Bless your heart, you better do what he says, because if he doesn't shoot you, I certainly will." Mrs. Wyatt emerged from the woods holding her own vintage Remington rifle steadily in her hands. Her white dressing gown blew gently in the night air and her red lips stretched into a thin line as she cocked her gun.
Camille dropped her gun and held up her hands all while cursing and saying some very nasty things about Katelyn. Beauford moved to stand over Andre as Marshall rushed to Katelyn. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her as though both of theirs lives depended on it.
She was still shaking as he put his lips to hers. He pulled her close, running his hands through her long tangled hair. She was alive. He forgot about everything but her. He forgot until the sound of two gunshots rang out. Marshall jumped back with Andre's gun raised as he scanned the woods.
"You fucking shot me!" Camille screamed at Mrs. Wyatt.
"Oh Lord, the bastard shot me. I’m dying. I know I am," Andre cried as he cradled his foot.
"Oh hush, it was just a nick," Beauford calmly said.
"What the hell just happened?" Marshall demanded.
"Well, you know, I’m old and this gun is just oh so heavy," Mrs. Wyatt drawled. "It just slipped. See, I thought she was going for her gun and tried to aim mine in self-defense, but it was just too heavy for an old woman like myself." She shrugged her shoulders, not looking the least bit feeble.
"You shot me because I said I should’ve gutted that useless cotton ball of a dog and that worthless mutt in the pink collar. I remember her. She was the worst dog I’ve ever seen," Camille spit out.
"No wonder you shot her. Good job Nana," Katelyn said as she put her arm around her grandmother and stared daggers at Camille who lay clutching her side. "Nice aim there, Nana."
"I thought you’d appreciate the irony of that," Mrs. Wyatt said as she made sure to be careful of her granddaughter's wound on her side.
"Beauford?" Marshall asked as he pinched his nose.
"The SOB tried to kill my granddaughter and my dog. He deserves a lot more than what I gave him."
"I’m sure it was in self-defense though, right?"
"No. Oh! Oh, yes Sheriff. I thought he had a weapon and I was defending my family."
"He sure did. I thought I was going to have to shoot them myself," Annie said as she and Dinky walked into the clearing.
"Me too. What do you want us to do now Sheriff?" Dinky asked as he looked around.
"Annie, call in medical and call Nuggett. He'll want to be here for this. How did you all know where we were?"
"Mrs. Wyatt called dispatch and said that Alice had run off and they were following her. They told us the direction and we followed the tire marks and holes in the fences," Dinky explained.
"And you Annie?" Marshall asked impatiently.
"I promised I’d wait in the car if I heard any gunfire." Annie said as if she were a teenager trying to get out of trouble for breaking curfew.
Marshall shrugged, that was as good as he was going to get. Although, he hadn't seen any holes in the fences when he was running here. He must have been so focused he didn't see them.
"Dinky, cuff them and read them their rights." Marshall handed over Andre's gun to Annie and pulled Katelyn to him. "There's been something I have wanted to tell you for the longest time."
Chapter Nineteen
Marshall took Katelyn by the hands and stepped away from the crowd as Annie and Dinky transported the Watkinses to the patrol cars and set up a perimeter around the area.
"Katelyn, I know you want to get to Ruffles, but I have to tell you something," Marshall said gently as he looked into her eyes.
"Yes?" she asked uncertainly.
"I…"
"Marshall! Katelyn! Oh thank God you're okay," Miss Lily cried as she and her sisters got out of her Buick and hurried to the crime scene tape.
"Son of…" Marshall growled.
"What were you going to say?" Katelyn asked.
"Never mind. We'll talk soon, okay?"
"Okay. I better get to Ruffles before Alice licks her to death."
"Ladies. How did you know where we were?"
"Edith was filling in on dispatch," Miss Lily said with a shrug as if that explained everything, which it did. Edith was only second to John Wolfe in spreading gossip.
"Ah, yes, I forgot tonight was her night. So, I should expect the rest of the town shortly," Marshall said sarcastically.
"I'd give it ten minutes. Ruth! Ruth, dear, are you alright?"
Ruth and Beauford made their way over to the police tape to fill their friends in on the action. Katelyn was setting Ruffles' shoulder. Annie was taking pictures. Dinky had started to get names of the wounded and was reading them their rights. Many of them had their weapons nearby and drugs still on them. The jail would be full tonight.
"You shot her!" Miss Violet gasped at Mrs. Wyatt.
"Accidently! She accidently shot them in self-defense. That was their official statement to me and we’re sticking with that." Marshall felt a very big headache coming on.
"Well of course it was accidently. Accidently on purpose. Good for you Ruth. But, make sure when Kenna gets here you look pale and weak. She hasn't been here long enough to remember you were an alternate on the Olympic Rifle team," Miss Daisy said as all the Rose sisters nodded.
Oh God, Marshall was sure he was going to jail, but there was no way he'd send Mrs. Wyatt there. Sheriff Nugget, Kenna and Will pulled up at the same time. Before they made it over to the crime scene, Henry pulled up in his new Lexus and got out in one of his shiny suits. It was almost one in the morning, why he was in a suit was beyond anyone’s imagination. Kenna had obviously been asleep. Her hair was sticking out in different directions and her shoes didn't match.