51
As the fiery orange sun lazily joined the horizon, it brought a sense of foreboding to the ranch. Among the gathered men outside his house, Ethan trained his attention on Charles who was addressing the group. Rory, the Carson brothers, Chase, Cole, and Sawyer were present, along with Skip, Boone, and Myles, of course, and the town’s four RCMP constables, Nick, Terry, Gord, and Henry.
“Thanks again to you all for being here. Now that we’ve discussed what’s expected of you, I’d like to address any concerns you may have. If you need to use deadly force, there will be no legal issues for you.” He dipped his head to Chase. “Counsellor, I would have loved to have that in writing for you and everyone else present, but for now you’ll have to accept my word on the matter. No man here needs to worry about that.”
“Ahem,” Zoë spoke up.
“Or woman,” Charles added, with a smile for her. “Okay, let’s weapon up. You’ll find I’m well equipped.”
The group followed Charles to his black SUV with tinted windows—big surprise on his choice of ride, Ethan thought—and waited while he opened the back. As Boone’s loud and appreciative whistle sounded, Ethan could hardly believe what a vast understatement Charles’s words had been. All manner of firearms, knives, scopes, boxes of ammo, night-vision goggles, binoculars, hell, anything they could possibly need, filled the back of the SUV. As the men talked amongst themselves while selecting weapons, Zoë turned to Ethan.
“Don’t you want to get in there before all the good stuff is gone?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’m proficient with most weapons. Besides, I’ve got my own stash in the house.”
She smiled at that and then turned to Charles who drew closer to the pair. He pulled a small pistol from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Here you go, sweetheart. I made sure I brought your favourite gun for you.”
Thinking Charles’s statement was oddly affectionate, Ethan watched Zoë’s eyes light up as she took the gun, along with two extra magazines from her father. It was a Beretta 418, known to most people as the gun used by James Bond, at least through several of the earlier books and movies. For a handgun too small to allow a proper grip, it was surprisingly easy to fire, even for someone with hands as large as his. It would never be his weapon of choice, but he had enjoyed firing one at a range years ago. He took comfort in the fact he’d never heard anyone experiencing a malfunction with one. A .25 caliber gun wouldn’t hold up over long distances, of course, but he reasoned she wouldn’t have to engage anyone unless they made it past the men who would be stationed outside the house, an event he hoped wouldn’t occur. At close range, he had no doubt she’d be able to take anyone down with the Beretta.
“Got a little Bond thing going on there?” he teased her.
“I’m a crack shot,” she assured him as she pocketed the magazines.
“I have no doubt of that. Besides, that’s a good little gun.”
“Little gun?”
He grinned at the mock-indignation in her voice. “You know what I mean. It’s small, and easy to wield.”
“Small and easy enough for a woman, you mean?”
“Quit busting my balls, Zoë, you know I didn’t mean anything by that.”
She smiled and then, so swiftly he almost couldn’t follow her motions, ejected the magazine, ensured it was full, slid it back in, secured it, chambered a round, and set the safety.
“Damn,” he gushed, “that might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Charles shook his head and walked away, undoubtedly not willing to hear any more about his daughter’s effect on Ethan’s libido. She slipped the gun in her pocket and then turned a worried look on him.
“If something happens tonight—”
“Don’t,” he cautioned, “just don’t. I’m here because I want to be, just like everyone else. No matter what happens tonight, none of this is your fault.”
“It’s all my fault, and you know it. I chose to come here, to Bison Bluffs, I answered your ad.”
“Thank God you did. I don’t regret any of that and never will.”
“Even though we’re facing this now?”
“Yep, even though we’re facing this now.” He shrugged. “Okay, yeah, it’s not the normal struggle a couple faces, but we’re not exactly a normal couple.”
His attempt at humour fell flat. Her eyes misted, and he cupped her face with his hands. “Zoë, please, I know you’re worried about everyone here. I am, too, but they’re here because they won’t see harm come to you. You’re part of this community and that’s what we do here, protect one another, look out for each other.”
“But someone could get hurt. Someone could die.”
“We’ll get through this,” he assured her, “all of us. Rosati has no idea what this town is capable of, but he’s about to find out.”
At Charles’s call for everyone to take their positions, Ethan laced his fingers through Zoë’s and, holding her hand tightly, they walked to the house, facing the dangerous night ahead. He’d been truthful with her, about how the town would protect its own, but he had told a lie. He’d assured her everyone present would get through the night safely, but he didn’t believe it. People would die tonight, and while he hoped all the fatalities would fall on the attackers, he knew better. Not everyone in his present line of sight would get through the night unscathed.