Breathe. I had to breathe. There was an excruciating pain rolling through me as I was snatched up from the ground. There was no stopping the tears that rolled along my cheeks. The man - his fingers biting into my bicep - snarled as he jerked me towards him.

“You stupid bitch!” I blinked a few times and just had enough time to dodge the hand he flung towards my face.

I kicked at him, my foot connecting with his knee. He grunted, and his grip slipped from my arm. I stumbled into the wall, hitting it hard. I groaned, trying to push back the pain. As he lunged for me again, I scrambled back, my hand landing on something hard. I gripped the object and pulled it up before me. It was a shovel. Okay, this could work. I flipped it around. The handle would knock him good if he got too close. For each step he took towards me, I took two back.

“Come here, girl,” he sneered. I bristled. He had some nerve. I glared as I stopped. I could feel the door behind me. One more step back and I could run for it.

“I'm not a girl, asshole!” I jerked back. The door flung open hitting someone or something with a loud thud. There was a shriek as I swung my foot out and kicked the door again. I took a few steps before the jackass had his arms around me. I slammed my foot into the top of his, shifted to break his hold, and kicked him again in the knee. My hand slid down the shovel. My fingers tightened on it and when he got closer I swung just as I would if I'd have had a bat in my hands. The sound of it hitting him made my stomach roll. The sickening sound of flesh against wood and metal wasn't something I'd ever get used to. He stumbled but didn’t fall. He staggered closer to me, his arms reaching out for me - I panicked.

I swung again, this time knocking his hands away from me. He cried out in rage and what I can only assume was pain before he hit the ground hard. The groaning sounds were all that came from him now. It made me pause and take a step back.

“You little bitch!”

I spun to see Tabitha standing there, her hand raised, the metal of the gun in her hand shining. I swallowed hard.

“Put that down and leave. I've called the Sheriff,” I rushed to say. My heart was beating a rhythm now that would rival any beat boxer. My fingers flexed on the handle of the shovel.

“Leave? No, not until you give me my granddaughter. I want her now!” Her words rang out across the quiet yard. I could see lights bobbing out in the darkness behind her. The road. They were coming from the road. Thank you, baby Jesus. I straightened slightly. I had to keep her talking.

“Tabitha, she's not yours to have. I will not give her to you!” I gritted my teeth as I spoke.

“She's not yours! I've been watching you, you little whore. You've thrown yourself at him. You and that lying sack of shit… You think you can have my granddaughter?” She snapped.

“I have her. I love that little girl with all my heart. I won't let you or anyone else hurt her.”

“This would have been much easier if I'd just killed you myself. My boy wanted to get a piece of you first. You know, see what had Tate all but sniffing up your skirt like you were a dog in heat.”

“Boy?” Holy heavens. Was that crazy man her son? That would explain a lot. That kind of crazy don't fall far from the tree. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed.

“You've hurt him. He's not like other people,” she spoke as she looked at him. I side stepped and tried to get closer to the barn door. If I could get inside she’d have no way to shoot me. Maybe? Did bullets go through thick doors like these? Crap, I didn't know.

“You did this! All of it! I want my granddaughter, now!” Her words echoed across the yard. She shifted and the gun was pointing at me once again.

“Your crazy ass daughter started this by trying to kill that precious little girl. How dare you! Maybe you're just as twisted as she was. How about you put that gun down and I'll give you some of what I gave that no good piece of shit son of yours!”

Without another word the gun sparked from the end and I did my best to jerk out of the way. I failed. I was no Superman, and the bullet was a lot faster than I was. The pain vibrated through me as my shoulder was lit on fire. I screamed and fell back onto the compacted dirt. I had dropped my only weapon. The shovel lay a foot or so away from me, but the barrel of the handgun Tabitha held me in place.

“Don’t-”

My words were cut off when a snarl rolled across the air. The dark blur that hit Tabitha sent her sprawling out across the ground. I tried to sit up, only to cry out again at the pain in my shoulder and arm.

“Son of a bitch….”

I took a few deep breaths and finally managed to sit up. The stars dancing before me had my stomach rolling. One of the dogs had Tabitha pinned to the ground, the other stood between us, hair standing straight up, her tail straight out behind her. It was all I could see with only the moon for light. I got to my feet, a cry of pain escaping me before I clamped my mouth shut.

“Get...it...off...of...me,” Tabitha panted and I snorted. Yeah, no. I stumbled into the big barn, and flipped the switch so the outside lights would come on, momentarily blinding myself. I gingerly made my way back outside and stumbled over to where Rooster lay on the ground, panting. Sweat coated his face.

“He had a knife,” he said as he pressed a hand to his gut. Oh, God. “I'm not as fast as I used to be,” he joked.

“Hang on,” I said as I got to my feet. The lights of the cars coming this way were getting closer. I now hated that it was almost three miles to the main road from here.

With my injured arm held to my side, I stumbled over to Abe’s barn and made my way inside. I went searching for Abbie. She was crying when I got to the hiding spot.

“It's okay, baby, I'm here,” I said. Tears started to run down my cheeks as I knelt down and scooped her up with my good arm. I kissed her head and breathed her scent in. I stood, biting my tongue to keep from letting the pain take me over again.

“Tango, good dog,” I smiled before giving him a new command. With my good arm holding Abbie I was as useless as a springless pogo stick. He lead the way, hair bristling as his ears twitched. “Tango,” I whistled to get his attention. “Take,” I tapped my shoe against the big first aid kit that sat against the wall. He grabbed the handle and tugged. It drug the ground but the case would protect the contents.

We made our way over to Rooster and I sat Abbie down beside me. “Hold on, princess. We need to help Rooster, okay? He has a boo boo.” My voice cracked as I flung the clip on the first aid kit open. I grabbed the oversized gauze pads and piled them to the spot where Rooster was bleeding. There was a scuffling and I heard Tango’s growling increase. When I glanced up the fake Rooster was getting to his feet. I whispered a word to Tango and he lept. He hit the ground so hard it knocked him stupid for a minute. He tried to stab Tango and as I watched the horror play out Tango let out a yip. He dodged and had the ass’s knife hand in his and was tugging.

“Abbie, stay here. Can you stay for me?” I was panicking. I wasn't going to let that ass hurt my dog.

“I've got her...go,” Rooster rasped out. He wrapped his arm around Abbie and I jumped up, stumbling over to the gun on the ground. I aimed and fired before I really thought about it. I hit the ground right next to the bastard’s head. He went utterly still.

“Move again and… I won't miss,” I stumbled over the words. What was happening? I didn't feel so good all of a sudden. I shook my head and pointed the gun at Tabitha as she screamed for him to kill me.

“Kill her, you pathetic fool!”

“Tango, release.” He did and moved back a few steps, his teeth still bared. “Dogs,” I whistled. “Come, girls.”

“You worthless excuse for a man. Just like your father. Not worth a hill of beans!” Tabitha shouted.

I moved closer, pushing the dogs back. The world around me was spinning, and the lights that were now in front of the house swayed. I blinked a few times. I could hear Abbie crying, Tango barking, someone calling my name and then… nothing.

---

---

There have been many days in my life where I've felt anger, sadness, worry and other feelings run through me, but today, right in this moment, there is a fear unlike any other searing my insides.

We’d just gotten back to the McKinley Ranch, stretched out our legs and were ready to load the horses up on the trailer when Jen - the McKinley’s eldest daughter - came out to say the Sheriff had called. We needed to get back to the ranch, there had been an accident.

I jumped in the truck with Pop and Abe and we took off towards the Ranch. Everyone else would follow once the horses were loaded up. My heart was hammering the entire drive. What could have happened? When we made the last turn and the house came into view I cursed. There were three Sheriff’s vehicles, the EMS bus and an unmarked car with flashing lights spread out over the yard. I jumped out of the truck before it came to a full stop.

“GEORGIE! ABBIE!” I yelled as I made my way closer to the crowd of people. I came to a stop and moved around the deputy closest to me.

“Tater, call him off. We can't even get close to her. She's bleeding but we don't know anymore than that,” he said.

“Tango,” I moved closer giving him one of the commands Georgie had made me learn. Thankfully it seemed to be the right one. I sucked at German. As soon as he backed away the EMS guys were at her side. I got a good look around and swallowed hard.

“What- what happened here?” I asked as a deputy came over to me. His eyes cut to Tango before he spoke. We were joined by Pops and Abe. Abe moved in closer and I watched as he went down on one knee. He was looking Tango over.

“He’s been cut- What the hell?” Abe said as growling came from the other side of the barn.

“Shit. There's two more of them,” a deputy said, pulling his gun. Tango snarled. Abe moved to gather up the other dogs. He at least seemed to know them. I rubbed my face and turned back to the deputy.

“I’d not do that if I were you,” I said, my head tilting to the side where Tango was. I wasn't sure I could actually handle him. Georgie was his commander. I was just the man in her life.

“Lawrence, put that damn gun away,” the Sheriff snapped as he came closer.

“Enough of this shit. What in the hell happened here, Scott?” My father said as the Sheriff stopped before us.

“Where is Abbie? Is she okay?” I asked, panic setting in.

“Yes, she's fine. One of my deputies took her inside.

“Sheriff, we gotta move her now. She's lost a lot of blood. The bullet seems to have gone straight through. They've radioed the hospital.”

“Then roll out. We’ll be right behind you.”

“Abbie, I need to get her.” I went to move towards the house but Pops stopped me.

“Go with Georgie, I'll get Abbie and we’ll meet you there.”

I ran to the ambulance and climbed in. I took Georgie’s hand in mine. My forehead rested on her soft skin.

“Please don't leave me, baby. Please, I need you.”