Chapter 34
Jesse placed one leaden foot on the step when a firm hand jerked him back.
“No, you don’t, Jesse. That poor excuse of a man isn’t calling the shots. Not here. Not on the Double K.” Gran shoved him behind her.
“Please, Miz Ida, don’t interfere. He’s mean and evil. He’ll do what he says,” Jesse’s frightened voice was a raw whisper. “I’ll be okay. I’ve survived worse.”
But Gran wasn’t listening to his plea. With fearless determination and her head held high, she marched toward Jasper Cool. She was a lioness protecting her cub.
“Gran!” Kade shouted with raw horror and panic in the one word. “Get back. He’ll shoot.”
But the words were lost as Jasper erratically swung the rifle from the man with the shotgun to the woman crossing the yard. Kade’s bellowed warning went unheeded. Gran would safeguard those under her care, regardless of danger to herself.
Kade, his arm steady, lined the barrel sight on Jasper’s chest—his finger curled around the trigger. Not a breath stirred the air. Not a bird chirped or an insect buzzed. Time stood still. Head swiveling, Jasper’s mouth flew open, disbelief written on his face.
Kade’s finger started to squeeze the trigger and then froze. Bile rose in his throat, and a mantle of helplessness settled over him. Unknowingly, Gran had placed herself in the line of fire. Her body shielding the deranged man. His shot would have to go through her to reach Jasper. Cursing with disgust and fury, Kade threw the gun to the ground.
Cursing the useless weapon, he charged toward the woman more precious to him than life itself. With one intent and one intent only, his long strides ate up the distance. He had to reach Gran, shove her to safety, and then he’d take care of Jasper Cool. He’d do what had to be done to safeguard all on the Double K.
What happened next flashed in a blur of movement. Kade was inches away from Gran when a shot rang out, and the small woman toppled to the ground. Blood spurted onto the packed dirt.
In a bellow of rage, Kade leaped over her prone form and grabbed Jasper’s gun with both hands. The two men struggled for ownership as the specter of death grinned—the gun’s barrel nudging Kade’s chest.
“I’ll kill you, too.” Spittle flew, and Jasper’s foul breath assaulted Kade’s nostrils.
Sweat beaded Kade’s forehead as he fought against Jasper’s crazed grip. He called on every ounce of strength he had. Corded muscles bunched in his arms like coiling steel. With a grunt of determination, he ripped the gun out of Jasper’s grasp, and grabbing the barrel, swung at his head. The sickening sound of wood meeting flesh rang out as the man fell. A red haze filled Kade, and he pulled back his arm, ready to club Jasper over and over until all his evil life-force ceased.
Declan burst from behind and grabbed the rifle seconds before it connected again with the downed man.
“Kade. Kade. Stop. You’ll kill him.”
Kade tried to jerk the rifle away from Declan. “He killed Gran.” His words a sob of anguish. “Leave me alone, Declan. If anyone deserves to die, he does.”
Declan knew Kade’s rage and despair had filled him with superhuman strength. He didn’t know how long he could hold out wrestling with him for possession of the weapon.
“Kade, stop.” Hope cried out. “Stop. She’s not dead. Gran’s not dead.”
Her words barely penetrated his misty haze of pain.
Hope ran to him, pulling at his shoulder. “Stop. Gran’s not dead. She’s badly wounded and needs help. Let Declan take care of Jasper Cool. I’ve sent Mark to call the sheriff and an ambulance, but she needs you.”
Kade blinked hard, a racking shudder shook his body as he slowly processed Hope’s plea. He became aware of Declan and the gun between them. Slowly, he released his grip.
“She’s not dead?” Disbelieving, his eyes raked over the too-silent body sprawled in the dirt. He staggered to Gran’s side and fell to his knees. With fearful reverence, he ran long fingers across her forehead, searching for affirmation of life. Then sliding his arms under her, he cradled her to his chest.
“Gran,” he whispered, unashamed tears rolling down his face. “Don’t leave us. I need you. We all need you. Please.” The words were a prayer.
“Kade,” Mark knelt beside him. Love for his Ida shone from his eyes. “They’re on their way.”
Kade’s body tensed, his arms holding his precious bundle closer. He started to rise. “It’ll take too long. You drive, we’ll meet the ambulance halfway.”
“No.” Mark’s heavy hand pushed down on Kade’s shoulder. “No ambulance. I asked for a helicopter. Lander’s flight for life’s ‘copter will be here any minute.”
Like an old man gripped with ague, Kade’s body trembled. Gran was alive, but for how long? How bad was she injured?
His thoughts of panic and despair were drowned by a distant whop—whop sound. The helicopter came into view, rising over the mountain like a bird of prey, drawing closer by the second. Wind and dust whipped around them as the helicopter descended from the sky. Rocking back and forth, it settled on the nearby field.
Kade hunched his body over Gran, protecting her from flying bits of dirt and grass.
Bent over, two men ran toward them clutching what looked like oversized tool boxes. One of the men gave Kade a nod and, none too gently, nudged him aside. He snapped open the case, and shielding Gran’s body with his, began examining her.
Unsteadily, Kade rose to his feet, never taking his eyes off the two professionals. Suddenly one broke away and ran back to the ‘copter. Immediately he returned with a collapsed stretcher.
The EMT who had moved Kade aside, jerked his head around and snapped, “Age?”
“Seventy-eight.” Kade’s voice sounded hollow.
“Allergies?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” Kade rubbed the back of his neck. “No, none.”
“You sure?”
“None,” Kade snarled. What difference did it make? Gran was lying there, bleeding, and this dumbass was asking questions.
Tubing, with a needle attached, appeared in the second EMT’s hand. Straightening Gran’s arm, he effortlessly slipped it in her vein.
Kade watched as a bottle attached to the other end of the tube was raised, and both men got to their feet.
“I take it you’re related to this woman?”
“Grandson.”
“Good. Come over here and hold this IV bottle while we load her on the stretcher.”
Kade quickly did as asked. He was disgusted to see his hand shake as he took the unfamiliar object.
“Is . . . is she going to,” he tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, “die?” Was that croak his voice?
“Not on my watch.” The EMT took the bottle from Kade’s hand and tucked it alongside Gran. He pulled a blanket over her as they started toward the waiting helicopter. Their movements practiced like a choreographed dance.
They loaded Gran inside the machine and started to climb in behind her.
“Wait,” Kade ordered, his hand on a bar bolted to the machine, ready to pull himself inside.
“Sorry, buddy. No room.” Then he softened. “I’ll take your watch until you get to the hospital. Her vitals are steady. Weak, but steady. Now step back and let us do our jobs. Watch the rotors.” The door slid shut.
Kade did as ordered. Crouching, he backed away, shielding his eyes from debris, and with a rocking motion, the helicopter rose and veered off to the left.
On leaden legs, he stumbled back to the watching tableau. He wanted to ignore them, jump in his truck, and speed to Lander and Gran. But he couldn’t. He had issues to deal with, including three scared boys and Jasper Cool.