Page 55 of Rancher's Strength

My gun was tucked into the holster at my side, and he obviously hadn’t noticed it. Pulling it out, I raised it in the air and fired two quick shots before pointing my weapon at Desmond Tucker.

“Sweet mother, my ass. She’s a tyrant. I’ll ask you again: where are my kids?” There was a hitch in my voice, and I hated that he caught. His eyebrow shot up, and a slimy grin spread across his face.

“You caused a lot of trouble for me showing up here, you know. I had everything in my grasp, one stupid rancher to buy out and I’d be well on my way to making this entire place a tourist town.”

“Guess it’s a good thing I came home,” I said, snarkiness filling my words. Desmond fumbled as he tried to retrieve his gun from wherever he was keeping it, but I never lowered mine. If he wanted to go out this way, I’d be the one pulling the trigger first. I might have been a city girl for the last three years, but I’d been trained by the five; there wasn’t anything I couldn’t hit.

“Rufus, bring them out,” he barked, and a man stood up from the bushes, pushing Ruby and Sawyer ahead of him.

“Auntie,” Ruby cried when she saw me.

“Hey, my girl, everything is fine. We’ve got it under control.” I looked around Tucker and saw Sawyer clinging to Ruby. Off in the distance, I could hear thunder, not from a storm, but from seven riders galloping full speed back to camp, who would rain down terror if I could hold this man off long enough. As the seconds ticked by, I stood in a showdown with the man who’d caused more problems for a lifetime around this county.

“Ruby, Sawyer, please go and stand with Elle.” I said, keeping my voice eerily calm. When the guys rode back in, I didn’t need them anywhere near Tucker or his man.

Tucker moved his weapon in their direction. “I don’t think they should move.” Blinding rage flowed through me as I took a step closer to the man, and for a split second, I saw the fear in his eyes.

“Kids, do as I say.” My voice didn’t sound like mine, and they both ran toward Elle, who pulled them over to the tent where the other kids slept. I took more steps toward the man who’d terrified my kids until the barrel of my gun was pressed against his forehead.

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t put you down right now like the sack of shit you are?”

“He’ll kill you before you can get to him.” Tucker gestured to Rufus behind him.

“Don’t count on it.” Elle’s song-like voice came from behind me as she loaded her rifle and pointed it at the other man, who was suddenly taking steps backward. This was obviously not what he had expected. “Kids are in the tent with Parker. He’ll keep them in there until we tell him to come out.” The calmness of her voice should have terrified me, but it only made me more determined to end this nightmare.

Shouts broke out all around us, and I saw a flash of silver before searing pain ripped through my arm and my side.Stumbling back, I lowered my gun for a brief moment. Tucker seized the opportunity to press his gun to my head.

I was in trouble.

At that moment, a large gray horse sped by, and a man leaped off, tackling Tucker and sending his weapon flying. As I sank to the ground, Nora was behind me, breaking my fall.

“Fallon, get the kit,” Elle yelled as she ripped my shirt open. “I need to lay you down, Lexie.” Gently, she lowered me to the ground and pulled open the snaps of my shirt while pressing her hand against my ribs.

Fallon skidded to her knees beside me and opened a red bag. The men shouted, and someone lifted my head and set it in their lap. “I knew you’d hear it.” My words were weak, and I thought I smiled, but I wasn’t sure.

“Sweetheart, you have to fight. Ruby, Sawyer, and I need you. We’ve finally got a family. This isn’t the time to leave us, understand?”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m just in so much pain.” Grimacing as Fallon pressed on my shoulder, I let out a groan when Elle pressed on my side.

“Medevac is its way. ETA fifteen minutes," someone shouted.

“Nora, I need you to grab that bag of saline, spike it, and run it through the tubing. Make sure there are no air bubbles, and hold the bag higher than the end of the line.” When I opened my eyes, I watched Elle rip open a package with her teeth and put another gauze pad on my side. How lucky this group was to have a nurse now, I thought as I gazed up at the blue sky.

Ryder ran his hand over my hair, gentle like he was petting me, and the world fell silent around us. I could hear the murmurs of people talking, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Lexie, for the love of god, stay with me. I can’t handle another person on this ranch needing CPR.” Elle’s voice wasclear, and I looked up at Ryder, whose eyes were filled with fear and tears.

“I’m not going anywhere. I told you that already.” Ryder leaned over and kissed my forehead. “I don’t think it’s that bad.” I tried to sit up, but he gently pressed a hand to my good shoulder, guiding me down against him.

“Pretty sure your law degree doesn’t override my nursing one,” Elle said without stopping what she was doing.

“Are you saying it’s bad? Guess we should have asked Jake to come with us.” I glanced over at Elle. “Since he’s a doctor and his degree would override yours and mine.” I smiled when that made her stop whatever she was doing and glare up at me. A rough chuckle escaped me, and even though it hurt, I got Elle to crack a smile.

“You got lucky, and I think you’re just in shock, but I really don’t want you moving around until the medevac gets here, okay?”

“Told you it wasn’t bad.” I looked up at Ryder and smiled. “But if it’s okay with all of you, I’m going to pass out shortly.” The adrenaline in my body was waning, and I was acutely aware of the pain along my left side. There was a buzzing in my ears, and I could hear people talking around me, but it was muffled. As I looked up at Ryder, the rest of the world faded to black except for his face. I relaxed back into Ryder, and the world went quiet.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

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