Page 8 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Jason shook his head in disbelief.One of the brothers groaned from his prone position on the ground.The other rolled over and vomited on the sidewalk.If Billy wanted to get his face rearranged, so be it.Some people had to learn the hard way.Resigned to the task, Jason waved Billy forward.
Billy advanced with a startling quickness and an unexpected amount of force.Jason didn’t bother to duck because he’d invited the contact, and he wanted a reason to retaliate.He spotted the brass knuckles as Billy’s fist arched toward him, a second too late.The blow landed, exploding across his jaw.Blood filled his mouth, warm and metallic, and black spots danced across his vision.
Damn.Maybe Billy wasn’t as drunk—or defenseless—as he’d thought.
Jason shook off the cobwebs, spat blood on the grass, and reset his feet.He stepped forward and raised his fists.A dark thrill traveled through him as they squared up again.
Billy was fighting dirty, but so what?Jason hadn’t expected him to play nice.If anything, he relished the extra challenge.Now he could beat this redneck punk to a pulp without a single twinge of guilt.
Game on.
Chapter Three
Natalie should haverun in the opposite direction the instant she’d seen them.
She hadn’t because her first instinct was to help, not flee.She’d hurried toward the group of men in hopes of stopping a fight before it started.
No such luck.
Stan had taken the first swing, and everything after that was a blur.She’d watched in amazement as Jason defended himself with ruthless precision.He appeared calm and unruffled despite having just dispatched both of the Stoddard brothers in short order.No wonder he was eager to fight; he was quite skilled at it.
Steve groaned and straightened to a sitting position.Natalie prayed he wouldn’t get up.She wanted Jason to win with as little fanfare and bloodshed as possible.Billy was his last opponent and the weakest of the three.While she stayed silent, looking on from a safe distance, Billy raised a glinting fist.
He had brass knuckles.
Natalie clapped a hand over her mouth to smother a scream.Jason took a hard hit, but he didn’t go down, and he recovered quickly.Even so, she was terrified for him.He was outnumbered, and Billy had no moral compass.
Behind him, Steve Stoddard staggered to his feet.Jason couldn’t take his focus off Billy and the brass knuckles to deal with Steve.
“Watch out,” she cried.
“Hold ’im,” Billy said.
Steve locked his arms around Jason’s torso.It was a coward’s way of fighting, two-on-one with a deadly weapon.Seizing his advantage, Billy struck Jason again.The weighted metal gave the punch more impact.Jason’s head rocked back.Billy landed a third blow while Jason struggled against Steve’s grip.
Natalie’s heart lodged in her throat.She had to help him!She looked around for something heavy.The brick-lined pathway at her feet offered a handy object.She found a loose brick and picked it up.
Hurtling forward, she drew back her arm like a tomahawk and walloped Steve Stoddard in the back of the head.
Steve released Jason, careened sideways, and fell down.
Natalie dropped the brick with a gasp.It broke in half at her feet.She couldn’t believe she’d hit a man over the head.Steve also seemed shocked by her actions.He gaped at her, dumbstruck.
In the meantime, Billy continued to attack.Drunk or not, he was able to maintain his balance and stay on target.Jason fought back with his own punches, and they were well-placed, but Billy kept swinging.Natalie picked up another piece of brick, just in case.Thankfully, she didn’t have to intervene again.
Jason tackled Billy around the waist and took the fight to the ground, where Billy couldn’t use his weapon as effectively.They fell on the grass in a tangle of limbs.Jason unleashed a series of brutal punches.He pummeled Billy’s face and showed no mercy.Bones crunched, and blood sprayed.Natalie’s stomach roiled with horror.Though the punishment was well-deserved, she hated violence.
When Billy went limp, Jason flipped him over and wrenched his arm behind his back, ripping the brass knuckles away.They clattered on the sidewalk.
“If I kill you, they’ll call it self-defense,” Jason growled.
“Not in this town,” Billy said.“Ask her.”
Natalie swallowed hard and glanced around the quiet neighborhood.Several porchlights had come on nearby.She was aware of Stan in the background, helping Steve to his feet.Steve lumbered forward and stepped off the curb.He put his arm around Stan for support.They didn’t appear capable of launching a new attack on Jason.
“Go home, Billy,” Natalie said.“It’s over.”
“Let him up,” Stan said from the shadows.“He’s done.We’re leaving.”
