Page 30 of Barry
Kathy looked back at Gen, who was still trying to stop laughing. “Edna and a dragon shifter!” Gen howled and slapped her leg. “With Bigfoot!” Gen slid from her chair and landed on her butt on the floor. Kathy tried to help her get up, but they were laughing too hard. Finally, she satdown on the chair Gen had unassed, giving up any effort to control the laughter. It was too funny.
CHAPTER 13
Barry leaned against the corral fence as Andrew talked on the phone. He had his sidearm on again. The fucking snake had been enough of a threat that leaving it off was not going to happen for some time. South Dakota was an open-carry state, and he intended to carry from now on. Andrew was doing a lot of nodding but not much else. “Are you sure?” he asked and looked over at Barry. That look sent a laser chill of dread straight through him. “All right. Thanks again.” Andrew pocketed his phone and moved over to where he was. “Roman said they recovered Fish’s remains about a year after we were ambushed. The DNA is a positive match. All his effects, which were still with him, were sent to his next of kin. His brother.”
“So, I’m just fucking insane.” Barry dropped his head to the railing. “Cap, I can’t …”
“That’s not all he said.” Andrew drew a deep breath. “Fish’s brother was in the service but was given a bad conduct discharge after a court-martial. Ask me what he was court-martialed for.”
“I’m not in the mood for games, Cap.”
Andrew nodded. “I know, but let me get this out there. Fish’s brother was court-martialed for acts against a fellow Ranger. It seems Fish’s brother has a mental problem. They charged him with conduct unbecoming of an NCO, found him guilty, and kicked him out of the service. But Roman said the court-martial transcripts said Fish’s brother destroyed personal property, and it was alleged he tried to kill the other NCO, but with his mental issues, they didn’t charge him for that. They could kick him with the simple conviction.”
God, he was tired all of a sudden. Fish was dead. His jackass of a brother didn’t matter. “How does that asshole play into this?”
“Roman said there is absolutely no electronic trace of Jackson Gill, Fish’s brother.”
Barry shrugged. “And?”
“And the military fucked up. They held on to Fish’s personal effects for over a year before they sent it to Jackson. Then, three weeks after the guy gets his brother’s stuff, he vacates all his bank accounts, lets his apartment lease lapse, and is nowhere to be found.”
Barry clenched his fists and drew a deep breath. “Cap, I’m trying here. I’m using every coping mechanism DocWheeler gave me to use, but if you don’t make a point pretty damn quick, I might have to take a swing at you.”
Andrew snorted. “I’m working up to it. I think the person doing this is Fish’s brother. Jackson.”
Barry turned to look at him. “Why?”
“That I don’t know, but you and I are the only two left. Maybe it isn’t just against you. Maybe the destruction of the stockyard was against me. Hell, maybe all of this is pointed at me, and you somehow got in the middle. Or maybe Jackson Gill is mad as hell that we’re both alive, and he’s on a rampage.”
“That’s a hell of a theory.” Barry sighed and looked down the miles-long drive to the ranch. A plume of dust was kicking up, meaning Ken was heading their way. “Why would he kill the junkie?”
“Why would he do anything he’s been doing? I don’t know. We might never know. Hell, we don’t even know if he’s still in the area.”
“Roman would know if he turns up from his digital trail, right?” Barry looked over at Andrew.
“Yeah, he would.”
“Then he’s still here.” Barry sighed. “The snake is more than enough proof for me.”
“We’re going to put a lock on the bunkhouse. Everyone will be issued a key. After Ken leaves, I’ll go into the hardware store and make the keys myself.” Andrew’s eyes locked on the plume of dust on the road.
“Hate that I’m making it unsafe for the other hands.”
“Again, we don’t know it’s just you.” Andrew turned his attention from the road to him. “And I’m not taking any risks with you or my family. Sidearms are now required. Whoever’s doing this shit will get the message.”
Barry kicked a rock and watched it trickle to a stop. “I probably shouldn’t be around Kathy, then, should I?”
Andrew shrugged. “As far as we know, the closest he’s been to the town was the knoll outside of town by the stockyard. He hasn’t done anything there.”
“That we know of.” Barry sighed. “I’ll talk to Kathy. Make sure she understands why I won’t be around as much.”
“Whoa, hold your horses for a minute. Let’s talk to Ken, and then maybe let Kathy make that decision for herself.”
Barry shook his head. “No. I have very little power in this situation, Cap. Protecting her is something I can do. I’ll take her back today and keep my distance from her and her family after that. I’ll call Corrie and let her know the why of it, too. If Fish’s brother is out there watching … I just don’t want anything to happen to them.”
Andrew shook his head and propped his straw cowboy hat up on his head a bit. “That doesn’t compute. If Jackson were watching, waiting to fuck us over, he would have already attacked at our weakest defense, which is our families. My dad, wife, and son, and for you, Kathy and your mom. He hasn’t done that.”
“Doesn’t mean he won’t.” Barry sighed and watched as Ken pulled into the massive yard, turning right to cometoward the bunkhouse. “Can’t talk me out of this one, Cap. I love that woman, and if not coming around for a while will protect her, that’s what I’m going to do.”