Page 8 of Cowboy Bodyguard
Back in the saddle correctly, I slow the horse. We’re nearing the wooded area by the river. That’s where I’ll find the others. I veer away from the trail they left, and go farther east. I know there’s a place to cross the river in that direction, so I can come at them from behind. My advantage is knowing my own ranch, while they don’t.
I walk the horse across the shallow area so that there’s no splashing to alert Lizzie’s captors. It’s slow going through the trees, but it’s necessary. A bird shoots into the sky from a tree, and I know that means a man has climbed it to ambush me. I smile, realizing he’ll be easy pickings for my rifle. I see another one standing vigil on a large rock beside the river.
And, there’s my cowgirl. She’s under the tree where we made love. Her hands are tied, but she’s kicking at the ugly man who’s trying to move her. He slaps her, and I swear I’ll make sure he pays for that later. She spits in his face. That’s my little tiger!
The bushes a few feet ahead of me rustle, and I’m made aware that the last man has managed to cross the river. That’s fine. He’ll be the first one I take out. I loop the horse’s reins over a tree branch, and circle behind the intruder. He’s just settling down in his makeshift nest when I hit him with a rock. I tie, and gag the unconscious man. Two down, three to go.
The man on the rock is easy prey. I swing a lasso, and jerk him into the roaring river. He yelps, but the other’s seem to believe he fell. They have no idea I’m behind them.
“Hey, King! What the hell? Get your ass out of the water!” the ugly one yells.
King can’t answer. He’s half drowned when I fish him out of the river. He, too, is tied and gagged. The zip ties come in handy.
The ugly man is coming to investigate what happened to King. He shouts up to the tree, “Keep an eye peeled for that Marshall. He’ll come for the girl. He’s got to die. He’s a loose end left over from long ago. Joey killed his partner, and the fool ain’t stopped looking for him ever since. The boss is sick of him.”
“You won’t catch Jack. He’s smarter than any of you, and he’s better at this game. He’s not stupid enough to follow such a blatant trail,” my Lizzie shouts back.
“Shut your damn mouth, bitch! I’ll gag you so tight, you’ll suffocate!” the ugly man commands.
He stomps toward Lizzie, ready to do as he’s warned, but I can’t let him touch her again. I swing the lasso, and it wraps around the man’s feet. I pull him to the ground. Shots are fired from the tree. The bullets miss me, and slam into a rock. One ricochets, and makes a slice across my upper arm. It burns, but I ignore the pain. Lizzie comes first. I realize she’s more important to me than my own life.
I pull the rope taut, and dodge the bullets that keep coming. I tie the rope to a tree, and use it to pull myself across the rapidly flowing river. My grip keeps the knot around the ugly man’s ankles too tight for him to get it off, and his grip on the riverbank keeps me from rolling down the river with the current.
“Damnit!” I curse, remembering I’ve left my rifle with the horse. I pull myself onto the riverbank, and hide behind a huge rock. I’m lucky. It’s the same rock that I pulled the other man off of. Lying beside it is his gun. He must have dropped it when he began to fall.
Rising up to take a peek, I see the ugly man has gotten loose. He’s got a gun on Lizzie.
“You’ve tried hard, Marshall, but you won’t get the girl. I think I’m going to make you watch her die.” He turns toward the tree, and tells his accomplice, “Keep him pinned down while I douse the woman with gasoline.”
Bullets bounce all around the rock I’m hidden behind. I can’t raise my head without getting shot. I hear the jeep’s door slam shut, and Lizzie’s scream as the ugly man goes back to her with his can of gas. I can’t let it happen. I won’t let my cowgirl die.
I hold the gun above the rock, and without looking I start shooting into the tree. I miss with the first shots, but the fourth one hits it’s mark. A big, heavyset man falls to the ground clutching his chest. His body knocks over the ugly man, and I rush from my cover. I shoot him in the shoulder, and kick the can of gas as far away as I can.
Despite the bullet wound, the ugly man rises. He’s got a gun, and shoots at Lizzie. She falls to her side, causing him to miss. I can’t allow him to make a second shot. I blow off his ugly face with my last bullet.
Lizzie’s sobs make my chest ache, but I have to hogtie the big man before it’s safe to hold her. Once he’s bound, I go to my sweetheart.
“It’s okay, darlin’. They can’t hurt you now. I’m here. I’ll always come for you,” I say as I untie her hands, and hold her against my chest.
“Are they dead?” she sobs.
“Only one of them, baby. He hurt you, so I couldn’t let the bastard live. I hit one on the way here, but not badly. Two are tied up in the woods across the river. This fat one will survive to tell us who he works for. The bullet hit his chest, but nothing vital was touched. It’s kind of a miracle for him.”
“You killed for me,” Lizzie gulps. “You’re bleeding!”
“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” I tell her. I place a sweet, soothing kiss on her lips before finding a phone in the jeep, and calling for help.
Chapter 10~Lizzie
I’m bruised, battered, and shaken, but alive. Jack is my hero. I know for sure now that he will risk his life for me. My heart beats only for him.
Jack is being questioned. I’m finished with it. They tell us that the fat guy is giving up the names the Marshalls need to bring in the entire crew in exchange for medical care, and a lighter sentence. Joey, and his crew will never harm another person. Once the trial ends, I can return to my previous life, but I’m not sure that’s what I want at all.
Jack steps out of the tiny room the Marshalls use for questioning. He’s tired. I can see it in his eyes. His arm is bandaged, but the blood is seeping through. He needs to have the wound cleaned by a professional. He’s too stubborn, though, so I’ll do what I can.
“Let’s go home, darlin’,” he drawls, and makes my knees go weak.
Home? Yes, the ranch feels like home to me. My cowboy feels like home. “Gladly,” I reply.