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“Someone should probably call 911.” Malachi’s voice shook with the strain of having taken the shot that might’ve ended another man’s life.
“I already hear sirens, but it couldn’t hurt to direct them this way.” Gavin grabbed some gauze from his backpack and stuffed it into Reece’s wound.
“I’ll call.” The man who helped Gavin tackle Reece rose to his feet and walked closer to the camper before dialing.
Malachi returned his attention to Gavin. “Is he alive?”
“For now. Can’t promise he’ll stay that way though.” Gavin frowned at Cate. “What were you thinking? You could’ve been killed.”
Tears spilled down Cate’s cheeks. “And what about you?” Her voice was just above a whisper. “I could’ve lost all three of you within minutes of each other. Why would you put yourself in that kind of danger?”
Malachi drew her into his arms. “I think I speak for all three of us when I say we would do anything to protect you.”
“Right back at you.” She buried her head in his chest.
Cate rose to her tiptoes and gave Malachi a lingering kiss in the rain. She’d always wanted to kiss a man in the rain. She dismissed the thought and refocused on her surroundings. “You should see to your mother.”
As he walked to where his mother talked with the man who’d tackled Reece. Wait. It was Clarence. Why had he tackled his boss? Clarence’s eyes softened as he looked down at Becky. The creep was in love with Malachi’s mother. No doubt about it. Was that why he’d been so determined to find her? Could he have been planning on protecting her all along? If so, his motives for keeping Cate captive may have been less sinister than she’d initially believed. But still despicable. If he’d asked for her help to protect Becky, she would’ve done so without having to fling herself from a moving vehicle. Even as the thought crossed her mind, she felt the scrapes and bruises from the ordeal. It’d been a long day and if she had to guess, she’d say it was barely noon.
Gavin knelt beside Grayson’s prone figure and he slapped him, trying to wake him up. Cate got down beside them and checked Gray’s pulse. It was strong and steady. She pinched him, and his eyes fluttered open.
“Two can play at that game.” His voice had a groggy quality as if he’d just awakened from anesthesia.
“You okay?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Where am I? And who are you?”
Her eyes widened, and she studied his face. Her breathing was ragged. She might need her inhaler again. Gray didn’t recognize her. Her eldest brother had amnesia. No. She closed her eyes for a moment. This wasn’t okay.
Then he let out a full belly laugh. “Had you going there, didn’t I?”
Gavin rolled his eyes.
She smacked him lightly and shook her head. “You think you’re so funny, but I’m telling Jenna you scared the wits out of me.”
Gray smirked as he sat up, wiped the mud from his hands, and glanced around. “Just trying to lighten things up.”
“I should probably tell you… I borrowed the Bronco.”
“You did what!?”
“Needed to get up here in a hurry to save your skin.”
He shook his head. “Seems like I missed most of the action.”
“Count your blessings.” Gavin swiped his sleeve over his forehead. "Our buddy over there threatened to blow your brains out before turning his pistol on our baby sister.” He faced her. “What were you thinking? You should’ve stayed out of it and let us handle it.”
“He was about to kill Gray. I couldn’t just hide in the woods.”
Turning back to Gray, he pointed to his head. “Be glad he knocked you out. Best you weren’t awake to see how serious the situation was. I was about two seconds away from taking a risky shot when Malachi took out the threat without hesitation.”
The rain let up and only a light drizzle remained. Sirens grew louder and chopper blades whirred overhead. She stared up at the sky. “I guess they’re going to take Reece to the hospital.”
Gavin glanced at Reece’s figure lying flat in the mud only feet away from where they stood. He folded an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “No worries. If Moretti survives, he’ll be kept guarded until he’s moved to a secure facility. They don’t let wanted men freely wander around hospitals.”
