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“Sirens make horses anxious?”
“Anxiety-inducing moments make horses anxious. That can be sounds or people or events. Again, if I’m anxious, the horses notice and mimic. It’s hard to have a bad day without it rippling into our herd.”
“What was anxiety-inducing aside from the sirens?”
“I was scared, for one. Braxton, my brother who’d had the threats made against him, called in the sheriff to discuss a specific threat. I love my family, sir. The idea that we needed law enforcement was bad. Knowing my brother felt they were credible and he wasn’t safe… That he couldn’t keep his family safe… It was terrifying.”
“Would you say you acted out of fear that day?”
“I was fearful, yes, but I wasn’t looking to act on it. If I can back up, you asked about unusual things that day. My brother asked his attorney and friend, Elias Finchley, to bring Colt to me, to have him with me in the barn. He’d never asked that before. Everything was different that day.”
“So you had the child—” He looks down at his papers. “Colt Emerick Ranger with you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“He was with you when Terrell Paulson entered the barn?”
“Yes, sir, Colt was in my office.”
“And the assailant, Mr. Paulson, walked up to you?”
“That wouldn’t be my characterization.”
“Why not?”
“Mainly because he was tip-toeing, or at least trying to control the sound of his steps. Your characterization sounds like he was invited and should be comfortable on our ranch. He was neither invited nor welcome there.”
“And you told him that?”
“No, sir. I didn’t have time.”
“Why is that?”
“Because when I saw him, I also saw the barrel of his pistol.”
“Was it aimed at you or at your nephew?”
“Not Colt, thank God. But that didn’t mean I was relieved.”
“So, a trespasser pointed a gun at you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you say anything?”
“No, sir.”
“What did you do?”
“I drew my pistol and fired two shots.”
“That’s it? You were fearful, and your nephew had received threats, and you only fired two shots?”
I nod.
“Please verbally confirm, Dr. Ranger.”
“Yes. I only took two shots.”
