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Henry held her close as her crying slowed. She pulled herself together and stood up straight. "I have to go find Harper."
"Wait for me. We'll go together after the sheriff leaves."
"How does he know to come?"
Her brows knit together.
His brows rose into his hair. Yeah. He'd called. He always knew the right thing to do. "And you need to stay here as you're a witness."
"Oh."
47
His heart stilled to the point he thought he'd die. Seeing Craig point a gun at Everleigh made his breathing stop. His brain felt like it had an electric current running through it as the worst possible scenarios zipped around his brain. It took him a few minutes to get his head on straight. This was his line of work, saving people. The hardest thing he did was set his personal feelings aside and move into work mode.
When Gerard shot Craig, the relief that flooded his body was undeniable. For so many reasons. For so many people.
Gerard stood stock-still as Henry comforted Everleigh. He pulled a bale of hay to the end of the barn so she didn't have to look at Craig's face. He pulled another one over for Gerard.
"Take a seat, Gerard. The adrenaline will wear off soon enough."
Gerard's eyes finally met his and Henry nodded. "It's going to be alright. Self-defense."
"He wasn't pointing the gun at me."
"It lends itself to the defense of others also."
Gerard's shoulders relaxed and he finally slumped down to the bale of hay.
He watched Gerard for a few minutes, then turned to Everleigh.
"Are you alright?"
Her eyes sought his. "I think so."
"It'll take a while for the adrenaline to leave. I'll get you a blanket. You'll likely get cold once that happens."
He stepped into the tack room and pulled a wool horse blanket from one of the hooks. He wrapped it around her shoulders and sat next to her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and waited quietly as the sheriff's sirens grew closer.
"Will he be okay?" He glanced at Everleigh and saw she was staring at Gerard.
"He will. There was really no other way this could go."
She nodded her head. They sat for a while. The crunching of the tires on the driveway reached his ears. Everleigh looked up at him. "Thank you for protecting me."
"It's my job, Ev."
A tear fell from her eyes. He swiped it away with his thumb. "I don't mean you're my job. I mean, it's my job to protect you. First it was a job. Now it's my duty. I will always protect you. For the rest of my life."
More tears fell.
The sheriff called from the outside. "Is it okay to come in?"
Henry kissed Everleigh's forehead, then stood. "Yes sir. Come in. Weapons are down."
The sheriff entered the barn. His eyes fell on Craig Howard first. Then on Gerard at the end of the barn, then they floated to Everleigh.
"Henry. Why don't you talk to me first."
