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“They missed me, but I am not letting them take one damn cow, so you’d better get your ass here, Maddox.” He disconnected, put the phone back into his pocket, and raised the rifle again.
When he saw the thieves trying to round the cattle up, he wondered where they were going with them, since the trailer that the horse had been in was too small. Nudging Diablo, he ran back through the woods toward the fence.
He dismounted before the horse stopped, then he walked along the fence to get closer to them. He dropped the reins and crept closer then slipped under the fence to get to where they had cut the fence. He stopped in his tracks when he saw a hauler backed up to the fence.
The property next door was abandoned, and they’d used an old road to get to his place.
“Where are you, Reece? It shouldn’t take you long to get here,” Liam murmured.
“Liam?” The radio squawked.
“Shit,” he said as he turned the walkie-talkie off and hoped the thieves didn’t hear it but he knew they had when they turned in his direction. He was sure they couldn’t see him, but he didn’t want to take any chances, so he backed up, keeping his eyes on them. He stopped when he came up against a barrel of a rifle.
“Drop it and raise your hands.”
“I’m not letting you take my cattle,” he growled as he put the rifle down, and put his hands in the air.
“Too late for that. We’re about to load them. Luckily, not too many of them bolted. We’ll leave you a few,” the man said, and laughed.
“You won’t get away with this. MDOL is on the way.”
“Bullshit. Even if they are, we’ll be gone before they get here. I’m just wondering what to do with you.”
“You’re going to let him go. Now.”
Liam sighed with relief when he heard Reece’s voice.
“I’ll kill him,” the man said.
“And I’ll drop you where you stand, now put the fucking rifle down.”
Liam heard Reece cock his pistol, and he heard another gun do the same. He glanced over his shoulder and could see two figures. He knew Reece but not the other man. He didn’t care who he was, as long as he was on Reece’s side.
Then as Reece held his weapon on the man, Liam saw the rustler sigh, and then placed the rifle on the ground.
“I’m not alone, and they’re about to drive off.”
“They’re not going anywhere. Two agents are at the truck, and two are rounding up your crew. You’re all going to prison.”
Liam turned to see Reece holstering his weapon and putting handcuffs on the man.
“Thanks, Reece.”
“What the fuck did I tell you, Liam? Did I not say to not interact with them? What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was thinking they’re not going to take my cattle. Damn Reece, I couldn’t sit by, watch them, and do nothing.”
“I get it, but you could have gotten yourself or your men killed. You’re lucky it wasn’t your damn head when they shot at you, but as hardheaded as you are, it probably wouldn’t have done any damage.” Reece looked at the other agent. “Put him in the truck, Alex, and read him his rights.”
“Will do, Reece.”
Liam watched the man leading the rustler away, reading him his rights.
“Where are your trucks?”
“Behind the hauler. I knew where we needed to be.”
“Okay.”
