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"I believe I am."
Craig laughed. He sounded completely deranged. He wasn't thinking clearly. He was reacting instead of acting. She knew this from her years as a negotiator. He was more dangerous than most. He had nothing to lose.
She slid back to the tack room and searched around for a gun. Hopefully Henry had stashed a gun somewhere. She couldn't find one.
She pressed her back against the wall and inched her way out of the barn. Gerard and Craig were still arguing, and she needed to find a way to get them out of her barn.
She kept her back to the stall doors as she moved toward Craig. The lights in the barn flickered then came on, low at first, but they grew brighter.
Craig whirled around and saw her standing near Harper's stall. He took two steps toward her but Gerard grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him back. Craig fell on his ass but jumped back up and lunged at Gerard. The two men fought and the barn door opened once more. Henry entered and yelled. "KNOCK IT OFF."
Her heart raced and relief slid down her spine, though the goosebumps on her arms still stood tall.
The men froze and Craig pushed away from Gerard. She stared at Henry, but he was watching Craig. He filled the doorway, and she could hear in his voice that he was pissed.
"Ev. Come towards me."
She wanted to stay near Harper so she'd calm down. She hesitated and Henry's voice grew louder. "Ev. Now."
She swallowed and her breathing threatened to stop completely she was so scared. Craig pulled a gun and pointed it at her chest. "Stop right there, bitch."
She froze as she stared at Craig's gun. She'd never had a pistol pointed at her before. She'd never gone through anything like this before outside of her military training. And then, she knew she wouldn’t be hurt.
Her knees wobbled and she didn't know if she could take a step if her life depended on it. Her stomach somersaulted and she worried she’d vomit. She knew she couldn't run fast enough to not get shot. The slight ringing in her ears filtered out many sounds.
The horses kicked at their stalls with force. Such force she worried they'd injure themselves.
"Your girl isn't going to make it tonight, Henry."
Henry raised his gun and pointed it at Craig. Craig turned his head and laughed at Henry.
Gerard’s voice called out to Craig. “We’re finished with you Craig. You’re the one who won’t make it tonight.”
Craig turned and laughed at Gerard. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me. You? You aren’t going to do a fucking thing Gerard.”
“I’m making it right. All of it.”
A shot rang out and she held her breath. As if in slow motion, Craig crumpled to the floor. His gun slid a foot or so away from him and she stared at the lifeless eyes of Craig Howard as they stared at her.
Harper burst from her stall and trampled over Craig's body before she could get her bearings. Harper ran out of the barn door and toward the pasture.
Everleigh finally gasped in a deep breath of air as she held on to the stall door behind her. It was then she noticed Gerard lower his arm and drop the gun in his hand.
She turned to see Henry, big burly, handsome, slowly stepping toward her. His eyes roved over her face. His jaw was tight, but he continued toward her. He'd holstered his gun and reached his arms out toward her.
She fell into his arms as the sobs wracked her body.
His arms circled her and he held her tightly. “Are you alright, Ev?”
She could only nod.
She felt the rumble in his chest as he spoke softly. "Are you alright, Gerard?"
"Yes."
"Sit down if you need to."
"I don't need to sit."
