“What’s going on?”
“It’s Mandy. Claire’s mother.”
I gave the woman a quick glance, then did as Huck asked—undid my belt, opened my door, and slipped out, shutting it behind me. I took my cell and squatted down behind the rear wheel and called Graham.
Huck’s door slammed. I felt the reverberations of it against my back.
“Hey, Sarah,” Graham said.
“Huck and I are on County Road Four,” I whispered. “A woman has blocked the road. Huck knows her and is dealing with her, but we need some help out here.”
“Got it. No one’s hurt?”
A gunshot had me jumping.
“Shit. You okay?”
“She doesn’t know I’m here,” I whispered. “Huck’s talking to her, and she’s got a gun. And is using it!”
“Stay down. We’ll be there soon.”
The line went dead, and I scrunched down and peeked under the SUV. I saw Huck’s jean-clad legs. He was still standing, thank God.
“Put the gun down, Mandy.”
“No way! You need to give me money. Now!”
I couldn’t see the woman, but her voice was shrill.
“Why? What are you on? Meth? Put the gun down before you hurt someone.”
I heard footsteps on the paved road. “That’s the plan. I want you dead.”
“Be pissed all you want. Shooting me won’t solve anything.”
How could he sound so calm? I wasn’t sure if I could handle him being police chief if he dealt with people like this as part of his job.
Then I realized she wasn’t part of his job. She was part of his life. The woman who’d made Claire but had fucked with him. She might be a nutjob—and dangerous—but Huck had gotten the best part of this woman. He was right. I wouldn’t want to change anything that had happened because we’d never have Claire otherwise.
We just needed to get out of this alive.
“It’ll solve everything. If you’re dead, then Claire’s mine. She inherits everything. All your Manning money.”
I heard more footsteps and knew she might see me. There was a deep farmer’s ditch on the side of the road. I crawled over to it, then slid down the steep bank. Glancing up, I couldn’t see the road. As long as I leaned against the berm, I wouldn’t be seen. I’d stay here, safe, and pray I didn’t lose Huck before I ever really had him again.
HUCK
Mandy was a fucking disaster. I hadn’t seen her in five years, and they hadn’t been good to her. Her long hair was bleached but had three-inch dark roots. Her skin was pale, and she had a hideous cold sore at the corner of her mouth. It was her eyes that told me everything. She was on something. Hooked. Desperate. How she’d found an attorney to represent her was impressive, or she’d spiraled down since then.
She’d climbed from a beat-up sedan and must have been coming to the ranch. She had lady balls to stop a police car like that unless someone was having a baby or dying. She must’ve figured I’d be the only person driving this way in such a vehicle. The road wasn’t well traveled, and she was amped. The location of the Manning ranch wasn’t a secret. Anyone in the county could have given her directions.
The way she was acting, she hadn’t seen Sarah. Thank fuck her focus was squarely on me. After all that Sarah had been through, she didn’t need this shit. It was mine to deal with, mine to handle.
Besides, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on dealing with Mandy if Sarah was in harm’s way. It was Mandy’s erratic behavior and the gun she held that made her a threat. She had to be a hundred pounds soaking wet, but the gun… it fired bullets no matter who pulled the trigger. I guessed I’d have backup in about six minutes, but that was a long time.
“You think I’d leave my portion of the ranch to a five-year-old?” I called out.
Her eyes widened, and she took a step closer. Her hand wasn’t steady, and that first shot had gone wide.
“She’s your heir. You might not be the sperm donor, but you’re on the birth certificate.”
“That’s right, I am. I was smart enough five years ago to get you to sign over your rights to Claire. I’ve been smart since, ensuring that she can’t touch any of the money until she’s twenty-five, and that’s just a small portion.”
“You’d fuck over your own daughter?” she asked, waving her arms.
“I’m saving her. She’s going to know the value of hard work. Something you’ll never understand.”
I wasn’t raising entitled children. They’d know the land. Respect it. If there was money, it would come second to what was important. Family. Fulfillment. Love.
“What are you going to do, Mandy? Shoot me? Then you’ll be in jail and won’t be able to spend a dime.”
Sirens were faint in the distance. Mandy heard them too. She started to pace, talk to herself. I remained still, hands out at my sides.
“Run, Mandy. Hear those sirens? They’re for you.”
I wanted her to get in her car because she’d put the gun down to drive. Hopefully. We’d catch her quick enough, especially since backup was coming from town and she’d run into them. There weren’t any other roads, fields all around.
She turned to look over her shoulder, as if she could see the police cars headed our direction. They’d be here soon.
“I hate you!” she snarled, then ran for her car. The driver’s door was open, and she hopped in. I moved then, cutting across the pavement to her passenger door. She was right-handed, so the gun had to be on the seat beside her.
I expected the engine to start and for her to peel out, but the car remained quiet. Mandy didn’t. She pounded on the steering wheel and started screaming at the car. “What the fuck? Work, damn it!”
I took the opportunity with both her hands in view to yank open the door and
