by Lee Rose
Ethan nodded at Jimmy who pushed Steve playfully at his comment about his eye. “See you in our class on Sunday, Jimmy, and thanks for defending Lacy.”
Lacy hugged Steve and Jimmy and kissed their cheeks with tears in her eyes. They blushed but smiled back at her. “You guys saved me, thank you both so much for staying behind and keeping an eye out. They were going force me to go with them and I admit to being scared.”
“What?” Ethan yelled out, turning to the two men with anger in his eyes. Both men shrank back in the booth with fright. “You like forcing women?”
“I want a lawyer,” one of the men yelled as Ethan grabbed him roughly and took him outside to the car. “Plus I get one phone call, too. I know my rights, officer.”
“How do you know we have phones in this little town?” Harrison smiled evilly, grabbing the second man and putting him in the car too.
Gabe ran to the kitchen and hugged Karissa who was standing back there alone and waiting. She looked pale and nervous. “Oh Gabe, is Lacy okay? Ally said I should stay hidden, but I was so scared for Lacy. Thank God those boys were here.” She knew she was rambling, but she had been so scared and now that Gabe was here and holding her she felt calmer.
Once the two men were in Ethan’s car, Karissa and Gabe joined everyone in the dining room. Karissa hugged Lacy with tears in her eyes. “Are you okay, Lacy? I was terrified for you but Henry had his rifle and was ready to go all John Wayne on those assholes.”
Henry puffed up, still holding the rifle in his hands. “That’s right. I would never have let them take you out of here, Lacy.”
“I know, Henry, thank you.” Lacy smiled tearfully, hugging Henry too. “Is it closing time yet because it’s been a rough day and all this excitement has worn me out.”
Ally laughed and hugged her daughter-in-law. “Take her home, son, she looks pale. Henry and I will clean up here and close for the day.”
Steve and Jimmy started picking the tables and chairs back up with Ryan and Gabe’s help while Ethan and Harrison took the two men to jail.
Ryan hugged his wife and kissed her sore wrist once they were all done. “Come on, darlin’, the guys will charge the men along with Steve and Jimmy’s complaint. I need a nap.” He winked at her. Lacy smiled and nodded, burying her face in Ryan’s chest as they walked out of the diner holding each other.
Gabe took Karissa to Casey’s house so she wouldn’t be alone while he finished the rest of his shift.
“I love you, Karissa. I know I have been busy lately but I want these guys off the street as soon as possible so we can concentrate on our future.” He kissed her softly on her forehead. “I’ll pick you up when my shift is over.”
Karissa hugged him good-bye and went inside to fill in her sister on all that had happened at the diner. Boy, what happened to small-town quietness? She’d never complain about boredom again.
Chapter 14
Jason and John sat talking with Rick and Harry Riley after Ethan officially charged them with assault and locked them up in a cell.
“You boys are in a lot of trouble,” Jason stated in a grim voice, giving them an intimidating look. He had put his suit and official DEA badge back on.
“For what?” Rick Riley, the older brother, snorted giving Jason a bored look. “Fighting? I’ll have bail set in no time and be out of here before you can blink.”
“Who is setting your bail? Your boss, Cantrell?” John asked, quietly watching their reaction closely.
Both men looked at each other with caution, not knowing how to answer that question.
“I want my phone call,” Harry shouted, fear showing in his eyes. His brother no longer looked superior or cocky either, as he just nodded quietly.
“Phones are down until tomorrow. You know how these little towns are.” Jason shrugged carelessly. “Meanwhile let’s talk deals, boys.”
John smiled but it wasn’t a friendly smile. He took out his file full of pictures to show the two brothers hoping they would be scared enough to snitch on Cantrell. “We have a list of charges for you boys, including attempted kidnapping. I wouldn’t count on bail anytime soon, boys. Are you ready to talk about your boss now or should we just show this list to the judge and see what he has to say?”
* * * *
Karissa hugged Gabe tightly trying not to show fear, but she couldn’t help feeling afraid. The Riley brothers had made a deal with the DEA agents for a lesser sentence by giving them the time and date of the next exchange, which was tonight in an empty field on the outskirts of town. They also told Ryan a local man Harvey Johnson had given them a lot of information on the town and showed them the best places in the woods where nobody went. Ryan was saddened to hear the news but had arrested the man who was now sitting with the Riley brothers in a cell.
Gabe was going in to work, hoping to make an arrest tonight. He was taking Karissa to stay with Casey so she wouldn’t be sitting home alone and frightened.
“It’ll be over soon, baby.” Gabe comforted Karissa, rubbing her arms up and down slowly. “The sooner it’s over, the sooner we can make this wedding happen. We have a family to get started on, honey.”
That made her smile. “I’m so excited for that and grateful I have made such good friends. They have been a big help, but you be careful, Gabe. I love you and I just found you again.”
Gabe walked her to Casey’s porch and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I love you too and I will pick you up when it’s over. Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be careful. I have you to come home to now.”
She smiled and waved good-bye, going inside to see her sister and make wedding plans. She had faith in the men that they would be okay.
* * * *
Gabe met the men at the station. Jason and John explained how Cantrell and one of his men were picking up the last load of drugs and where.
“According to the Riley boys he is taking the drugs to Oklahoma where his men will sell it. It’s supposed to be the last exchange for a while so we need to wrap it up tonight,” Jason said, putting on a bulletproof vest and handing each man one to wear.
“We need to wait until the drugs are in Cantrell’s hands, then we can bust them,” John added. “And be alert, he might bring extra men along. Especially since he can’t contact the Riley boys or Harvey. He might be suspicious.”
Ethan nodded, checking his weapons carefully. “Let’s get this over with, boys. I want my peaceful life back.”
Harrison chuckled and shook his head playfully. “Is this the same man who got pumped up to kick ass in combat?”
Ethan smiled back at his old friend. “That was before I had a wife and baby on the way. That’s my excitement now.”
“Don’t blame you.” John nodded in understanding. “I have a wife waiting for me at home, too. I leave the thrills to the young single ones like Jason.”
Everyone laughed and got their weapons ready and soon they were on their way to the meeting place.
The men headed to the location the Riley brothers had given them. It was just getting dark and they needed to spread out so they were all hidden yet could see what was going on. Adrenaline was running high. They all wanted this to end tonight and could feel the anxiety of waiting to see who Cantrell showed up with.
Cantrell and two other men showed up a few minutes later and got out of the same junky pickup truck he had been using. Lou Smith showed up soon after that but all alone.
“Where’s Rick and Henry?” Cantrell asked Lou angrily.
Lou looked at his boss nervously. “I heard they started a fight at some restaurant and got arrested but they never called me to bail them out. I’ve been worried.”
Cantrell looked angry. “Those idiots! If they snitch on me I will kill them. I warned them to behave after that bar fight a few days ago. I need men I can trust and not screw ups like those two.”
Lou grimaced and said, “I know, boss, I told them to lay low, too. They are young but I know they won’t say nothing. How long can the cops hold them for fightin
g? Harvey said he heard gossip Rick pulled a knife on some local boy.”
Cantrell sighed pacing back and forth. “Let’s do the switch right now. I want out of this town tonight. I’ve got too much money to lose if this deal goes sour.”
Lou went to his truck and took out two large drug-filled duffel bags and gave them to Cantrell’s men. They took it to the truck and checked through it. They came back with a backpack and handed it over to Lou.
“Leave town tonight, Lou. I’ll deal with those two idiots myself,” Cantrell ordered coldly.
Lou nodded nervously and didn’t argue with his boss. “Okay, boss. I’m out of here. See you in Oklahoma.”
Jason gave the signal that they had enough evidence. Jason, Harrison, Ryan, and John came out of the trees. “DEA. Put your hands up, men.” They shouted. Lou immediately dropped the bag and put his hands up.
Ethan, Gabe, and Logan had their rifles trained on Cantrell and his two goons ready for trouble. Those three wouldn’t give up easily.
Cantrell looked at Jason with a smirk. “Well what do you know, my old pal, Wells. I should be surprised you followed me, but I’m not.”
Jason looked at Cantrell with determination in his eyes. “You’re not getting out of anything this time so save your breath and use your right to remain silent.”
One of Cantrell’s men took that moment to pull out his gun and fire at Jason, hitting him in the upper arm. Jason groaned and fell to the ground ducking for cover and Ryan immediately helped him get out of the way. John fired back and killed the man instantly but Cantrell and the other man started shooting back at John and Harrison.
Lou threw himself on the ground, covering his head. Logan quickly cuffed him and pulled him out of the way to sit behind a tree so he wouldn’t get hit by a stray bullet. Ethan and Gabe both fired at Cantrell and his man.
The gunfire only lasted a few seconds but it left Cantrell wounded and his two goons dead.
Harrison picked up Jason and inspected his wound. “You let yourself get shot to get all the attention from the ladies—as usual. Admit it, Wells.”
John shook his head playfully at Jason. “Yeah, what a sorry sap if that’s the only way you can get female attention.”
Jason looked at his two friends with mock anger and groaned. “Can you two get me some medical help before I bleed to death?” Harrison and John led him to the car as Jason complained about losing blood.
Ryan and Gabe picked Cantrell off the ground and handcuffed him. He had a gunshot to his leg and shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you patched up, then it’s off to jail for you, buddy. You picked the wrong town to start up your drug business.”
“You’ll never hold me. I’m more powerful than you think,” he shouted as they led him handcuffed to the car. “By the time my trial comes there won’t be any witnesses left to testify against me.”
“You’re only digging yourself deeper, so keep quiet, Cantrell,” Ethan warned and put him in the back of the car. “I’m not listening to your whining all the way to the station either, so shut up.”
Gabe and Logan laughed with relief. They put Lou in the car too, glad it was all over and the town was safe once again.
Chapter 15
With the drug ring busted and Cantrell and his buddies off to Chicago with Jason and John for trial, Appledale settled back into the quiet, peaceful town it was known for. Only the many stories that were passed through the gossipers remained. Steve and his friend Jimmy were followed around by many of the young ladies in town who wanted to hear the story of how they defended the sheriff’s wife. Harrison became an established citizen of Appledale, moving into Logan’s apartment building and being pursued by the Drama Queen Clique, which made the girls tease him a lot. But he took it in stride as he happily became part of the Appledale family.
Gabe and Karissa had decided on a simple wedding at the Golden House’s beautiful garden filled with colorful flowers and many green trees. Despite the wedding being organized hastily it turned out to be a perfect day. It was bright and sunny with a light breeze and perfect in Karissa’s mind. She had been waiting for this moment all of her life and felt overwhelmed with her many blessings.
Gabe’s mother, Sonya Wilson, helped Karissa fix her long white dress. Sonya had her black hair put up in a bun and wore a short pale green dress.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” she said, blinking back tears and hugging Karissa gently. “I wish you many years of happiness, and if my son gets out of hand I’m only a phone call away.”
Karissa hugged her soon-to-be mother-in-law with a smile. They had become good friends in the last week. Sonya was staying at Golden House. Karissa had stayed with her last night to get ready for her wedding day. She turned toward the mirror for one last look. She took a deep, calming breath and admired her long, simple white dress Liz had helped her pick out. It was made out of white satin, with a sweetheart neckline and short sleeves. She had pinned her hair up and wore a simple crown of yellow daisies.
The door opened and her sister came in the room and smiled with excitement. “Oh, Rissa, you look so wonderful in your dress. Gabe is a lucky man.”
Karissa smiled, hugging her sister. “We’re both lucky to have found each other again. Are we ready? I’m feeling anxious and nervous and scared and—”
Casey laughed, interrupting Karissa’s babbling. “Yes, let’s go. Roy is busting in his tuxedo with pride that he gets to walk you down the aisle. Liz is taking care of Jonathon during the ceremony for me. The photographer is ready and we’re ready.”
Liz couldn’t stand up in the wedding because now that her pregnancy was advancing the doctor had recommended she stay off her feet. Casey, Stella, Lacy, and Kari were her bridesmaids. All were wearing the beautiful pale yellow dresses Liz had picked out for them. Toby was the proud ring-bearer and a relative of Roy’s was the flower girl. Thanks to her new friends, the wedding had been planned quickly and they had simply made an announcement at the monthly town hall meeting that everyone in Appledale was welcomed to attend the wedding and reception being held in the community center afterward.
* * * *
The music started signaling her queue to walk down the aisle with Roy. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This was the moment she had dreamed of since she was a little girl. She was ready to marry Gabriel Wilson, the man she had always loved.
Roy leaned toward her and said softly, “You look beautiful, honey. Gabe is a good man and I am so happy for you both.”
“I know, thanks for doing this, Roy,” she whispered and felt him kiss her temple as they started the walk down the aisle. She took the long walk down the aisle to where Gabe was standing under a white arch decorated with colorful flowers of all kinds. There was a nice breeze and the smell of flowers filled the air. She couldn’t help but notice the chairs on both sides of the walkway were filled with family and friends here to share in their joy.
Gabe stood proudly in the front with a big smile on his face surrounded by Ryan, Logan, Ethan, and Harrison. She smiled back at the man she loved and reached out her hand toward him, ready to start her new life.
She couldn’t help the tears of joy falling down her face as the preacher started the wedding. “Dearly beloved…”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have always loved reading, especially romances. I believe in a happy ending and that love does indeed conquer all. Now I love writing romance stories just as much. When not writing I spend my time with family and friends. I enjoy hearing from my fans and can look me up on Facebook.
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