by Kim Turner
“Shit.” He fired back in rapid succession as a man ducked back inside the painted props building. He crouched lower holding his side and looking toward the saloon. In spite of his racing heart and his aching side, he had to get to Jenna and time was going fast.
****
Jenna pulled hard, trying to free her tied wrists, her skin on fire and raw. Every time gunfire sounded she cringed, praying Aaron was safe. She’d never forgive herself if this took Aaron from Lily, Sarah, and Amos. Oh, God, Aaron…please. She pulled harder at the ropes, not sure what she’d do if she were to free herself, but she had to try.
Vince was still inside with her, firing shots, laughing as he did. “Bastard has no idea how things are about to go.”
More gunshots sounded closer and Jenna looked up pulling her head away from the post, still shivering at the cold, her teeth chattering.
Vince pulled a remote from his belt, looking at it and waiting at the window, where he’d remained the entire time. At first Jenna thought it was a radio or cell phone, but then she noticed he was programming something into the device. He had explosives, as he’d said. He cursed, shaking the remote, and going back to the bag to dig inside. Just as he bent down, the back door of the saloon flung open. Vince dropped the remote, firing his pistol as a man hit him, both of them rolling to the wooden floor.
Jenna screamed her ears ringing, her head pounding.
Vince kicked hard and sent the man backward, following him and jumping on top of him, hitting him with the butt of his pistol. It was then Jenna caught sight of Tucker.
“Ahh.” Tucker grabbed his head and rolled ramming his forearm across Vince’s shoulder, the gun in Vince’s hand sliding across the floor close to her.
She watched the two men continued to wrestle and stretched to try to reach her foot to the gun, but it was too far. She continued trying. If she could get it to her foot, then she could squat down and maybe get it in her hands and if she could, she’d shoot Vince herself. She pulled harder against her tender wrists to the point she had to grit her teeth, but it was no use. Tears filled her eyes as she watched the men continue to struggle, but in seconds of her leaning to wipe her eyes, Vince had gotten the advantage, gaining on Tucker and slamming his head to the floor multiple times.
Tucker groaned, trying to fight.
Vince pulled a small pistol from his pants and stuck it to Tucker’s head. “Now, what a surprise, ex-marine.”
Tucker struggled to stand, off balance. Vince grabbed him by the hair, dragging him forward and shoved him to his knees, handcuffing him to the pole opposite Jenna.
“You cowboys are all the same, trying to be a hero, but you aren’t the one I’m looking for.” Vince smacked him again with the butt of the gun.
Blood trickled from Tucker’s mouth. He met glances with Jenna as Vince tied his hands behind his back. “You all right?”
Jenna nodded, still gagged.
“Keep it quiet.” Vince kicked Tucker in the belly, doubling him over. “I’ll be back for you, wise guy, and you’re not going to like it.”
Vince turned aiming the gun as one of his men raced inside, his own weapon held high.
“We’re in trouble boss; they got the others, all but me.” The man was out of breath.
“No matter, we’ve got a hanging.” Vince scrambled to untied Jenna’s hands making her yelp at the raw burn.
“Keep an eye on him.” Vince sneered toward the other man. “Toss some ammo to keep the cowboys hopping out there. If I don’t get my son, she takes a dive.”
Jenna resisted as best she could, but it was no use as Vince drug her across the rough wooden boards of the saloon. “You have a short time to tell me where my son is, but either way it’s done sweet, Jennifer. You’ve little time sweetheart.” Vince pulled her toward the ramp where Aaron had fallen.
“No.” Jenna tried to speak through the gag, dragging her feet to resist.
Vince laughed and jerked her to the ramp. He stopped at the base, picking up a noose and putting it over her head and pulling it tight.
“No.” Jenna panicked, fighting as best she could and not caring about the pain. He was going to hang her. She had thought he would shoot her to a quick death, but this wasn’t her idea of fast and easy.
“Where’s my son?” He tightened the rope further. “One fall from this ramp and your neck will snap like a twig, sweet Jennifer.”
He untied her gag and threw it to the ground. “Tell me, bitch, right damn now.” He slapped her face hard enough to make her head pop back and nausea plague her. She heaved.
Her voice cracked as the last of what she said faded to a whisper. “You can’t do this, Vince.”
“Wrong answer.” He shoved her ahead, holding the edge of the rope as they climbed the ramp. Jenna looked toward the top and realized the ramp had been moved, closer to the river, not the angle it had sat for Aaron’s stunt. The crumpled part of the ramp was further back. Well, she might go down too but not before fighting harder. She dug in her heels, grabbing the wood with her tied hands.
“All right, if you won’t walk, I’ll drag you. Terror takes hold doesn’t it sweet Jennifer when death is near,” he growled.
Jenna went to her knees, trying to curl into a ball. If he wanted her to go to the top, he’d have to work for it. She dug her heels in. Vince grabbed her and dragged her by her wrists and she screamed in pain. Realizing Vince had gotten her to the top, she stopped struggling, for fear of falling. He tossed the rope down fidgeting with his gun. This was it. He would probably tie her and then shove off to her death. Strange, she’d had a moment of sheer panic, but now that it was time, she had no fear, numbness taking her. If she were to die then her son would live and right now that was all that mattered.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aaron scrambled behind the buildings, looking across in the saloon for a better vantage point. With the gunfire coming from several areas, he didn’t have an exact head count, but things had been quiet for a few minutes. What he worried about was Hanson taking Jenna and running if things got even more intense. If that happened he might never see her again—alive.
He turned on a dime pointing his gun to the noise behind him. Gabe again.
“Aaron.” Gabe slid in place beside him. “They got Tuck tied in the saloon.” He was out of breath and reloading.
“What the hell happened, son of a—” Aaron shook his head. Hanson would kill Tucker without a doubt. This needed to end now.
“Damn it,” Gabe cursed, kicking the dirt with his heel.
“Jeremiah still in place?” Aaron asked, not wanting his younger brother anywhere in the mix, not that he didn’t worry about Gabe too.
“He’s still on post, waiting.” Gabe shook his head. “It’s me and you, bro.”
“Yep.” Aaron took a deep breath. Trying to get to Jenna was one thing, but trying to get to her and Tucker was going to be tedious and he wasn’t going to lose either one of them if he could help it.
“Storm the saloon?” Gabe shrugged in suggestion.
Aaron looked at him. “It’s dangerous, but I didn’t come here to play. Let’s do it.”
“Sun’s fading fast, dark fall would be worse; he could leave with her. I’ll make my way around and come in from the left, bust through the front. You hear me, you come in the back. All or nothing.” Gabe smiled.
It was all or nothing for him, and he was about to get all of her back if it was the last thing he did. “Let’s go.”
He was up and waited on Gabe to disappear further away so he could back track and make his way behind the saloon. Gabe would give him a few minutes and track the other way to come in the front. Taking a deep breath against the feel of his burning ribs he made his way back the way he’d come. At this point anything was possible and a lot could be lost. He’d never had the military training Gabe and Tucker carried, but he’d been a hunter for a long time and he’d lived in the woods a lot of his life, fading into the scenery and paying attention.
Aaro
n ducked for cover and made his way to the second to last building on the set and waited. Gabe was probably close to being where he needed to be. It was time to cross the street, the one time he might be vulnerable. Taking a good look, his shortest run would be to the water trough on the other side, in front of the last buildings. He waited and made a quick run for it. To his surprise no one had fired on him or Gabe which meant things were a bit too quiet.
Reaching the building beside the saloon he waited behind it. No one seemed to be at the back, but there was no doubt that Hanson and his man had the place covered. He’d have to bust in with his weapon ready to fire, but at the same time make sure he didn’t over react and hit Jenna, Gabe, or Tucker.
He took another deep breath. With no windows in the back, he could make it to the door, but there might be the chance he’d been seen. He crept along, making sure his boots made no noise across the gravel and crouched down to wait.
His heart in his throat, he held outside until he heard Gabe. That was it, his signal and he barged through from the rear, bracing as he knocked the door from its hinges with his body, ignoring the pain. He dove to the left and came up with his gun poised, trying to make sense of the chaos that followed. Gabe had bolted through the front door at the same time and positioned himself opposite where he landed.
On the floor of the saloon was Tucker, pelting Hanson’s man in the face. It was then Aaron noticed the gun in the man’s hand drifting toward Tucker’s face. He gathered the strength to run and push into the wrestling men, sending the gun across the room to Gabe with one swift kick. As Tucker bolted forward, Aaron placed his gun right in the face of the man Tuck was pinning.
Tucker wobbled to his feet and kicked Hanson’s man leaving him unconscious. “It’s about…damn time. Hanson took Jenna…out back. Let’s go!”
Aaron’s heart sank as Gabe handcuffed the man to one of the poles and he ran outside. “Where’d he go?” Gabe yelled, following.
“I don’t know. He grabbed her and ran once he had me tied.” Tucker said, still out of breath, holding the side of his head and wincing.
“Where in the hell is he?” Aaron still held his gun in the air, looking back at Tucker and his brother.
“I don’t know.” Tucker bent, holding his head with one hand, blood still trickling from his nose and mouth.
Gabe ran to him, pulled his head up looking into his eyes. “You’re toast, man.”
“No, just got the headache from hell.” Tucker forced himself back up, walking closer to Aaron, Gabe following.
“Aaron!” A female voice shrieked from the distance.
Aaron glanced toward the river and Jenna was at the top of the broken scaffolding. Beside her was Vince Hanson, gun poised to her head. Aaron’s whole world seemed to spin out of control and he ran to the other side of the buildings, his brother and Tucker on his heels. As he rounded the corner closer to the ramp, he met her gaze, the fear in her eyes profound enough to stop his heart.
“That’s far enough, all of you.” Hanson yelled, taking Jenna to the edge. She resisted, the bruises to her face evident.
Gabe grabbed Aaron by the arm. “Careful, let’s see what he’s gonna do. Jeremiah’s on him.”
Aaron jerked free, never taking his eyes from Jenna, “No he isn’t, the saloon’s blocking him or he’d already have taken the shot.” It was true. Jeremiah had been placed where he would have a good view of the town, but not behind the buildings.
“He’s right.” Tucker scanned the saloon behind him, still holding his head.
“I see you all came in for today’s hanging. It’s a pleasure to have your viewing of this historical event.” Sarcasm laced Hanson’s voice as it echoed in the distance.
Aaron moved closer, in spite of Hanson’s warning. A few steps more and he could see Jenna better.
“Hold off cowboy, she’ll topple right over. Wouldn’t that be a shame? Of course, we could have avoided all this if you had just brought my son, but since you didn’t follow the rules, I’ll win my son when his mother is dead. He will fall to my custody then,” Hanson warned grabbing Jenna’s arm and dropping the unsecured coiled rope to the wood at his feet. The rope that was around Jenna’s neck.
Aaron continued slow and sure, not heeding his warning but whispering. “Truth or dare, you bastard.”
Gabe jerked his phone from his pocket and hit the button. “Jer…where are you? Yes, go.”
Aaron listened to the exchange never taking his eyes from Jenna. It might be their one hope to save Jenna, if Jeremiah could take out Hanson. But there wasn’t time for him to find a new location.
“I said far enough.” Hanson grabbed Jenna and held her at bay at the edge of the ramp, her body leaning in resistance.
Aaron stopped. “You don’t have to do this.”
Jenna was shivering and her eyes said it all as she struggled to keep her footing, her hands tied in front of her. God, he wanted to make a run for it, but he’d never make it and she’d fall.
Vince laughed. “Try again.”
“Let’s settle this man to man. Let her go.” Aaron was grasping at straws, buying time. “Isn’t it another chance at me you want?”
“This? This what you want, Cowboy?” He put the gun back to Jenna’s head as he talked, pulling her back from the edge. “This right here, she owes me a great deal of money and I need my son to get it.”
Aaron shook his head. “You already lost all rights to the boy, he’s my son now. Surely it’s me you want. Well, let’s settle it.”
“Nice try, but we’re gathered here for an old-fashioned hanging. And you didn’t follow the rules, Wyatt Earp. You brought the posse with you.” Hanson eyed him hard and gave Jenna a slight nudge.
“You and I both know you had men here too, but let’s settle this…right now, just me and you.” Aaron motioned for Gabe and Tucker to back off. He turned, taking his eyes from Jenna for the moment. “Go! I mean it, go!”
“Aaron?” Gabe hesitated.
“Now, Gabe.” Aaron raised his voice.
“Aaron, he’ll kill her and then you,” Tucker tried.
He nodded, “then so be it.”
Gabe and Tucker backed off walking toward the barn, where they would still be in view.
“Uh, posse over there, better drop your weapons. Mr. Earp, you too.” Hanson, laughed and waited, keeping the gun on Jenna.
Tucker shook his head dropping his gun. Gabe followed along making a point to lean forward and lay down his gun, but before he turned back around, Bri came running from the camper toward them.
“Oh my God, Jeennnnnnna!” Bri screamed, distracting them all including Hanson, as she came running around the corner.
“No, Bri.” Gabe ran, grabbing her to stop her from going further, wrestling to keep a hold on her.
“Jenna! No, you let her go,” Brianna screamed at Hanson, fighting Gabe.
“Stop, he’ll kill her.” Gabe held her tighter.
“I’ll kill him, let me go.” She succumbed to tears, crying into Gabe’s shirt, beating a fist against his chest. “Oh my God, how can he do this? Do something. Do something right now!”
“Jeremiah’s on him. We’ve got nothing else,” Tucker whispered not taking his eyes from Hanson, who still held the gun to Jenna.
Gabe shook his head. “Aaron?”
“All right.” Aaron tossed his own gun aside, his gaze on Hanson. What the hell he would do now, he didn’t know, but he still had a pistol in his belt and a knife in his boot. Neither would serve him, with Hanson having the gun to Jenna’s head.
“Sorry Wyatt Earp, but unless you produce my son, this isn’t going to end well.” Hanson scratched his chin with the gun and put it back to Jenna’s head.
“I’ll trade places with her. Let her go and you got me.” Aaron held his arms up as if he had nothing to hold him back.
Hanson laughed shoving Jenna closer to the edge again. “One wrong move from any of you and she goes over. Where’s my son?” Hanson yelled and bent to grab the e
nd of the coiled rope, the gun lifted away from Jenna with his actions.
Aaron stepped closer. Son of a bitch! He caught Jenna’s gaze. She had to jump, it would save her life but there were seconds “Jenna, jump!”
Aaron’s world slowed as recognition hit her face, and without any hesitation she let go, free-falling toward the water.
Hanson raised his gun toward, Aaron. It was then an explosion sounded from the top of the canyon and Hanson’s body jolted backward sending him to the back of the scaffolding railing. He caught himself, the pistol firing and the ricochet piercing through the town.
Brianna screamed, running toward the river. “Jenna!”
Aaron met Hanson’s gaze. Jeremiah had made the hit but not a good one and the bastard raised his gun again, but this time he began shooting into the water, though Jenna had yet to surface after her splash down.
Before Aaron could run for the river, a rifle blast came from behind him, deafening. Hanson’s body flipped from the scaffolding and fell to the ground. Aaron turned, catching his father’s gaze as Amos Decker lowered the rifle and leaned against the barn.
“Unbelievable,” Tucker spouted.
“Brianna, call nine-one-one!” Gabe yelled running to follow Aaron to the river.
Aaron dove in the murky freezing water in the general direction where Jenna had gone in. He had to find her, but this part of the river was deep. The water was numbing and he couldn’t make his body move as he wanted. He touched the bottom, rough rocks, and sand. It was black and he could see nothing, so he surfaced for air.
He surfaced, sucking in several breaths, looking toward the shore for his bearings. Gabe was there, pointing and kicking out of his boots as he entered the water.
“Which way? I can’t find her.” He heaved in deep breaths ignoring the pain in his side.
“To your right, Aaron!” Gabe shouted, diving into the water to help.
Aaron sunk deep again. That Jenna hadn’t surfaced was a bad sign. Jumping had saved her life but now…what if he couldn’t find her? The water was cold, she could survive, couldn’t she? He hit the floor of the river again, fighting the current and swimming the direction Gabe had pointed. Searching in the darkness he found the rope. He grabbed it, swimming to the surface and sucking in a breath long overdue. He sputtered and swam drawing the rope slowly to him, not wanting it to tighten on her neck.