Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn #4)(71)

Bill didn’t answer.

The sheriff got out of his vehicle slowly with a gun in his hand. “Ted, put the gun down.”

York kept his gun aimed at David. “Thank God you’re here, Dodd. I was just about to call you. He shot Bill. I pulled over just in time to see it happen.”

“Put the gun down, York.”

“You believe me, don’t you?” York asked desperately.

An SUV pulled up. Tony jumped out with a shotgun. He aimed it right at York.

The sheriff said, “Carlton, get back in your vehicle. I can handle this.”

Tony didn’t move. “Don’t worry, I won’t shoot him unless you miss.”

David sank down to check on Bill. He took off his shirt and pressed it to his bleeding wound. “Someone needs to call an ambulance. He’s bleeding pretty bad.”

The sheriff spoke into his radio and called for an ambulance and backup. All the while he kept his gun aimed on York.

A black Lincoln Town Car pulled up and an older gentleman, still ruddy and muscular from years of manual work, stepped out of his car. He walked right up to York and backhanded him across the face, sending the man to his knees. He kicked the gun away from him and growled, “You stupid bastard. If you kill someone, we lose everything.”

The sheriff rushed in and cuffed York. He spoke to the man who had just taken down York in a tone David couldn’t hear. The older man’s voice boomed back: “You were right to call me, Dan. I needed to see this for myself. Yes, take him in.”

Bill stirred, and David told him help was coming. Tony kept his shotgun up and cocked.

York’s attention was on the older man. “Dad, it’s all Harmon’s fault. He—”

The old man straightened, his face ugly with revulsion. “Shut up, Ted. I should let your ass rot in jail, but it would break your mother’s heart. You’ll get a lawyer, but not the expensive one you’re hoping for. That one will be working on the pile of shit lawsuits you brought on us.”

“Dad—”

The older man turned away, got in his car, and drove off. The sheriff put York in the back of his car.

An ambulance pulled up. The sheriff spoke to Bill briefly as he was being put on a stretcher and taken away. Bill retold what he’d come across and how York had shot him.

The sheriff looked at David and said, “You might want to see a doctor, too, David.”

I might just do that. David touched his forehead and almost went to his knees when dizziness hit him.

Tony was beside him, propping him up with his shoulder. “I’ll take him.”

Suddenly feeling dazed, David said, “Thanks, Tony.” Odd how life came full circle.

Walking him over to his SUV, Tony said, “You saved my life once. I’ve waited a long time for the chance to save your sorry hide.”

A detailed statement would wait until later. As they pulled back onto the road, David rested his head on one hand and said, “I almost feel sorry for York now that I’ve met his father.”

Tony shook his head. “Not even you can save them all, David. Let that one go.”

Won’t argue that one. “He made his choice; now he has to live with it.”

Tony remained quiet for a moment, then said, “You came real close to dying today.”

David grunted.

“You and Lucy need to live in Fort Mavis. I’m not impressed with this town.”

Something about how Tony had dismissed the town and everything that had happened that day struck David’s funny bone. He laughed, which only made his head hurt more.

Tony looked over, then back at the road. “Are we done here? I’m ready to go home.”

“Me too,” David said with a groan. Home being wherever Lucy was.



Lucy and Sarah were on a plane so fast neither of them took a thing with them. Tony had called and said David was at the hospital being treated for a concussion. They were keeping him one night for observation. Tony gave them an outline of what had happened. Thankfully, Charles’s plane was still there or Lucy and Sarah would have stolen the first one they came across.

They rushed to the hospital where Tony met them. He hugged Sarah for a long heartfelt moment, then looked at Lucy. “Go easy on David. He’s had a really bad day.”

Lucy wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. Tony was the master of understatement. “I will. I love him. Nothing else matters.” She threw her arms around Tony and hugged him so tightly, he laughed. “Thank you for everything.”

When she pulled back, Lucy saw someone in a suit that made her look twice. “Steven?” The man turned, and Lucy’s heart leaped into her throat. Even though he was thin, he looked exactly the way she’d hoped he would. He was sober, his hair was neatly trimmed, and he met her eyes like a man who had found his footing again. “What are you doing here?”

He walked over and his shoulders slumped a bit. “David asked me to come back. He said having me here would help, but I wasn’t with him when York went after him. I’m sorry, Lucy. I failed you again.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him with all the love in her. This was her chance to tell him what she’d felt for a long time. “You. Never. Failed. Me.” She kept hugging him. “Mavis. The ranch. They’re not what matters. You and I were never meant for ranch life, Steven. This isn’t where our hearts are. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have wanted this for us. It’s not what they meant when they asked us to try to hold on to it. We matter more than a plot of land. All I care about is you.”