Close To Danger (Westen #4)(85)
Wes shouted something from the structure. Gunfire from inside followed.
Using a thick tree trunk for cover, Gage scanned the area between him and the shack.
A single shot rang out and a hole exploded in the side of the cabin.
“Dammit,” he whispered, recoiling back behind the tree more, but still able to watch the scene in front of him.
Sudden movement caught his attention. What looked like a large mound of snow, leaves and branches rose then lurched in front of the cabin. A bit of bright orange hair hung out one side of the disguise.
Hannah. She wore a ghillie suit to match the winter landscape.
Shit. Earl had been right. The woman not only had a sniper rifle, she was trained as a sniper. How had Wes come into her cross-hairs?
More movement, very slight on the far end of the shack.
Wes was hunkered close to the ground, his attention completely focused on where Hannah now crouched in wait. Gage focused closer. Dark red streaked across the blue of his deputy’s jacket.
Blood. Wes’s? Chloe’s?
Where was Chloe? Still inside the shack?
As if watching a horror movie, something stirred to the opposite side of the shack.
Chloe, appeared.
A tall, straight target.
*
“God, no,” Wes whispered as Chloe stopped just outside the far door of the shack, fear grabbing him by the chest.
Movement to his left. He wasn’t the only one who’d seen her arrival. The mound of white and tree branches that was Hannah in the sniper-suit shifted. As if in slow motion, the long barrel of the sniper rifle arced in Chloe’s direction. A high-velocity shot at this short distance would tear her apart.
He couldn’t get to Chloe and he was too far out to stop Hannah.
She’d die. Because of him.
The most beautiful, vibrant, intelligent and loving person he’d ever known would be destroyed because of his past. He had one shot to take down the threat.
Lifting his gun, he aimed dead center at Hannah.
Suddenly a whir of grey and white shot out of the shack at Chloe as shots rang out.
*
Reaching the opening to the shack, Chloe froze.
Through the doorway she found Wes.
He’s alive. He’s not hurt. The fear that had propelled her to find him, eased for a moment. Then his position struck her. Crouched just outside the opposite end of the deer blind, he was armed with his hand gun and a big knife. He was going to attack Hannah?
Was the man crazy?
Something shifted outside the cabin. Like in a fantasy movie the snowy underbrush of the cabin had come to life.
What the hell was that?
A lock of reddish hair, fell out from under a glob of brown leaves stuck to the white mound.
Hannah!
Worse, what looked like a long branch shifted. Blood drained from Chloe’s head. The crazed woman had a rifle pointed right at her.
Turning to gaze at Wes one last time, she saw the terror on his face, just as something big, grey and white leaped out of the shelter of the shack, hitting her full force.
A cacophony of gunfire and screams ripped through the copse of trees.
Chloe landed on the hard, frozen ground with a huge, heavy furry blanket draped on top of her. Her lungs fought to suck in air. She tried to move, but the low growl from W?den suggested she remain still.
“Listen to the animal,” a now familiar female voice said from behind her.
Harriett crouched beside a thick tree trunk and boulder.
“Wes?”
“Is busy.”
*
He fired. Not waiting to see if his bullet had done any damage, he dropped his gun and shot out of his crouch straight at his target, screaming to get her attention. “No!”
More gunfire sounded, spinning her slightly.
He flew at her like a centerfielder leaping for a line drive, landing on top of her before she could bring the rifle up. Pain shot up his hip, sending him half off her body.
“Ahggg!” Hannah yelled in his ear, trying to wrestle beneath him, her hands no longer clutching the rifle.
“Stop it, Hannah.” He pressed his weight down on her, trying to get her under control. “Killing me or anyone else isn’t going to bring back Isaac.”
“You killed him. You have to pay for it.” She moved again, the glint of metal flashed before he felt pain in his arm.
He rolled further to the side.
“You bastard!” she screamed, lunging at him, the knife pointed to his gut.
More gunfire sounded.
She spasmed, then fell on top of him. Pain seared into his side.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Wes!” With extra effort, Chloe managed to climb out from under W?den and scramble through the snow to where Hannah and Wes both lay inert.
“Chole! Get back!” Gage shouted, suddenly appearing from the woods beyond. “She’s still armed.”
“Wes is under her. He’s hurt!” she shouted, ignoring his command.
Abruptly a mountain of a man appeared in front of her, huge arms hugging her close. “Stay back, Miss Chloe,” Cleetus whispered in her ear as she struggled to get free. “Let Gage secure the shooter first. Bobby wouldn’t want anything to happen to her sister.”
Only the mention of her pregnant, beloved sister kept Chloe from leveling the big man with a quick knee to the groin. He turned slightly and she could see Gage crouched next to the jumble of Hannah and Wes, placing his hand on the woman’s neck. He pulled a bloody knife from her hand and set it aside. Tears filled Chloe’s eyes.