At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(18)

He watched Gene look around at the vacant main drag before jabbing him in the back with the gun and forcing him inside the store. “Come on. We don’t have all day.” It was still early. What few people were left in town weren’t up and about and probably wouldn’t be. Most had gone to the next town for Sunday church services like they usually did when the weather allowed. They wouldn’t be back for hours, often making a day of it.

“The pharmacy is back here,” Earl Ray said and led the way down the aisle. The Mullen General Store carried everything from muck boots to diapers, canned food to sunscreen, and even rocks for those who wanted to buy a piece of Montana to take home. At the back was a small bank of metal post-office boxes. Vi was the postmistress and also the pharmacist, in that she could hand out medications sent over from one of the large towns. Some drugs were kept on hand for emergencies.

The Mullens owned half the town, including the antique barn just off the main street. Vi’s husband Axel had been as close to a mayor as the unincorporated town had ever had. But her husband had left her after what had happened a few months ago. Most people figured she would sell out and leave as well. The rest of them thought she should go to jail longer for what she did.

The law had taken into account her age, that she had a daughter and grandchild, and been lenient. Vi had sworn that all she’d be doing was trying to help her brother. It had been wrong. She could admit that now. But when he’d come to her in tears... How was she to know the depth of his trouble until it was too late?

The whole horrible incident had left Vi even more obstinate and contemptuous and surly. Earl Ray had actually felt sorry for her, given what she’d gone through. He knew her bad behavior was a defense mechanism. But damned if he hadn’t wanted to throttle her back there at the cafe.

He moved to the pharmacy part of the store, next to the post office. He knew there was nothing here that could save the man lying in the back of the van. But at least he could make him comfortable until he died. If there had been any way to keep him alive, he would have done it.

Lars handed him the keys, and he opened the drug cabinet, quickly taking out what he needed. He didn’t want to be gone from the café long for fear of what would happen in their absence. Nor did he trust those two men Gene had left in charge. The one seemed young and naive, the other was a hothead. Earl Ray had seen him eyeing the woman at the counter. Eric really had no idea what he was getting into if he decided to take it any further with her. Either could make a critical mistake that would end with bloodshed.

He thought of Bessie. She could handle herself. But some of the others? Not so much. At just the thought of Bessie, he thought his heart would break. Why hadn’t he told her how he felt about her? Now he might never get the chance.

CULHANE TURNED OFF the grill, made a show of burning his hand and reaching for an oven mitten on the shelf. He knew they had to move fast—and to keep it as quiet as possible. He saw his gun and hesitated before quickly picking it up and stuffing it into the back of his jeans. He covered it with his shirt as he reminded himself that if any of them fired a shot, it would alert Gene, who would probably start by killing both Earl Ray and Lars. Not that he wouldn’t anyway before this was over. Unless Culhane could stop it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alexis heading slowly toward the table with the two men. Another step and she would block their view of him.

He picked up the heavy metal pan still loaded with cinnamon rolls. As an afterthought, he grabbed up the large spatula he’d been using on the grill. It had to weigh a couple of pounds. He headed into the other room behind Alexis and her full pot of hot coffee.

He was right behind her with the tray of rolls and the massive spatula. Eric’s gaze was on Alexis in a way that gave Culhane sick chills. Bobby was still elbow-deep in the food.

They were almost to the table when it seemed something caught Eric’s eyes off to his right. Culhane saw the man instinctively reach for his weapon. As Eric did, he jumped up, knocking Alexis back. The coffeepot hit the edge of the table and shattered. Hot coffee splashed everywhere—including onto Bobby. Appearing to have no idea what was happening, the man rocketed to his feet with a curse and, grabbing his gun and Alexis, pointed the barrel at her head.

The sound of a gunshot exploded in the café, followed by screaming.



CHAPTER EIGHT


DOWN IN THE general store, Earl Ray started to close the drug cabinet, but Gene stopped him.

“I’ll take some of that,” the man said, pushing him aside to grab a bottle of amphetamines, then an array of other drugs, stuffing the containers into his pockets.

Closing and locking the cabinet, Earl Ray picked up what medical supplies he could use to at least cover the wound and give Gus some comfort from the pain. It was only a stopgap measure. He had a feeling Gene knew it, too.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Gene open one of the bottles of drugs, shake out four tablets and toss them into his mouth dry before pocketing the bottle again.

Earl Ray tried not to shudder at the thought of this dangerous man becoming more unstable as the drugs coursed through his system. Things were bad enough but could definitely get much worse. Earl Ray knew the real problem, though, was in the van. Gus was going to die, and when he did, Gene would probably come unhinged and kill anyone in sight. Earl Ray could only hope that the man would stay alive long enough for these men to leave...

As they headed through the store toward the front door, Gene grabbed handfuls of candy bars, ripping one open and eating it as if starved. Earl Ray was thinking of the two men back at the café and how they had fallen on the food.