At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(24)

Earl Ray smiled. “Pleased to meet you. I heard on the scanner earlier, though, that you are also wanted for questioning. Don’t worry. I’ll deal with law enforcement when they arrive. I was afraid that Gene would go out to the van and find his brother... I thought it was Gene we had to worry about it. I should have known Eric would be the one.”

“Culhane and I will find them,” Alexis said and gave him a look that brooked no argument. He didn’t have time to argue, anyway.

“Let me give you my phone number.” Earl Ray reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “You realize, though, that we can’t keep you out of this. I’ll try to give you as much time as I can. But since they’re already looking for you... I doubt it will help what you did here today, but I’ll make sure the authorities know.”

“Thank you,” he said as Earl Ray put his number into Culhane’s phone. He frowned as the man handed him the keys.

“Take my truck. They’ll be looking for both of your rigs. It’s a dirty-brown color parked two blocks off the main drag up that way.” Earl Ray handed the cell back. “I can let you know what’s happening here. If you need other help, call me.”

“Are you sure about this, Earl Ray? It will get you into a world of trouble.”

“Don’t worry about me. Go. Gene has a good head start,” the older man said. “Good luck to you both.” Then he knelt closer to Bessie on the floor, telling her everything was going to be fine.

Culhane looked at Alexis. She didn’t hesitate as they rushed to the door and out into the late morning. At her rig, she opened the door and reached inside for her overnight bag before taking off down the street with Culhane to find Earl Ray’s pickup.

EVERYTHING HAD HAPPENED SO fast that Shirley hadn’t seen Vi headed for her. She’d looked up in surprise to find her standing over her—and the woman’s palm headed for her face. She hadn’t had enough time to block the assault.

Her cheek stung from the force of the slap. Vi stood over her, rage and anguish and pain in her pinched face. She opened her mouth, but only spittle came out as she tried to speak. Her words seemed to be caught in her throat, choking her.

After a moment, Vi grabbed up the baby crying in her carrier and took her back across the room. Shirley realized with a start that she’d completely forgotten about the baby. When Tina had been taken, Lars had left the baby on the booth seat across from her and rushed to save the woman he’d sworn he no longer loved.

Shirley hadn’t moved, hadn’t even rubbed her cheek, although it still stung. Everyone was sobbing and moving around the café. Earl Ray had told them they had to stay. That the sheriff’s department was on the way as well as an ambulance. Along with the coroner, she thought as she looked over at Fred and Tyrell, both dead on the floor.

The third gunman lay dead by the counter. In the kitchen, she could see the cook also sprawled on the floor, his blood having dried around him.

By the door, Earl Ray was seeing to Bessie. Next to them, she saw that Lars was sitting across from Vi. He had the baby in his arms, and Shirley could tell by the movement of his shoulders that he was crying. Crying for Tina.

She tried to remember waking up that morning to a normal day. There’d been only two guests at the motel the night before. They’d both checked out early. She’d had a whole day of nothing to do ahead of her and was glad of it.

Then Lars had come in her back door. If only she’d turned down his breakfast invitation. She’d been anxious about the two of them going out in public—especially to the café where everyone would see them. But she’d never been able to say no to him, and this morning had been no different.

She could hear the sound of sirens in the distance. Soon the café would be swarming with cops and EMTs. There would be hours of questioning.

Lars lifted his head and looked across the room at her as if he’d completely forgotten her. He wiped his eyes and, getting to his feet, and still holding the baby, walked in her direction. She said nothing as he sat down on the edge of the booth seat across from her. She could see where he’d taken the blow from the gun for Tina. The site was swollen and bruising.

After a moment, he met her gaze looking as if he didn’t know what to say so she decided to help him out.

“You belong with Tina.” He blinked as if surprised but didn’t argue. “She loves you, and you love Chloe. I suspect you love Tina, too. Forgive her, and make the family you deserve. Even Vi will accept you in time.”

“What about you?” he asked, his voice sounding hoarse with emotion.

She smiled and looked toward the door. “I’ll be leaving Buckhorn. I’m not sure where I’ll go. But I’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.” She nodded as if realizing that was exactly where she was heading. She just hoped she got that far. She turned to meet his gaze, and for a moment, she weakened. Emotion crowded her voice. She cleared it. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

His smile was sad, a smile that told of lost hopes and dreams. But there was relief there, too. Lars would never get out of Buckhorn, and she thought he knew that now. But she could see that, unlike her, he’d never really wanted to. He believed he could fulfill his hopes and dreams here in Buckhorn with Tina and Chloe.

The wail of sirens grew closer. This nightmare was finally over for her, one that had been going on a lot longer than just this morning here in this café.