Page 4 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

“I’m in your pocket, Rip.” Coy hollered, meaning he was watching everything else while Rip watched the dog and read his signals.

“Copy that,” Rip said, never taking his eyes off his dog, who was picking up pace and began to growl, then bark, indicating they were close.

“Dev.” Coy hollered ahead.

When she turned, Rip reached back and held her hand, keeping her close despite her brother calling for her attention. Coy seemed to read the situation, quickened his pace and reached out, placing a gun in Devyn’s hand, to her surprise. She looked back, and Coy gave her a quick reassuring nod, to which she nodded back. A silent conversation between the two siblings that didn’t require a single word.

He trusted her with it, knew she was capable, and wanted her to be able to protect herself. There was a level of pride that came with it because this moment was about so much more than a gun. It was about being seen as a capable and strong equal, not the baby sister she typically defaulted to.

When Nash and Charlotte stepped out on the porch with Cut, Nash quickly turned to Charlotte, “Get back inside with Nora and the kids. Stay with them, honey. You know what to do.”

“Damn straight,” Charlotte answered back and pulled her weapon, ready to protect the family that had so quickly and easily taken her in as their own. “I’ll protect them with my life.”

“Nora’s not inside,” Cut said, earning Dillon’s attention as well.

“Oh no,” Charlotte said and rushed inside to the children.

“What?”

“She’s in the garden, grabbing stuff for dinner.” He said.

Nash, weapon at the ready, shared a look with Dillon and quickly fell in behind the rest of the group.

“They’re headed right for the fucking garden,” Nash said.

“You good here?” Dillon asked Ransom, leaving him posted at the steps of the house.

“I got this, go.” He said, waving her on.

“Nora,” Cut said under his breath and ran ahead.

“Cut!” Nash hollered and gave chase. “Stop.”

Cut ignored Nash’s plea and continued on. He pushed through Coy and Dillon and right past Kenzie, who tried to grab him as he ran straight into the crosshairs of God only knew what. As he approached the garden, he could see Diesel seated calmly, no longer barking, and Rip rigid with a blank stare at something he could only imagine. Sheer terror filled Cut when he saw the pale stare of Devyn turn his direction like she’d seen a ghost.

Devyn rushed toward him, “Cut, no. Stop.”

“Nora!” Cut yelled, pulling from Devyn’s grip as he charged to where Rip stood because whatever he was looking at was clearly what they didn’t want Cut to see.

He rounded a garden shed, Coy and Nash flanking him while Devyn ran ahead of him.

“It’s okay,” Devyn said. “I’m going to take care of this.”

Cut didn’t listen, blew her off, and made his way past Rip. He saw exactly what everyone else had already figured out.

“Shit,” Devyn yelled. “Sheriff? Get over here.”

“Nora?” Cut stood with the same blank stare Rip had worn as he took in the scene, which made the rest of them look as though they’d seen a ghost, or in this case, a murder.

“Wh-what happened?” Cut stammered. “The blood… what…”

“It’s okay, brother. We’re going to figure it out.” Devyn said. “It’s fine. It’s going to be… okay.”

“Oh, Jesus.” Kenzie leaned over, resting her hands on her knees, unprepared for the scene before her.

“Get it together, Sheriff. We need you for this one.” Devyn said.

Kenzie bobbed her head, “I’m good. I got this. We can fix this.”

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