Page 86 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“Stay here,” Dakota orders as shoves his revolver into his holster and opens his door. He usually takes it out and sets it on the floorboard when he gets into the truck.

“No!” I cry. “Don’t go!”

“I’ll be fine, Kate,” he growls, meeting my eyes. “Do you trust me?”

I hesitate. I shouldn’t, not with the secrets still between us, but I find myself nodding anyway.

“Then know that I’ll be okay. Stay here,” he says, before slamming his door closed and walking in front of the car before us. Levi cracks his window the same as Wiley does, allowing us to hear as Dakota stops in the shine of the headlights and whistles. The messenger smiles, clearly enjoying this more than he should.

“You were warned,” he says. “Now, hand her over.”

Dakota’s answer is one word. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t even shift his weight. “No,” he says, his voice leaving no room for argument.

“This is no longer a negotiation, and I didn’t come alone,” the messenger says. The car doors open, and six more goons get out. I don’t know how they all even fit inside. “You’re outnumbered.”

“Am I?” Dakota asks, tilting his head. He doesn’t react when the goons spread out around the messenger, their guns in their hands. Dakota doesn’t reach for his, the revolver still firmly holstered at his hip, even if the clip is off.

The messenger scowls. “All this trouble over some two-dollar whore?”

Dakota raises his brow. “Seems a lot of effort onyourpart for a two-dollar whore, don’t it?” At a lack of response, Dakota straightens. “Now, I suggest you move out the way real quick like, or you won’t be going home to dear old mafia daddy at all.”

I reach up and clasp Wiley’s hand where he still holds my shoulder, clearly prepared to shove me down if they start firing.

“Don’t worry, Katie Cat,” he says. “Dakota is the fastest sharpshooter out here. Won a medal for it and everything.’

I frown, confused. “What does that mean?”

But I’m interrupted by the messenger speaking again.

“We aren’t leaving here without her,” he says.

It’s only then I realize the messenger is unarmed, clearly trusting the six men with their own guns around him. It’s foolish of him to stand in front without a weapon. Has he not realized that things work different out here in the country than they do in the city? There are far more people with guns out here. Even I’ve learned that.

“Last warning,” Dakota says.

Levi pulls out his phone.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Calling the cops,” he replies.

“Is that wise?”

He meets my eyes in the mirror as he presses the phone to his ear. “They’re gonna need a cleanup crew here.”

But before I can ask anymore, someone must pick up on the other line. “Yeah, John? It’s Levi.” A pause. “Yeah, I know. Look, there’s some guys blockading the road and pointing their guns at us down off the highway. They said we ain’t leaving and we’re real tired after the cattle drive.” Another pause. “Oh, no. Dakota is out there talkin’ to ‘em right now. Yep. Yep. Best to send someone out.” He hangs up and tosses his phone on the seat. “He’s alerting the hospital, too.”

“Just because you told them Dakota was out there?” I ask, surprised.

“Everyone knows how well Dakota shoots,” he shrugs. “He made sure he shot better after. . . well, you know.”

I’m reminded of their story, of how Dakota missed Levi’s dad the first time and could have shot Wiley. He must have practiced so much to make sure that never happened again.

The messenger laughs and it draws our attention again. Whatever Dakota said to him must have been funny. “Go to hell, hillbilly. This isn’t a game you can win.”

The Crows lift their guns.

Dakota smiles. “I guess I’ll see you there, asshole.”

---