Page 35 of Dead Man's Hand

She knew it could also be PI Buck Crawford—with more of the PIs from Colt Brothers Investigation. Crawford was determined to get DJ to his twin’s wedding. She could only hope that was the case and that DJ made it. He had family waiting for him.

BUCKWOKETOthe sound of the snowmobiles. He sat up, banged his head on the upper bunk and swore. What time was it?

Climbing out of the bed, he hurriedly pulled on his boots since he’d slept in his clothes in the cold cabin.

Before he got his second boot on, James opened the door. “You hear that?”

He nodded. “Sounds like more than one.”

“Sounds like they’re headed our way.”

“Willie?”

James shook his head. “The sheriff’s department doesn’t move that quickly, especially in a snowstorm. You think it’s DJ?”

“I doubt he had access to a trailer and snowmobiles. Grandville’s men.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Tommy said from the doorway. “They must have seen your truck and the snowmobile trailer outside the cabin. Sounds like there are three of them coming up the mountain. What do you want to do?”

“They aren’t looking for us, right?” James asked.

“Guess we’ll have to find out.” Buck pulled on his second boot and rose.

By the time they reached the cabin’s front door, all three snowmobiles and their drivers were sitting outside. Buck opened the door and stepped out, James and Tommy following.

“Where’s DJ Diamond?”

“Who wants to know?” Buck asked over the rumble of the three snowmobile engines.

“Butch, it’s that PI I told you about.” Buck recognized the man’s voice who’d spoken. Lloyd from the poker party. He seemed nervous, his hand on the weapon at his side.

But it was Butch Lamar he kept his eye on. He’d met other men like Butch. Grandville’s lead thug was a big man, with a face that had met too many other men’s fists and an unfriendly attitude. They were always looking for a fight. They liked beating people up. They constantly were looking for someone to knock that chip off their shoulder. Butch Lamar was one of them.

Buck assumed the third man was Rafe Westfall. Both Butch and Rafe had AKs hanging across their chests and pistols at their hips over their winter clothing.

“We have business with Diamond,” Butch said.

He knew what kind of business. “So do we. Also we have the sheriff on his way just in case your business includes hurting Diamond or the woman with him,” Buck said.

Butch wagged his head as if amused. “I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with.”

“Trust me, I do,” Buck said.

“And where’s this law? I don’t see any law. Rafe, do you see any law?” He turned back to Buck. “From the looks of it, we have the upper hand here. He touched the AK-47 strapped to his chest. This is a dangerous place to be for you boys. Anything can happen up here this time of year. A man could get himself killed really easy.”

Butch’s words hung in the air. An open challenge.

James saw Lloyd go for his pistol before Buck did. He drew his weapon from behind him and fired at the same time Lloyd did. Buck was drawing his gun as well when Butch gunned his snowmobile, the others following suit as they sped off, Lloyd hunched over his machine in pain, the snow where he’d been sitting on his machine dotted red with blood.

Buck turned quickly to James, who was holding his side. He looked at Tommy who hadn’t had a chance to go for his gun. He was thankful since it could have been worse if they had pulled their weapons. “Get inside. Let’s see how bad you’re hit.”

“Not bad,” James said as he was helped inside the cabin to a chair.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Buck said. “Tommy, disconnect the snowmobile trailer from the truck.”

“Aren’t we going after them?”

“No, you’re taking James down the mountain so Willie can get a helicopter to take him to the hospital.”

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