Page 33 of Hollow Moon

Thank God.

In the next moment, Knox realized he’d muttered the thanks too soon as he saw the gunman stick his leg out the window. He was halfway down to the porch roof when suddenly, shots sounded from the direction of the stable.

“Forget about your sister. Save your precious drugs,” Knox shouted.

The bastard howled in rage and frustration, but he stayed where he was, shooting at the gable, bullets plowing into the siding. And from where he stood, Knox could see them coming out the other side where Maggie huddled.

Christ no. The only thing Knox could do was start shooting as he ran toward the house.

The tactic worked, driving Campbell back inside. With no idea how much time he’d bought himself, Knox leaped to the porch post, hoisted himself up and flew across the roof as though he had acquired wings. He reached the window, just in time to see a gun inches from his face, and the man’s finger slowly squeezing on the trigger.

CHAPTER 10.

Knox braced for impact, but when the brother tried to fire, nothing happened. He must have used up all his rounds in the previous exchange.

As he fumbled in his pocket for another magazine, Knox dived through the broken window, hitting the guy and knocking them both to the floor. They rolled across the enclosed space, banging into the leg of a bleeding man already lying in the middle of the room. Anger gave Knox a surge of energy. He gained the advantage, smashing Campbell’s head against the floor. He tried to rear up, but Knox socked him in the jaw, just as they both heard footsteps reverberating on the stairs.

Reinforcements for the brother?

Or one of the Decorah men?

The door burst open, and Zack charged into the room. Taking in the situation, he aimed a kick at the bastard’s head, and the man went still.

“Appreciate it,” Knox said, as he heaved himself up and rushed back to the window. Climbing out, he headed for the gable, praying that Maggie hadn’t been hit.

He wasn’t sure when he saw her.

She was lying on the roof, hugging her shoulders and rocking back and forth.

“Are you okay,” he shouted frantically, moving toward her as fast as he could without tumbling off the roof.

“I don’t know,” she gasped out. “Everything is spinning.”

He kept his gaze on her. When he saw her hand was bleeding, his insides clenched. Speeding up, he crawled toward her and caught her in his arms, running his hands over her, searching for bullet wounds.

To his profound, relief, he found none. And when he picked up her hand, he saw a gash across the palm—probably from the glass.

Slowly he dragged her back toward the window, trying to keep clear of the broken glass.

As he approached, he called out, “All clear?”

“Yeah. I’ve got him cuffed,” Zack called from inside the room. “It looks like he shot one of his own men before we got here.”

That must be the wounded guy on the floor.

“Too bad the nurse on the scene is in no shape to treat him.”

Zack’s head appeared in the broken opening. “I’ll open another window. That way you can keep clear of the glass.”

“Thanks.”

He heard crunching noises from inside. “It’s stuck,” Zack called. “Give me a sec.”

Knox waited, gritting his teeth to keep from cursing. He wanted to get Maggie inside, and it seemed like hours before the sash finally flew up. Knox headed in that direction, hauling Maggie with him.

When they reached the window, he stood and lifted her into his arms, then ducked inside.

Zack had cuffed the brother to the bed rail. The man on the floor was moaning.

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