Page 69 of Protecting What Is Mine

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Hank

“So? Did you two just stand there with your guns pointed at him until the sheriff arrived?” Christy stands at the edge of the kitchen waving her hand, pressing me to continue.

I roll my eyes. “No, see Gabe there was concerned about contaminating the crime scene, so he smacked Roger on the back of his head with the butt of his rifle. Knocked him clean out.”

Gabe interrupts, “Goddamn, Hank. I think what you mean is, Roger must’ve hit his head on the ground in the scuffle. That’s where we think he got the concussion. Keep your story straight. Idiot.”

“Yeah. That’s right. Everything happened so fast, and it was so dark.” I mockingly nod at Gabe. “Sorry, I keep getting that mixed up.”

Mollie sits between Gabe and me on Mom’s couch and pats both our knees. “The point is, they were both incredibly brave. My own personal heroes.”

Gabe proudly looks down at Gabby as he slowly rocks her from side to side. “God forbid this little angel ever finds herself in a bad way. I’d want someone to do the same if I couldn’t be there to do it myself.”

“If there’s a cousin who’s going to get that girl of yours into trouble, I think we know it’ll either be Leo’s or Hank’s,” Christy says with a wink to Meredith.

“Whoa, hold on now.” I look around the room. “First of all, where the hell was I when I magically had a kid? And secondly, I am not okay with being put in the same league as Leo.” I bring my hand to my chest. “I’m the good guy. What the hell’s wrong with you people?”

Frank’s girlfriend Sarah interjects. “Well, I’ve yet to have the pleasure of meeting Leo, but from what I’ve seen of Hank so far, I agree.” She bobs her head in my direction. “You are definitely the hero in this fairy tale.”

“Honestly, complimenting him is like feeding bears in a national park,” Frank says as he places his hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “It only encourages future bad behavior.”

I crinkle my brow. “Remind me again, why you had to come back to town?”

Frank adjusts his glasses. “To check up on Chet’s health. To introduce Sarah to Jack. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“No, I get why she’s here.” I nod my head in Sarah’s direction. “I just don’t know why you had to come, too.”

Frank leans his head over to Sarah’s. “See what I mean?”

“We’re almost ready in here,” Mom says as she comes to stand behind Christy. “Chester, have you shared your news with everyone?”

Jack shoots a questioning look to Gabe and me. To which, Gabe and I turn to one another, shaking our heads. Whatever Chet’s news, apparently, it’s hot off the press.

“I’m not sure now’s the right time.” Chet looks apologetically at Mollie and then to Sam.

Sam clears her throat. “If it’s about Roger and Clint, you all have done more in these last few days to make us feel like part of the family, then either of them has in our entire lives.” She turns to her cousin. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mol?”

She nods. “Absolutely.”

“It looks like Clint struck a deal with the prosecutor,” Chet says, running a hand along the back of his neck. “In exchange for his testimony implicating your dad in the cattle rustling, he won’t be charged as an accessory to attempted murder. But, given he was already on probation, I’d guess he’s looking at ten years all the same.”

“What about Roger? Any news about him?” Mollie nervously asks.

Chet nods. “Between kidnapping and attempted murder, my guess is he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars.”

There’s a quiet knock at the door. Sam, sitting in the chair closest to it, opens the door to find Vanessa standing on the other side of the screen with Diesel and Chet’s dog, Marry, by her side. Her hair’s a sweaty mess, and all three of them are panting heavily.

Sam smiles. “I’d say the three of you look like you’ve been working up your appetites.”

“We have, Mommy,” Vanessa says with a nod. “Can we come in and get something to drink?”

Sam starts to stand, but Mom beats her to the door. “Well of course, sweetheart,” she coos as Sam sits back down. “You can come in the kitchen with me and I’ll pour you a big glass of sweet tea. How’d that be?”

Vanessa smiles wide and starts to open the door when Mom raises her finger. “But the dogs will have to wait on the porch for a bowl of cool water.”

Vanessa’s smile falls.

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