Page 82 of Shielding Aubree

One moment, Ruben was ready to tell Hoyt to shoot and the next, there wasn't a reason to shoot.

Ruben was up on his feet and running, stopping for a step to turn around and point at the sniper. "Do not shoot!"

And then he was running full out with his heart in his throat.

In no time at all he was there, putting himself between the carnage that was left of the killer and Aubree's prone form.

She was stunned, her eyes fixed, and dilated.

Her face slack with a lack of emotion.

"Hey, hey... Aubree?"

The cat snarled, the sound filling Ruben's ear.

Wrapping his arms around Aubree's body, he held her, trying to shield her from danger.

The mountain lion paced in a semi-circle around them coming to a stop in one direction and turning around to pace back in the other.

"Baby?"

He wanted to know if she was okay.

He wanted to talk to her, but in a way, he didn't want her to see what he'd seen.

Ruben heard the foot treads of boots across the ground, but when the lion lifted its head to hiss and snarl at the intrusion, they all stopped.

"Leon?"

He heard Drake's voice and nodded. "We're okay. I don't think the lion means us any harm."

Someone in the darkness surrounding them didn't like the idea. "It's a fucking animal. What the fuck do you know?"

"It's a wild animal," Ruben said the words even though he didn't quite believe them. "This is more his domain than ours."

"Did you see what it did to that man?"

"I saw what he did. I have some of his blood on my skin from cast off.” Ruben got up to his knees and slipped his arms under Aubree's body, lifting her as he stood. "And he left Aubree alone. I don't want to shoot something that just saved my girlfriend."

Ruben turned and saw Drake's concerned face in the crowd. Everyone seemed to have a flashlight.

Drake lifted his chin toward the road. While Ruben couldn't see it, he knew where it was.

"An ambulance is on the way. It was already halfway here when the bloodletting started." Drake shook his head. "You need some help getting her to the road."

Ruben nodded. "I could use a light."

Drake lowered the cone of light from his LED torch and illuminated the ground ahead of them.

"And I want you to know whatever help she needs after this, Leon. We're here for her."

Ruben felt some of the tension release from his jaw. "Thanks, Drake. Thank you for saying that."

"I didn't just say it, man. I mean it. You and Aubree? You're family."

Family.

Aubree was getting a little tired of family.

---