Page 5 of Two Weddings and a Shoot Out

Compass started his bike back up and followed Baron to the lane. He backed his bike in, just like the others. If they needed a quick getaway, facing out and not having to turn might be thedifference in making it out alive, though they were just checking out a barn in broad daylight. Compass figured they’d be fine. They parked to the side of the drive, so if someone tore out of there in a car, they’d have no reason to hit the bikes.

Compass followed behind Rascal, who was following Baron. Locks was bringing up the rear. His heart beat a little faster at what they might find. Compass waited on Rascal’s signal to go forward. It had been years since they’d served, but they seamlessly functioned as a team again.

Compass paused at the edge of the bushes when Rascal held his hand up, signaling they hold their position. Compass strained to hear anything. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees and bushes nearby. Beyond the barn was a field of wheat blowing in the wind. Between the bushes at the edge of the lane that they were currently hidden by and the edge of the two barns, there was about fifty feet without any cover.

Compass wasn’t too worried because, although he could see a car parked underneath the lean-to hooked to the barn, he didn’t think anyone was there. It was quiet without any sounds from the structure.

Baron motioned he was moving, and, staying low to the ground, made his way closer to the structure. When he was about halfway across and Rascal was getting ready to follow, Compass caught the glint of sunlight on metal from the hayloft.

“Gun!” he yelled at the same time a shot sounded. Baron hit the ground. Compass couldn’t tell if Baron had dove for the ground or been hit, but he returned fire so the shooter wouldn’t have a chance to sight his gun in again on Baron. Locks was shooting at the opening to the hayloft too while Rascal ran out to help Baron.

As the guys got back, Compass grabbed his handkerchief out of his pocket and quickly tied it around the blood on Baron’s bicep.

“Shit, Regina is going to kill me for this scratch.”

Compass hid a smile despite Baron just being shot. He must not be too hurt if he was more worried about his wife than the bullet wound.

“Let’s get out of here. Locks and I will cover until you all get to your bikes, and then you can cover us,” Compass said.

Rascal and Baron nodded and made their way to the bikes, then Compass and Locks made their way over, but the shooter was letting them leave without any more fire. They rode away from the area, and Baron pulled over at the next crossroads.

“How am I going to hide this, and which one of you can sew it up?” Baron asked.

Compass held up his hands in front of him, as did Locks.

“Not it,” they both said.

“I am not sewing you up. Clara quilts, so as long as blood doesn’t squig her out, she could probably do it, but there is no way you’re going to keep Regina from finding out. It would be easier to just go by Stella’s office, take your punishment like a man, and get it over with. I heard the rescue took in a couple of those pigs people keep as pets. You should definitely give them a call so you can buy your way back into your wife’s good graces,” Rascal said.

“You three are all pussies,” Baron groused.

“You’re just whiny because your arm hurts,” Locks said. “You know Rascal is right.”

Baron pulled out his phone and texted, then slid it back in his pocket.

“Let’s go. I texted Stella I need her at the office and texted my wife that I got a little scrape that I needed Stella to sew up. They’re both meeting me at the office.”

“Great. You guys want to go get coffee while he gets sewn up?” Rascal asked.

“I like that idea. No one knows we were with him when he got hurt, so why should we get in trouble,” Locks said.

Compass had to agree, but he didn’t think Baron would let them get away with it. Baron pulled out his phone and typed in something, then started his motorcycle.

“I told Regina y’all were with me when I got the scrape. We’re a brotherhood,” Baron said, smirking, then starting up his bike and taking off.

Well, it looked like today was going to be a little more interesting.

Chapter Four

ReginastoodquietlywhileStella sewed up the scrape on her husband’s arm. She couldn’t really yell at him because they’d just been checking out something they’d heard regarding sounds and lights at night. Heck, if she wanted to blame someone, she’d blame herself because she was the one who mentioned it to him. And he’d actually told her and hadn’t tried to hide it.

“When was your last tetanus shot?” Stella asked.

“About six months ago when I cut my hand on that engine,” Baron said.

Meg opened up Baron’s chart and nodded at Stella.

“Why’d you ask if you weren’t going to believe me?” Baron muttered.

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