Page 97 of A Forgotten Heart
“Nick!” Elsie’s shout was muffled. She was still in the wagon bed. “Help!”
Nick grappled with Quade. In the dark of the evening, he couldn’t see. Where was the gun?
It blasted from so close that Nick’s ears rang.
Something hot grazed the outside of his arm.
Fury fueling his strength, Nick clutched both hands around Quade’s gun arm. He had to get that gun before Quade had a chance to turn it on Elsie.
Nick threw his elbow into Quade’s face and heard a satisfying crunch.
Quade pressed his thumb into the bullet wound in Nick’s arm. The sudden flare of white-hot pain rendered his armuseless, and Quade rolled on top of Nick, one arm now across Nick’s neck, cutting off his air supply.
“You McGraws have stolen everything from me.” Spittle flew from Quade’s mouth. The lethal tone of his voice sent a shiver down Nick’s spine.
“Stop!”
Somewhere in the background was the sound of rustling and shouts.
A thump. Like someone had fallen from a wagon. Or jumped.
Quade looked up. Elsie was in danger.
A sneer twisted Quade’s face. “Now it’s my turn to take everything from you.”
He yanked his arm from Nick’s grip, raised the gun, and fired. The bullet flew wild into the night sky.
In the distance, someone shouted.
Nick bucked, dislodging Quade from on top of him.
“Nick!” Elsie cried.
Quade backhanded him in the jaw with the gun.
Spots danced before Nick’s eyes. He shook his head, tried to focus.
Elsie was standing right there. Too close.
Quade took aim.
Nick used the last of his strength to throw himself at Quade. He collided as the gun fired again, pulling Quade to the ground.
Ears ringing, he couldn’t tell where the shot had hit. Quade used the beat of uncertainty to pin Nick, kneeling on top of him.
Out of the blackness, a force collided into Quade, tackling him off Nick. “Get back,” the man shouted.
Nick lay on the ground, struggling to breathe.
Off to the side, Quade struggled with the man as Nick shoved up on his elbows, intending to go help contain Quade.
Another man appeared, this one with a star pinned to his chest.
Jack.
He drew his revolver and pointed it at Quade, who went still.
Light bobbed. Someone was bringing a lantern.
