Page 67 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
She was going to get up and run, when Evan yelled, “Mckenna, stay down. Stay down.”
Every part of her wanted to spring away, to flee, but she trusted Evan. Mocha took off, racing toward her, and Evan let goof the leash. Mckenna stayed down, but scooted away from Keith as the sheriff kept her gun trained on him.
Keith appeared to be deciding if he was still going to stab her. Unsure what he would do, Mckenna shoved Mocha behind her, trying to keep him safe.
“I said, put the weapon down,” the sheriff said again.
Evan repeated her command. As the sheriff and Evan continued to pressure Keith into dropping the board, Mckenna kept slowly scooting away, trying to stay down, but gain distance from this monster.
Keith’s words, “This time there is no release,” kept going through her mind. He wasn’t going to let her go, even if it meant the sheriff and Evan shot him. Rearing back, Keith gripped the sharp stake in both hands now. He lunged toward Mckenna.
A couple of gunshots echoed off the surrounding hills. Screaming, Mckenna rolled away as the stake shattered against the rocky ground. Keith’s body landed with a thump next to her and then Evan was there, kneeling on Keith’s back and cuffing his hands.
The sheriff was there too, helping Evan roll Keith over so they could start administering first aid.
“You’re one lucky bastard,” the sheriff said. “We hit you in the shoulder and it’s nothing vital. Looks like you’re going to get to the big house and stay there for a while. I don’t think you’ll get a warm welcome considering you’re a PO. Just as bad as being a cop in prison.”
The only response from Keith was a groan. Mckenna was shaking and Mocha lay on her, draping himself across her lap, trying to comfort her. Mckenna started petting his head. Realizing that the sheriff had Keith and was patting him down for weapons, Evan came over to Mckenna, his face serious.
“Oh my God, I’m calling an ambulance. I thought I’d lost you. Forever,” Evan said.
“I didn’t know if I’d see you again,” Mckenna said, pulling Evan closer. He sat down next to her and hugged her, Mocha grunting a little since he was caught in the middle on Mckenna’s lap. “I don’t need an ambulance, but Rex is in the mining building. He’s hurt, bad.”
“Are you sure you don’t need an ambulance?”
“I’m sure,” Mckenna said.
“I’m still taking you to the hospital. Just to make sure you’re okay. You have a nasty bump on your head and your eye is starting to turn black.”
“Keith caught me a couple times, but I think I managed to get some payback,” Mckenna said. She glanced over at Keith, who still had blood running out of his nose.
Evan followed her gaze. “That was you? You broke his nose.”
“Good,” Mckenna said. She stopped petting Mocha and ran her fingers across Evan’s cheek. “I love you, Evan Knox. I don’t know if you feel the same, but you should know that I am totally in love with you.”
“I thought I’d lost you. I never want to feel that way again. I love you too, Mckenna Parker,” Evan said, leaning in and kissing her, his lips gentle and caressing.
Mckenna wrapped her arms around Evan and pulled him in, never wanting to let go.
A bit annoyed at Evan’s persistence that she needed medical attention, Mckenna lay on a bed in the ER. The doctors had done all their poking and prodding and thought she might have a mild concussion and be slightly dehydrated, but otherwise she wasfine. She had agreed to IV fluids and then Mckenna would be released. She was ready to go home.
Mocha was lying on the bed with her at her insistence. The hospital didn’t really want the dog in the ER, but since he was technically a therapy dog and had hospital clearance from visiting Lily, they’d given in. There was only one other guy she’d like to be here with her, but she knew he was down the hall, interviewing Keith.
Evan had popped in once to check on her and said that the shot to Keith’s shoulder wasn’t bad. He’d be transferred soon to jail, where a medical team would take over his care. That way they didn’t have to have a deputy guard him. Until then, Evan was going to get all the information out of Keith that he could. Amazingly, Keith hadn’t lawyered up yet. Evan had also told her that Rex was in stable condition and would be staying a few nights at the hospital.
Voices echoed down the hall and Mckenna groaned. She could tell it was her family. Not that she wasn’t happy to see them, but she didn’t want to be fussed over right now. She wanted to get the fluids and go home—with both Mocha and Evan.
The door opened and Cassidy peeked from behind the curtain. Seeing Mckenna in the bed, she said over her shoulder, “She’s dressed. You’re good to come in.”
“Why don’t you announce that to the whole hospital?” Mckenna said, with a sarcastic tone.
“Good idea, let me go to the nurses station and see if I can get on the intercom.”
Mckenna laughed. Her sister could always rival her sarcasm. Their parents came into the room with concerned looks. Her mom started crying when she saw her.
“Oh, my baby,” her mom said, coming over. “Hi, Mocha.”
Mocha lifted his head and thumped his tail on the bed.
