Page 101 of Ashes of the Past
I can barely process what’s happening before I see Lane brandishing a gun in his hand. He points the barrel at Barney.
“Olivia, come here!” I call, my voice trembling as I rush toward her. “Lane, what are you doing?”
“You can’t fire me, Brynn. I’m the reason this ranch is even making money,” he slurs.
Fear grips me as Olivia rushes into my arms. I pull her tightly into me, trying to cover her face.
“Barney, come here, boy. Come here, boy,” she cries on repeat.
The dog isn’t listening, though; he’s still growling and snapping at Lane.
“I will kill you, you stupid mutt!” he screams.
Jack barrels out of the house, his voice sharp and commanding. “Lane put the damn gun down.”
I feel a little sense of relief now that Jack’s here. His eyes meet mine and he nods, a silent gesture to let me know that the police are on their way. Now, we just have to get the gun away from Lane without anyone or anything getting shot.
It’s dark, but between the moonlight and the security lights, I can see that Lane’s eyes are bloodshot. He’s slurring. He’s either drunk or high or both.
From the barn, I see movement—Nick. He steps out behind Lane, unnoticed. The other ranch hands aren’t far off, watching, waiting.
I breathe a sigh of relief. If Lane doesn’t know they’re out here, that they’re close by, then we can handle this situation peacefully if the cops don’t get here soon.
The only problem with living out in the country is that it takes the police longer to get out here.
Jack keeps talking, his voice steady. “You don’t want to do this, Lane. Whatever’s going on, we can talk about it.”
But Lane isn’t listening. He’s wild-eyed, strung out.
“You fired me. You did this, Jack. I met your wife in town. Seems that you’re messing around with my sister-in-law when you’re a married man.”
He takes the gun off Barney and points it at Jack. I suck in a breath, my heart stopping as I pull Olivia in tighter to me. I try to cover her face, but she’s still trying to get away to get to her dog.
Barney finally comes over to her. She bends down to get him, and I hear a voice behind me, right in my ear.
“Hello, Brynn.”
I go rigid.
Why is he here? Why didn’t I hear his truck? Why didn’t I hear him walk up behind me? Fuck, does he see Nick and the other ranch hands? Did Lane bring more people out here with him?
My entire body is tense as I look around. I can smell the whiskey pouring out of him.
A sober Clay is manageable. A drunk Clay is terrifying.
“Jack,” I whisper as I feel Clay’s hand on my arm.
Jack turns, his expression shifting to shock. “What’s wrong?”
I can’t answer. My mind is spinning. Clay chuckles drily and steps toward Olivia.
He steps forward, his presence suffocating. He reaches for Olivia and pulls her into a tight grip. “Give your old man a hug.”
Olivia stiffens, panic flashing in her eyes. “Let me go!”
My stomach churns. “Clay, let her go.”
He barely acknowledges me. “She’s my daughter, I can do whatever I want.”
