Gabe's Second Chance (Appledale 3)

While Steve and the man lunged at each other throwing punches, the second man jumped Steve’s friend. Lacy shrieked and ran into the kitchen with Karissa and Ally, looking worried. Ally hugged Lacy in comfort, telling her Henry had called it in already. Henry had Ally’s shotgun and was loading it while grumbling about scoundrels with no respect calling his town dull. They could hear the loud noises of the fight with tables and chairs being knocked over and dishes breaking.

Henry went out and cocked the rifle but before he could shoot a warning shot into the a

ir Ryan and Harrison came running in with their guns drawn. When they saw the fight between the four men and tables and chairs flying everywhere they put their guns away and went to break it up.

It took a few minutes to subdue the men. Steve was bleeding from his nose and his shirt was torn. His friend had a cut lip and black eye, but the two strangers looked in worse shape. Ryan handcuffed the strangers and sat them in a booth, picking up the knife with gloves and putting it into a plastic bag before handing it to Harrison.

Lacy came running out of the kitchen with Ally. Karissa had stayed behind and out of sight at Ally’s insistence. Lacy ran into Ryan’s arms still shaking. She told him what had happened and how Steve and his friend were just defending her. Ryan gave the men a murderous glare while hugging his wife tightly.

“I don’t know where you two come from but harassing and threatening women, especially my woman, is unacceptable,” he said in a cold, hard voice and the two strangers paled.

“We were just playing around, Sheriff,” the bearded man said, glaring at his brother. “This is all your fault, Rick. There were plenty of willing women at the bar last night, man. Now the boss is gonna be pissed we got arrested.”

Harrison looked over at Ryan, letting him know silently that these two strangers worked for Cantrell.

Ethan and Gabe came in a few seconds later to check out the situation. Ethan looked over the handcuffed men and then at Steve. He walked over to Steve and shook his hand and smiled after Steve told his side of the story. “Good job, Steve, and—”

The other young man looked at Ethan. He was tall and lean with black hair and brown eyes. “Jimmy Thompson, sir.”

“Good job, Jimmy. You should be in class with us, right, Steve?” Ethan said, shaking Jimmy’s hand.

Steve nodded and grinned at his friend. Ally had given him a wet, cold towel. “I’ve been telling him to join our class, Deputy White. He’s already good but he’d learn more and could have blocked that punch to the eye.”

Ethan nodded at Jimmy who pushed Steve playfully at his comment about his eye. “See you in our class on Sunday, Jimmy, and thanks for defending Lacy.”

Lacy hugged Steve and Jimmy and kissed their cheeks with tears in her eyes. They blushed but smiled back at her. “You guys saved me, thank you both so much for staying behind and keeping an eye out. They were going force me to go with them and I admit to being scared.”

“What?” Ethan yelled out, turning to the two men with anger in his eyes. Both men shrank back in the booth with fright. “You like forcing women?”

“I want a lawyer,” one of the men yelled as Ethan grabbed him roughly and took him outside to the car. “Plus I get one phone call, too. I know my rights, officer.”

“How do you know we have phones in this little town?” Harrison smiled evilly, grabbing the second man and putting him in the car too.

Gabe ran to the kitchen and hugged Karissa who was standing back there alone and waiting. She looked pale and nervous. “Oh Gabe, is Lacy okay? Ally said I should stay hidden, but I was so scared for Lacy. Thank God those boys were here.” She knew she was rambling, but she had been so scared and now that Gabe was here and holding her she felt calmer.

Once the two men were in Ethan’s car, Karissa and Gabe joined everyone in the dining room. Karissa hugged Lacy with tears in her eyes. “Are you okay, Lacy? I was terrified for you but Henry had his rifle and was ready to go all John Wayne on those assholes.”

Henry puffed up, still holding the rifle in his hands. “That’s right. I would never have let them take you out of here, Lacy.”

“I know, Henry, thank you.” Lacy smiled tearfully, hugging Henry too. “Is it closing time yet because it’s been a rough day and all this excitement has worn me out.”

Ally laughed and hugged her daughter-in-law. “Take her home, son, she looks pale. Henry and I will clean up here and close for the day.”

Steve and Jimmy started picking the tables and chairs back up with Ryan and Gabe’s help while Ethan and Harrison took the two men to jail.

Ryan hugged his wife and kissed her sore wrist once they were all done. “Come on, darlin’, the guys will charge the men along with Steve and Jimmy’s complaint. I need a nap.” He winked at her. Lacy smiled and nodded, burying her face in Ryan’s chest as they walked out of the diner holding each other.

Gabe took Karissa to Casey’s house so she wouldn’t be alone while he finished the rest of his shift.

“I love you, Karissa. I know I have been busy lately but I want these guys off the street as soon as possible so we can concentrate on our future.” He kissed her softly on her forehead. “I’ll pick you up when my shift is over.”

Karissa hugged him good-bye and went inside to fill in her sister on all that had happened at the diner. Boy, what happened to small-town quietness? She’d never complain about boredom again.

Chapter 14

Jason and John sat talking with Rick and Harry Riley after Ethan officially charged them with assault and locked them up in a cell.

“You boys are in a lot of trouble,” Jason stated in a grim voice, giving them an intimidating look. He had put his suit and official DEA badge back on.