SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull (Nothing Special 8)

“Dale,” his father called from the porch, his voice laced with worry.

Rid rode up on his horse, leading Mercy and Brandy behind him, and stopped them a few feet away. Dale yanked Bull’s arm and practically thrust him into Mercy’s side.

“Move it. Get your ass up there.”

Bull felt numb as he stuck his boot in the stirrup, and thankfully Dale shoved him when he struggled to pull his weight over the saddle.

“Don’t you worry, Walker, we’ll take care of him.” Dale slapped Mercy on her hip. “Go on, ride!”

Mercy took off across the backyard, and as the breeze whipped at Bull’s face, he settled into the seat and let the ride began to seep into his spirit. He released a long exhale as Mercy crested over a low hill as they made their way towards the north field.

After a few moments, Bull leaned forward and rubbed Mercy’s jaw, feeling peace encompass his mind. “‘Attaboy, Merc,” he whispered, then sat tall, ready to pick up speed until all bad thoughts had vanished. He wasn’t alone long before Rid and Dale rode up on either side of him. Bull met his good friend’s eyes and nodded his head stiffly, letting him know he was all right.

Dale dipped his head, then gave Brandy a firm nudge, sending her forward. “You fuckers game or what?” he hollered at them, pulling out his vintage rope and spinning it over his head.

“He is really getting annoying with this expensive new toy of his,” Rid muttered, then took off towards Dale with his lasso swinging fast beside him.

Bull couldn’t believe he cracked a hint of a smile as he brought Mercy to a gallop while unhooking his rope from behind the saddle. When Rid was close enough, he whipped his rope out in Dale’s direction, but he dodged it easily and spun Brandy on a dime, now putting Rid on the run. Dale could rope a man’s hat clean off his head while Brandy ran at breakneck speed.

It never took long for the other hands to join in with them when they were horsing around, but tonight, they all knew what was happening and what Dale was doing, and before long Bull had set his fears down and got wrapped up in a spirited game of roping with his friends.

Fox’s bulletproof vest felt like a straightjacket, his IC-B5 rifle like a leather strap choking him. But he was glad they were able to execute the arrest warrant without exchanging gunfire. There’d been the usual scuffles, but nothing God’s enforcers didn’t handle swiftly. Fox felt as if the heavens had opened and rained down on him. At this rate, he’d be back on the ranch in a couple of hours.

The police transport vehicle was loaded with their arrestees; now they were waiting for God and Day to clear the scene so the forensics crew could take over collecting the evidence. There’d been a shit ton of chemicals and explosives in the four-bedroom house that’d been gutted and converted into a meth lab. Which meant there were a lot of different ways things could’ve gone wrong in a house that was a spark away from combusting.

“Let’s roll. We’re clear,” Hart said, tapping Fox on his helmet. “Load up.”

They traveled southbound on Mitchell Street a little after nine, only blocks away from the precinct. God and his team occupied the first two vehicles, and Fox’s units took up the rear. He was considering sending Bull a quick text but figured he’d wait until he was back at his office and he could call and hear his voice.

Fox went to tuck his phone in one of the pockets of his cargo pants when Dina screamed for them to get down at the same time she jerked the wheel to avoid slamming into the back of Syn’s SUV. Fox lurched against the seat belt before he turned to look out of the side window in time to see a white unmarked van block God’s vehicle.

“It’s a setup!” Hart yelled. “Move!”

Fox was already out of the truck, his rifle aimed at the van’s side opening, waiting on the first individual to leap out. The rest of his team filed out quickly and raced to clear the pedestrian traffic.

“Atlanta PD. Move! Move! Clear this area!” three of their shield men hollered.

Fox’s heart thumped wildly, but he wasn’t afraid. He just wanted to get them out of this situation safely so they could all go home to the ones they loved. He eased up to the second vehicle with his eye steady behind his scope. The driver door opened to the second Escalade, and Syn took up aim with him.

“Sit tight, God. Don’t you step out that fuckin’ truck,” Syn growled.

Again, Fox regretted not having his damn earpiece as he couldn’t hear what God and Day were communicating back to them.