The Problem Child (Emerson Pass Historicals 4)

Nora and Isakoffered to go to the church and tell the women what had transpired. I cringed thinking about Mama and Jo's reaction when they learned I’d shot a man.

Papa thanked the men for their contribution and told them to go home and warm up. The crowd began to slowly disperse, as if they were reluctant to let go of the excitement. At least a dozen men came up to congratulate me on my good shot. I'd imagined I'd like the attention for my sportsmanship, but shooting a man wasn't how I'd thought I'd get it. Now that they all knew it was me I figured my chances of competing in the ski jump unlikely. Somehow, at this moment, it didn't seem as important as it once had been.

Theo and Dr. Neal carried Rossi into the schoolhouse and laid him on the floor. Mama would cringe at the sight of all the blood spilling onto the boards. I’d scrub it out, I promised myself. Already, the idea of what I’d done was sinking in and making me feel sick. Once again, I turned away as Theo used a knife to cut Rossi’s pant leg.

Viktor and Phillip shoved Chetta into one of the chairs and tied him to it.

“Bullet went straight through,” Dr. Neal said.

“Probably won’t find it until spring,” Theo said.

Regardless, this was good news because it would be easier to clean the wound and sew him up without having to dig a bullet out as he’d had to do with Flynn.

Rossi groaned. “Give me something for the pain.”

“You think we’re interested in that?” Theo asked. “You shot my brother. I’m happy for you to suffer.”

“We could give him something in exchange for a promise,” Papa said.

“What do you want?” Rossi asked, sounding weak.

“Here's how it's going to be,” Papa said. “We gave you the opportunity to take the product and be on your way. Since you wouldn't take it, we've decided to burn the factory down. The minute the doctors here patch you up, you and your friend here are going to get in your car and leave us for good. If you come back, the entire town will hunt you down and this time the bullet will go through your heart, not your leg.”

“My boss won't like it,” Rossi said.

“Too bad,” Theo said.

Rossi screamed as Theo cleaned the wound with alcohol.

For the first time, it occurred to me that perhaps there wasn’t a boss. Had he made that up to make himself seem more powerful than he really was? Without a crime boss as a threat, he and Chetta were just small-time bandits. Once they were gone, we wouldn’t have to worry about someone more powerful coming to take revenge. If my hunch was right, that is.

I stood over him, determined to get an answer. “There isn't anyone in Chicago, is there? You're two small-time crooks playing dress-up. You don't work for anyone but the devil.”

Rossi stared at me. “What is it with you? Are you a witch? They should burn you at the stake and be done with it.”

I resisted the shiver that went up my spine. “You're leaving here and not coming back. It's not just me that's a good shot here in Emerson Pass.”

“What you saw tonight, you’ll see anytime you set foot in this town,” Phillip said.

“We can sneak back here and kill your whole family,” Rossi muttered without much conviction.

“But you won’t,” Viktor said. “Because you’re cowards.”

“There won’t be any reason to come back here,” I said. “We’re burning down the distillery.”

“Hand me the needle, would you, Doc?” Theo asked Dr. Neal. “The long one.”

“Idiots. All of you,” Rossi said right before he fainted.