Randy realized he was using his only option at flushing them out once and for all.
“You’ll lose, Harkner, and then your wife will be all ours, or at least at the mercy of which one of us is left!”
“Hank, that’s Jake Harkner you’re talkin’ to,” the other man yelled. “You shouldn’t have threatened his wife. He’s taken on a lot more than just two men on his own. Let’s just get out of here!”
“I’m not leaving without taking that sonofabitch down,” the first man growled. “He killed Kenny! Kenny was already wounded.”
“That’s the whole point! He don’t miss! You know his reputation! Let’s just go!”
“Too late, boys! You get up on those horses and you’re dead! I said you could ride off, but I’ve changed my mind. You shouldn’t have threatened my wife! Your only chance now is to face me down fair and square.”
There came a long silence. Randy noticed Jake grimace with pain, and perspiration began to bathe his face. “Jake, don’t do it! You’re hurt!”
“Not bad enough to let either one of those bastards get to you. Remember what I said about that shotgun!” He shimmied up to the crack in the rock to keep an eye on the men lying beyond in the grass. “Make up your minds!” he growled. “Sure death—or a tiny chance at living!”
“This ain’t fair! You’re Jake Harkner.”
“And you made the decision to steal my cattle!”
“We didn’t know this was your spread.”
“Well, you know it now!”
“Billy!” the second man shouted. “Somebody is riding toward us from the north. Let’s get out of here!”
“Harkner ain’t gonna let us leave.” The one called Billy dared to stand up, his hands in the air but six-gun still in hand. “I’m callin’ you, Harkner! Fair fight, like you said, with Cal here a part of it.”
“I ain’t drawin’ on no Jake Harkner!” Cal answered.
“We have no choice, Cal! Put your gun in its holster. Let’s get this over with!”
Jake slowly rose, holstering his guns.
“Jake, don’t!” Randy begged.
“Stay put,” he told her. He walked from behind the boulder, noticing riders in the distance. He could tell it was Lloyd because of how his long hair flew out behind him in the wind.
The one called Cal slowly got to his feet. He carefully holstered his gun, as did Billy. They held their hands away from their holsters.
Jake staggered slightly.
“He’s hurt!” Billy sneered. “I told you. We’ve got a chance, Cal.”
“Then let’s get this over with. More men are comin’!” Cal answered. He went for his gun. Billy went for his at the same time, but before either of them could clear their holsters, Jake’s guns were blazing and they both went down.
Randy started to rise, not noticing until then that the man left alive behind them had gotten to his feet. She grabbed up the shotgun and fired.
Jake whirled at the boom. Randy was sitting on the ground, still clinging to the shotgun. “Jesus!” He holstered his guns and knelt beside her. “Randy?”
“I’m okay. The shotgun knocked me down.”
Jake helped her to her feet, pulling her close. He wrapped his arms around her. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She glanced toward the man she’d shot at. “I think I missed. The shotgun kicked up when I fired it.”
Jake kissed hair. “Stay put.” He gave her another squeeze, then walked over to check out the man she’d shot at. “He’s dead,” he called out, “but not from any buckshot.” He came back and pulled her close again, hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe. “That’s it. You’re not coming with me again.”
“Jake, you can’t judge by this.” Randy hated realizing the spell was broken. The trip had been so beautiful, until now.
The approaching riders finally reached them.
“Pa! You okay?” Lloyd charged up to them and dismounted before his horse came to a complete stop.
“We’re all right,” Jake told him, still clinging to Randy. “A bullet ricocheted off the rocks and ripped across my back, but there’s no bullet in me that I can tell. I think it’s just a gash.”
Lloyd touched Randy’s hair. “You all right, Mom?”
She closed her eyes and pulled away from Jake, embracing Lloyd. “I’m just a little shaken up, and that shotgun slammed pretty hard against my shoulder. I have a feeling it will be bruised by morning.” She couldn’t help the tears then. “It’s just that I never know when this is the time I’ll lose your father for sure.”