Part 31 (1/2)

”The h.e.l.l with that logic.”

Genevieve couldn't figure out what was happening. The two men who had worked together to save her life just moments ago were now acting as though they wanted to kill each other. It didn't make any sense. ”Gentlemen, if you will please calm down and-”

”You didn't care if she lived or died. What kind of marshal are you? You're supposed to protect citizens, not shoot at them.”

Adam shoved Ryan in the chest. Ryan shoved back. ”I cared about her, but I don't happen to love her, and you obviously do. Understand the difference? Look at your hands. I'll bet they're still shaking.”

”They're shaking all right, with the need to put my fist through your face. I swear...”

Out of the corner of his eye Adam saw Lewis, the man he'd struck unconscious, come up on his knees. He also saw the gun in his hand. At the same instant, Ryan spotted the flash of metal. Both men turned simultaneously and fired.

Adam's bullet shot the gun out of Lewis's hand. Ryan's bullet blasted a hole in his chest. Lewis swayed backward, then pitched forward to the ground.

Genevieve's hand flew to her throat. It happened so fast she didn't even have time to scream. Neither Adam nor Ryan seemed much perturbed by the interruption. They both watched Lewis for several seconds to make sure he wasn't going to move, then turned back to each other and resumed their heated debate as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

She took a step back from them and b.u.mped into Sheriff Norton.

”How can they be so callous? They just killed a man.” Her voice shook with emotion, and she was trembling from head to foot.

”It seems to me that man needed killing. He would have gotten one of them if they hadn't shot him, so you shouldn't be fretting about it.”

”Why are they arguing?”

”Ah, it's just their way of letting off steam. I saw the whole thing from Barnes's porch. You had both of them real scared, ma'am. If that gun had gone off up against your head, it would have been a real mess.”

The sheriff nudged Ezekiel's leg with the tip of his boot. ”He don't look so dangerous now, does he?”

Genevieve wouldn't look at the dead man. She turned back to Adam just in time to hear him tell Ryan he should have tried to negotiate with Ezekiel.

”I never negotiate with criminals,” Ryan countered. ”You can get as mad as you want, but after you calm down, you'll admit I was right to do what I did. I told you I wouldn't miss. I didn't, did I?”

”You're that c.o.c.ksure of yourself?”

”No, I'm that good,” Ryan boasted. ”You made it easy by becoming his target. That was a stupid move, by the way.”

Adam took exception to his comment. He shoved Ryan again. The lawman didn't budge.

Genevieve desperately needed to sit down for a few minutes. Her heart was racing, and her legs were so weak she could barely stand up. She headed back to the jail with the sheriff at her side.

”I almost got Adam killed,” she confessed in a pitifully weak voice.

The sheriff latched onto her arm. ”You're trembling like a leaf,” he remarked. ”It weren't your fault your man almost got shot.”

”Yes, it was my fault. He was living a peaceful, safe life on his ranch until I came along. I've caused him a considerable amount of trouble.”

The sheriff awkwardly patted her. ”Now, now, there ain't no call to cry. You weren't the troublemaker. That dead man stiffening up on my street caused all the trouble.”

”He was wanted,” she cried out, remembering the poster. She pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to the sheriff.

”You were personally involved with the lady,” Ryan accused loud enough for Genevieve to overhear.