“Put the boy down,” Luke said, keeping an eye on the animals.
“Your man kill my dog.” The man’s heavy accent made a mess of the words, but the menace in them was unmistakable.
“Your dog killed some of my cattle,” Luke said. “The child has nothing to do with it.”
“Cattle were job. Kill my dog, you make it personal.”
“Well, killing my cattle made it personal to me.” Luke took on the placating tone he used with an angry guest. “This is between us. Let the boy go.”
A whimper came from Devon, but a sharp command from the man silenced the child. How was Luke to get the boy away? Distraction?
“How much is William Lancaster paying you?”
“Much money. He only want herd ruined so sisters go to him.” A glint of white appeared in the man’s beard. Was he grinning? “Kill you, make better for him.”
Devon whimpered again. Luke took a step forward, but one of the dogs snarled. The menacing sound made the hair on the back of his neck stand up and silenced the boy. The man lifted a hand like he was preparing to give a command, but the door behind Luke opened, and light spilled into the area.
He stiffened, sending up a silent prayer that no one would be hurt.
“Luke?”
At Judith’s tentative voice, his heart lurched into his throat. His instincts to protect pulled him in two different directions. He raised one hand before him and the other to signal her to stay but then she gasped.
“How dare you,” she cried rushing forward. “Unhand that child at once.”
Everything seemed to happen at once. The man threw Devon to the ground at the same time he gave a command in another language. The dogs leaped into motion. One charged at Judith while the other came at Luke.
Judith threw her arms up with a scream. The beast hit her, and the cry turned into anoophwith the impact.
Lights flashed in the corners of Luke’s eyes. Then the other dog’s paws hit his chest. They crashed on the snow. There were two sharp cracks in quick succession. The beast collapsed on him.
“Nooo,” the man roared.
“Stay right where you are, mister,” Frances cried in her most menacing voice.
“And she ain’t alone,” Nick’s voice growled.
Then there were many voices all around them. Luke shoved the beast off and struggled to his feet.
“Judith! Devon,” he cried, pushing past the people, scanning the tree line.
Luke found her on the ground by the boy whom she cradled against her chest as he cried. He appeared to have just been frightened.
A knot formed in Luke’s throat. What if she’d been killed? A sense of loss not experienced since the death of his mother struck him with such force his knees turned weak. But Judithwasn’tdead. He staggered to her and dropped to his knees to put his arms around the two of them.
“Judith?” Marshall called, running to them, Steven Teague beside him.
“Daddy,” Devon sobbed, extending his hands to his father who took him into his arms.
People crowded around them.
“He’s getting away,” Frances cried, followed by the sound of gunfire. “Hey,Iwas going to shoot him!”
“Not your job, Frances. Now, you folks get back inside. Where’s the doctor?” Sheriff Vosburg shouted, as he strode to the man’s prone form.
* * *
“Is that blood?”Marshall asked, his voice choking.
