Font Size:
Gerald wasn't the hunter anymore.
He was the one being hunted.
21
BEAST
The ranch yard looked like a military staging area.
Trucks everywhere.
Men everywhere.
Everybody carrying tools that suspiciously resembled weapons.
The sheriff stood beside his truck.
Half a dozen ranchers leaned against fences.
The boys looked excited.
Which was never a good sign.
I surveyed the crowd.
Then shook my head.
"No."
Silence.
Hank looked at me.
"What?"
"No."
The ranchers exchanged confused glances.
One scratched his beard.
"No what?"
"No to all of this."
I pointed around the yard.
"The trucks."
"The people."
"The neighborhood watch convention."
Several men looked offended.
One looked proud.
Which wasn't encouraging.
