Page 100 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

Maybe it was the town itself that brought people together, like a positive force of love and respect.

He’d have to think about that more later.

“All right, open the doors,” Rick yelled.

The minute that they yanked them wide, men poured out, coughing and crying. Each one was grabbed and thrown to the ground by the closest citizen, while others stood above, watching for any sudden movements.

A few of the bikers fought back, and it took several men lying on top of them to zip-tie their hands and legs. They kept one door open, so only two or three got out at a time. By the time they finished with every single man who’d exited the church, they had thirty-one men in custody. A couple of them tried to grab their weapons, even though their eyes were watering and they could hardly see, but most of them were too busy gagging and crying to fight back.

Rick heard Kaylee scream and spun around, watching her sprint from behind a tree toward the inn. He took off in her direction as she glanced over her shoulder at two men chasing her. One of them lurched forward, faster than the other man, and reached for her, but before he touched her, rapid-fire paintballs unloaded into both men’s bodies. They jerked with identical cries of pain and spun like they were having spasms, falling to the ground and writhing as the hits kept coming. When Rick reached them, Paulette panting behind him, they were splattered with red, blue, and yellow paint, curled in the fetal position. The one who’d almost had Kaylee had his hands between his legs, screaming about his balls.

Rick smiled in vindictive satisfaction. “That’s karma, dick.”

Rick and Paulette zip-tied the men, and they were read their rights. Kaylee ran back to them, her chest heaving with exertion, but too pumped to stop moving. She hovered over them, bouncing from foot to foot, and Rick looked up at her, studying the sweaty hair plastered to her forehead, the bright smile, and sparkling eyes.

“Way to go, adrenaline junkie,” he said, amused.

“I was so fast! Did you see how fast I ran?”

“I did,” he said, standing up and brushing her hair back. “I am so proud of you.”

Kaylee beamed.

Rick pressed the walkie’s button and said, “We got two more just east of the inn; requesting transportation.”

“On my way!” Josie’s chipper voice responded.

A few moments later, Josie pulled up in Paulette’s Razor, smirking.

“I’ve always wanted to drive one of these things!”

“Just don’t damage it,” Paulette said, tightening the last zip tie and climbing to her feet.

“How long before the cavalry gets here?” Josie asked.

“My guys from California were waylaid, so they sent some agents from Idaho Falls. As long as the weather cleared, they should be here within an hour.”

“Good, ’cause I don’t fancy babysitting a bunch of criminals all night,” Paulette said.

They lifted the closest man onto the back of the Razor, stacking the other one next to him so they were face-to-face.

Rick grinned at them as they glared from their prone positions. “You two just gaze into each other’s eyes, and it will all be over soon.”

Rick and Paulette followed behind the Razor on foot as Josie drove their prisoners to where the rest of them were being held. Kaylee herself into Rick’s arms, laughing. “Did we get them all?”

“I don’t know,” he said, unable to resist kissing her upturned lips, her excitement contagious. “We’ve got to do a head count when we get back to the church. How many showed up?”

“Thirty-three,” Paulette said.

“So we need to account for thirty-one more jackasses.”

Kaylee threw back her head and laughed, still cradled in Rick’s arms.

“I can’t wait to see the look on Ansel’s face,” Kaylee said gleefully. “This is how you should always capture bad guys. Make them sick to their stomach before you zip-tie them.”

Rick started running his hands over her, thinking about how close she’d been to being overcome by those men. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, Rick, I’m really fine. I’m actually great for the first time; I’m not scared.”