Standoff
Once they reached the sidewalk, Cayn paused to consider which way to go. His initial instinct was to head away from the sheriff’s office and the middle of town when they heard the sound of gunfire.
“Come!” He jerked on her hand and turned in the direction that would take them back toward the motel when she stopped him.
“We cannot!” she protested.
He was on the verge of picking her up and carrying her with him when they saw two cars with the word SHERIFF barrel down the street past them. The bubbles on top of their roofs flashed red as the sirens screamed. The vehicles barely screeched to a halt when two deputies jumped from them and ran to the office.
He grabbed her arm. “Now! Now, while everyone is distracted!”
“No.” Pushing away his hand, Juda gave him a hard, final look. “If we are ever going to remove Goen and be able to have a life together, this is our moment. Perhaps the only chance we will ever have to be rid of him for good.”
He tugged on her sleeve. “Juda, think of the babe! If Goen gets his hands on you again—”
“I am thinking of the babe! But I am also thinking of these good people who have gone out of their way to help us! We cannot turn our backs on them!” Her eyes narrowed as she added, “We have come out victorious in the past when it has been just the two of us. We cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers, or we will forever be on the run!”
She made sense, damn her. There was no arguing her logic.
Taking her by the hand, they crossed the street and ran toward the sheriff’s office where another gunshot rang out.
One deputy had barred the front door when they tried to enter. When he recognized them, he blinked in confusion. “Go seek shelter! Can’t you see it’s dangerous in here right now?”
“We can help,” Cayn offered. “I can send Goen and his man back into the past. It will not last forever, but at least it will give everyone a chance to regather and plan your next strategy.”
“Simmons! Who is it?” a familiar voice called from farther inside the room.
“That man who is with Miss Plesh!”
“Tell them… Oh, hell. Hold on. Everyone! Stay alert! There’s only one way in and out of those holding cells!”
Presently Sheriff Conroy came forward and holstered his gun. Taking Cayn by the arm, he led them both over to the far side of the room, away from where the other deputies had taken their stances, guns aimed at the door leading back to where the cells were located.
“What are you doing here?” the man demanded. “You two need to get out of town now!”
Juda straightened. “We came to help.”
“And do what? Throw the two of them back into the past, so they can return here and cause more havoc?” The man didn’t try to hide his anger and frustration. “You two get your asses out of my town and out of my timeline! And hopefully those two will vanish so we can have some good old-fashioned chaos that I can relate to!”
“Sheriff, Juda is with child,” Cayn stoically announced. “We do not know if our jumps will harm the babe. But we do know for certain that when Goen finds out, and we all know he will eventually, that he will not hesitate to destroy the babe, along with Juda and me.”
Conroy stared at them for a few seconds. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“We want to stay here. In Tuckerville. In this time,” Juda explained. “We do not want to keep jumping.”
“We want to settle down and raise our family here,” Cayn added. “We need your help.”
“But what about Goen and that guy that came to free him? What kind of help can I offer?”
“We need for you to kill Goen,” Juda flatly stated.
“You know I can’t do that,” Conroy snapped back. “Not outright. It has to be justified.” He turned to address his men. “What’s the latest, Shiner? Hear anything?”
The deputy closest to the door that opened to the back room raised his face from where he’d had his ear pressed against it and slowly shook his head.
“What happened?” Juda softly asked.
“Some big guy came strolling in. Hardesty was manning the front desk. Asked him what he needed, but the man turned and started for the rear. Butcher went to stop the guy, and that’s when the man hauled off and knocked him out cold. Wilkes got off a warning shot, hoping to stop the man, but it was ignored. Several of us fired, hoping to wing him. I think we were successful. There’s blood droplets on the floor in front of the door. We can’t be certain, though, because he’s barricaded himself inside.”
