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  Kelly sprinted to the right, rounded the building and yelled for Cam to drop to the ground, just as the first shot rang out.

  “You okay?” Kelly yelled.

  “Yeah. I’m good.” Cam’s panting voice brought a surge of relief to Kelly.

  “Can you get to cover?”

  “I’m there,” Cam called from behind an old wishing well that featured the remains of what must have been a flower garden at one time.

  “Maybe you could give him something to think about while I try and make my way outta here.”

  “You got it.” Kelly slipped back to his former position at the window and aimed his pistol. The doctor had taken up a position at the front window, but Kelly could just glimpse him from the rear.

  Not bothering with aiming, he fired a volley of shots straight through the window, guaranteed to distract anyone inside.

  “Let’s get the hell out of here.” Cam’s voice came from the grove of trees, and Kelly whirled and ran to join his friend in the trees.

  Sirens in the distance assured the two men that their exchange of gunfire had been heard. No doubt Gus and his entourage would be arriving before the doctor got too far away.

  “Time for us to make ourselves scarce,” Kelly said, and Cam suited action to the request by standing up and heading straight back into the woods that had brought them there.

  Kelly pulled his cell phone cell phone out of his pocket and punched the speed dial for Gus.

  “What the hell’s going on out here?” Gus’ voice blasted Kelly’s eardrum.

  “The doctor’s in the house. We got a look at him, but he started shooting and we got the hell out of there. You en route?”

  Kelly held the phone back from his ear, as Gus’ voice roared through the receiver.

  “Yeah. Sorry about that. We just wanted to identify the occupant. Didn’t expect him to start shooting at a stranger with a fishing pole. Anyway, no use hollering about spilled milk. He’s in there. I shot a dozen rounds through the back window. We didn’t stick around to find out if I hit anything, but if he ain’t in there now he hasn’t gone far.”

  More yelling while Kelly grinned at the phone. “Good. We’re heading back to the Hideaway,” he said, putting the phone back to his ear. “Let me know what goes down.”

  Kelly pocketed his phone and followed Cam out of the woods and into the clearing beside the shack.

  “Just a mite riled was he?” Cam grinned as Kelly came alongside.

  “He’ll get over it. Like I told you, he’s not fond of civilians in the mix, but he knows that having a positive ID on the doctor gives him a hell of an advantage. The occupant fired on a couple of innocent passersby, so that gives the cops the right to go in there with whatever force needed and flush the bastard out. They won’t need to negotiate, so if the doctor hasn’t gotten himself the hell out of there already, they’ll have him wrapped up before we get back home.”

  “Good. You’ve definitely livened my day up a bit with this little adventure of yours, but I gotta confess the Hideaway’s sounding real good right about now. What say we take Gus’ advice and get ourselves the hell outta here.”

  Kelly nodded agreement and the two of them headed down the trail to the spot where they’d hidden Old Blue.

  * * *

  After leaving the Hideaway Kelly stopped at Luigi’s for a pizza and arrived home just as Robin was leaving.

  “Early night tonight?” he asked when Gillian joined him on the back porch.

  “Robin has tickets to the Sugarland were they around late 80sconcert, so I told her I’d take care of settling the brood mares. What about you, have you heard from Gus?”

  “No. I waited around the Hideaway for a couple of hours, but no calls. Until they wrap and tie things up he won’t be thinking about anything else. We’ll just have to wait. Don’t worry though. Gus has Sam locked up and he won’t rest until he’s got the doctor in there beside him.”

  “Maybe by next week things can start to get back to normal.”

  “I hope so. Although I’ve gotten real used to the sleeping arrangements around here. It’ll be tough getting back to just me and Jake in that old cabin.”

  “Oh, the poor suffering bachelors.” Gillian laughingly grabbed another slice of pizza. “I need to go settle the mares for the night. What do you say to dishing up a couple of bowls of that peach cobbler you’ll find in the fridge. It won’t take me a minute and I should be back just in time to catch the ice cream before it melts.”

  “Whoa. Yes ma’am. You definitely know all my weaknesses.”

  Kelly grabbed the plates and pizza box and headed for the kitchen while Gillian snagged her jacket off of the rack in the corner and headed for the stables.

  After filling the bowls and bringing them out to the table, Kelly settled back in his chair to wait. Minutes passed and ice cream started to slide.

  Damn, can’t have that. Kelly took a spoon and cleaned up the sides of his bowl while looking longingly at Gillian’s. I’ll give her another five and then both bowls are going to be at risk. He grinned at the possibility of having to eat both bowls to save them from a meltdown.

  A shot rang out from the direction of the stables. Kelly leapt out of his chair, grabbed the gun out of his jacket pocket and slapped the screen door open.

  “What the damn hell?” he yelled as he raced towards the brood barn, where Jake, alerted by the gunshot, stood in front of the closed doors barking like a beast gone rabid.

  “Easy boy,” Kelly said, approaching the door with his weapon drawn. “Gilly, you okay in there?” Kelly reached the door and pulled the handle. It held fast. Someone had apparently locked it from inside.

  “Gillian?” Kelly called in a voice laced with fear and Jake once again started his frantic barking.

  “Okay. Stand down,” Kelly spoke to the dog, then placed his ear against the door and listened.

  From inside came the sounds of sobbing.

  “Gillian.” Kelly yelled again. “For God’s sake, open the door.”

  Footsteps, and then the creaking sound of the latch being shoved back. Kelly shoved and in seconds he was through the door and holding Gillian in his arms.

  “What happened?”

  “I shot him,” she sobbed and pointed towards a figure lying half in and half out of one of the holding pens.

  “Wait here.” Kelly approached the body, recognized the doctor and pressed his fingers against the fugitive’s neck.

  “He’s not going anywhere,” Kelly said, walking back to Gillian and pulling her into his arms. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. I’m okay.” She buried her head against his chest and burst into tears.

  Finally, the sobbing decreased and she lifted her head. “He was hiding in the tack room,” she said, wiping her nose on the handkerchief Kelly handed over.

  “Thank God you put that gun on the shelf. I was giving Misty her grain when I heard someone in the tack room. I almost called out. I don’t know what stopped me, but I guess it was knowing Gus hadn’t called about the doctor. I pretended I was talking to Misty. ‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘I’ll get the clippers and take care of that hoof.’ Then I let myself out of the stall and walked over to the shelf. I grabbed the gun, and turned around and there he was, coming towards me.” Gillian sobs broke through her voice and Kelly rubbed her back.

  “It’s okay,” he said, “take your time.”

  “I pointed the gun at him and told him again to stop. He just laughed at me. ‘You’re not going to use that,’ he said, and I knew if I didn’t pull the trigger then he’d have me and it would be all over. You should have seen the look in his eyes. He was like a crazy man.”

  Kelly hugged her tight and whispered into her hair, “If you hadn’t pulled that trigger it would be you lying on the floor over there, not him. You did what had to be done, and I’m real proud of you for having the guts.”

  Gillian smiled through her tears. “Thanks. It doesn’t feel very good to know I killed a man, but I’m gl
ad it’s finally over.”

  Kelly laid his cheek against the top of her head. “We need to call Gus. Do you think you can sit down over there on that bale and wait while I get him on the phone?”

  Gillian nodded. “I’ll be okay. I know you need me to stay here until Gus comes and processes the scene. It’s okay Kelly. I know he has to make sure it really was self-defense.”

  * * *

  Hours later after the crime scene team had finished their work and Gus had given his okay for Gillian and Kelly to wait for him on the back porch, the couple sat huddled together on the love seat.

  “I know this is a hell of a time,” Kelly lifted Gillian onto his lap and titled her chin so they were looking into each other’s eyes, "but I have a question to ask you."

  “I hope it isn’t anything that’s going to make me unhappy.” Her smile faded. “I don’t know how many of those ‘guts’ you were talking about me having that I’ve got left.”

  Kelly laughed and pressed his lips against hers. “I hope it won’t make you unhappy.” He broke the kiss and looked back into her eyes.

  “I’m not down on one knee,” he said cuddling her against him, “but I think this is better. Gillian, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Gillian’s eyes flew open and she grabbed his shoulders with her hands. “What did you say? Do you really mean it? Oh my God, Kelly, I never dreamed you were thinking of marriage. Kelly McWinter, you’ve just made me the happiest woman in Texas.”

  “I guess that’s a yes,” Kelly laughed and bent his head for a very long and enthusiastically returned kissing session.

  “Ahem,” Gus’ voice broke in just at the point where a trip to the bedroom would definitely have been required.

  Kelly lifted his head and grinned. “Maybe not the best timing in the world,” he said, “but we’ve been through one hell of a tough couple of weeks, and I’d like you to be the first to meet my future wife.” He lifted Gillian off his lap and settled her on the loveseat beside him.

  Gus stepped forward and put out his hand. “Congratulations. You’ve got yourself quite a woman,” he said, smiling at both of them. “The medical examiner has taken the body away and we’re finished out in the stables.” Gus told them both. “There’s no question about the doctor being an intruder and you acting in self-defense,” he said to Gillian. “There will likely be an inquest, but I’m confident in assuring you this will just be a technicality. I’ve got to be heading in now, but I wanted to set your mind at rest.”

  “Thanks Gus.” Kelly stood and walked with his friend out to the gate. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything else you need from me, right?”

  “Sure, like I said, the inquest is only a technicality. The doctor must have taken off out of that house when you and Cam moved around back. After you left we tossed a couple of smoke bombs inside and when nobody came out we figured our bird had flown. The SWAT boys went through the place, just to make sure, but he was gone all right. Like as not he came here looking for that folder you found in Sam’s locker. He must have had a vehicle stashed somewhere away from the house, just in case we got him pinned down. Not that it matters now, but I’m sure glad that gal of yours has both a good head and sharp aim. You’ve got yourself a winner in that one.”

  “Thanks Gus, I appreciate the way you’re handling this.”

  “Not a problem. It’s a clear case of self-defense, anybody can see that. We’d already put out a bulletin on the doctor as an armed and dangerous fugitive. I’m just glad the outcome was what it was. It could just as easily have been your lady’s body in there on the floor.”

  “Don’t remind me. Knowing how close I came to losing her is what gave me the kick in the ass to pop the question before it was too late.”

  “Smart move. You’ve got yourself a winner.” Gus slapped Kelly on the back before striding off to join the other official cars leaving the scene.

  Epilogue

  The inquest was over and life had finally returned to normal at the stables. The loss of Larry and Toby had left the other workers with a sense of protectiveness towards each other. Whereas before they’d always gone their separate ways when work was done, now more often than not, when the day was finished they headed out in pairs and groups for a local burger or pizza joint.

  Kelly and Gillian, sitting on the back porch, on a Saturday afternoon, waved at Angelina as she hurried out of the office and down the steps to join Robin and Kevin as they came out of the gate from the stables.

  “Have fun tonight,” Gillian called. “They’re all meeting up for to Shakespeare in the Park.” She looked at Kelly brightly, and he smiled at the big grin on her face.

  “Things are so much better now,” she said. “I hate what happened, but I’m grateful for the way my staff has turned towards each other instead of against.”

  “They’ve got a good leader showing them the way.” Kelly stood up from the swing and reached out his hand for Gillian. “I guess we’d better get out to Indian Creek before Cam sends that redhead after us.”

  “Oh no, not that.” Gillian cringed in mock horror and jumped to her feet.

  “What do you think they’re going to say when they get a look at this?” She lifted her hand to the sun and a rainbow of light flashed from the huge square cut diamond glittering on her finger.

  Kelly covered his ears and laughed. “I can hear them now. Especially Stella.”

  Gillian smiled. “Wait until we tell them that we plan to have the ceremony here at Lake Country and the reception out at the Hideaway. Are you sure Cam won’t mind?”

  “Mind, are you kidding. That boy’s going to be so damn happy it’ll be all I can do to keep him from inviting everyone in the state, including the governor, who by the way, happens to be an old family friend of the Belchers.”

  “Oh good lord. And I was hoping for an intimate little gathering followed by a relatively small barbecue and dance.”

  Joining hands, they strolled out to the gate where Jake waited patiently to join them.

  “You know where we’re going, don’t you boy?” Kelly rubbed the dog’s head and opened the door of the cab so he could settle into his spot between the happy couple.

  ~The End~

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  A Murder State of Mind: California – Book 4

  Deadly Lights

  Chapter One

  Kelly parked his pickup, fondly referred to as old Blue, in the garage behind Lake Country Stables. His wife Gillian had inherited the property from her father, and when she and Kelly married a year ago, he’d agreed to give up his cabin out at Indian Creek and move into the sprawling Southern style ranch house. It hadn’t taken much convincing. Kelly loved the ranch, everything from the white rail fence surrounding the immaculate grounds to the well-worn and comfortable swing that welcomed him to the back porch where he and Gillian spent many a hot summer night sipping iced tea or cold beer – depending on the situation – and rocking contentedly in the sultry Texas evenings.

  “You’re early,” Gillian said, coming out of the screen door with an icy pitcher of tea just as Kelly mounted the steps and headed for the swing.

  “Yeah. I stopped by the Hideaway and Stella made me an offer.”

  “Ah ha. She’s at it again is she? I’ll have to have a talk with that woman.” Gillian laughed and handed Kelly his glass.

  Stella married Kelly’s best friend three years ago and after a rocky start she and Gillian became best friends. In fact Stella had proved a rather persistent thorn in Kelly’s side with her queries about when he was finally going to get around to popping the question. It had taken another year, but Kelly had asked Gillian to become his wife and she had happily accepted.

  “Actually I think you might like this brainstorm of hers. You remember her niece Marcy?”

  “Of course. I follow her career on ET, and if I didn’t I’d be getting the details from Aunty Stella every time we talked anyhow. Did you know Marcy is this year’s nominee for
the Country Music Association’s female vocalist of the year?”

  Kelly shook his head. “Guess there’s not much point trying to give you a surprise. Did Stella tell you about Marcy’s crazed fan?”

  “No. What’s happened?”

  “Nothing yet, but Marcy’s scared and from what I can tell she has reason to be. It seems one of her over-zealous fans climbed the wall surrounding her Nashville property, used some kind of jammer to disarm her security and almost made it up the stairs into her bedroom.”

  “Where was Ben?”

  “That’s just it. You remember he’s gotten pretty involved in politics the last couple of years. He’s a member of the legal team the President sent over to Russia to oversee the review of documents discovered in one of the Nazi vaults in East Germany. The Russian’s recently conceded the Western world had a right to view and attempt to establish provenance of the materials. It’s an honor, but also a long process. Ben won’t be back for at least 3 months. Marcy’s been on her own – well, not alone she’s always got an entourage out there, but she doesn’t have her husband.”

  “Was she hurt?”

  “No. Thank God. Stella gave her one of Lucy’s pups last year, and when this fan started up the stairs the dog went into such a fit of barking it brought everyone in the house out of their rooms. When the moron tried to beat it back down the stairs, the dog grabbed his pant leg and sent him sprawling down the steps. Knocked him out cold. Marcy’s assistant Bella called 911 and got the police out their pronto. They arrested the guy, but he claimed Marcy had invited him to stop by and see her.”

  Gillian scoffed. “Not damn likely”

  “Of course not. But you know how it goes. The guy doesn’t have any priors, and Marcy couldn’t say for sure she hadn’t casually told a fan to stop and see her sometime.”