It was Oliver who acted. Tess jumped, nearly fired as Oliver brought his elbow hard into Smith’s ribs, causing the man to cry out in pain. Everything happened at once—Oliver lurched to the left. As Smith crumpled in the opposite direction, he fired the gun toward Oliver. Tess saw Smith try to swing his gun around toward her, and she fired four times, not stopping until the man was down and not moving.

But then, the same could be said for Oliver. He was down and not moving.

48

Tess rushed to Smith’s downed figure, wanting to be certain he was no longer a threat. He wasn’t. She picked up his gun, holstered her weapon, and leaped to where Oliver lay. Del was already kneeling next to the prone form.

“Oliver!” Sliding to her knees, she felt fear fill her, nearly split her apart when she saw blood. Fireworks exploded in her head. But Oliver moved. And groaned.

Tess saw that the blood was coming from his face, a slice of red from where the beard on his chin had been creased by a bullet.

“I think he’s okay,” Del said. “It’s a nick, that’s all. Like he got socked in the jaw.”

Tess didn’t take her eyes off Oliver.

“I better manage the crowd,” Del said.

“What? Sure, yeah.” Tess didn’t even look up.

Oliver groaned again, and she focused on him.

“Are you okay?”

He looked dazed, but his eyes cleared rapidly. He brought a hand to his chin and Tess helped him sit up.

“I’m fine. Feels as if I got coldcocked.” He looked at the blood on his hand. “Did he shoot me?”

Tess sat back on her heels, relieved beyond belief and a little irritated that Oliver had taken such a risk.

“Looks like the bullet grazed you. You might need a couple of stitches.” She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. “Here, apply pressure.”

He did as she directed.

“Oliver, what were you thinking hitting him like that? The bullet could have just as easily gone into your head.”

Two fingers pressing the cloth into his chin, Oliver gave her a lopsided grin. “I remembered hearing you and Sergeant Logan talk about him being hurt, that his ribs probably didn’t feel so good. I took a chance that I could distract him. It worked.”

Tess stared into his stormy green-gray eyes, emotions swirling. She grabbed his face in both hands. “Oliver Macpherson, I love you.”

She pulled his face close and kissed his lips, not caring about the blood or who was watching.

–––

Steve arrived on scene a short while later. The state police were handling the shooting investigation, and Tess was fine with that. There were plenty of witnesses to the shooting. Alana was one of the first to run up to Tess and Oliver.

“I can’t believe that just happened! I mean, you saved his life!”