It took her a second to identify the combatants, but when she did, she got behind the man Manfred was fighting and laid into the middle of his back with a formidable swing. He screamed and staggered, and Manfred actually got in a good hit on the man’s jaw. Down he went, in a most gratifying way, leaving Manfred shaking his bruised and battered hand.

By then Shawn Lovell had pelted from the store to join in the fight, and he grabbed Bobo’s assailant around the arms in a bear hug. Bobo socked the pinned man in the stomach, and the air left the man’s lungs in a whoosh. He sagged.

By that time, Lemuel was there.

Manfred, bending over with his hands on his knees and panting for all he was worth, took a second to marvel that Lemuel had heard him call for help from the pawnshop.

“Uncle Lem, they were trying to beat up Manfred and Bobo!” Creek yelled. She didn’t seem to notice her voice was raised. Her eyes were wide, and she was still gripping the bat. “Dad! They were hiding behind our store!” She was all over the place, her gaze skittering from one man to the other, her body tense and ready to swing the bat again.

“Deep breaths, little lady,” Lemuel said. “You have done a good thing tonight, and I’m sure Manfred and Bobo are most grateful.”

“I am so grateful,” Manfred gasped, and when Creek looked at him sharply, thinking he was teasing her, he said, “Believe me, Creek.” After a couple of more wheezes, he was able to straighten up and look more manly; or at least he hoped so.

“Pretty funny,” Bobo said. He leaned against the back wall of Gas N Go. “That we were trying to get away from them and instead we hid where they were hiding.”

“Hilarious,” Manfred agreed.

“I’ve called the police,” Shawn said. He didn’t sound pleased at all; he sounded very angry. “Creek, please go in the store and put the bat back where we keep it. Tell Connor everything’s okay. I don’t want you to have to talk to the cops.”

“But . . . Dad! I did so good!” Creek was half indignant woman, half floored child.

“You sure did, honey, but I don’t want our name anywhere in a police report.” Shawn’s voice was even, but you could tell he meant every word.

As soon as Manfred’s brain began working again, he absorbed the idea that the Lovell family had a complicated back history.

That didn’t surprise him at all.

The two attackers were conscious, and the one Creek had swung on was groaning. “That bitch broke my back,” he said. Manfred knelt by him and made sure the man was looking into his eyes. “You say that again, I’ll jump on you with both feet,” Manfred told him.