After taking their guns and cuffing them, Colter turned back to Morris and went on one knee to examine him. “The bullet hit the carotid artery,” he said, rising. “No power on earth can save him now.”

Morris managed a laugh. “At least...I won’t...go back...” He turned his head and died.

Colter got on his cell phone and called for assistance. Minutes later he had an ambulance, the coroner, the crime scene unit, and half the lawmen in Jacobs and surrounding counties.

Into this mixture, strolled Chet Billings, with his sniper rifle slung over one broad shoulder. He was pale, but otherwise unmoved.

“I owe you my life,” Colter said simply, shaking hands.

“Me, too.” Jake returned the gesture. “I loathe the taking of a life, but that man would have scored two if you hadn’t acted. However, I do feel for you. I know how it is, to throw down on another human being,” he added softly.

“Thanks,” Chet sighed. “It’s never easy, having to do that.”

Colter frowned. “What are you doing over here?” he asked.

“Brenda called Eb Scott and told me where you were,” he said simply. “Clancey was very upset when she couldn’t reach you. She phoned the Martins and they told her where you were going. Smart lady,” he added. “She figured it all out.”

“Smart, indeed,” Colter had to agree. He felt warm inside that Clancey had been upset enough to send the troops in.

“Uh, I might just mention that I’m available for weddings,” Jake said in a low whisper.

Colter laughed. “I’ll keep you in mind. I think that’s going to be the next thing on my agenda. Meanwhile, thanks for the backup.”

“Anytime.”

FIFTEEN

Clancey was almost climbing the walls. There had been no calls or texts on either her cell phone or Brenda’s. Brenda had tried to phone Eb Scott again, but he wasn’t answering. Neither was Colter. What if he’d been killed, or badly wounded? Wouldn’t somebody call to tell them? Brenda, like Clancey, was chewing her nails. The waiting was horrible.

An hour went by and then another hour. Just when she was ready to throw caution to the winds and ask Brenda to drive her to the old church, she heard an SUV drive up outside.

She went running out, blind and deaf and dumb to anything except Colter’s dark, handsome face. She changed direction and ran straight into his arms, to be swept close and kissed to within an inch of her life.

“Did you arrest him? Morris, I mean?” she asked worriedly. Because she knew, as he did, that many men were released on their own recognizance. If that happened, Morris would throw caution to the winds and come after her and Tad with a vengeance. She’d have to worry about Tad even more...