It had been a week since the explosion. The police still couldn't find Turner. Nothing else had happened. It was weird.
It was finally Saturday. I spent the whole week doing book work, helping brand cows, and cleaning up the mess the explosion had made. I decided to take a break from chores for a few hours and take a afternoon ride in the pasture.
I packed a sack lunch and headed out to the barn. I passed Kayce in the living room talking to one of the cops that had been placed on the ranch for extra safety precautions. He wasn't entirely happy that. I interrupted their conversation by putting my arm around him and kissing his cheek.
"Don't let him scare you off; his bark is worse than his bite." I said to the officer, who laughed. Kayce rolled his eyes.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," He replied and kissed my forehead, "Where are you off to?"
"Just taking a little ride, I won't be gone long." I smiled and gave him a quick peck on the lips. He nodded. I walked out the door.
I walked in the barn and grabbed my saddle. I turned the corner to Brandy's stable and was startled by an officer standing in front of the gate. He was petting his face and was equally startled by me. I laughed.
"I'm sorry, you scared me." I chuckled. He took his hand out and also chuckled.
"Sorry, didn't mean to. I was just admiring this beautiful horse." He replied. He turned to me and did the creepy up-and-down look.
"Where are you heading off to all alone?" He smirked. The creeper vibes were strengthening.
"Just going for an afternoon ride." I responded quickly and opened the door to the stall. I put the halter on and lead Brandy out to the tie-up clips. I could feel the officer's stare beating down on me the whole time.
I threw the saddle pad up and turned to grab my saddle. He was standing right behind me.
"You know, you guys are under some sort of attack. You probably shouldn't be venturing out on your own." He said and creeped a little closer. I backed up.
"I can handle myself, thank you." I replied in a friendly tone. I got the saddle on quickly while he still stood there.
"Would you want to go get a drink sometime?" He asked just as I was about to unclip. I froze.
"I'm married, sir." I squeaked out because I was so caught off guard. I unclipped Brandy and went to the lead him out. I turned him around. He stepped in front of me and put a hand out.
"That doesn't matter. It's not cheating if it's just a trip to a bar." He asked mumbled. I slapped his hand away and pushed him away with the other one. In the process I dropped the lead rope. Brandy was startled by the quick movement and took off out the barn.
"It does matter buddy, and if I tell my husband about you, you wouldn't survive the drive to the bar. And now you made me lose my fucking horse" I snapped. I started to walk out past him, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.
"Then don't tell him." He whispered in my ear. I pushed him away, but his grip tightened. I tried to yell for someone, but the excruciating pain in my arm from his tight grip and the fall in the arena made it so no sound came out.
He pulled me into to the tack room and slammed the door shut. I hit him repeatedly, but he didn't seem bothered.
"I've never seen someone play so hard to get." He mumbled and pushed me up against the wall. I spit in his face.
"Better make this worth it, because I give you 2 minutes to live." I snarled. He wiped the spit off and smirked.
"You could have avoided this. One margarita and I would have been satisfied," He laughed, but his face turned sinister, "but rejection really pisses me off." He was still clenching my wrist.
"How can you honorably wear a badge, you sick fuck?" I snapped. I tried to kick him you-know-where, but he moved out of the way. He let go of my wrist and clenched his hand around my neck. I was shaking from the pain. He brushed the hair off of my face and smiled.
"Your facial features are so... precise. So... to die for." He whispered. His grasp around my neck was tightening and I gasped for air.
I heard the door rip off it's hinges. A moment later, the hand around my neck was gone and I dropped to my knees from dizziness. My eyesight quickly cleared up.
Kayce was on top of the guy beating the living sense out of him while Rip kicked him in the ribs. Ryan ran up to the door and knelt down to me.
"Jesus fuck, are you alright?" He asked. I nodded. John and Donnie came in next. I leaned my head back against the wall to help stop the spinning. Kayce was screaming, but my brain wasn't ready to comprehend what it was. It was probably something you mother wouldn't want you to say. Ryan and Donnie were trying to pull Kayce off, but he wasn't budging.
"Kayce. It's alright." I squeaked out. He turned and looked at me, and back down at the guy. There was a whole lot of blood.
"Touch her again, and I won't stop until I see them put the last shovel of dirt on you." He growled and threw one more swing on his nose. The cop's body rested on the ground. He was out to cold. Kayce stood and turned to me. He knelt down and cupped my face.
"What the hell happened? Did he hurt you?" He rambled and looked me over for injuries.
"Besides a couple of bruises, I'll be okay." I paused. "How did you find us?"
"Well, when your horse went barrelling out of the barn, that was a sign something wasn't fucking right." Rip said as he stood over the cop. John sighed.
"How the fuck did this happen, Donnie?" He snapped. Kayce sat down and pulled me into his arms.
"He's new, just hired a few weeks ago. I'm short on officers, that's why he's here." He answered. He knelt down to the bloody mess of a man. He felt his pulse. "He's barely alive. And out of a job." I expected him to lean down to call an ambulance on his radio, but he didn't. I looked around. They were just gonna let him bleed out.
"No, no, this isn't right. Call an ambulance, he needs help." I cried and looked at the guy. Nobody moved still. I turned to Kayce and looked into his eyes, grasping his jacket. "C'mon, Kayce. Please." I whispered. He stared back at me for a second, and then shook his head.
"Call it." He mumbled. Donnie nodded and put the call in. I settled back down on the ground and sighed.
"Donnie, I want each and every one of these fucking officers off my property. Now!" He yelled.
"Absolutely, John," he replied, then looked down at me, "Lindsey, I'm really sorry. I never would have sent him here if I knew this would happen."
"It's not your fault Donnie. Besides, I'm good." I responded and stood up. Kayce stood with me and grabbed my arm. Ryan grabbed my other one. Maybe I was still a bit dizzy.
"Why don't you come rest in the house? I'll have Gator fix you something to eat." John said to me. I nodded. We all turned to head of the over-crowded room. Suddenly, a female officer ran up to the door with a phone up to her ear.
"Donnie!" She yelled. He walked quickly up to the door.
"The tech crew just called. They found where Turner is."