Sophie Oak - Three to Ride

Tears streamed down her face as she ran. Branches and shrubs cut into her. She ignored them. Her lungs burned. Still she ran. She could hear him catching up.

“I’m going to make you scream, bitch!”

She moved to the left. She could see the road come into view. She was almost there. Then she was falling. She hit the ground hard. The breath was knocked from her lungs as she slammed down. Her ankle twisted painfully.

She forced herself to turn over and tried to get up, but she’d tripped on a rock. Her ankle was swelling before her eyes. Her heart seized. They would find her here. Max and Rye— please let him be alive —they would find her body here. They would be so heartbroken. She would give anything for just one more minute with them.

“Poor Liz,” Tommy said, walking slowly toward her. The knife was in his hand. He looked satisfied that she couldn’t run anymore. It was apparent from the light in his eyes that he wanted to play with her.

Quigley nudged her with his nose, and Rachel realized he had something in his mouth. He dropped it on her lap. Quigley had gone after the gun. Someone had thrown it, so in his doggy mind, it was something to be fetched. His huge mouth had easily carried the handgun.

Without hesitation, Rachel picked up the gun and fired. There was no warning. He had given her none. There was no request to stop or she would shoot. There was not even the inkling in her mind that now she could send him to jail. There was only the need to be free of him once and for all. Rachel pulled the trigger again.

He looked down at the expanding red blossom on his chest. His eyes registered a dull sort of shock. He staggered toward her, still holding the knife as though he would take her with him.

Rachel pulled the trigger yet again.

He stopped at the third shot, and his knees buckled. He fell face-first to the ground.

“Rachel!” She could hear Max screaming for her.

She got to her feet. Her ankle protested, but she had to get up. Her whole body shook. She felt tears streaming down her face. Blood pounded through her body reminding her that she was alive. She was alive. She had won. She stood over Tommy Lane, and it wasn’t enough. She aimed at his head. Rachel pulled the trigger one last time to be sure.

“Rachel!” Max’s tormented scream reverberated through the woods.

Quigley barked. His tail thumped, and he took off looking for his master.

Rachel was still holding the gun when Max burst into view following Quigley. He was running full out, shotgun firmly in his hand. He stopped when he saw the scene before him.

“Oh God, baby,” he breathed, walking to her.

She dropped the gun and fell into him, sobbing the whole time. Max’s arms tightened around her until she thought she might burst. His hands ran over her body, looking for damage.

“You did good, baby. You did so good. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” He pulled her close and kissed her forehead.

Rachel felt his tears on her shoulder. She looked up. Panic seized her again. “Rye?”

“Is a lot slower since someone used his skull for batting practice.” The words were low, but the sight of Rye walking toward her with a shirt wrapped around his head was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. She limped over to him, holding on to Max and gently kissed Rye. His face was tight with pain, but he held on to her as though she was the fragile one.

“You need to go to the hospital.” Rachel wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d had every test known to the medical world.

“They’re on their way.” Max pressed himself against her back as Rye hugged her front. She sent a silent prayer of thanks to anyone listening.

In the distance, she heard the sound of the ambulance making its way up the road.

She looked down at Tommy’s body. He didn’t matter anymore. She was in their arms, wrapped in her future, and no one could take that away from her.

Rachel watched her husband toss the drool-covered tennis ball into the yard. Quigley wagged his stubby tail and happily ran off after it.

“You’re going to throw your arm out.” She sank down into the rocking chair beside him. He’d been playing fetch for hours with the dog.

Max smiled at her. “It’s little enough payment for what he did.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. He did that a lot, she’d noticed. He held her hand whenever they sat together.

It had been a month since that day in the woods. Rachel had cherished every day with them. She looked down at the ring on her finger. It was a solitaire that had been their mother’s, and it was surrounded by two small golden bands.

Rachel had married Max in a small courthouse, but she would never really consider that her wedding. That had been a thing to appease legalities. Her real wedding day had been one week ago. The entire town of Bliss had gathered as she stood in front of their family and friends and pledged to love Max and Rye for the rest of her life. It was the easiest promise she’d ever made.

She’d made one more legal change. She was legally Rachel Elizabeth Harper. Somehow she couldn’t go back to her old name. It didn’t fit her anymore. She was a new person.

“Rye’s home.” Max pointed to the brand new truck coming up the road.

Rye parked, gave Quigley a pat, and threw the tennis ball. He smiled broadly as he stepped onto the porch.

“I am officially a free man,” he said before he leaned over to kiss her.

“How does it feel not to be Johnny Law anymore, brother?” Max asked.

Rachel knew how happy Max was that Rye was coming back to work at the stables. They had spent weeks planning the new services they could offer. They were offering riding lessons now that Rye had the time to teach. Rachel had the feeling a lot of ladies would sign up for Rye to teach them how to ride. She would have to be patient.

Rye took the chair on her right side. “It feels good. No more dealing with tourists, or placating Mel, or being worried about having to toss my own brother in jail.”

“Yeah, now you can be my alibi in good conscience,” Max replied.

“I met the new sheriff.” Rye rocked back and forth. It was how they ended their days, together, watching the sunset. “I thought Callie’s eyes were going to pop out of her head.”

“Good-looking?” Rachel made a mental note to call Callie and get the lowdown on the new Sheriff.

“His name is Nathan Wright. He used to work for the DEA or something like it. Callie seemed really surprised to see him. I think she’s met him somewhere. I suppose he’s okay, if you like the type.”

Max frowned. “She doesn’t. Rachel likes our type.”

“Yes, I do. I just hope he’s a hottie who shakes up Callie’s world. I can’t be the only love slave in Bliss.”

“Oh, baby, you won’t be. Not as long as Stef has a pulse. Now,” Rye said with a sly look in his eyes, “I can concentrate on teaching one very special girl how to ride. I start Rachel’s lessons tomorrow.”

Rachel felt a secret smile curl on her lips.

“Hell, Rye, I’ll start teaching her how to ride tonight.” Max leered at her happily.

“I meant on a horse, idiot,” Rye joked with affection. “She’s going to run the business part of this, but she needs to know how to ride properly. You said that mare we picked out for her should be here in the morning.”

“I think I might wait a while for those lessons, Rye.” Her hand went over her still-flat stomach.

“Hey, there’s nothing to be afraid of, Rach.” He looked slightly concerned. “I’m a good teacher. I won’t yell at you like Max would.”

Max opened his mouth and then shut it. He nodded shortly, conceding the point.