"I'm only concerned for her welfare," Ruger replied. "I'd never stand in the way of her happiness. It's in her best interest that you keep your date. Diesel and I can handle your bunny related emergency."

White rabbits hopped around the fairgrounds just outside the rabbit building. They looked confused and uncertain what to do with their newly found freedom. Mitch.e.l.l, two rental cops, and a couple of workers attempted to catch the rabbits, which darted away every time they got close. Grey, Diesel, and Ruger appeared at the small animal barn and watched the others attempting to catch the remaining rabbits. It was almost hysterical to watch. Mitch.e.l.l narrowly missed catching one of the rabbits, saw the three men while straightening, and appeared surprised.

"Where's the sheriff?" Mitch.e.l.l asked.

"He had an emergency call, so you're stuck with us," Ruger informed Mitch.e.l.l.

"Huh? Well, if you're here to help, start catching rabbits," Mitch.e.l.l informed them.

Diesel looked around with bewilderment then eyed the deputy. "Wouldn't it be easier if you just used your gun?"

Mitch.e.l.l glared at Diesel. Grey frowned, smacked Diesel on the arm, and pointed to the rabbits. Diesel rolled his eyes and pursued one of the white rabbits. The rabbit ran from him and led him in circles.

Mitch.e.l.l removed his cell phone, placed a call, and spoke into the phone. "Hey, it's me," he announced. "The sheriff sent some additional help, so we have the situation here pretty much under control." Mitch.e.l.l was silent while listening to the person on the other end. "No, he was taking care of something else. If he needs backup, I'm sure he'll call."

Ruger overheard the conversation, glanced at Mitch.e.l.l, and hid his humored smile.

Dina entered the police station bullpen. There were several temporary police officers milling about with drunken men in handcuffs, who were adamantly insisting they didn't do anything wrong. Most of those being arrested were non-locals who indulged a little too much at the annual fair. It wasn't uncommon, although it wasn't something Dina had ever seen before. She immediately noticed her mother sitting alongside one of the desks with her hands cuffed behind her back. She looked disheveled, which was actually normal for her, but her worn, tired face was bruised and scratched. Dina stared at her profile a moment from a distance then uncertainly approached her and the arresting officer, who sat behind the desk and typed on the computer before him. She paused several feet before her mother and saw the scratches and bruises more clearly. Olivia looked oddly like roadkill. It was possibly the saddest moment Dina had ever had with her mother. Olivia looked at Dina in her usual drunken manner, but this time, she actually made eye contact.

"Are you okay?" Dina finally asked.

"I need five hundred dollars for bail," Olivia remarked with little emotion. "If I don't make bail, they're going to make me spend the night in jail."

Dina stared at her while searching for a response. "That's it? You need money?" she suddenly asked. What should have been hurt was actually anger. "You haven't spoken to me in almost ten years and when you finally do, it's to ask me for money? Is that why you called?"

"I didn't call you," Olivia scoffed and attempted to hold up her head, although it was obvious she would soon pa.s.s out. "Do you have the money?

Dina shook her head with disbelief. "No, I'm not posting your bail. I don't even know you."

"I'm your mother," she snorted with hostility.

Dina stared at her and looked stunned by the comment. "No," she replied and vigorously shook her head. "The only mother I knew died two years ago. Spend the night in jail. I'm sure you'll find it more comfortable than your usual corner table at the tavern."

Dina stormed from the bullpen leaving Olivia staring after her with her mouth hanging open. Dina hurried out of the police station and paused just on the quiet sidewalk. She allowed her head to fall into her hand. She lifted her head, took a deep breath, and fumbled with Grey's car keys. She was about to approach Grey's jeep when she suddenly stopped and looked back at the police station with a bewildered expression. She removed her cell phone and pressed a b.u.t.ton while heading for Grey's jeep.

The fair was winding down by the time the rabbits were caught and returned to their cages. Grey, Ruger, and Diesel walked across the nearly deserted fairgrounds toward the parking lot. There were still some visitors playing last minute games, although most of the food stands were already closed. Many vendors were getting ready to enjoy a night on the town, which consisted of the tavern or the bowling alley. Ruger's cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, appeared puzzled, and answered the phone.

"h.e.l.lo?"

Ruger suddenly stopped and listened to the mysterious caller on the other end. "Who is--?" He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it with a puzzled look. The caller had apparently hung up. He hurried Grey and Diesel toward the parking lot. "That was an anonymous call. Someone broke into the store."

Grey removed his cell phone as he followed them and pressed several b.u.t.tons. "I'll call Sheriff Holt."

"I'll call Casey," Ruger quickly announced then looked at Grey as they continued toward the parking lot. "Tell the sheriff to stay with her."

Grey appeared bewildered by the comment. Ruger pressed a b.u.t.ton on his cell phone as they hurried across the parking lot.

"d.a.m.n it, it went to voicemail," Ruger announced then spoke into the phone. "Casey, we have a situation. Stay alert."

All three hurried through the parking lot and toward their car. Grey appeared frustrated while on his cell phone and disconnected the call.

"I got the sheriff's voicemail too," Grey announced.

"Someone needs to go to the house and make sure Casey's okay," Ruger said.

Grey looked around the parking lot. There was a long run-in shed with saddled horses tied to a hitching post. "I'll borrow my friend's horse," he informed them. "I can ride through the woods and be there in ten minutes."

Ruger nodded. Grey hurried for the shelter with the tied horses. Ruger and Diesel jumped into his car and drove away. Grey untied one of the horses, backed it out of the shed, and placed the reins around its neck. He touched the horse's face and pointed a warning finger at it.

"This is important," Grey sternly informed the horse. "I don't like riding at night, so I want you to be on your best behavior, got it?"

The horse appeared disinterested.

"As long as we've got that straight," Grey muttered and clumsily mounted the horse. He sent the horse into a trot across the fairgrounds, and, despite his anxiety, he appeared to ride rather well.

Chapter Twenty-eight.

Sheriff Holt drove along the dark back road to the Remington farm in his police blazer. He glanced at himself in the rearview mirror several times and attempted to fix his hair while driving. He casually placed both hands on the steering wheel and smiled dreamily to himself. He could barely contain his smile and shook his head while sighing. Life was finally as it should be--with Casey by his side. He hummed the wedding march then appeared embarra.s.sed and shook his head.

"Getting a little ahead of yourself, Vaughn," he muttered softly. His grin again returned. "Ah, who cares."

A car's headlights were seen in the rearview mirror behind him. The headlights flashed. Vaughn studied the car behind him and appeared curious. Perhaps it was a drunk driver. Who the h.e.l.l would flash a police blazer? The car sped up and rode up the back of the police blazer. Vaughn looked in both mirrors and appeared to contemplate his next move. The car suddenly picked up speed and started to pa.s.s him. He glanced in the side mirror. It was Casey's black Camaro. He smiled and laughed while shaking his head.

"She's going to be the death of me," he teased but maintained his grin.

Vaughn slowed to allow her to drive alongside him, but she didn't pa.s.s only kept pace with his blazer by the back quarter panel. Vaughn appeared concerned and looked at the curve coming up ahead. Now she was just being plain dangerous. Giving her a ticket for reckless endangerment would certainly put a damper on their romantic evening. Her car didn't back off. Vaughn looked back several times.

"What the h.e.l.l are you doing?" he firmly demanded aloud to himself.

The car suddenly revved and rammed into his back quarter panel as they neared the curve. Vaughn attempted to control his blazer but there was a tree just up ahead. He slammed on his brakes, but it was too late. The blazer struck the tree head on. Vaughn was thrown forward as the airbag deployed and then his head hit the side window. Casey's car sped past and continued through the curve and out of sight. The sheriff's police blazer was partially in the woods with the front end smashed against a tree. The entire back driver's side panel was smashed in as well. All the lights remained on outside the vehicle. The driver's side window was cracked with blood smears. Within the blazer, Vaughn was slumped back against the seat with blood running down the side of his left temple as the air bag hung shriveled from the steering wheel.

The Remington farmhouse was well-lit with the outside barn light and the porch light on. Several lights were on within the house both upstairs and downstairs. Storm grazed in the pasture among the mares. His head suddenly lifted and he appeared to be watching someone or something. The horse suddenly snorted and galloped across the pasture for the gate near the barn. Storm appeared alert, snorted several times, and then pinned his ears back and reared up with aggression. He ran along the fence as someone moved through the shadows toward the house. Through the outside window of the house, Casey was seen walking across the kitchen with her shirt open, revealing her black, s.e.xy undergarments. She poured two gla.s.ses of wine then looked at her vibrating cell phone. She glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone, and put it on silent mode without answering it. She left both gla.s.ses of wine on the counter and headed up the back kitchen stairs. The intruder moved away from the window and walked onto the porch. A black, gloved hand turned the doork.n.o.b and slowly opened the door. The intruder entered the kitchen and silently headed for the backstairs.

The woods were dark and spooky that night despite the clear skies. Strange sounds seemed to come from every direction. Grey rode the slightly excitable black horse along the path in the woods at a fast gait. He was having a difficult time controlling the horse, which obviously didn't want to be in the dark woods. Even the sounds of the leather saddle creaking seemed to spook the nervous horse. Small animals were heard roaming the woods and the faint sounds were almost deafening while riding a horse that heard everything. The horse suddenly spooked at something and wildly spun around. Grey collected the horse and appeared shaken while attempting to soothe the snorting horse. The horse's head was raised, his ears perked, and his eyes were wide just waiting to find something else to be frightened by. Once the horse settled, Grey encouraged the horse along the path at a trot. A small animal crossed the path just up ahead. The little, brown rabbit may as well have been a bear. The horse suddenly sidestepped in sheer panic. Grey attempted to regain control of the horse. The horse spun wildly several times at the frightening rabbit, which had just crossed the path. Grey mimicked every move he'd ever seen Casey do while on a spooking horse, but it wasn't working. The horse suddenly reared up. Grey toppled off the horse and roughly struck the ground. The horse ran back for the fairgrounds and it would eventually end up back at its farm. Grey groaned, slowly moved to his hands and knees, and watched the horse run away.

"Horses suck!"

The antique store along Main Street appeared quiet in the town that had settled in for the night after a long day at the fair. The gla.s.s on the front door was shattered inward just near the handle. As Diesel cautiously approached the partially open door, a man was seen standing just inside the alleyway opening. Diesel looked at the man. Fred stared back at him and gave a slight nod to the broken door.

"You don't want to go in there alone," Fred said softly. "They have crowbars and baseball bats."

"I've got this," Diesel replied and nodded him away. "You'd better go before they see you."

Fred slowly nodded and hurried across the street for an old pickup truck. He jumped in and drove away. Diesel gently pushed open the front door and caught the bell above before it could ding. He slowly entered the mostly dark store while stepping over the broken gla.s.s. A dim light was seen in the next room over and soft voices were heard. Diesel removed a small, twelve-inch baton and carried it with him. Where most men would appear frightened, Diesel seemed more curious and almost enthusiastic to meet those who broke into the store. The sound of items being smashed was heard within the next room. Diesel followed the dim light and approached the opening. Several men in dark clothing smashed china and other valuable items. Diesel watched them a moment then casually flipped on the lights. Wayne, Ryan, and Blain jumped with surprise and spun toward Diesel, who now casually leaned in the doorway with the baton in his hand.

"I hope you realize you're going to pay for that," Diesel said simply.

Ernest sat in one of the antique chairs like a king on his throne and looked at the big man in the archway. He casually stood and glared at Diesel with a smirk.

"Just leaving a little message for your friend, Grey," Ernest announced with a little too much arrogance. "Stay out of our way, and you may not get hurt.

The look on Diesel's face was that of humor. The threat was almost laughable. He just grinned and shook his head. "You're going to hurt me?" His smile was frightening. "That would be quite an achievement, considering all four of your boys couldn't even handle one, small girl." He didn't move from where he leaned in the archway. "You'd need an army to defeat me." His smile suddenly twisted. "And I'm not even the dangerous one--" Diesel smirked and nodded across the room. "--he is.

All five men looked across the room to Ruger, who stood just outside the office with an oddly emotionless expression on his face. Ernest and his boys appeared humored by the less than impressive man.

Ernest gave a nod to Ruger. "Show him what happens when you mess with a Harford," he announced then looked at Wayne. "You take care of the muscle."

Blain and Ryan approached Ruger, while Wayne lunged for Diesel with a baseball bat. Diesel suddenly straightened, flicked the baton in his hand, and it extended to three feet. He defended the bat with his baton. The two men lunged for Ruger with their crowbars. Ruger spun into a series of forward and backward roundhouse kicks and knocked the crowbars from each of their hands. It was easy to see who finished Casey's martial arts training. Once they were disarmed, Ruger grabbed Blain by the arm and kicked him several times in the side then flipped him over his hip as Ryan came to his brother's aid. Ryan threw a punch. Ruger blocked his fist, grabbed his wrist, and kicked him in the chest. Ryan crashed into the old settee and appeared momentarily dazed. Ruger casually picked off a speck of dirt from his shirt while Ryan got his second wind and finally sprang to his feet. Blain was back on his feet as well. Both men lunged for Ruger from opposite directions. Ruger spun into a roundhouse kick and knocked Blain to his hands and knees. He catapulted across Blain's back, using him as a springboard, and flew into a roundhouse kick while airborne, striking Ryan in the head. Ryan immediately dropped to the floor. Both men lie on the floor, writhing in agony, while Ruger casually stood over them.

Diesel knocked the baseball bat from Wayne's hand, tossed his baton aside, and began punching him with all the skills of a Marine in Special Forces. Wayne was down before he even realized he'd been hit. Ernest watched in horror as Wayne hit the floor. Ruger casually stepped over Ryan and approached Ernest. Ernest backed away with the horror evident in his eyes then attempted to bolt past him. Ruger spun into a ground spin and swept his legs out from beneath him. Ernest painfully struck the floor. Ruger moved over him, grabbed him by the throat, and stared into his eyes. Ruger's eyes were void of any emotion.

"I vowed to never kill anyone again, but the next time you force me to put my hand on your throat, I'll rip out your windpipe," Ruger casually informed him. The look in his eyes conveyed the seriousness of his threat. "Do we understand each other?"

Ernest stared at Ruger with a look of horror while gasping beneath his grip. He slowly nodded. Ruger released Ernest's throat and casually straightened.

"Video surveillance captured your destruction, so I'll expect prompt payment for damages," Ruger said. "And in case you're thinking your brother-in-law will interfere, you should know we have friends who are worse than me."

Ernest scrambled to his feet, ran for his sons, and hurried them from the shop. Diesel and Ruger watched them flee the scene. Diesel folded his arms across his chest and gave Ruger a curious look.

"We know someone worse than you?" Diesel asked.

Ruger shrugged and appeared humored. "Probably not, but a man can dream."

Diesel chuckled softly and patted Ruger's back. "I was surprised," he remarked. "One of those boys almost got a punch in. You're going soft, old man."

Ruger glared at the big impressive man standing alongside him. "Call me old man again, Diesel, and I'll permanently crack your nuts."

Diesel turned to face him and appeared serious. "Now, see, that's what I mean," he announced. "You didn't even take one cheap shot. None were clutching their boys in total agony. I mean, who are you? Casey's made you soft. You didn't used to be so gentlemanly."

Ruger sank into thought then looked at Diesel with realization. "You're right," he remarked then shook his head and sighed. "I am getting soft. I didn't used to be this nice."

"Exactly," Diesel chimed in while slapping his shoulder.

Ruger smacked Diesel in the groin with the back of his hand. Diesel gasped and clutched himself. He didn't hit him hard enough to drop him, but it obviously stung. Diesel glared at Ruger with disapproval. Ruger grinned in response and sighed.

"Yes, that did make me feel better," he announced cheerfully. "Thank you."

"Yeah, any time," Diesel said in a higher than normal pitch.

Grey's jeep pulled into the crowded tavern parking lot. Dina jumped out of the jeep and hurried inside. The tavern was packed to maximum capacity with fairgoers, vendors, and locals alike. The noise level was staggering and the mood was extremely enthusiastic. Dina easily maneuvered her way across the crowded tavern with years of waitressing practice on her side. She slipped between two men and stood before the bar. Mack busily tended to the thirsty patrons and temporary waitresses, who had their hands full attempting to serve customers. Despite the crowd, Mack approached when he saw her, apparently surprised to see her on Sat.u.r.day night following the talent show.

"Hey, Dina," Mack announced cheerfully. "I hear Casey rocked at the talent show."

"More like an earthquake," Dina replied then immediately fidgeted. "What happened tonight?"

Mack appeared bewildered. "What do you mean?"

"With my--with Olivia."

He glanced across the bar to her mother's usual table then looked around the tavern with some surprise. "Actually, I haven't seen her in a few hours."

"That's because she's been arrested," Dina informed him then shook her head and appeared surprised. "You don't know about that?"

"No," Mack replied. "I hadn't heard about that. Where did it happen?"

"Right outside," she replied with rising anxiety.

He again shook his head. "Nope, I hadn't heard. Is she okay?"

"You have no idea what happened?" she asked with surprise.

He again shook his head. She stared at him a moment. Mack returned to his customers and busily filled mugs. He looked back at Dina, but she was already heading through the crowd for the door. Dina left the tavern and immediately removed her cell phone as she crossed the parking lot. She pressed a b.u.t.ton and held the phone to her ear. She groaned when she got Casey's voicemail. She approached Grey's jeep and pressed another b.u.t.ton. She paused before the jeep and waited. She groaned with disgust as Grey's voicemail picked up.

"Grey, it's me," she announced into the phone. "It was no accident. I think I was lured away on purpose--"

She saw Casey's black Camaro pull into the parking lot. Dina sighed with relief and disconnected the call as the car drove closer to her. She immediately noticed the damage to the right front fender and appeared alarmed.

"What the h.e.l.l--?" Dina gasped and hurried for Casey's car as it stopped.

Dina opened her eyes and stared at the steering wheel beneath her head. The only light in the darkness was from the vintage dashboard of the Camaro. She attempted to sit up and immediately groaned in agony. She touched her bleeding temple and looked around with disorientation. She was behind the wheel of Casey's car! Dina made a second attempt to sit up, but something was holding her back. She uncertainly looked out the windshield and immediately appeared horrified. The hood of the car was severely crumpled and a tree was only a few feet in front of the windshield. Beyond the windshield was the deep ravine. Casey's Camaro was vertically inclined on the hillside and the only thing that kept the car from plummeting nose first into the ravine was a single, large evergreen tree beyond the treacherous curve's busted guardrail. Dina gasped with alarm and uncertainly looked around the empty car. Her purse lie on the dashboard, although how it got there was a mystery. She didn't have it with her when she left Grey's jeep. How she even got in the car was a mystery. She made another effort to sit up, although gravity and her own injuries held her back. She contained her sobs and slowly reached for her purse. The tree groaned beneath the weight of the car, and she felt a slight jolt. Dina gasped and stared frozen out the windshield. There was no telling how long she had before the car plummeted, taking her to her death in what was sure to be a fiery crash. That was exactly what someone wanted when they put her behind the wheel.