Free Inherited: Instant Family by Judy Christenberry Page B

checked to see if it was loaded. It was. He shut the cylinder and put on the safety. “Okay, how did he get in?”
    “He knocked out the glass and reached in to turn the lock.”
    “Where’s Abby?” Nick asked.
    “She’s—she’s taking her nap.”
    “And the kids?”
    Sarah finally remembered them. “Oh! I told Robbie to stay in the family room until I came for them.”
    Mike held up his hand to Nick, who was about to run. “Stay seated. We don’t want them in here until we get him to Pinedale.” He nodded toward the gunman on the floor.
    Mike went to the phone and called his office, asking for a car with two deputies to come.
    “Can you get me an old towel that you don’t need?”
    “Yes, of course.” Sarah stood and went to the laundry room where she kept some ragsfor cleaning. She’d just put a towel in that pile this morning.
    Bringing the towel to Mike, she stood there, as if she didn’t know what to do.
    Brad came to her and told her to sit down. “I’ve put on a pot of coffee. I’ll have a cup ready for you in a minute.”
    “How—how did you get here so fast?”
    “We were just in the next pasture when you called.”
    “I called Nick’s number, but you answered.”
    “Yeah, I borrowed his phone to make a call and then forgot to give it back to him.”
    “I was glad you got here so fast.”
    “Yeah, but you managed on your own.”
    “Are you sure Mike isn’t going to arrest me?”
    “I’m sure, honey. He wouldn’t dare.”
    “But I shot him!”
    “Did you have a choice?”
    “No,” she whispered.
    “Mike,” he called to the sheriff who was talking quietly to Nick. “Would you tell Sarah that you’re not going to arrest her?”
    “Sure. Sarah, you’re not under arrest. You were defending yourself. That’s justifiable.”
    Relieved, she nearly slumped against Brad.
    A few minutes later, the two deputies arrived. Mike helped them ease the wounded gunman into the backseat, the towel staunching the flow of blood. Mike told them to get him to the hospital in Pinedale and stay with him until they could bring him back. Then he came back in the kitchen to call the hospital in Pinedale, telling them the deputies were bringing in a patient with a gunshot wound.
    Just then, a frantic looking Kate rushed into the kitchen. “What happened here?”
    Sarah had gotten a mop to clean the floor. “I—I shot someone.”
    “Mike?” Kate asked, knowing he’d give her the full story.
    He did.
    Kate reached out and wrapped Sarah in her arms. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re all right.”
    “I—I shot him, Kate!”
    “You didn’t have a choice. Of course you did. That was the thing to do.”
    Sarah again burst into tears, this time on Kate’s shoulder.
    They were interrupted again when Abby woke up and came out to the kitchen. Before she could panic, Nick told her what happened. “Let’s go get the kids,” she said to her husband.
    They reentered the room with Robbie wrapped around his parents’ legs.
    Anna ran to Sarah, hugging her around the waist. “Are you all right, Mommy?”
    “Yes, sweetheart, I’m fine. But I’m glad you stayed in the television room until now.”
    Davy came over to Mike. “Did he have a gun?”
    “Yes, Davy, he did.”
    “Then how did Sarah get away?”
    “She had a gun, too.”
    Davy’s eyes grew round and he stared at Sarah.
    “Did she shoot him?” Robbie asked, just as in awe as Davy.
    “Yes, she did,” Mike said firmly.
    Anna immediately burst in tears. “No! Don’t take her away!”
    Mike came over to squat down to Anna’s level. “I’m not taking her away, Anna. She shot at the man because he was going to shoot at her. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
    Anna continued to sob into Sarah’s waist.
    Mike reached out to touch the child. “Anna, it’s all right. I’m not going to take Sarah away.”
    “You—you promise?”
    “I promise.”
    “It’s all right, baby,” Sarah crooned to her. “I’m not going to leave