Free Zooey Pinkerton- a Daughter's Right by Heather McAlendin Page B

past, Tom.”
    “It's more money this time
around. You signed the agreement and now I'm here to collect.
Collection is past due!”
    Zooey carefully looked around
the bedroom door. She could see the back of a very large man,
dressed in a full-length oilskin and hat. He had a Remington in his
right hand. She couldn't see her father but could hear him pleading
for more time.
    A shiver went through Zooey's
body as she listened to Tom threaten her father. She knew she
shouldn’t be rash but it was taking every ounce of self control not
to jump out and shoot the man from behind.
    “I was drunk when I signed that
paperwork! It won't hold up in any court of law.”
    A low rumbling laugh greeted
Andrew's remark. “And why do I care about the law, Pinkerton? The
boss has been fair up ‘til now but the stakes are too high. You put
up the ranch as collateral. Now you can't pay the debt. I'm here to
foreclose on this property…and I’ll kill you to close the deal if
I’ve gotta.”
    Pops put up the ranch? The thought of losing the ranch was more than Zooey could bear. She
took a deep breath, held the Colt in her hand, and stepped into the
hall.
    “What the hell is going on
here?” Zooey's knees shook as she spoke. Everything seemed to move
in slow motion.
    “Zooey, put down the gun and go
back in your room. This doesn't concern you!” A nervous sweat
gleamed on Andrew’s brow. He didn’t want her to see there or become
involved in his mistakes.
    “If it's about the ranch Pops,
it certainly does concern me. Now what is going on?”
    “Well, well. Look at this. Brave
little thing aren’t you? I don't think we’ve been formally
introduced. And before you think of using that weapon young lady,
take a look to the left.” Tom eyed Zooey up and down and licked his
lips.
    Zooey looked past the tall
stranger and caught a glimpse of another large, dirty looking man
training a rifle on Marta and her father. A moan of fear escaped
her throat as she clutched her pistol tighter.
    “That's right. You could shoot
me but then both your father and this lovely lady will be dead too.
Now what would that accomplish?”
    Zooey looked Tom square in the
face and nodded. She knew he was right but her gut twisted in
defeat. She slowly put the gun down to her side.
    “Now put the pistol on the floor
and kick it over to me. I can see you are a smart little thing.
Let's get rid of this nasty gun and you and I can talk.”
    “You and I have nothing to talk
about. It's my father that I need to talk to.” Zooey hissed as she
kicked the weapon down the hall. Once the gun was headed in Tom's
direction she stood up and squared her shoulders. She refused to
let him think she was afraid – even though her insides were
shaking.
    “Good girl. I’m sure your father
has a lot to explain but he and I have some business to finish. So
head back into your room. When he and I are done, you and I can spend some time chatting.”
    From the way the man looked at
her, Zooey knew what he wanted and she had no intention of giving
it to him. Just the thought of his large grimy hands on her skin
made her flesh crawl. She gulped and took a deep breath before
pasting on a smile. “What's your name? If you want to “chat” later
I'd like to know who you are.”
    Tom smiled and nodded. “See, I
knew you were a bright little thing. My name is Tom, Tom Brennan.”
He bowed low at the waist in mock sincerity and winked at Zooey. “I
am sure we will become better acquainted later.”
    “Brennan! If you so much as
touch a hair on that girl's head...”
    Tom turned away from Zooey to
face Andrew. “You have no say in anything anyone does right
now, Pinkerton. Your daughter is smarter than you are. At least she
knows her place.”
    The slam of Zooey's bedroom door
caused Andrew to flinch. Hot tears of disappointment beaded in the
corner of his eyes. He had let his daughter down and that hurt more
than anything else.
    Tom walked up to Andrew and
poked the rifle into his