Free Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] by Betty Sullivan La Pierre Page B

bike."
    Jennifer grinned. “You'll have plenty of time to do all those things when you're healed.” She headed for the door. “Well, Beth, I better be on my way, so you can start your meal."
    "I'm very happy to see you. Come again soon."
    Jennifer had just started to clutch the door knob when it flew open. She jumped back as her hands flew to her chest. “Good grief, do you always enter the house in such a hurry?"
    "Oh, sorry,” Earl said, as he bolted past her and ran into one of the other rooms in the cabin. He rushed back out in a matter of seconds carrying a shot gun in one hand, a box of ammunition in the other, and darted back through the open door.
    Jennifer peered outside and wondered if it would be safe driving home. She turned and waved at Beth. “See you in a few days."
    She jumped in her Ford, turned around and headed out toward the road. About halfway there, she spotted Earl standing in the middle of the dirt trail with his gun pointed at a SUV slowly coming toward her. She blasted the horn, and poked her head out the window. “What the heck do you think you're doing?"
    "I'm going to stop the guy. Dad told me you're the only one I can allow through."
    "That happens to be my husband, and if you don't lower your gun immediately, you're going to get your head shot off, either by me or him."
    Earl's wide-eyed gaze darted from one vehicle to the next. Jennifer had poked her gun through the opened window, and Hawkman showed his. Earl slowly placed his shotgun on the ground, and raised his hands.
    Hawkman jumped out of the SUV, shoved the shotgun out of reach with his foot. “You don't point a gun at me."
    Earl pointed at Jennifer. “She's the only one I'm allowed to let through to our property."
    "This isn't your land. It belongs to your grandpa,” Hawkman said.
    "He told us to do whatever we need to do to keep it safe from intruders."
    "Do you plan to get arrested for murder?"
    "No."
    Suddenly, Jeb stepped out of the shadows, and stood on the sidelines with his thumbs hooked in the front pockets of his overalls. “What's going on with my boy?” he bellowed.
    "If you don't want him arrested, you better take this gun away, and teach him the law. Otherwise, if he stops me again, I'm going to make a citizens’ arrest and take him to jail."
    "Earl ain't done nothin’ wrong, just stopped you to see what you're doing on our property."
    "There're other ways to stop a person without pointing a deadly weapon at him."
    "I'll see what I can do to educate him. So what are you doing up here?"
    "Checking on my wife. I wanted to make sure she remained safe."
    "She's allowed to come see Beth. We won't stop her."
    Hawkman regarded Jeb with skepticism. “Why the change of heart?"
    "Beth convinced me she needed a friend."
    "I see."
    Jeb strolled forward, reached down and picked up the shotgun from the ground, and put a hand on his son's shoulder. “Come on, Earl, let's go home."
    Jennifer sat in the Ford taking in the conversation, but had not put away her gun. She watched Jeb intently to make sure he didn't suddenly turn the weapon on her husband.
    When Jeb and Earl passed Jennifer's vehicle, the corners of Jeb's mouth turned up in a cynical grin. “You can put your gun away, Mrs. Casey; no one is going to shoot your husband."
    After Earl and his father disappeared into the trees, Hawkman and Jennifer drove home. Once settled in the living room, Jennifer glanced at her husband. “You don't look very happy."
    "I'm not. I thought you said you'd leave a note. I had no idea where you'd gone. Since your Ford wasn't in the garage, you had to have gone farther than walking distance."
    "Sorry, I figured on being home before you got here. I'll let you know next time, regardless."
    "Thank you, I'd appreciate it. Now, I want to ask. What's this bit about you having permission to go see Beth? How'd such an agreement come about?"
    "I haven't the vaguest idea. When I reached the front door without sight of Jeb or Earl, it surprised