Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) (16 page)

Stopping in his tracks, Joe crouched down, motioning him to do the same and whispered, "Right there. To the left of that tall burned tree trunk, half behind those bricks.”

Looking where Joe indicated, he spotted the shape of what appeared to be a man's head and torso, half hidden by the rocks. His back was towards them. Pointing to his right, Gus started moving, while Joe automatically circled around in the opposite direction.

Two separated targets are more difficult to control than one. Besides, they had two cars in the clearing, which meant there was at least one other person they didn't have eyes on. One other person who might be in a position to harm Emma, if they were discovered.

The snap of dry wood sounded on the other side of the ruins, and the figure suddenly disappeared completely from sight. Gus could only hear was some rustling and then the loud reverberation of a gunshot. Spurred into action, he abandoned all attempts at staying hidden and ran in a direct line for the roofless structure, terrified of what he might find.

Coming up on the side of the small building, he kept his back to the wall, inching his way around. He was constantly checking in front, behind as well as above him, to make sure he wasn't walking into an ambush. Other than sounds of movement from within the walls, he could hear nothing else. Coming to the end of the wall, he carefully snuck a look at the other side, but there didn't seem to be anyone. Turning the corner, he saw an opening to the building and made his way towards it. At the last minute he spotted a body laying off to his right. Ralph. Dead. Fuck. That was not good, not good at all. Was that the shot he had heard? Looking a little closer, he noticed that the pool of blood under the body had started congealing around the edges. Flies had started collecting on the body already. He must have been dead longer than the few minutes since the shot rang out for sure, especially in this heat. It would've taken longer than 15 minutes for that blood to start clotting. Damn. Would Emma be lying dead somewhere too? Was that gunshot the one that ended her life? The thought almost made his knees buckle. And where the fuck was Joe?

Tamping down his emotions once again, he turned his focus on the doorway, pretty sure he wouldn't like what was waiting inside, but moving toward it anyway.

*****

"M
r. Flemming, how convenient to have you join us here. I'm afraid your partner has been slightly indisposed."

Corbin, the cock-sucking weasel had one hand wedged under Emma's jaw; the webbing between his thumb and forefinger all but cutting off her air. His other hand held a gun to her thigh. Emma looked to be passed out, and her lips were tinged slightly purple from lack of oxygen. One side of her was covered in blood, and Gus couldn't hold back the growl that started low in his chest, or the inadvertent step forward his body made. Fucker must have taken down Joe.

"Hold it right there, lover boy. One more move, however slight, she loses a leg. Another after that she's done. And so are you." Using the gun in his right hand to stroke up and down Emma's leg, he smirked at Gus.

"Juicy piece of pussy, is she? A bit too old and chunky for my liking, but I guess there is no accounting for taste is there."

"Leave her the fuck alone! You'd be lucky to have a woman like that even look at you twice. Mother-fucking bottom-feeder..." Gus was struggling to rein in his rage, knowing he had to keep a tight control or this situation would get completely out of hand. "What is it you want, Corbin? What was Ralph Murphy doing with the likes of you?"

"Ah... poor Ralph, I'm afraid the promise of the almighty dollar proved to be too much for him. You know, it is surprising how easy it is to find a weak link in every chain. Ralph's was his ailing mother and his increasing gambling debt. Living so close to the reservation does have its drawbacks. He served his purpose."

Keeping a close eye on Emma, Gus thought he could see her eyelids twitch a few times. He hoped to god she would keep them closed, even if she was awake. Having to look her in the eye would make him completely lose his cool.

"Ah yes, what I needed from the lovely Emma here, is some information. You see, I know she copied my files to somewhere... but she has been too... let's say, indisposed, to inform me of the where and how. I need those files." Corbin finished with an angry shake to Emma's neck, causing Gus to clench every muscle in his body in an attempt to stay still.

"But now, Mr. Flemming, unfortunately the game has changed a bit. Unless you can provide me with the information I need, I will have to..." He didn't get any further. As he had begun to suspect, Emma was awake. She chose that moment to throw her entire weight sideways, away from the hand that held her by the throat. At the same time trying to knock the hand with the gun out of the way. Gus reacted and moved forward instantly. He tried to get to Corbin before he was able to lift up his gun to aim at either Emma or him. He wasn't fast enough.

Two shots rang out, one followed on top of the other.

O
nce again, Emma found herself waking up with a massive headache at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Cortez. This time however, she was surprised by who was at her bedside.

"Kara!"

"Hey mom." Her beautiful daughter was there, in the flesh, but with an angry frown on her face.

"Honey, what's wrong? What... How come you're here?" Her voice was raspy, throat still sore from the pressure that bastard put on it.

In one terrifying wave all recollection came flooding back. Emma struggled to sit upright in her bed, panic clutching at her chest.

"Mom! What are you doing? Lay back down, you have a head injury, please!" Kara begged, trying to hold her down in her bed.

With the sound of gunshots still vivid in her mind, deep sobs tore through her body and tears streamed down her face unchecked. Kara tried to wipe them away, and kept asking her what was wrong. She couldn't seem to form any words, so overcome with fear of the loss she would have to face. Rolling on her side, she curled in a fetal position, her back to her daughter, who resorted to stroking her back. "Mom, I'm going to get the doctor, okay? I'll be right back, I promise."

Not responding, Emma couldn't help but let the last few seconds she remembered play out again and again, hoping against hope to come up with a different conclusion. But each time the outcome was the same. She had managed to get away from Corbin, but as a result, he shot Gus. Two shots, that's what she heard before she passed out again. She was sure of it.

In the next moment, someone was rubbing her back. She hadn't heard anyone come in. A warm breath skimmed blew on the shell of her ear, and she heard a familiar deep voice rumble: "It's over, Peach. He's dead, won't be hurting you any more. No need to cry, darlin'."

Her body tensed up completely. It took her a minute to register, before she turned in her bed to find Gus leaning in on her. Totally overwhelmed with relief, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him on top of her, sobbing loudly.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's all this?" He asked chuckling.

Barely able to draw proper breath, she hiccupped: "I...I... though you we...were gone."

"Right here, babe. Right here." Gus mumbled into her hair, while hanging half in half off her bed; trying not to put any weight on her. He was drawing big soothing circles with his hand on her back. "Shhh. I'm not going anywhere, Peach. There isn't anywhere else I'd rather be."

"It may be a little too early for this kind of activity, folks." Dr. Waters said, walking into the room followed closely by Kara. She looked on with her eyebrows up in her hairline. "And Emma, we really have to stop meeting like this." The doctor quipped, smiling at her. "Your daughter tells me you were in near hysterics, are you in pain? Although you do seem better now..."

Slightly embarrassed, her face buried in Gus' shoulder, Emma was not quite sure how to respond with the doc's inquiring eyes and her daughter's piercing ones focused on her. Luckily Gus decided to take the lead. "It seems Emma had limited recollection of the events. She was under the impression that I didn't survive our, erm... encounter." He looked down at her with warm eyes. "As you can see, I was able to set her mind at ease."

"Thank goodness for that. You folks are keeping our little hospital busy enough. While I'm here, let me check your vitals. Unfortunately, this time you are not going to go home so soon. You have now had two head injuries in the span of a few days, and have about twenty or so cool stitches keeping your scalp together. We'd like to hang on to you for a bit. But don't worry, you'll have company." A small smirk formed on Naomi Waters face.

"What do you mean, I'll have company?" Emma wanted to know.

"Oh, I guess Gus here will have to fill you in on all the details, but Chief Deputy Morris will be our guest for a few days as well."

*****

A
s Gus ended up telling her and Kara after Dr. Waters had left, Katie was in Durango in serious but stable condition. She had undergone surgery to remove a piece of her damaged skull that had caused substantial bleeding to her brain. Apparently she had drains placed to keep the pressure off. Caleb was holding vigil there now, along side Dana and Neil.

As far as the events by the Anasazi ruins; The initial shot had been Corbin shooting at Joe, when the two of them were approaching from opposite ends. Joe had the bad fortune of disturbing one of the Ute wild horses that tend to roam in the area. Drew the unwanted attention of Corbin, and ended up shot in the stomach as a result. Then as Gus had faced down with Corbin inside what she now knew, were the remains of an Anasazi pit-house, Caleb had caught up with them. Managing to come up just outside of the door opening. He had listened to what was going on inside, and had waited for an appropriate moment to intervene. When the first shot from Corbin's gun, narrowly missed Gus, Caleb hadn't hesitated. The second shot had been from his gun and hadn't missed its target.

Joe had needed surgery but would be okay, and was apparently just down the hall. It was a shock to Emma when she found out this all happened the day before... She had been out of it for almost twenty-four hours. Apparently Arlene had gone home to sleep after spending the night.

Emma turned to Kara. "So how did you end up here, love?"

"I got a call from Mr. Flemming, and I... "

"Name's Gus, darlin'. Told you that." A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"Fine. Gus. And mine is Kara, not darlin'." Kara snapped, rolling her eyes at him.

"Kara! What in hell's gotten in to you?" Emma wanted to know "You're being rude."

"Whatever, mom. Anyway, after talking to Arlene as well, 'cause of course I didn't know Gus from Adam." Kara said with great emphasis, making sure her mother understood she was put out. Oh yes, Emma got the message.

"So I heard a bit of what went on here and hopped on a flight, thinking you might need some help." Shrugging her shoulders, Kara looked a little like when she was fifteen and had felt left out.

Emma reached for her hand. "I'm so happy you're here, honey. I just didn't want to worry you, or God forbid, have you come out here when there was still danger. I was in good hands."

Kara snorted hard at that. "Yeah, I can tell. What did that doctor say? Second time in a few days you end up in the hospital?"

"Kara, stop. You're being unreasonable. You have no idea of the stuff that has gone on this past week. But now you're here, the danger is past, and I'd be more than happy to fill you in." Emma tried to appease her daughter. Knowing once her girl got her hackles up about something it would take a lot of work to smooth them down again.

Smiling at Gus who sat beside her, she nodded. "I gather you two have met?"

"I had Neil pick her up in Durango this morning." Gus smiled back, still holding on to her hand.

"That's good of you, thanks." Squeezing his fingers briefly. Turning to Kara, she noticed the keen way with which they were being observed.

Kara looked at her with a question in her eyes. "Are you guys an item or something?"

Not quite sure how to respond appropriately, Emma took a few moments to collect her thoughts, but before she had a chance to answer, Gus jumped in.

"I like your mother. A lot. We met under unusual circumstances, so we really haven't had a chance to 'date' or get to know each other in a normal way. That doesn't mean we didn't get to know each other. Or that we are not involved; 'cause we are. It simply didn't take a traditional route."

"Bit fast, all of this. Don't you think?" Was Kara's retort.

"Yes, it is. One of the benefits when you've been around the block a time or two is that you're clear on what you like. You don't tend to waste time playing stupid games." Slapping his hands on his knees, Gus moved to get up. "I'm going to have a visit with Joe and leave you girls for a bit. Can I bring anything back from the coffee shop?"

Kara shook her head no and Emma wasn't sure what she was allowed to have. Before he left, she pulled him down for a chaste kiss, and whispered her thanks against his lips. She decided to ignore her daughter's presence.

With Gus gone from the room, Kara turned her attention to Emma. "Mom, how do you know he isn't taking advantage of you?"

"Seriously Kara? I think you have our roles reversed, and for your information, my lack of mobility has not affected my ability to take care of myself. I stopped controlling your life a while ago. I love you. But don't start messing with mine now." She looked sternly at her daughter who had her lips pressed together in a straight stubborn line. "Now, that's as much of an answer as you're going to get, seeing as this is all new to you. I understand your concern, but I've got it from here. Now get your skinny ass over here and give me a hug for Christ' sake. We haven't even had a proper hello."

Tilting her head, she tried to coax a smile out of Kara who finally gave in, sat down on the bed and wrapped herself around her mom.

"Sorry Mom, I was so scared the whole flight over here. So worried about head injury and what it might mean for you, or if it would have long term effects. I didn't intend to be a bitch, really."