Chapter 21: Robyn

When Micah calls to warn me that the drug dealers are back, I jump up from the sofa to make sure the alarm is set. Then I put on my shoes, just in case, and race to the closet to grab my gun and spare ammo.

When I hear the first gunshots, off in the distance, my heart jumps into my throat. I move to the front of the cabin and peer out the window just as two figures dressed in black slink around the side of the auto shop. There are more shots coming from in front of the shop, and now it’s a full-scale barrage.

Oh, my God! Micah is in there, and maybe Margie and Tony and Pete. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to them.

My phone chimes with a text message from Micah.

Micah: They’re coming your way. Run and hide. You know where to go.

Run and hide? He means the shed out back. This is why he showed me that shack. He knew this could happen.

As the shots continue to ring out, I grab my coat and the big flashlight, and I race into the laundry room so I can leave through the back door. When I open the door, the alarm goes off, but I ignore it and take off running into the woods.

I don’t have much time before they find a way inside the cabin. And when they do, it won’t take them long to realize I’m not there.

Once I’m in the trees, I keep running, racing down the dirt path.

“Robyn!” It’s a faint cry coming from behind me.

My heart thuds when I recognize the voice. It’s not Micah who’s calling for me. It’s Ricky. He’s here, too.

I keep running, getting farther away from the sounds of gunshot. It’s starting to get dark, so I have to watch carefully to locate the spot where I have to veer off the path and go directly into the trees. It’s more difficult going now as there’s no clear path, and it’s getting dark. I have no choice but to use the flashlight to avoid tripping over fallen logs. I hope I’m going the right way.

I hear voices behind me, coming closer. Ricky keeps calling my name.

Finally, I see the dark outline of the shed. I race inside and shut the door behind me, immediately turning the deadbolt and dropping the iron bar in place to secure the door.

After I scan the inside of the small structure to make sure I’m the only one in here, I sit on the cot. My hands shake as I lay my gun and the box of ammo beside me. I don’t think extra ammo is going to do me any good. If I find myself needing it, I’m in way too much trouble to survive more than a few seconds. These walls are made of wood, so they’re not going to be much protection against guns.

I put my phone on silent and lay it beside me so I can see if I get any more messages from Micah. I’m so tempted to ask him if he’s okay, but I don’t want to distract him.

“Robyn!” It’s Ricky again, shouting from somewhere off in the distance. “It’s me, Ricky! Where are you?”

I move into the back corner of the shed and crouch down low beside the metal bed frame. I try to remain calm because panicking won’t help. As time passes, I hear Ricky’s voice getting closer.

“Robyn!”

Suddenly, the door rattles as someone tests the lock.

“Robyn, it’s okay!” Ricky says. He’s standing right outside the door. “I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you. Open the door. I promise you, we can work this out.”

I remain seated, silent, my hands shaking violently. If I have to fire my gun, I’m going to miss. I’m not that good of a shot to begin with, but right now I’m so nervous I don’t think I could hit the broad side of a barn if I tried.

The door rattles again.

“Robyn, please open the door.” Ricky sounds scared.

And then I hear another man’s voice, deeper and gruffer. “If she doesn’t come out, I’m going in.”

This time there’s a pounding on the door. “You need to open the door, Robyn,” Ricky says. “I promise I won’t let them hurt you.”

I glance down at my phone screen, desperate for a message from Micah—a sign that he’s okay. A signal that he’s coming. But there’s nothing. I’m on my own out here.

I flip the safety off.

“All right, I gave you your chance,” the gruff voice says. “Now step back.”

“No!” Ricky cries. “Verne promised me you guys wouldn’t hurt her.”

There’s a solid thud against the door, followed by another, and another, as if the two of them are scuffling.

The gruff voice responds. “Get away from the door, kid, or I’ll shoot you first.”

I hear more sounds of a physical struggle outside the door, and then a single gunshot. Someone cries out, and I’m pretty sure it’s Ricky.

And then, silence.

A heavy fist pounds on the door. “Last chance, girl! Open the damn door. I won’t ask again. We can do this easy or hard. It’s up to you.”

As I wait for the inevitable, I raise my gun and point it at the door.

Something heavy slams against the door, and the old wooden boards creak ominously. He does it again—I imagine he’s throwing his shoulder into it—and some of the boards crack. The iron bar holds, thank God. Again and again, he slams into the door. The rusty hinges are starting to pull away from the door frame. It won’t be long now before he gets in.

And then what? I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I can actually bring myself to shoot someone. But if I don’t, he might very well shoot me.

I don’t think I’m getting out of this alive.

And then gunfire erupts outside the shed. It sounds like there’s an army out there.

I’m still pointing my gun at the door, my hands shaking, my arm muscles aching.

As suddenly as it started, the gunfire stops. My ears are ringing.

“Robyn, sweetheart? It’s Micah. It’s okay.” Someone tries to push the door open, but the iron bar still holds. “Honey, can you unbar the door for me? It’s safe now.”

I push myself up onto my feet. My legs are half numb and shaking as I stumble over to the door and lift the bar. The splintered door opens slowly.

“It’s just me,” Micah says as he pokes his head inside the shed. “I’m coming in.” He steps inside and notices the gun in my hand. “Let me have that, sweetheart.” He gently takes the gun from me, flips on the safety, and tucks it into his waistband.

I throw my arms around him, and he hugs me tightly to his chest.

Micah presses his lips to my temple. “Are you okay?” He releases me and steps back, holding me at arm’s length. He uses a flashlight to inspect me from head to toe. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay. What about Ricky? I think he was shot.”

“Yeah. He’s alive, but it doesn’t look good. Chris has called for an ambulance.”

“Are you okay?” I ask. “What about the others? Was anyone hurt?”

“Tony took a bullet to the shoulder, but he’ll be all right. And one of the deputies was grazed, but she’s okay.” He glances at my ammo and flashlight on the mattress. “You did good.”

I laugh shakily. “Are you kidding? I was a terrified wreck the entire time. It’s sheer luck I’m still alive. Actually, I owe my life to that iron bar. It held when he tried to break the door down.”

Micah pulls me into his arms again, and this time he kisses me. I notice Chris standing at the door. I hear even more voices coming from outside.

When Micah leads me out of the shed, I see two bodies lying on the ground. Micah shines his light on Ricky, who’s lying unconscious on the ground. Jack is using what looks like a jacket to apply pressure to his wounds. A few feet away from Ricky is a man dressed in black, wearing a ski mask. It’s hard to tell since it’s pretty dark in the woods, but I think I see multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

“He’s dead,” Micah says. “There were four assailants in all. These two, plus two in front of the shop. Of those, one is dead and one was apprehended by the deputies. Chris notified the DEA, and they’re sending a team here tonight.”

“You okay, Robyn?” Chris asks as he scans me up and down. “You’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine. Just shaken.”

He nods, then steps forward to hug me. “Thank God.”

Jack catches my gaze and nods. “I’m glad you’re okay.” And then he tells Micah, “Ruth’s on her way.”

We hear more sirens in the distance, most likely coming from the ambulance. Chris goes to meet them.

Micah crouches down beside Ricky and presses his fingers to his jugular. “His pulse is slow and thready, but he’s alive.”

“He’s so pale,” I say.

“He’s lost a lot of blood.”

Paramedics arrive on the scene with a gurney and begin to examine Ricky.

Micah collects my ammo and flashlight from the shed. He takes my hand and leads me back to the path. “Let’s go home.”

I feel numb as we make our way back to the cabin. People are coming and going along the path—cops and two paramedics. When we step out of the woods, we find Killian and Hannah hurrying around the cabin. They stop when they spot us.

“Everyone okay?” Killian asks Micah. “What’s the status?”

“Tony and one of the deputies were shot,” Micah says, “but their injuries are not life-threatening. Of the four perps, two are dead, one is injured, and one apprehended.”

Hannah hugs me tightly. “Robyn, we were so worried.”

The reality of what happened here tonight is starting to hit me, and I find myself tearing up.

“Let’s take Robyn inside,” Micah says. He takes my hand and leads me to the back door of the cabin.

We walk inside, and he sits me down on the sofa. Hannah joins me and puts her arm around me.

A few moments later, there’s a knock on the cabin’s front door before Ruth walks in. She sweeps the cabin with her gaze, first checking on her brother before coming to join me and Hannah on the sofa.

Ruth takes my hand. “You’re all right?”

I nod. “Thanks to Micah and Chris.”

“Where’s Jack?” she asks Micah.

“He’s out back by the shed with Chris and the paramedics,” Micah says. “Robyn’s friend is wounded, but alive. The perp who went after Robyn is dead.”

Ruth nods matter-of-factly. “Good.” Then she releases a heavy breath. “Micah, the front windows of your shop are all busted out.”

“Yeah, I know,” he says. “I was there.”

The cabin door opens, and Owen walks in, breathless. “I got here as fast as I could.” He glances around the room as if taking attendance. He settles on Micah. “I’m sorry, man, but the front of your shop is torn up.”

Micah nods. “So I’ve been told.”

Jack and Chris show up next, coming through the back door of the cabin.

Ruth stands, and Jack walks over to give her a hug. “Before you can ask, yes, I’m fine.”

“Ricky’s on his way to the hospital in Estes Park,” Chris says as he gives us an update. “Someone from the Larimer County coroner’s office is on the way to pick up the bodies.”

“I’ll go get some plywood and board up your shop windows,” Killian offers. “That’ll have to do until they can be replaced.”

“I can help with that,” Micah says.

“No, that’s okay,” Owen says as he claps Micah on the shoulder. “We’ve got you covered. You and Robyn stay here and relax.”

Jack leaves with Owen and Killian, to help with the temporary plywood repairs. Ruth and Hannah leave together.

After they’re gone, the cabin suddenly seems overly quiet. I stand and wrap my arms around Micah. “I’m so sorry. You didn’t ask for any of this. And now your business is damaged.”

“Buildings can be fixed,” he says, caressing my back. “People, not so easily. The important thing is that our friends are safe. Your friend, too. He’s lucky he was already incapacitated when I got to the shed, or he would’ve had to deal with me.”

“He’s the reason I was in this mess to start with.”

“I was trying not to mention that part. I’m not sure where you stand with him.”

“Nowhere now. He betrayed me.” I pull back so I can see Micah’s face. “I want to know who shot the guy trying to break into the shed. Was it you?”

He nods. “I got there a couple of seconds before Chris. I made the shot, but Chris would have, too, if he’d gotten there first. Any of the guys would have.”

“Are you okay with this?” I ask.

“Am I okay with shooting the asshole who wanted to hurt you? Yeah, I am. Pretty damn good, in fact.”

When he tightens his arms around me, I realize he’s shaking, too.

“I could use a drink,” he says. “What do you say? Hot chocolate or whiskey?”

“I think tonight calls for whiskey.”