Chapter 33

33

Dylan recognized the man who had attacked them almost instantly. She screamed. For help.

Why was Bruce Tyler in Finley Creek ?

Bruce had just slugged Fletcher, a fist going right at Fletcher’s head. Fletcher knocked his uncle to the side when that man reached.

For Dylan.

Bruce knocked her right off the sidewalk, almost into traffic, with his shoulder. Dylan screamed and jumped out of the way of a car just in time.

Fletcher yelled at her to run back inside.

But Dylan couldn’t. There was a crowd of men coming out of the diner now. Blocking her way. She heard some of them yell out. Tell the two men to stop.

Fletcher was still fighting. He roared as a cloud of dust or something flew up around them. She yelled his name. Screamed for someone to help him.

Bruce punched him right in the stomach and jumped up. Evading Fletcher’s reaching hand.

Bruce looked right at Dylan. “Hi, sweetness, did you miss me?”

Dylan screamed again and kicked at him. “Leave him alone! You’re a murderer!”

He reached for her again, fingers wrapping around her arm. “I’m not a damned killer, babe.”

Someone wrapped strong hands around her waist. She felt herself lifted straight off her feet—and out of the way of the battling men as Fletcher grabbed his uncle from behind, spun him around, and slugged him so hard Dylan heard it.

Then Fletcher was back on his feet, wiping his face with one hand. “Bring it on, you asshole. Don’t ever touch her again. What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re going to jail where you belong.”

Bruce turned and ran. Like a coward. But he ran into the street, instead of toward the crowd. He was limping a little on his left leg.

Fletcher was two steps behind him.

Until Bruce darted across the road and Fletcher had to stop from the traffic at the light coming so fast now. She heard Fletcher’s curse. And Bruce’s taunting laugh. Dylan yelled for Fletcher to come back.

“Are you okay? Miss, are you hurt?” the man holding her asked. “Do you know those men?”

Fletcher was across the street now, looking for his uncle. Dylan wished he would come back.

“That’s…that’s Fletcher. The younger one. He’s with…me. The other man is his uncle. Bruce. That’s Bruce. He’s wanted in Wyoming. For hurting people.” She told the man in a flannel shirt who had a beautiful face and an identical twin brother right next to him. There was a third man next to him that had to be his brother too. They looked way too much alike not to be brothers.

“I’m a doctor,” the third man said. “Are you hurt?”

Dylan shook her head, fighting shaking into a thousand pieces. “But Fletcher…that man…he is his uncle. Bruce just hit Fletcher. Bruce came out of nowhere and jumped Fletcher and tried to grab me. Bruce…his uncle…he’s a wanted fugitive. From where we live. We should probably call the police. He’s wanted as an accessory to murder or something. Kidnapping. He…kidnapped my cousin recently. And people died. Please…I…”

She probably wasn’t making much sense at all here. And well, some stranger had her still lifted off the sidewalk in his strong arms.

The man slipped her to her feet again. “It’s okay. We’ll stay right here until your friend is back. I’m Grady Hiller, by the way. These are my brothers.”

“N-nice to meet you. I have identical twin sisters. Two years younger than I am. I am one of eight. All girls.”

“Funny coincidence. There are eight of us Hillers, but we come in a mix,” the other twin said. “I’m Pastor Gunn Hiller. I have a small church near here. This is Guthrie. He’s an obstetrician at Barratt County Gen. Are you sure you are okay?”

“I am. Bruce…well, he’s a really scary guy who I have encountered before. He’s involved in drug running and is wanted for child abuse and accessory to murder and kidnapping. I don’t know why he was here or why he grabbed for me. I don’t know what he wanted from me.”

Adrenaline had her shaking, right there between two tall men identical down to the last button on their shirts. But they were big sturdy ranchers—she felt almost safe. How could she not?

She had one of those of her own. If he’d just get back…

What was Bruce doing in Finley Creek now?

Then Fletcher was there, hands reaching for her. “Dylan. Come here, honey.”

“I made n-new friends,” she said into his chest when he just pulled her closer and cupped the back of her head. She leaned back. She needed to see him. “Are you okay? Did that jerk hurt you? This man is a doctor.”

“Just my pride. He almost sucker punched me. Threw damned gravel in my eye. Blinded me for a minute there.” He introduced himself to her new friends. And then they waited—she didn’t know what they were going to tell the police down here about Bruce.

Bruce was a wanted fugitive—didn’t that mean they were required to do something? If nothing else, she would call her uncle. He could get Joel involved. Surely the sheriff of Masterson County would have some influence?

Dylan slipped her hand into Fletcher’s as they waited.

The cops showed up, and some of her tension lessened when she saw the redheaded man in charge. Of course she recognized him—Detective Charlie Fields. Charlotte’s father. Charlie would know what to do now.

“Tyler, what in the hell happened here? What did you do?” Detective Charlie Fields asked. Charlotte favored him just a little especially her hair.

“Not a damned thing,” Fletcher almost snarled. He still had his arm around her waist. “Bruce is down here in Finley Creek. He almost took Dylan right off the damned street. What are you going to do about it?”

Well, no love lost between Fletcher and Charlie, now was there?

“Dylan. One of Charlotte’s cousins, right?” Charlie asked, looking at her.

Dylan just nodded.

Then they told Charlie their story.