Standing behind Beau, Nickie was grateful she didn’t have to see the look on his face, but she would have been surprised; it was deadpan. Thanks to her warning he was ready for just about anything, and when the slick, rude stranger made his declaration Beau was able to swallow his shock.
“Then I guess I’d best leave you two alone so you can talk, but husband or not, you still can’t be takin’ someone against their will, so if she doesn’t wanna go with you I guess we’re gonna have a problem.”
Beau could see Gerald Harris sizing him up. They were about the same height and build, and while Beau figured he was probably in better shape than the angry city slicker standing in front of him, it was hard to judge the man’s body under his loose jacket.
“Nickie, I’ll be close by,” he said. “I think you two need some privacy, but give a holler if you need me.”
As he turned her eyes begged him to stay, but he gave her a reassuring wink and ambled past her. She watched him for a moment, fighting the temptation to call him back, but Gerald began to speak.
“Come on now, Nicole, be reasonable,” he began. “You know you have to come home with me, and I miss you, baby.”
“You miss me? You don’t seriously expect me to believe that, and I’m not your baby! Just leave, Gerald. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I promised your father I’d bring you home, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I want to try again, you know we belong together.”
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” she exclaimed, “and belong together? What the hell are you talking about? We’ve never belonged together. Where is all this coming from? I told you I’m filing for a divorce and that’s the end of it. Give it up, Gerald.”
Beau could hear the ongoing argument as he made his way across the room, and covertly pulling out his phone he sent a text.
At Nickie’s house on Viewpoint, come quick, bring George.
Barely a second passed before he saw the response.
Ten four.
Relief flooded through his body, but just as he slipped the phone back into his pocket he heard Nickie’s plaintive cry for help; spinning around he saw Gerald had her by the arm was attempting to drag her out.
“BEAU! HELP ME!”
She was struggling furiously, yelling loudly, but Gerald’s dark determination was obvious; he was intent on getting her into his car.
Beau felt his pulse tick up as he strode towards them. He had no desire to fight the man but he would if he had to.
“See, the thing is,” he declared as he approached, “if you don’t let her go I’m gonna have to hurt you, and I’d rather not do that, it’s not in my nature.”
“Hey, cowboy, why don’t you go kick some shit.”
Beau paused, put his hands on his hips, and purposefully looked around.
“I said, why don’t you go kick some shit,” Gerald repeated raising his voice.
“Hmm,” Beau frowned, “I’d like to oblige but I don’t see any shit to kick.”
“Let me go you fucking bastard,” Nickie suddenly screeched, and yanking her arm back as hard as she could she managed to loosen Gerald’s grip; raising her booted foot she landed a hard kick against his shins.
“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” he wailed, dropping her arm to grab his leg.
“Damn, you’ve both got potty mouths,” Beau calmly remarked as Nickie bolted to his side. “Is that where you got that habit from, Nickie, this charming husband of yours?”
Gerald lifted his eyes, and Beau could see his sarcasm had only served to fuel Gerald’s rage.
“You are such a fucking brat,” he hissed, “and you’re going to be sorry you did that.”
“She can be a brat,” Beau remarked, “but she’s gettin’ better, aren’t you Nickie?”
“Her name is Nicole, Nicole Harris, as in Mrs. Nicole Harris,” Gerald snarled straightening up, “now mind your own fucking business. Nicole, get in that fucking car.”
“No! I don’t want to go with you, and you can’t fucking kidnap me.”
Gerald’s eyes dropped to the floor, and Beau knew immediately the man was looking for a weapon; they both spied the lead pipe at the same time, but it was laying much closer to Gerald than to him.
“Okay, now I’m going to get serious,” Gerald threatened as he lunged forward and picked it up. “Nicole, you get in that car or this cowboy is going to get his head bashed in.”
“No, please, no, okay, I’ll go with you,” she stammered.
“Nickie, you stay right where you are,” Beau said sternly. “Trust me, stay there.”
“Beau, he’s got a fucking lead pipe, he’ll kill you,” she wailed.
“Now, Nickie, you know what will happen if you don’t do what I’m askin’,” he grinned.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re smiling about,” Gerald hissed lifting the pipe in the air, “but it doesn’t matter, you won’t be smiling for long.”
Beau began to move around the room, stalling for time, and to his great relief he heard the sound he’d been praying for; a car racing up the gravel driveway.
Kicking up dust and rocks the squad car came to a screeching halt, and pulling his gun Tyler jumped out. As he cautiously approached the house he saw Gerald holding the pipe in the air, and though Gerald had paused when he’d heard the car he hadn’t dropped his arms.
“FREEZE!” Tyler yelled. “Kneel, place the weapon on the floor and push it away.”
Behind him another cop lumbered forward, and as Gerald dropped to his knees he couldn’t believe his eyes; the man was huge. Though Tyler’s drawn gun was more than enough incentive to make him follow Tyler’s instructions, the sight of the Goliath in uniform scared him almost as much.
“Lay on the ground, arms above your head.”
“What? Give me a break,” Gerald retorted. “It’s filthy, I’ve put the pipe down. Can’t you just handcuff me like this?”
“Are you resisting arrest, Sir?” Tyler asked walking with George into the house.
“Hell, no,” Gerald said quickly. “I just don’t want to lay on this disgusting plywood.”
“Sir, I’ll tell you one more time, lay on the floor and move your arms above your head or I will book you for resisting arrest.”
“Fuck, okay, fine. Sonofabitch!”
“George, cuff him and read him his rights.”
“Gotcha,” the large man replied, the boom of his voice coming as no surprise.
“Are you two okay?” Tyler asked holstering his gun.
“I am now, thank God you came. How did you know?” Nickie asked surrendering to Beau’s arms.
“Check with your cowboy,” Tyler grinned.
“Nickie, you’re shaking,” Beau said gently, “take a deep breath. It’s over.”
“I know, I’m fine, but my knees are jello,” she whispered. “When he picked up the pipe…”
“Look, the jolly green giant is already taking Gerald’s sorry butt to the squad car,” he joked trying to make her smile. “Tyler, how long can you hold him?”
“If you press charges I can hold him until his arraignment in the morning.”
“Huh, well, I don’t want him in town, so I guess I don’t wanna press charges. Can you keep him locked up for a couple of hours?”
“Sure, that won’t be a problem,” Tyler nodded.
“What about his car? Can you impound it, get it outta here?”
“I was already planning on it,” Tyler replied. “Nickie, you’re white as a sheet. I think you should go get a drink somewhere, or even just a cup of coffee.”
“Yeah, I’m not feeling so hot,” she said quietly.
“Do you need us for anything else?” Beau asked.
“Nope, you’re good to go.”
“I owe you, thanks so much,” Beau said shaking his hand.
“Hey, you don’t owe me anything, it’s my job. I’m just glad I was so close, though in this town I’m always close to wherever I’m needed,” he chuckled.
“Okay, Nickie, let’s get you home,” Beau said giving her a warm squeeze.
“Yes, please,” she sighed, “and Beau, I’m so sorry this happened, I had no idea he’d show up, none. He’s never even been here.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” he said walking her out. “Right now I just wanna get you back home.”
He’d parked the truck to the side of the driveway so he wasn’t blocked in, and as they climbed inside Nickie glanced over at Gerald sitting in the back of the police car.
“That’s exactly where he belongs, the bastard,” she grimaced.
“Seemed like such a nice fella’,” Beau quipped.
“Yeah, nice as a rattlesnake,” she scowled.
He drove the truck down the drive and on to the main road, then reaching across the bench seat he took her hand.
“I’m thinkin’ it’s not a good idea for you to stay in that hotel right now,” he said soberly. “I don’t know Gerald, but he seems like the determined type.”
“He is that,” she said gravely.
“I’m thinkin’ either you have Amy pack your stuff and bring it to the ranch, or we swing by the hotel and pick it up. That’s why I asked Tyler how long he can keep Gerald occupied.”
“Oh, right. So, wait, you’re saying I can stay with you?”
“Of course!” he exclaimed. “I don’t trust that character for a second. I’m gonna watch out for you until you get this settled. If you’re not under my roof, how am I gonna do that? I wouldn’t sleep a wink with you at that hotel and that man runnin’ around. You’d be doin’ me a favor.”
“Beau, you’re the best,” she sighed. “Why don’t we go to the hotel now? Once I’m back at your place I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I want to check out and get it over with, and I should get my car as well.”
“Your car, of course, I’d forgotten about that. You can park it at the back of the barn so it can’t be seen. Okay, Hillsboro hotel it is, and Nickie, I’m not freaked out that you’re married, well, maybe a bit, but once we’re home and you’ve got a cup of tea in your hand, you’re gonna tell me absolutely everything, you got it?”
“Yes, Beau, I will, everything, but you might not like it.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said firmly, and I don’t really care what it is. You’re under my skin and in my heart, and I’m gonna help you figure this out.