Rising Storm by Kathleen Brooks Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kathleen Brooks
to learn when you're in a no-win fight and just surrender. It saves a lot of time," Beauford said as he turned to a large gun case behind his mahogany desk and pulled out an antique Winchester 30-30 rifle. "Come on Sweet Pea, lead the way."
Marshall climbed into his cruiser and waited. The town had to be satisfied with its gossip and Mrs. Wyatt was happily giving it to them. He looked out the rearview mirror at her. She looked like an avenging angel in that white dress of hers and matching wide brimmed hat. He could see her hands gesturing in the air and, by the look on their faces, that she held them captive by her story. She had reached the part about being on her way to rescue the dogs.
Finally Beauford gently cut her off and maneuvered her to the Town Car. Even from where he was, Marshall could hear Beauford ordering the troops to go back to town and let the sheriff do his job. No wonder this man was feared in the boardroom. He looked like he came from one of those Civil War paintings Mrs. Wyatt had hanging up, except instead of having on a uniform he had a suit.
He watched as Beauford opened the door and helped Mrs. Wyatt into the car. He then reached back and grabbed the large medical bag Katelyn held and put it into the backseat. Marshall had wanted to give Katelyn a hard time about the attempted burglary at the clinic last night and to find out where she really stood with Ahmed, but Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt hadn't given him a chance to talk privately to her.
He liked Ahmed, but the thought of him with Katelyn turned his stomach. Something primal from deep inside him reared its head screaming that she was his. The trouble was that if she and Ahmed were together, as much as he hated it, he would have to deal with it. If he didn't, friend or not, Ahmed could find a way to make him disappear.
Marshall followed the pink Town Car through the fields and to the back of the property. He pulled up alongside Beauford when he slowed to a stop in front of the beginning of the woods.
"Ruthie says it was just through there." Beauford gestured to the trees.
"Okay. Keep them here. I'll check it out and then come back for you when I have secured the area."
At Beauford's nod he drove on ahead until the woods prevented his passage. As he got out on foot, he didn't know what to expect. Between the fighting dog Ahmed found and the description Mrs. Wyatt gave, he was afraid there was a dog-fighting ring in or near Keeneston.
He stopped and listened to the woods. Leaves rustled with the light breeze. Birds chirped and the sun danced through the trees. It didn't seem to be an area infested with the likes of dog fighting.
He looked around and through the trees saw the beginning of the clearing Mrs. Wyatt had told him about. As he broke through the tree line he knew with one look his fears of a dog-fighting ring were valid.
Blood was spattered around a makeshift wooden ring. Chains were piled up in a corner. He could see where the cages had been placed in the grass by the indents, but they were gone now. A dead cat was dangling from a tree branch.
He spun around with his gun drawn when he heard a noise come from behind him. Katelyn stood with her medical bag in one hand and her other hand covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she looked in horror at the carnage left behind. Bloody feathers covered the one side of the clearing. Farther back, tucked behind some trees, Marshall spotted the bodies of several dead dogs. He glanced back at Katelyn and saw the tears trickling down her cheeks.
"Sweet Lord," Beauford mumbled.
"What kind of monster could do such a thing, Beauford?" Mrs. Wyatt asked as she clutched her husband's arm.
"I don't know Sweet Pea, I just don't know. But, what I do know is there is a special place in Hell for them." He patted her hand and looked sadly upon the clearing.
Marshall was about to tell them to go back to their cars when a noise reached his ears. He wasn't the only one to hear it. Everyone had gone
Marshall climbed into his cruiser and waited. The town had to be satisfied with its gossip and Mrs. Wyatt was happily giving it to them. He looked out the rearview mirror at her. She looked like an avenging angel in that white dress of hers and matching wide brimmed hat. He could see her hands gesturing in the air and, by the look on their faces, that she held them captive by her story. She had reached the part about being on her way to rescue the dogs.
Finally Beauford gently cut her off and maneuvered her to the Town Car. Even from where he was, Marshall could hear Beauford ordering the troops to go back to town and let the sheriff do his job. No wonder this man was feared in the boardroom. He looked like he came from one of those Civil War paintings Mrs. Wyatt had hanging up, except instead of having on a uniform he had a suit.
He watched as Beauford opened the door and helped Mrs. Wyatt into the car. He then reached back and grabbed the large medical bag Katelyn held and put it into the backseat. Marshall had wanted to give Katelyn a hard time about the attempted burglary at the clinic last night and to find out where she really stood with Ahmed, but Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt hadn't given him a chance to talk privately to her.
He liked Ahmed, but the thought of him with Katelyn turned his stomach. Something primal from deep inside him reared its head screaming that she was his. The trouble was that if she and Ahmed were together, as much as he hated it, he would have to deal with it. If he didn't, friend or not, Ahmed could find a way to make him disappear.
Marshall followed the pink Town Car through the fields and to the back of the property. He pulled up alongside Beauford when he slowed to a stop in front of the beginning of the woods.
"Ruthie says it was just through there." Beauford gestured to the trees.
"Okay. Keep them here. I'll check it out and then come back for you when I have secured the area."
At Beauford's nod he drove on ahead until the woods prevented his passage. As he got out on foot, he didn't know what to expect. Between the fighting dog Ahmed found and the description Mrs. Wyatt gave, he was afraid there was a dog-fighting ring in or near Keeneston.
He stopped and listened to the woods. Leaves rustled with the light breeze. Birds chirped and the sun danced through the trees. It didn't seem to be an area infested with the likes of dog fighting.
He looked around and through the trees saw the beginning of the clearing Mrs. Wyatt had told him about. As he broke through the tree line he knew with one look his fears of a dog-fighting ring were valid.
Blood was spattered around a makeshift wooden ring. Chains were piled up in a corner. He could see where the cages had been placed in the grass by the indents, but they were gone now. A dead cat was dangling from a tree branch.
He spun around with his gun drawn when he heard a noise come from behind him. Katelyn stood with her medical bag in one hand and her other hand covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she looked in horror at the carnage left behind. Bloody feathers covered the one side of the clearing. Farther back, tucked behind some trees, Marshall spotted the bodies of several dead dogs. He glanced back at Katelyn and saw the tears trickling down her cheeks.
"Sweet Lord," Beauford mumbled.
"What kind of monster could do such a thing, Beauford?" Mrs. Wyatt asked as she clutched her husband's arm.
"I don't know Sweet Pea, I just don't know. But, what I do know is there is a special place in Hell for them." He patted her hand and looked sadly upon the clearing.
Marshall was about to tell them to go back to their cars when a noise reached his ears. He wasn't the only one to hear it. Everyone had gone
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