Staggering, clinging to each other, Janet and Joe made it out of the shed, just before the explosion. The concussion knocked them down. They struggled to get up, unsure if Tony was really dead. He was a monster , maybe he had survived?
They forced themselves into the car that they had been driven there in, but were fumbling for the keys when the posse arrived. Joe was mumbling, "Nick," "Where is Nick?","The other guy has Nick." "The guy from town.".
On the other side of town ,near the barn, Kimmy, riding Kat, heard something.
She turned in the saddle to hear it more clearly. Yes, screaming, faint. Over there.
She nudged Kat to a gallop. Again, Nick!
Nick,was screaming!
A Man was there, near the barn's big open doorway. Kim, slowed, and suddenly saw that he was covered in blood. She thought it was Nick's.
"Nick! Nick"! She screamed. Nick, you okay? "He's a killer," Stay back! Nick answered.
Kimmy wheeled around, and kneed Kat hard, Git! Git! and twelve hundred pounds of well trained muscle and determination went straight for the limping man. He didn't make the doorway. The barrel racer knocked him solidly. He flew into the doorpost, and didn't move again.
Nick wrestled the heavy ladder down, and jumped the last six feet. She turned to her dog.
Knelt to stroke him, cradle him. King still breathed, shallowly. "He killed my Mom, and Dad, Tony I mean", "and he", motioning to the man on the ground, "He tried to kill me too." "King got him, he saved me." Ty ran up, out of breath, and used the ladder rung to nudge the man on the ground over.
They knew him. He was always in town. They knew him well.
Suddenly, sheriff vehicles,4x4's began roaring into the field, from all directions.
Dean was in one of the first to arrive, Jackie and "Ladybug" in another.
Jackie was horrified, she was angry and relieved, angry again. Dean's head was low,
he felt he had let his family down. But who would have thought...
Kim shouldn't have even been there, and yet... Now she would have this violent act to live with.
The paramedics told Dean, "The guy was almost dead from blood loss Dean, he wouldn't have lasted much longer", "The Dog bit him good, but he could have lived if he had gone to a hospital, actually,he killed himself."
" You have a great dog Nick."
"Why did he like Tony, then, he was a really bad guy,"? Nick aked. The small town Sheriff deputy explained, "You got King from the shelter, right? King went to animal control ,when Tony had a six month D.U.I...Tony was his former owner."
Nick was transported to the hospital to join her Mom, and her Dad. Her parents were both alive. Enough for now.
King was rushed into sugery. He was going to make it.
Later,in the dark streets of the old town, Steve driving his Mother's old car, delivered the last of his pizza, saving a last piece for a new aquaintance.
Nice doggy. Niiice doggy, sssshhhhh, we gonna be friends? Huh?
The parking patrol officer was not given a police funeral.
A sworn officer of the Law! And kept out of the loop.
Easily overlooked ,he was just always, there.
He likes to sit on the porch of the old hotel.
It's so familiar.
He has lots of company on the porch,
Hey! heres Tony.
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