CHAPTER 4

"CJ!" Madre Rosa stood on the back porch calling down as Matt's wife walked along with Catey and Tomás at the pasture fence. "He's done it again."

"Oh, God..." She started that way. "Is he okay?"

"As far as I know. There's a hostage situation at Norton. It's on TV."

"And knowing him he's right in the middle of it." Going up the steps she went into the den, flipped on the TV, and took a seat in the recliner.

"Our reporter on the scene, Diego Valencia has an update for us." The news anchor passed the coverage to the reporter.

"We've now been told that there are four people in the room with the gunman who according to some sources is a student. We know at least one of the hostages is a teacher and there is also a Harris County Detective in the room." CJ, Sheila, and Madre Rosa all exchanged a look. "At least one shot has been fired but there have been no injuries reported." The lawyer heaved a sigh of relief and then inhaled suddenly as five shots rang out in quick succession, the reporter and cameraman diving for cover across the street from the school. "Those shots were outside the building. It looks like two males are arguing."

Upstairs Matt sprang up and went to the window but couldn't see where the shots had come from. Pulling out the radio he turned up the volume and all five of the people in the classroom heard the chatter.

"Two male Caucasian suspects, approximately forty years of age. One is hiding behind a gray Dodge pickup and and the other behind a blue GMC."

"Oh, my God – it's Uncle Josh!" Julie started crying.

"Sounds like my dad, too." Erik looked to Houston. "Would he be out of jail by now?"

"Most likely if he could post bond."

"Why was your dad in jail?" The girl wiped away tears.

"He uh...well, he was drinking again last night and tried to go after Detective Houston when he came to see if I had been threatened." Seeing the angry look that immediately crossed Tristan's face he shook his head. "I didn't say a word, man. Ask him."

"He didn't – like a hard head. If he had we might have been able to avoid all this." Matt gave him a disgruntled look. "Do y'all want to lose your uncle or your dad?" All three shook their heads no. "Then let's try to talk to them." Turning to Tristan he held out his hand. "Give me the gun before it's too late." Nodding the boy handed it over and Matt ejected the magazine and cleared the barrel, putting the pistol in the waistband of his jeans. "Come on." He opened the door a crack. "Chuck, you still out there?"

"Yeah."

"We're coming out. I've got the gun and everything is okay." He opened the door and all of them filed out. "Look, they're going to try to talk to their relatives down there and get them to stop. We don't need any handcuffs." He saw what Chuck was about to do. "But I will take my Glock back now." After holstering it, he headed down the stairs.

"They're in the north parking lot." Chuck and the others followed him downstairs where the SWAT team was now trying to get into a position to deal with the adults. Francine Martinez met them at the bottom of the stairs.

"I heard your plan – but these kids have to stay where they can't be in danger."

"All we need is a bull horn."

"Here ya go." She handed it to him before he started jogging down the hallway to the north and went down the short flight of steps to the side exit.

"Y'all stay back against the wall." Taking a breath he opened up one of the doors. "Mr. Carson, Mr. Donelly? There are some kids here who would like to talk to y'all. Will you listen to what they have to say?" There was silence outside. "Guess that means yes so listen up." He lowered the bullhorn and looked to the kids. "Who wants to go first?" Julie took a step toward him. "Stay where you are; just squeeze the trigger and talk."

"Uncle Josh, it's Julie. Look, this whole thing has gone on too long. It's time for it to end. Put the gun down."

Josh Donelly spoke up. "I put the gun down and Carson there will shoot me."

Erik took the speaker. "Dad, you put yours down, too. Then we can all talk, okay?"

"Son, have you lost your mind?"

"No sir. But I'm tired of living looking over my shoulder...and I'm tired of sneaking around."

"Sneakin' around?"

Julie took the speaker back. "Uncle Josh, Erik and I have been seeing each other since the beginning of the year."

"You what?! Girl, are you crazy?"

"No, but I'm tired of living someone else's life. My life shouldn't be like this."

Both men outside were silent as Matt took back the bullhorn. "Y'all know you just aren't gonna go waltzing out of here – you're both in a heap of trouble. Listen to the kids – they've got it figured out."

"Sure they do." Carson spoke up. "Erik, what happens when that little bit of fluff gets mad at you and decides she likes somebody else? The Donellys will be all over us, boy. What the hell were you thinkin'?"

"I think I'm tired of this crap, Dad. I'm tired of hearing about how bad the Donellys are, and how everything that's gone wrong in your life is their fault. It isn't. It's your fault for not seeing the truth."

"Boy, she's got you wrapped around that finger good. Never thought I'd see the day any son of mine would talk like that."

Josh Donelly had been quiet through the whole exchange. "Tristan, you in there?"

The boy took the bullhorn. "Yes sir."

"Are you the one who had the gun?"

"Yes sir."

"Guess we're both gonna be in some trouble." After a quiet moment he spoke again. "Carson, I'm throwing out my gun. If you shoot me the cops will shoot you. Just remember that." He tossed the gun down and walked out from behind the truck with his hands in the air.

"Get down on the ground, Mr. Donelly." Matt eased out the door his own pistol drawn and held on Carson.

"Huh, you again."

"Yes sir." Matt moved on in and placed Josh Donelly in handcuffs. "What about it? Are you going to listen to the kids?"

"Yeah, I reckon. I'm screwed if I don't." Tossing down his gun he did exactly as his enemy had done and was handcuffed by Chuck.

"We're gonna take y'all down to the Sheriff's Department and you can talk there, okay?" Matt helped his prisoner to his feet.

"Are the kids really okay?"

"Yep." Matt handed him off to two deputies and brought the kids out, loading them in his truck and following along behind Chuck to the office.

"How much trouble am I in?" Tristan looked over at the cop.

"Well...I can't say, son. I'm not sure how they'll handle it. But...I'm married to one helluva lawyer and I'd say you're gonna need one."

"Think she could help my dad, too?" Erik spoke up from the backseat where he was holding hands with Julie.

"If she's able – she's about out to here with the twins." He held his hand against the windshield and smiled. "Let's just get y'all talking to your families and then we'll deal with the rest of it, okay?"

At the station Martinez had the Donellys and Carsons brought into a conference room. Sherri Donelly had been notified and Angie Carson had pulled up at the school just as they were driving away. As they were seated at the table, Matt made sure that the three teenagers were seated side by side. No one spoke for a minute until the sheriff began. "Detective Houston, since you seem to be doing so well with this situation..." She motioned to the people in the room.

"Yes ma'am." Matt walked around the table and stood behind the teens. "These three here learned a lot at school today. It wasn't Advanced Math, but there was some History in there." All three kids smiled and looked at each other. "Now I'm going to let them say what they've got to say and I would advise you not to interrupt 'em." He put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Why don't you start, darlin'?"

"Okay." Clearing her throat she looked around the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Carson, I'm Julie Donelly. Erik and I have been seeing each other secretly since January. I really like him...he's...well, he's a great guy." Turning to look at her mother and uncle she spoke again. "Erik isn't crazy or mean or any of the other things that I've heard about the Carsons over the years. He's just a really sweet guy."

"Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Carson...I really like Julie. She's smart, she's pretty, she's funny..." He blushed and looked over at her. "She makes me happy. That's all I want to be is happy. We both do. But when we have to keep sneaking around to see each other...well, it's kinda hard to be happy."

"Mr. and Mrs. Carson, Uncle Josh, Mom..." Tristan started to tear up. "I screwed up big-time today. After all these years of hearing how bad the Carsons were..." Stopping for a second he felt Matt's hand on his shoulder. "I thought the only way to keep Julie safe was to scare him away." Turning to Erik he shook his head. "I never intended to hurt you." The other boy nodded. "Nobody should have to live like we have been – always worrying about who's in the grocery store or the library when we are. Who might pull up at a stop sign behind us. It's nuts. There's no need for it. All of the people who started this mess are dead. They lived their lives the way they wanted and now it's time for us to live like we should." Looking to the sheriff he apologized. "I'm so sorry."

Nodding she looked at the adults. "These are kids here, folks. Kids. Remember that phrase? "Out of the mouths of babes"?" Everyone nodded. "They're right: it needs to end right now, right here."

"Nobody says y'all have to be best friends." Houston spoke up again. "But I've got a feeling that in a few years you're going to be related by marriage – whether you like it or not."

Later on that afternoon as he was getting ready to go home, Matt was stopped by Chuck in the hallway. "I'm surprised you didn't bring up Romeo and Juliet."

"Think about it: that didn't end too well."

"Oh, yeah...see ya later."

As he got out of the truck at the ranch, the cowboy was met by Tomás and Catey. "Hey there. Y'all been takin' good care of Mama?" He took his daughter from the boy.

"From what I heard you're trying to keep her busy. She's agreed to work for the Donellys and Drake Carson."

"Figured she would. Just hope it won't take too long." Looking down at where the bunkhouse had stood he nodded. "They've been doing a good job on that."

"Thank you." Tomás smiled.

"Been helping have you?"

"Yes sir."

"I appreciate it. My plan was to work on it while I was here. Guess maybe tomorrow I'll have more time. Although..." He headed up toward the house as Catey gave him a big hug. "I probably need to play chauffeur for the lawyer lady."

"I heard that." CJ was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "And it's not a bad idea actually."

"While you're working on that I'll uh...be working on something else." He gave her a wink.

Later on that evening after supper and getting Catey to bed, the couple were sitting outside on one of the swings. "So...have you decided on a name for your ranch, Mrs. Houston?"

"Uh huh: Rockin' PH Quarter Horses."

"Rockin' huh?" He gave her the goofy wiggly eyebrow look.

"Think about it – rocking horses? Kids?"

"Ah...no, that wasn't the first thing that came to mind."

"Of course not – perve." She kissed him.