Chapter 3
Right from Wrong
Black Cobra Roadhouse
Tex Wilcox sat in his usual spot phone to his ear listening to his employer Hunter Blake give him instructions before asking if he was coming to the meeting that afternoon.
"Reilly and his old lady going to be there?"
"Suppose to be," Tex drawled back.
"Then you don't need me you know what to do. I want them both gone," Blake ordered his second double hit.
Blake hung up his phone there were more customers out there then those two, people who didn't care, people who didn't need to see his face. He smiled to himself he had more important things to do he had to find out what Annabelle had seen in that file and see if he could salvage this relationship enough for her to set up that new fool proof system for him. He chided himself for loosing his temper with her before she was past her usefulness. It didn't matter things were soon all going to be falling into place.
~~~~~
Jimmy Trivette took his sunglasses off as he walked into the darkened atmosphere of the Black Cobra he looked around for a moment catching sight of Tex and his friends. He walked to the bar and sat down unzipping his leather jacket before ordering himself up a cold beer. He threw the money on the bar and picking up the bottle walked over to where Wilcox sat a pretty blonde straddling his knee.
"Tex Wilcox?" Trivette asked.
"Maybe, maybe not," Tex replied turning his attention back to the blonde who was teasing his ear with her tongue.
"Reilly told me you couldn't give anyone a straight answer," Trivette returned leaning forward grabbing the front of Wilcox shirt hoisting him out of his chair and the blonde sprawling to the floor. One of Tex's buddies was on his feet and charging Jimmy only to catch one of Trivette's booted feet in his chest. In one quick move he had Tex in a chokehold and was applying the pressure.
"Back off or I'll snap his neck," Trivette warned the rest.
"What do you want," Tex gasped out.
"Reilly and his lady had to go out of town for a few days and he asked me if I could collect the merchandise that is owed him from your friend Hunter Blake," Trivette informed him.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Tex spit out.
"Wrong answer Tex," Jimmy told him squeezing tighter.
"Alright, Alright," Tex got out. "Hunter can't make the meeting something more pressing came up."
"You get Hunter on the phone and you tell him there is nothing more pressing then the unfinished business he has with me. I'm going to be back tonight and he'd better be here cause I know where he works, where he sleeps, and who he sees. You get all that Tex?"
"Yeah I got it."
"And one more thing tell him not to come empty handed," Trivette said shoving Tex head first into the table as he headed for the door escaping the roadhouse.
~~~~~
The door to Anna B's room closed bringing a deafening silence with it. "Mrs. McMurtrie Sydney," Gage began, "Would you two mind stepping outside while I have a few words with Anna B?"
Sydney put her hand on her husband's arm about to say something until she caught his face. "All right Gage," she replied putting her arm around Kathleen to escort her outside with her.
Anna B remained silent her eyes fixed on her window and away from Gage. The door softly clicked shut, Gage stood for a moment before walking over to where Anna B sat in bed. Gage sat on the edge of the bed too reaching forward and taking her hand.
"Gage," she cried out the tears streaming down her face letting him wrap his arms around her and hold her washing away the hurt.
"Anna B," Gage softly whispered to her, "Sydney says that you really care about Hunter."
"More then anything Gage I can't explain it," she told him. "He's usually not like this," she tried to defend him.
"You want to hear what I think?" Gage asked leaning back so he could see into her face, so he could gently wipe a tear.
"I can't stop you can I?" she answered with a question a small smile coming across her face.
"No and you sound like Sydney," he smiled back pausing a moment. "I think that Hunter has a few problems that he needs to work out…"
"But Gage…" she cut in.
"Hear me out please," he smiled putting his finger under her chin and lifting his face so he could gaze at her.
She nodded her head yes falling silent to let him speak.
"Like I was saying Honey," Gage continued, "I think Hunter has some problems he needs to solve. If his feelings for you are as strong as yours are for him he'll take whatever steps are necessary to prevent this from happening again. I know if I had ever hurt Syd like you've been hurt I wouldn't be able to live with myself until I could get the help I needed to make sure I didn't do it again. What I honestly think is that you should tell Hunter that you need a few days to think things through and make some decisions when you can think a little more clearly."
Anna B sat silently knowing in her heart that he was right, that he had never steered her wrong before. "Oh Gage I… what if he leaves me?"
"I think you no the answer to that. If he loves you a few days isn't asking very much, right?"
She finally nodded her head yes letting him hug her close again whispering to him, "Thanks for being my friend Gage."
"Always Anna B. Syd and I want you and your grandmother to come stay with us for a couple of days and hopefully that way you'll just be able to relax," Gage informed her.
Again she shook her head in agreement letting Gage kiss her cheek before she lay back against her pillow closing her eyes.
"I'm going to send your grandmother in," he told her pulling the covers around her.
"Okay," she whispered back as she began to drift off once more.
Going back out into the hall he was met by Syd and Mrs. McMurtrie who were anxiously waiting for him.
"She's resting Kathleen why don't you go on it and sit with her," Gage smiled at the woman.
"Bless you Gage," Kathleen struggled to say knowing how lucky she and her granddaughter were to have both him and Sydney in their lives.
As the elderly woman disappeared inside Sydney laced her arm in Gage's and held tight. "You really are quite amazing you know that?"
"Not that amazing Syd but it's nice to know that you think so," he told her poking her in the side as he teased her.
She planted herself in front of him and wrapped her arms around him as she looked up into his face. She felt his arms encircling her as he bent towards her pressing his lips against hers in a heart felt kiss of love.
The Black Cobra Roadhouse
Hunter Blake came to a screeching stop as he pulled up in front his favourite haunts. Today that fact didn't even change his fowl mood as he yanked the door open entering into the dark cool interior. The smell of stale smoke and beer hit him as unpleasantly as what he had faced at the hospital earlier.
His face was aching especially his cheek and eye where Gage had ploughed his fist into earlier that morning. Then when he had called the hospital to check on Annabelle his wife Sydney had answered the phone telling him that Annabelle didn't want to speak to him for a few days and to please refrain from trying to call her.
He looked down at the picture of Annabelle's two precious rangers that he had lifted from her wallet muttering under his breath, "You're as good as dead."
Tex Wilcox was nowhere to be seen so going to the bar Blake flopped down in the first convenient bar stool dropping his keys and the picture on the dirty bar in front of him.
"Beer Hunter?" the bar keep asked.
"Double scotch up too," Blake retorted.
"Starting early today aren't we Hunter," the bartender smiled setting the drinks in front of him wisely not mentioning the eye that he had noticed when Blake sat down. What he did notice was the picture of Syd and Gage that was sitting in front of his customer.
"Hey you and Tex looking for those two?" he asked pointing at the picture. "I bet Tex would like to hang a beating on Reilly after him and his old lady showed him up the other day in here."
"You know these two Murray?" Hunter asked the man serving drinks.
"Just to see them. They started coming in here a few months ago looking for a supplier wanting to make a few buys said it could lead to some serious money if things worked out. They hooked up with Tex but I don't know what happened. They came in here yesterday and Reilly was some made had Tex by the throat. They had a few words and left."
"Do tell," Hunter smirked, this revenge was going to be twice as sweet.
Ranger Headquarters
Trivette sat at his desk going over Gage and Sydney's reports, trying to make sure he hadn't missed anything about Tex Wilcox and his gang. His cell phone suddenly rang jarring him out of his thoughts.
"Damien," he answered the phone.
"Hunter Blake here," the voice on the other end responded. "You wanted to conclude some business I had with an associate of yours?" Blake innocently asked.
"That's right Mr. Blake," Trivette replied as Walker sat listening from behind his desk. "I think it would be in your best interest to conclude this business as soon as possible," Trivette went on.
"Alright how about tonight say around seven. There is a house set back in from the road about a quarter mile past the Black Cobra that I usually use to conduct my business transactions."
"I'll be there," Trivette replied trying not to sound to eager. "But Hunter you try anything and you're a dead man," he added.
A huge grin came across Hunter's face, as he replied, "Wouldn't think of it."
Sydney and Gage's
Sydney pulled into the driveway at home with the children only moments before Gage pulled in with Anna B and her grandmother. While Sydney helped to get them settled Gage went to the kitchen to check in with Walker.
"Count us in for sure," Gage told their boss. "The sooner this is taken care of the better."
Sydney came into the kitchen as her husband hung up the phone. "Count us in for what?"
Gage looked behind her to make sure she was alone before telling her that Trivette had just finished talking to Blake and the meet was set for tonight.
"Maybe I should sit this one out tonight Gage," Syd thoughtfully told him watching his eyebrow rise up. "What?" She asked.
"Kathleen will be here and the bad guys will be there," he pointed out to her. "I think you need to put a rest to things Syd."
She thought about it for a minute knowing he was right but not quite giving in just yet. "I'll speak to Kathleen and see how she feels."
"Mommy," Piper stood in the doorway addressing her mother.
"Yes Honey," Syd held her arms out to her daughter who came scurrying to her.
Looking from side to side she said hardly above a whisper, "Anna B doesn't have a very nice boyfriend."
Reaching down Gage picked his daughter up holding her tight in a hug. "Some times things just happen that we don't expect to happen," Gage began to explain.
"But we do have in our power to make decisions and take steps so the same mistakes don't happen over and over," Syd added hoping Piper would grasp a little of what she was saying.
"Well if Marcus Trivette hits me I'll hit him back," she firmly told them.
"And would Marcus happen to be your boyfriend?" Gage quizzed her as she began to squirm in his arms.
"Daddy I don't have a boyfriend," she stated unable to look him in the eye as her face reddened.
Giving her another hug he set her back on the floor and she took off like a scalded cat Gage calling after her, "Keep it that way for the next hundred years or so."
Later…
Tex Wilcox sat in the passenger seat of Hunter Blake's car watching as Gage drove past them Sydney sitting beside him. "This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel," Tex laughed.
"You make sure you get the job done Tex while I go collect my girlfriend," Hunter told him.
"It's as good as done," Tex laughed opening the car door and getting out. "We'll see you back at your place."
Hunter sped out hightailing it towards Sydney and Gage's place. He had called the hospital earlier only to find that Annabelle had been discharged. Slamming his phone down on the seat he had gone to where she lived to find no one there. He knew that those two rangers would be behind this and that meant she could only be one place and he was headed there now.
~~~~~
"Gage something just doesn't feel right about this," Syd commented as they neared the driveway where the meeting was to take place.
"I was just thinking the same thing Shorty get Walker on the phone."
Syd dialled and a moment later was talking to their boss. "Okay Walker," she agreed ending the conversation and addressing her partner. "He says to drive on past and double back on foot."
As they passed the driveway Gage looked up into the rear view mirror catching sight of an old beat up red pick up truck coming down fast on them.
"Think we got company Syd," Gage calmly said checking the road ahead of them, then back in the mirror.
Syd had already turned in her seat. "Tex and a couple of his goons," she commented as they drove into the back of them Gage fighting to keep the car on the road.
Sydney was all ready calling for help as Gage glanced in the mirror again. "All right Tex let's see what you are really made of," he yelled out stamping on the accelerator racing ahead of Tex around a curve in road and out of sight for just one moment. Slamming on the breaks he swerved the car to do a complete turn to be facing Tex as he came around the curve. Both he and Syd had the car doors open crouching behind them ready to fire. Tex tramped the gas still coming right for them both rangers firing trying to disable the speeding truck. At the last possible moment Tex swerved loosing control of the truck and plummeting over the embankment the truck bursting into flames.
"Syd you all right?" Gage called to her.
"Fine Gage," she called back seeing Walker and Trivette barrelling towards them.
"Did you get Blake?" Gage yelled out to Walker as he jumped out of the truck.
"There was half a dozen men there but no Blake," he confirmed to Gage.
"The question is where is the little…" Syd's voice trailed off as she came to stand with the other three rangers.
~~~~~
Blake boldly pulled into the driveway at Sydney and Gage's confidently jumping from the car and heading to the back door. He banged loudly and not getting an instant answer banged again pounding with his fist.
"Who is it?" shouted Piper's voice from the other side opening the door but a crack.
"You must be Piper?" Blake smiled having heard Annabelle speak of not only Gage and his wife but his children too.
"Yeah who are you?" she suspiciously asked.
"I'm Hunter I'm a friend of Annabelle's," he smiled watching the little girl's eyes growing big.
"You hurt Anna B you're not her friend," Piper shouted slamming the door catching the toe of Hunter's expense boot at the same time. He pulled his foot back letting the door shut tight with a bang.
"You little monster," Blake hollered thinking out loud, "Just like your father and mother aren't you? Well you can be just as dead as your father and mother." Taking a step back Blake gave a kick with his boot, after the third kick the door flew open and Blake went in.
"Mrs. McMurtrie, Mrs. McMurtrie," Piper was all ready shouting as she ran down the hall towards her parent's room. Grabbing up the phone she began dialing.
Kathleen had appeared from the family room her eyes narrowing at the sight of Blake. "What are you doing here? She questioned. "You get out of here now you hear me."
"Shut up old woman," Blake shouted pushing her viciously to the floor. "Annabelle get out here now."
Annabelle appeared at the doorway dropping to her grandmother's side. "Hunter what have you done?" she cried out.
"I've come for you darling," he smiled grabbing hold of her arm and yanking her to her feet.
"Hunter please," she cried.
"You leave her be and get out of our house." It was Chris who spoke standing up to Hunter.
"Hunter just leave, just get out," Anna B cried out.
"Not without you my dear," he yelled back handing her and pulling her along.
"You leave her," Chris cried again throwing a fierce kick into Hunter's middle.
"You little…" Blake's temper flared punching Chris hard in the face knocking him to the floor.
From where she stood with the door cracked open Piper cried into the phone, "Please Mommy hurry."
TBC