Lord, have mercy. You are the only one who can help me here. Guide me. Give me strength to see this through.
In the bedroom, she took a quick glimpse out of the window to see if any of the ranch hands had returned. The barns looked deserted. Taking a ragged breath, she turned her attention to the loaded rifle beneath her bed. She dared not make a sound, for she knew Lester had not made an idle threat. She didn’t really want to kill a man, but she would. The many times she’d slipped away for target practice now had meaning.
Once her fingers wrapped around the cold metal barrel, she scooted it to the rug beside her bed. Her gaze flew to the doorway and back. With the ease of a mother who practiced the art of working quietly, she checked to make sure the rifle was loaded. A shotgun would have cut him in two. Not a bad thought.
Rising to her feet, she swung the rifle into her right hand. Her babies were at risk, and no one was going to hurt them. She’d die trying and take Lester with her.
“Mama.” Lydia Anne’s small voice shook Bonnie’s resolve.
“What are you doing up?” she whispered. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”
Lydia Anne pointed to the rifle. “Why do you have that?”
Bonnie laid the weapon across her bed. In an instant she knelt to her daughter’s level and grabbed her shoulders. “You get back to bed this instant, or I will whip you very hard.”
The little girl’s eyes filled with tears.
“Do you understand me?”
Lydia Anne nodded.
“Do not leave your room until I come to get you. Is that perfectly clear?”
Again, Lydia Anne nodded.
“Now go. If I hear as much as a whimper, I’ll not only whip you but take away your kitty.”
Never had she spoken so harshly to Lydia Anne. When this was over, she’d apologize. The little girl scampered across the wooden floor and slammed the door. The crash echoed over the house. Bonnie held her breath.
“Bonnie?” Lester called from the stairway. His boots thudded as he mounted each step.
“Lydia Anne got up from her nap. I’ll be right down.” Her voice sounded more like a frightened child than a confident woman. She snatched up the rifle from the bed and lifted it to her shoulder.
“I’ll see for myself.”
“No need. I’m on my way.”
She made her way to the hallway. Lester hadn’t gone back down the stairs. Maybe he needed a little help.
Lord, my thoughts are so brave, but I’m not. I’m not so sure I can squeeze the trigger, either.
At the top of the stairway, she saw him standing midway on the steps. His eyes widened, then he laughed.
“I didn’t know you knew how to hold a rifle.”
She took aim. “Lay your revolver at your feet. Now.”
His smirk turned to a frown, but he obliged.
“Get out of my house.”
“What are you going to do, hit me with the rifle?”
To reinforce her words, she started down after him. “When I was eleven years old, my father taught me how to shoot. No one else knew. The only reason I practiced and listened to Papa was because he said the day would come when I’d wish I knew how to use it. The day’s come. Your day of reckoning.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You’d better, or your blood is going to paint my steps. I’ve never gotten over your spreading gossip about Brother Travis and me, accusing others of killing Rosie, and vandalizing the church and blaming it on Zack.”
He chuckled. “Breaking those windows and destroying a few hymnals hurt my bank account, but it was necessary.”
“What about the reverend’s Bible?”
“It’s in my office.”
“Is there anything you won’t do?”
“Try me.” He planted his foot on the next step.
“Get out, Lester. My finger’s itching to pull the trigger.”
Lester backed down to the entrance with Bonnie following him. She prayed Juanita would stay in the kitchen. The front door opened wide, and Zack walked in. He glanced up at her with a puzzled stare. Before Bonnie could warn him, Lester whirled around and grabbed Zack’s shoulders. His hand slipped to her son’s neck.
“Maybe you’d better drop the rifle.” Lester meant business, but so did she.
Bonnie’s mind raced back to all the times she’d slipped away in the past few months for target practice. With God’s help, she could save her son from this monster.
“What is happening here?” Zack attempted to shake off Lester’s hold, but the