something.
“Where?” Clayton demanded. Lenora knew it was Cutter on the other end of the line, but she couldn’t make out what the man was saying.
Another shot cracked through the air, and Clayton jabbed the end-call button and scrambled to the window so he could look out the corner of the blinds.
“Stay down,” he told her.
That and his suddenly vigilant stance let her know this wasn’t someone shooting at snakes. No. It could be Quentin or those two gunmen who’d tried to kill them at the church. Either way, they were under fire.
“Stella?” Clayton called out.
“Was that a gunshot?” the woman immediately asked.
“Yes.” And Lenora could tell that it hurt for him to say that. “Get Kirby on the floor and away from the windows.”
Hopefully Stella would do as he said, but even with the nurse’s help, it wouldn’t be easy for the two women to get a sick, weak man to a safe place.
The third shot blasted into something. The barn, maybe. Judging from the sound, their attacker was using a high-powered rifle, which meant he wouldn’t have to be too close to deliver those shots.
“Who’s doing this?” she asked.
“Not sure.” Clayton moved to the other side of the window and winced when he looked out. No doubt because of the light in his eyes.
Lenora wanted to suggest they trade places. She was a good shot and the light wasn’t a factor for her, but there was no way Clayton was going to let her do that.
When his phone buzzed again, Clayton slid it across the floor toward her. “Answer it and put it on speaker.”
Lenora did, and she extended her hand so the cell would be closer to him. “What’s going on out there?” Clayton immediately asked. “Can you see the shooter?”
“Not anymore,” Cutter explained. “I got just that one glimpse of him by the back pasture fence, and he disappeared into the trees.”
And was probably in one of them by now. On their short walk to the barn to talk to Quentin, Lenora had noticed plenty of towering oaks just on the other side of that fence, and in parts it was thick woods. About a quarter of a mile from the house.
Easy range for someone armed with a scope rifle.
“I called the others,” Cutter added. “They’re on the way.”
Yes, but they were coming from town, which meant they were at least twenty minutes out. Plus, they couldn’t just come driving onto the property and risk being shot. They’d have to work out some kind of plan for a safe, indirect approach, and that would take precious time.
There was another shot, but this time Lenora didn’t have to guess what it hit. Not the barn. This one had gone into the back of the house.
“Kirby’s room is back there.” Clayton’s breath was gusting now, and he must have realized he wouldn’t get a look at the gunman from this particular window, because he scurried away from it and to the door.
“Come on,” Clayton finally said. “Stay low and behind me. I need to get to the back of the house so I can try to pinpoint this gunman.”
“You have an extra weapon?” she asked.
“I don’t want you shooting. I don’t want you anywhere near the line of fire.” But even after issuing that warning, he rifled through the bottom desk drawer and came up with another semiautomatic.
The moment the gun was in her hand, Clayton got them moving. Thankfully, the stairs were at the front of the house, away from those bullets that continued to come at them.
The timing of the shots was odd. Spaced out five to six seconds. Hardly a barrage, but maybe the gunman hoped to get a lucky shot by firing randomly into the house. He could also be saving ammo. That didn’t put her at ease any, because it meant he could prolong the attack.
There was a powder room just off the entry, and Clayton threw open the door and got her inside. Probably because it had a limestone floor and no exterior walls or windows. It was no doubt one of the safest places in the house. Unlike Kirby’s room. Even though she hadn’t been inside it, she knew it was on the back corner of the building.
Right where the gunman was firing.
“It shouldn’t take my brothers long to get here,” Clayton said, and he gave her what was probably meant to be a reassuring glance. It didn’t work, because Lenora saw the concern all over his face.
Clayton didn’t waste any time.