Wild Country (The World of the Others #2)- Anne Bishop Page 0,104

a business proposal for reopening the movie theater,” Dawn said hurriedly, holding out a sheaf of papers. “Small scale to start since we’re running the land agent office. Just weekends. I would take care of tickets and the books.”

“I worked part-time in the projection booth of theaters in our home town and could take care of showing the movies,” Craig said.

“Could you … ?” Dawn glanced toward the government building, then quickly looked away when Tolya Sanguinati stepped up to the open window and looked down at them.

“Yeah, okay.” Aware that she should be heading up to the mayor’s office to talk to Tolya, Jana looked at Becky, who seemed to be studying something in the grass. She hoped it wasn’t poop. “Drop the proposal off at the sheriff’s office this afternoon and I’ll take a look at it. Right now, I need a favor. That’s Becky Gott.”

“Okay,” Craig said.

“I’d like you …”

Horses. Screaming.

The Eagle launched itself skyward. The Ravens were suddenly in motion.

A fight, Isobel had said. Looked like it had arrived. But who were they fighting?

Jana gave Craig a shove. “Grab Becky and get inside.”

“Where … ?” Dawn began, scooping up her own puppy.

“Anywhere! Just get inside. Now!” Certain that Rusty would run away from strangers if she gave her to Dawn, Jana unclipped the leash from the pup’s collar and dropped it. Better to let the dog run and hide than have the leash tangle in something and leave Rusty vulnerable to whatever had frightened the horses.

Drawing her weapon out of the holster, she strode across the square, trusting Craig and Dawn to look after Becky. If she could reach the office, she’d take a moment to shut Rusty inside.

She was almost across the square when she heard gunshots coming from the direction of the livery stable.

As she looked in that direction, a woman on the other side of the square screamed—Dawn or Becky. Rusty stopped suddenly and barked, a frightened, frantic sound.

Pivoting, Jana cocked the hammer and raised her gun.

Two dogs racing toward her from the direction of the stables. The one in the lead was a big brute. Nowhere near as big as the Wolves, but the biggest dog she’d ever seen.

In the second before she pulled the trigger, she wished she’d asked about a firing range where officers must have practiced, wished she’d tested the revolver. Wished …

Sound exploded around her. Even as the gunshot filled her ears and head, she heard the sound of fighting off to her right and saw both dogs still coming toward her—not running from the livery stable, running at her.

No time. No time.

She shot the first dog in the chest and put two bullets into the second dog just before it launched itself at her. A savage cry had her spinning around in time to shoot the dog that had been charging her from behind. She had one round left, and the fourth dog …

She jerked the revolver skyward to avoid shooting Joshua Painter as the dog grabbed the boy’s left arm, exposing its own belly. Joshua’s right hand lashed out, and the claws on the specially made leather glove ripped the dog’s belly open.

Jana took a step toward the fight still taking place on the other side of the square. One dog ran toward her, trying to flee from the Wolves’ attack. Before she could take aim, smoke raced above the ground and overtook the dog. Hands formed, grabbed the dog, and snapped its neck. When the dog dropped, the smoke shifted into Tolya Sanguinati.

Silence, followed by a savage, furious snarl.

And then a lone Wolf howled.

Jana looked back. The dogs she’d shot were dead or dying. Either way, they were no longer a threat. Neither was the dog Joshua had gutted. But the boy …

“Joshua?” She kept her gun lowered but ready as she studied the savage expression in those gray-ringed green eyes. “You okay?”

He rose from his crouched position over the dog. His eyes took in her badge, her gun, and …

She knew Rusty had returned before she felt the pup press against her leg. She crouched, her eyes never leaving Joshua’s face, and rested one hand on the pup. She didn’t know where Rusty had gone, if the pup had stayed near her or had run and now returned. She’d been focused on keeping them alive.

“It’s okay, girl. It’s okay. You okay?” She risked a quick glance at the pup. No blood. A quick feel revealed no injuries that she could detect.

“She belongs to you?”

She