Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
JB chuckled. He could definitely see that about Rowe. The crazy redhead loved his weapons and explosions. He couldn’t see the man caring much about a computer.
“Luckily, Andrei gets it. He’s the COO and he helps to drive a lot of the security and privacy upgrades like new servers. Rowe tends to be more agreeable after it’s all done, and we can show him how it works and why it’s going to make us more money.”
“Smart man.” JB snorted as he remembered seeing that smart man in action against mercenaries. “And dangerous.”
JB slowed the truck to a stop when he spotted the length of fence that was broken, and it really wasn’t much. Though it did strike him as odd. And he wasn’t the only one.
“That’s…weird,” Cole murmured next to him, sounding as if he were talking more to himself.
This section of fence was a little more basic with three pine rails with the ends set into holes in the posts rather than being nailed in. They didn’t run the herd through this field too often as they didn’t get a lot of growth for the cows to feed on.
The top and middle rails looked as if they’d been pulled out of the post and the ends broken off while the bottom rail was still in place. Typically, a rail was broken due to a fallen tree limb, but there were no trees near this section of fence. Judging by the placement of the rails, he also didn’t think a steer had tried to break his way through.
“Vandals?” Cole asked softly.
JB huffed. “Punk kids. Probably bored kids looking to stir up trouble. It happens.”
“Not the first time?”
JB turned off the engine and grabbed the door handle before looking over at Cole with a smile. “Not even close.”
Cole didn’t appear completely convinced, but he nodded and got out of the truck. JB jumped down at the same time and walked to the rear gate. He lowered it and Cole grabbed one of the replacement rails while JB grabbed the other. It wasn’t going to take but a minute to pull out the old ones and slip in the new, and he did want to look the area over. It was strange that someone had tampered with the fence out in this field. Rumble Creek was pretty damn remote on the Alexander Ranch.
They easily worked together, pulling away the old boards, which Cole carried over to the truck. They’d at least be able to use them for scrap later. JB kneeled by the bottom rail, looking over the grassy area, trying to see if he could spot any footprints in the dirt. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had rain recently, and there wasn’t much to leave an impression in that would be useful.
A loud crack split the air and echoed across the valley. That was a gunshot. JB popped back to his feet, looking around for the shooter. It had sounded damn close. Why the hell was someone firing out here?
Another shot boomed and there was a ping, as if the bullet had hit the side panel of the truck. JB started to turn when a huge weight barreled into him, slamming him to the ground. The air exploded from his lungs and he blinked a couple of times before finally focusing on Cole’s face just above his own.
“What the hell are you doing? Someone is shooting at you!” Cole snarled.
“What?” He must have hit his fucking head when he landed. Cole wasn’t making any sense.
“Someone is shooting at you,” Cole repeated, grinding out each word between his teeth.
“You’re crazy. Who would be shooting at me?” Cole had to be mistaken. They both had to be wrong.
Except another shot was fired, and a splinter of wood from a nearby post jumped up into the air when a bullet buried into it. Okay, so someone was definitely shooting in their direction. He needed to check this out.
As much as he wanted to continue lying under Cole’s massive frame, this was not how he’d imagined it happening. His mind had conjured up far fewer clothes and no goddamn bullets whizzing over their heads.
Together, they crawled over to the truck, using its large metal frame as cover. Cole stuck close to JB’s back as if he planned to use himself as a human shield. While sweet, the idea left JB cold and sick. He didn’t want to think of Cole ever being shot. He’d been there. It was not fun and giggles.
There was a pause in the gunfire, but JB wasn’t ready to believe the shooter had left. He wasn’t entirely sure where the shots were coming from. He’d not gotten a good bead on the direction before Cole tackled him to the ground. If he could just take a peek around the grill toward the Roberts ranch, then maybe he could figure out what the hell was going on.