Decker's response was another volley of gunfire. Yates waited for the pause, then moved swiftly to a better position, firing as he went. His shot caught Decker in the shoulder, spinning the outlaw around, but not dropping him. Cursing, Decker took cover in the dining room. You're dead, King Cade.
You and that both. From upstairs came the sharp crack of Bethy's revolver, followed by a cry of pain. Yates glanced up to see her at the railing, her face pale but determined. One tried to come up the back stairs, she called down. I winged him.
He retreated. Pride surged through Yates, even as fear for her safety nearly overwhelmed him. Stay back from the railing. Outside, the gunfire was intensifying as the ranch hands engaged with the other gang members. Yates could hear shouted commands and the thunder of hooves as reinforcements arrived likely the army scouts Sheriff Taylor had mentioned.
Decker seemed to realize his plan had failed. With a roar of rage, he burst from the dining room, firing wildly as he charged toward the stairs toward Bethany. Time seemed to slow for Yates. He stepped into the open, his focus narrowing to the outlaw, threatening the woman he loved. His first shot caught Decker in the leg, staggering him.
The second hit center mass, dropping the outlaw to his knees. But Decker wasn't finished. With a final surge of hatred, he raised his gun toward the top of the stairs where Bethany stood. Yates's third shot, and Bethy's simultaneous fire struck Decker in the chest and head. He collapsed, his weapons clattering to the floor.
His reign of terror finally ended. In the sudden silence, Yates looked up to meet Bethy's eyes. The connection between them was palpable. Both had acted to protect the other. Both had faced death and emerged victorious.
"Are you hurt?" He called up to her. "No," she replied, her voice steady despite the circumstances. "You, I'm fine. Stay there until we're sure it's over."
Outside, the shooting had stopped, replaced by shouts of clear, and we got them. Yates moved cautiously to the front door, opening it to find Sheriff Taylor and several soldiers approaching the house. "Decker," the sheriff asked tursly. dead," Yates confirmed. "Inside," Taylor nodded grimly. "The others are either dead or captured.
It's over, King Cade." Relief washed over Yates as the full import of the sheriff's words registered. "Truly over, truly, the territory is safer today than it was yesterday." Taylor glanced toward the house. "Miss Rose, all right, she is," Yates said, unable to keep the pride from his voice.
She handled herself like a true frontiers woman. The cleanup took most of the day. Bodies were removed, statements taken, damages assessed. The hay barn was a total loss, but otherwise the lazy K had survived the attack remarkably intact. A few broken windows, some bullet holes in the walls, nothing that couldn't be repaired.