Page 58 of Disarming The Rancher

All of which was one big distraction. With Kenny’s constant pressure, she was keen to walk the other way when he approached, giving him a wide berth and plenty of freedom to do whatever he wanted behind her back.

“I’m here right now, Kenny.” She stood at the fence. “Let Jake go.”

Jake’s eyes were red-rimmed but he held it together. He shouldn’t have to go through this. Not after the abuse he’d suffered growing up. White-hot anger ripped through her when she really looked at Kenny. At what he’d become.

“Take the little jerk.” Kenny picked Jake up by his shirt and tossed him toward the fence.

Raleigh saw the plan in Jake’s eyes moments before he executed it and far too late to stop him.

Jake hopped to his feet and performed a back-wheel-kick. His heel connected with the weapon in Kenny’s hand. The gun went flying. Raleigh scrambled over the fence as she heard Brax charging from behind.

Raleigh launched herself toward Kenny as he dove toward the weapon. She stretched her arms out as far as she could for Kenny as she lurched forward. He ducked out of her grasp and she landed on the hard clay earth with a thud. Her foot twisted underneath her and she felt her ankle snap.

There was no time to worry about an injury. Kenny was fighting Jake.

Brax easily hopped the wooden fence as the others came out. Confusion as to what was happening was stamped all over their faces. But the second recognition dawned, they were scrambling to get over the fence.

Kenny went down easily the second Brax entered the scene. With a grunt, Brax picked Kenny up and then tossed him back down on the ground like he was a ragdoll. Kenny’s limp body slammed to the earth as Brax dropped down, pressing his knee in the center of Kenny’s back. In the next second, Kenny’s arms were being jerked up behind his back.

“The sheriff is here,” Jake shouted.

Raleigh tried to move toward the weapon, but nearly passed out from the pain in her ankle. Anger roared through her as she tried to process Kenny’s betrayal, and couldn’t fathom it. They’d been family for fourteen years. They’d been a couple. How could he have changed so much that she didn’t recognize him anymore?

Relief washed over her and through her as she realized it was over. The threat was gone. She could get back to her life again. Her life?

Raleigh wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole, except to say that making music was her life. The rest of the guys were safe now that Kenny had been caught. Kenny in league with Wade? Her brain was still having a hard time processing the betrayal, but at least they knew what they were dealing with now. No more bombs. No more threats of dying.

Raleigh could finally exhale. She inched toward Brax, nearly passing out from the pain in her ankle.

“You’re okay. Stay right there,” Brax’s calm masculine, whiskey over ice cream voice washed over her and through her. “Help is on the way.”

Sheriff Lawler came running. He had fair skin, and ginger hair in a military cut. He had a hawk-like nose and compassionate honey-brown eyes. He wore jeans, boots, and a tan shirt with the word, Sheriff, embroidered on the right front pocket.

The lawmen immediately took over for Brax, who gave the elevator version of what just went down before rushing toward Raleigh. She managed to sit up, with his help, wincing as she moved her ankle. Jake made his way over, looking pretty busted up. His mouth was bleeding as was his nose, but he shook it off.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” he started, but Brax waved him off.

“You’re part of the family now. That’s what families do for each other,” Brax said as Jake used the fence post to support himself.

The sheriff read Kenny his rights as Brax pressed a tender kiss to Raleigh’s lips.

“We’re okay,” he whispered.

“This scumbag is going to spend the rest of his life behind bars for attempted murder,” Sheriff Lawler said, forcing Kenny to stand. Lawler looked at Raleigh. “Your business manager is willing to testify that Kenny here has been pressuring him to syphon money from the band. Kenny believes that he’s the reason for the band’s success. Therefore, he has rights to take the money and you, Ms. Perry.”

Raleigh grunted. “He doesn’t deserve me or the band. We were his family and this is how he treated us.”

Head low, Kenny didn’t look over at her. It was probably a good thing because it seemed to be taking all of Brax’s willpower not to take Kenny down personally.

Brax studied Jake.

“He’s not worth going to jail for. Or, believe me, I would have already done what you’re thinking,” Brax stated.

Jake relaxed his fisted hands and nodded as EMTs rushed the scene.

Seeing the interaction between the two of them caused Raleigh’s chest to squeeze and a dozen campfires to light inside her. She couldn’t be happier this whole nightmare was over. But where did that leave her and Brax?

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