Martino was still there, arms folded, glancing around as if he couldn’t wait to be someplace else, his mouth a tight line.
Jumping off the ATV, Charlie glanced around. “Zach, I thought you said Lucy was here? That she’d hurt herself?”
Martino stepped forward. “More like that Lucy will be hurt—but you can prevent that.”
Charlie looked from Zach to Martino. Zach held his breath. Charlie’s eyes narrowed and it looked like she was ready to just give it all up and go for Martino’s throat. Instead, she let her shoulders sag. “What do you mean?”
Martino took out the paper he had showed to Zach. “This is a cancelation of all debts owed by Lucy Ennis to myself.” Charlie reached for it, but Martino jerked it away. “You get it if you sign your property over to me.”
“To us,” Zach said, stepping forward.
Martino’s lip curled. “Yes, well, details, details.”
“I don’t have any paperwork to—”
“I have everything here.” Martino snapped his fingers. His driver got out, bringing a briefcase with him. He gave the briefcase to Martino, and he opened it on the hook of the Lincoln. “You just sign here.”
Charlie glanced from Zach to Martino. “This is wrong.”
“Sign—and your Lucy is debt free.”
Folding her arms, Charlie started to say something, but the pounding of galloping hoofs had everyone turning. Lucy rode up in a cloud of dust. She pulled the horse to a plunging stop. Martino backed up and Zach moved closer to him—just in case. Swinging off her horse, Lucy glared at Zach and then at Martino, and finally at Charlie. “What’s going on?”
Charlie stepped forward. “Lucy, I—I just want to clear your debts.”
Lucy turned on her. “I told you, I’d handle that.”
Shaking her head, Charlie held out a hand. “All I have to do is sell this place. That’s all.”
Eyes narrowed, Lucy turned on Zach. “This is your doing. She never thought of anything except leaving me this place until you came along.”
Zach shook his head. “Yeah, well, too bad you weren’t nicer to me.”
Reaching up, Lucy pulled out Charlie’s gun from the saddle bags. Her horse shied away. She held up the gun, pointing it at Zach and Martino. “Oh, I was being nice. Now I’m done with that. I’m going to get rid of all my troubles.”
Zach saw Martino reaching for his gun. He waited until Martino had his hand on it and was pulling it out. Turning, he bumped Martino. The gun went flying. Lucy pulled the trigger. Zach spun, slapping a hand to his shoulder. Red oozed from his fingers. He gave a groan and fell.
From the ground, Zach saw Charlie scoop up Martino’s gun. She stepped back and seemed to be struggling to lift it. Turning, she shifted the gun from Martino to Lucy.
Lucy turned on Charlie. “This is my place. Mine!”
Another shot echoed. Lucy slumped to the ground, red soaking her shirt and stomach. Charlie stared at the scene, eyes wide and hands shaking, the gun clutched in her hands.
Clawing up to his feet, Zach turned to Martino. “You’ve got to get out of here.”
Martino frowned and blinked. He gave a disgusted snort. “Damn amateurs. Head shot. Go for a head shot.”
Zach slapped a hand on Martino’s shoulder. “Don’t you get it? She used your gun! You need to be elsewhere—now. As in a long, long way from here, and stay away until I can get this cleared up.”
Frowning, Martino shook his head. “I’ll get—”
“What have I done?” Charlie moaned. She lifted the gun again and pointed it at Martino. “This is your fault.”
Hands up, Martino backed away. “No, lady. It’s this guy. He’s the guy you want.”
Charlie shook her head. “No. It’s you. If Lucy hadn’t been trying to pay you...” She choked on a sob.
Martino pulled out the note. “Look, you can have it. It’s no good to me. Debt’s all paid. Arnie, get the car started.” Martino threw down the note and eased around to the other side of the Lincoln. Charlie shut her eyes and squeezed off another shot. Martino ducked into the car, and Arnie skidded off in a cloud of dust.