His Plan: Book 2 in the Crossing Midian Series - A Small-Town Christian Romance

Chapter 17

Beau's day was looking up. Most of the children had gone home, and the only one left was a little girl named Bailee, whose dad had just pulled into the driveway. A few of the teenagers were hanging around talking or out riding the horses. It turned out the camp was as much fun for them as it was for the kids.

Beau and Lenore waved goodbye to Bailee and her dad when suddenly they heard a gunshot ring through the air, making their blood run cold.

He quickly did a head count of the teens in the immediate area. Most of them were in eyesight, but he turned to Cassie and a few of the others who were playing a card game on the front porch. "Where'd T.J. and the boys go?"

"They took the horses down to the pond," Cassie answered without hesitation.

Without another word, Beau ran towards the barn where Cobalt was still saddled from their afternoon trail ride. He jumped on the horse and pulled the reins to the left, spurring him on toward the path that lead to the pond.

It only took a few minutes to get close enough to hear voices and laughter. Beau slowed Cobalt down to a walk, not wanting to risk startling the boys while one of them might be holding a gun.

As he entered the clearing, the scene before him caused Beau to stop and count to ten. After all, people frowned upon murdering your nephew.

Ryan and Adam were standing on either side of T.J., as he lined up Wesley's rifle to shoot at a row of cans along a fallen tree trunk. Their horses, looking panicked by all the noise, had been tied up a little farther away. T.J. took the shot, smiling when he hit his target, and when he raised the gun to take aim again, Beau spoke from behind them in a low, menacing voice.

"Target practice, boys?"

All three boys froze before slowly turning to look up at Beau.

Beau held his hand out and T.J. flipped on the safety before he passed the gun to him with shaking hands. Suddenly finding his voice, it trembled as he spoke. "Uncle Beau, we were just—"

"Save it," Beau replied, as he leveled them each with a hard stare. "Get on your horses and get back up to the house. When I get there, y'all better be waiting for me in the living room. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," they chorused before mounting their horses and riding past Beau out of sight.

Beau took his time going back. He needed the chance to calm down before he tried talking to them. "Lord, I'm really gonna need your help here," he prayed.

He pulled out his phone and sent Lenore a text explaining what happened and asked her to call Ryan and Adam's parents. He called Wesley himself, who said he would be there as soon as possible.

When Beau came into the house, he was glad to see all three boys were sitting side by side on the couch. None of them said a word when Beau came into the room.

Lenore and the rest of the teens were also in the room, apparently curious to know exactly what was going on.

Beau didn't acknowledge anyone else, though. With a glare, he pointed at T.J. and crooked his finger in the universal sign for 'come here.'

T.J. sighed but stood and followed Beau over to where the gun cabinet stood in the corner, beside James's recliner.

Beau casually leaned against the wall by the cabinet, the gun hanging loosely in the crook of his arm and pointing down to the floor. "Looks like my keys are missing. Have you seen them?" he asked, his voice still low as he watched his nephew closely.

T.J.'s face was red, and he didn't seem able to meet Beau's eyes. He swallowed hard and dug into his right jeans pocket, pulling out the keys. He held them out, but Beau shook his head.