Breaking Down Defenses (3rd in Breaking Series)

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

"Here's your damn prisoner," Thomas growled tossing Herman Sheecks at Captian Wynter' s feet.

"Did you just curse at me?" Captain Wynter demanded.

"Yes," Thomas shrugged, "What do you need from me now?"

Captain Wynter frowned at the ranger and wondered what was going on inside his head. Thomas had always been respectful... A good, obedient ranger who did as he was told. This was a new side of him, an independent and disobedient side that Captain Wynter didn't like.

"Nice of you to join us Herman," Captain Wynter greeted with a smile as he turned his attention to the outlaw and handed him off to two waiting rangers.

"Pleasures all mine, sir." Herman sneered, "Deputy Do Little here, promised me that I'd be set free, unharmed, if I tell you what you want to know."

"That's right," Captain Wynter replied, while Thomas crossed his arms over his chest and waited impatiently for orders.

"He wasn't too happy about that," Herman added, spitting into the dirt.

"It's not his call to make" Captiain Wynter turned his attention to the deputies holding Herman, "Take him to the jail."

Herman threw up a three fingered wave, "I'll see you around, Ranger Cooper."

"You better hope not, Herman," Thomas warned, "Cuz next time I see you out and about I won't be under orders to bring you back alive." Herman's confidence faltered and a look of fear crossed over his features before the two rangers led him away.

"You in a mood or something?" Captain Wynter asked of Thomas once they were standing alone.

"That man is a murderer of innocent women and children! He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of us and yet you're still gonna let him walk once he gives you what you want. You're gonna let him kill more people," Thomas hissed angrily.

Captain Wynter sighed and took a puff of the cigar in his hand, "That's just the way the game is played, Cooper."

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm getting tired of playing the game."

Captain Wynter frowned, "What are you saying?"

Thomas unhooked the badge from his vest with his leather gloved hand and held it out to the captain, "I'm done."

Captain Wynter's eyes widened with disbelief and he shook his head, "You can't be done. You're one of the best rangers I got." he said, his voice rising with anger.

Thomas shrugged and shifted his weight to one leg, "I'm done, Captain."

"Why? Just because of Herman? I'll let you kill the man if it means that much to you. Once I get what I want you can....."

Thomas shook his head and cut the captain off, "No, it's not just because of him. I'm looking at my future, Captain, and thinking that maybe I want some things that the rangers just can't give me."

Captain Wynter's eyes narrowed, "It's a woman isn't it? You've met a woman and now you're going to throw away your whole career."

"I'm not throwing away anything that I'm gonna miss too awful bad. I'm tired of being forced to do the wrong thing and say that it's for the greater good."

Confusion filled the Captain's eyes, "So this is about the things you had to do with the gangs....?"

Thomas shook his head, his impatience building, "Like I said, this is about my future and what I want to have in it. The rangers just don't fit." Captain Wynter studied the younger man. He could see the determination in his gaze and knew that nothing he could say would change his mind. With a resigned sigh he reached out and took Thomas's badge, "When you figure out that this is where you belong, your badge will be here waiting for you."