I took a little more time with this one, I hit him in his right forearm; his pistol flew away, he went down screaming. The other guy threw his gun down and screamed, “Don’t shoot, I give up!”
Faith jumped out of the truck with her cell phone stuck to her ear, “I called 911, their on the way.” I walked over to the guy who gave up; I clipped him behind the ear with the butt of my pistol; he went down like a rag doll. Since I had to check on the Cop, I didn’t want this Yo-Yo changing his mind and shooting me in the back. The other guy was down on his knees moaning and crying.
The officer that was down, was just coming out of it. I sat him up and took his shirt off, the bullet had passed clean through. I used some of his tee shirt and plugged the hole, it didn’t look like there was any major damage to any main arteries.
Faith had come over too, she said, “Just take deep breaths, help is on the way, they said they were only about ten minutes away, I gave them the mileage post that we are close by.” She said to the Cop, he nodded, Faith laid him back down and put his jacket under his feet to raise them up, so he wouldn’t go in shock. Then she looked at me, “Perhaps you had better put a tourniquet around that idiot’s arm, otherwise I’m afraid he will bleed to death.” I glanced over at him. “Go on Honey, if you didn’t want him alive, then you should of shot to kill.” She said, as cool as could be.
They were as good as their word, another Cruiser and an ambulance pulled in not five minutes later. They hustled the injured Patrolman into the ambulance and it took off. It wasn’t five minutes later that another one showed up, along with a Cruiser with the shift Captain in it. The first thing he did was play back the video from the Trooper’s car.
It was all on there. He came over to me. “I want to thank you for stopping to help, I’m sure they would of finished him off, if you hadn’t of intervened. May I see you’re I.D.?”
“Sure.” I said, I pulled out my billfold and showed him my Wyoming Driver’s License and my Military I.D. card. “Navy huh?” I nodded. “Well, again thank you Lieutenant. I see you’re driving a New Mexico truck, is that your wife?”
“Yes, we’ve only been married for a little over two weeks. She’s from the Ranchos de Chama, she was married to Teddy Cortez, he was killed a little over a year ago in a plane accident.”
“Yes, I remember that, I was the first one on the scene. Him and his Father were both killed. Well Son, you’ve married into one of the oldest family’s in New Mexico, you realize that don’t you?”
“I don’t know, I guess.” I said, when I heard a moan. “Oh Yeah, don’t forget that guy down in the ditch there, I had to put him out, he’s not shot. But I didn’t want to get it in the back while I was seeing to your trooper, so I just clipped him behind his ear.”
“Yeah, I seen him down there. They’ll get to him. Have you ever seen these guys before?” He asked me.
“No, I haven’t, I don’t think Faith has either or else she would of said something. We were heading for Santa Fe, is it Okay if we leave? Our baby is asleep in the truck.”
“Sure, I guess. As long as you stay there for a couple of days; just in case I need to get more details. But that video pretty well tells the tale.”
All of the while all of this had been happening the traffic hadn’t stopped; they just slowed down to rubber neck. Faith was waiting beside the truck, as I walked up I noticed where that bullet had hit the rear window of the truck. I reached out to touch the spot. The residue wiped away at my touch.
“I’ll be dammed, that’s bullet proof glass; did you know that?” I asked Faith.
“No, I didn’t, but Teddy was always a nut for details. Look Alita is still sleeping; all of the shooting didn’t even wake her up. Where did you get that pistol?” Faith asked.
“In the hall closet; when I went to get the stroller. I don’t know why I picked it up; premonition maybe?” I said.
“No, more like dumb luck, wouldn’t you say?” She said, as she pulled me close and kissed me, “you saved that guys life, I bet his wife would like to thank you.”
“Yeah, I suspect, but I didn’t do anything special it was like instinct just took over; I wasn’t even thinking. I said, as we both got in the truck and went on our way.
Faith looked over at me, “Did you notice that he didn’t ask you for your gun?”
“Who didn’t?”
“The Captain, you’re supposed to have a permit for a concealed weapon in this state.”
“Knowing Cops, I bet he will get around to it. Why do you think he wants us to stick around in Santa Fe, for?” I said. Then Alita woke up, hungry of course. By the time she had her fill, we were on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
We drove around a little while; till we found the most expensive looking Motel. I didn’t want to stay in a Hotel. I liked having my vehicle close at all times. The place had all of the amenities of a Hotel anyway, plus I could park right in front of our door.
This place had a four star restaurant too; anyway that’s what the ad on the dresser said. After supper, on the way back to our room, I noticed the swimming pool; it was also close by our room. “Did we bring any swimming suits?” I asked Faith.
“Sure, I have my Bikini, I tried it on before we left, I can get back in it since I lost all of the baby weight. I even have a small one piece for Alita, I got it when I had a baby shower. And yes, I have one for you too.”
“I guess that answers the rest of my question; do you want to go swimming?”
“Yes, of course we do. And don’t worry Alita won’t pee in the pool. She never does pee in her bath water; she did once in awhile till she was about three months old; but one time I told her not to do that and she hasn’t since.”
“Well I wasn’t worried about that, it didn’t even come to mind. But it’s good to know.” There was only one other couple in the pool; maybe because it was mid-week. I don’t think they appreciated us coming in. The women had her top half off; she hurriedly pulled it up as her cheeks were turning red. Faith smiled at her and nodded, I think that made her feel better, her husband or friend swam away to the other end of the pool.
When Faith got in the pool with Alita, the woman swam over. That’s one thing about a baby; she’s an ice breaker. “Oh what a pretty baby, she looks just like your husband,” she cooed.
“Why thank you,” Faith said. “I thought so too. Your friend seems a little shy,” Faith added.
“That’s my husband, we’re newly-weds. You know how it is when your on your honeymoon and there is no else in the pool. He didn’t want you to see that he was aroused; he is sort of shy.” Then she called to her husband, “Frank, can you come back over now?”
He swam toward us, his face was starting to lose its red blush. The woman said, “My name is Fern Blake, this is my husband Frank Blake.”
I said, “My name is Clay Bronson, this is my wife Faith and our daughter, Alita. We’re on a little vacation. We’re from Abiquiu. We ranch there.” I said, shaking his proffered hand. “Are you from close by?” I asked.
Fern answered, “Yes, we’re both from right here in Santa Fe. Frank is the clerk and recorder. I work in the office also, or I guess I should say I did; I had to quit when we got married. He didn’t want anyone to think he was playing favorites; you know how office politics can be.”
Fern bent over a little and started talking baby talk to Alita. I didn’t want to mention it, but when she pulled her top up, the back hook must of come unlatched; her bra top was floating free, exposing her breasts. I caught Faith’s eye, she seen what I was trying