On Deadly Ground (Dan & Chloe Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

ground.
    Dan stepped to the side of the downed man, ready to restrain the teenager but he quickly realised that the youth was out cold.
    Chloe joined Dan on the sidewalk and smiled up at her husband. All along the high street store owners and shoppers began to applaud Dan’s intervention and moments later the deputy arrived.
    The deputy was red faced and panting heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, the brown shirt of his uniform was soaked through. The deputy dropped his hands to his knees and leaned over. The deputy took an age to get his breath back.
    ‘Th-th-thanks mister, I’ve been chasing the l-l-little fucker for almost a m-m-mile.’
    ‘No back-up?’ Chloe asked.
    The deputy glanced up at Chloe, and even though he was exhausted from the chase, he did a double-take before straightening himself.
    The deputy tried to look rugged and every inch the lawman in front of Chloe but he made for a pitiful sight.
    Dan was used to this sort of thing from men when they came in to contact with Chloe; she had that kind of effect on the male of the species.
    ‘No ma’am, they’re all t-tied up, or so dispatch informed me.’
    Right then sirens were heard and a Sheriff’s car turned on to the main street and seconds later the vehicle screeched to a halt at the kerb. The driver’s door swung open and Dan watched as the sheriff climbed out. The sheriff was overweight and Dan saw the man hoist up his pants. The sheriff adjusted his weapon and slammed shut the patrol car’s door before joining his fellow law enforcement officer on the sidewalk.
    Dan made brief eye contact with Chloe and she nodded her head once. Dan knew that she’d had the same thought as him; that they were both carrying concealed weapons, weapons that they were not licensed to carry. Dan noticed Chloe tug at the hem of her dress and he smiled reassuringly at her.
    ‘What happened here Lee?’
    Dan watched the deputy stand fully erect and he cleared his throat.
    ‘I was out on my routine patrol when I saw this kid dealing up at the high school, in the south car-park, near the football field.’
    The Sheriff nodded his head and toed the unconscious youth with his right boot. The drug-dealer was still out cold.
    ‘You recognise him?’
    ‘No sir, I’d say he’s an out-of-towner hoping to make a little extra on the side.’
    The Sheriff nodded his head in agreement. ‘We see that every year up here, so what happened?’
    ‘The minute he saw my car he ran. The group of kids around him scattered too, and he headed in towards the football field so I had to take to my feet. The little bastard ran me ragged for a damned mile before this fella here intervened.’
    The Sheriff looked from his deputy to Dan and after a cursory appraisal he returned his attention to his deputy.
    ‘Intervened, how’d that go?’
    ‘Clothes-lined him, just like The Undertaker.’
    ‘Undertaker?’
    The deputy reddened.
    ‘Wrestling boss.’
    ‘Ah right, well I can’t say as I watch it but I think I get what you mean.’
    The Sheriff turned back to Dan, this time the officer held Dan’s gaze for several moments before offering up a small smile.
    ‘I know you, y’all bought the old Madison place right?’
    Dan nodded his head and held out his left hand.
    ‘Daniel Constantine, and yeah we bought the old Madison ranch, going on four years now.’
    The Sheriff shook Dan’s hand, he noted Dan’s solid grip and he offered up a more sincere smile. He liked that Dan’s handshake was firm but not aggressive, his daddy always told him that you could tell a lot about a man from the way he shook your hand.
    ‘The Englishman, I’ve heard Harry mention you on occasion.’
    ‘Yes sir, he’s coming out to the ranch for a barbeque later today.’
    ‘I’ve heard about that too, seems quite a few folk around here like you.’
    Chloe stepped out from the front of the antique store and stood beside Dan.
    ‘Why don’t you join us today Sheriff, ‘bout time we got to know our