e swallowed, then shouldered the rifle.

"fuck this." wood tossed down his gun. "i ain't shooting at no women any more than i'd be raping one."

"then you might want to step out of the line of fire," tucker advised him. "looks like it's five to five." his lips curved as he heard the siren. "and that's about to change. now, if i were you, billy t., i'd set that woman down, real gentle like. otherwise, my finger's going to slip and i'm going to blow a hole through your brother."

"jesus christ, billy, put her down." john thomas scrambled back against the steps.

billy t. licked his lips. "maybe i'll put one through you."

"i expect you could. but since you can't work that rifle one-handed, you'll have to put her down just the same. then we'll take our chances."

"put her down, billy," wood said quietly. "the gun, too. this is crazy business here." he turned to the others. "this is crazy business."

in agreement, they tossed down their guns.

"you're standing alone now," tucker pointed out. "you can die alone, too. doesn't make a damn bit of difference to me."

in disgust, billy t. dropped winnie to the ground, where she began to sob and crawl toward her husband. after tossing his gun aside, he started to walk toward his car.

"i'd stand where you are," tucker said quietly.

"you won't shoot me in the back."

tucker squeezed off a round that shattered the windshield. "the hell i wouldn't."

"go ahead and do it," cousin lulu suggested. "save the taxpayers money."

"that's enough." caroline wiped sweaty hands on her jeans and hurried over to winnie. "there's nothing to worry about now."

"my babies."

"i'll go to them in just a minute." she fought the knot loose from winnie's wrists, hoping to free her before the children saw it. but they were already racing out of the house, jim still carrying the butcher knife stained with john thomas's blood, and the little girl tripping over the hem of her nightgown.

"here now." caroline dragged the noose over toby's head. her vision wavered with tears as she took the bloody knife to cut his bonds. "you're hurt." her fingers came away wet as she touched his side. "somebody call the doctor."

"we'll get him to the hospital." tucker knelt down. burke and carl were already reading billy t. and the others their rights. "what do you say, toby? up to a ride?"

he was holding his family, his good eye leaking tears as he gathered them close. "guess i could stir myself." he tried a wan smile while winnie wept against his chest. "you driving?"

"you bet."

"we'll get there fast anyway."

"there you go. dwayne, give me a hand here. delia, you take the kids on down to sweetwater. caroline." tucker looked around as she stood and walked away. "where are you going?"

she didn't look back. "to get a hose and put out this obscenity."