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feet was difficult with the two idiots scuffling in front of her but she did it. Then she dived in, determined to become a wedge between them and, push them apart.
    “I have had about enough…”
    The sound of a gunshot echoed through the alley. Kerry looked between them to see which one of them was stupid enough to introduce a gun to a fist fight. A hot punch was dealt to her side. Everything froze. She finally managed to push the two of them apart, just enough to look down at her body in the flickering of the alley light. Her top was turning a darker red. Her head spun and she dropped back down to the floor, cursing all the way.
    * * * *
    Kerry’s vision was fuzzy the first time she came to. She looked up at the two men from the flat of her back. Dick was shirtless and Caleb’s hands were pressed over her abdomen. The two of them were still arguing.
    “We have to move her. She can’t stay here. Are you sure we shouldn’t just take her to a hospital?” Dick asked with panic in his voice.
    “No. She can’t go to a hospital. I told you that. Susan’s gone to get my car. We’ll load her in the back and take her to her folk’s house. We’ll fix her there.”
    “A hospital would be closer.”
    “Dick…Caleb…” Kerry’s voice was weak but they heard her.
    Both of them looked down as Kerry raised her hands, reaching to touch both of their heads. She slammed them forward, knocking them together. Then she was out again.
    The next time she came to she was in more familiar surroundings. She lay on a bed, her body was cleaned and bandaged, and she was covered by just the sheet. Kerry tried to sit up but gentle hands pushed her back down. Dick leaned over her from one side and Caleb from the other.
    “You need to rest,” said Dick softly. “You got shot.”
    “Which one of you?”
    They both looked confused and then shook their heads at the same time. The unison almost made Kerry want to giggle. She felt light-headed.
    “Neither of us had a gun. The shot came out of the dark. The shooter was some distance away but we think it was a rifle,” said Caleb, stroking her hair back from her forehead.
    Her eyes fluttered closed and then reopened with her eyes turned on Dick.
    “You’re a dick,” she said and he smiled at her.
    “That’s why Momma named me Richard.”
    Kerry turned her eyes on Caleb who winced, waiting for his turn.
    “You’re a possessive moron.”
    “I won’t argue with you on that at the moment, honey.”
    Kerry blinked slowly, looking from one face to the other. She noticed they had matching black eyes on the opposite sides to each other.
    “How’d you both get shiners?” she asked curiously.
    They gave her almost identical self-deprecating grins.
    “Your daddy,” they said in scary unison again.
    Kerry smiled softly. She pulled Dick close, pressing her lips to the shiner. Caleb growled slightly.
    Dick smirked at him. “She’s a sick woman. Let her have whatever she wants.” Kerry let her lips slide down to press to his. She pulled back from him.
    “I’m sorry I hurt you,” she said sadly.
    Then she turned to Caleb, kissing his shiner and then his mouth too. “But I ache without you. I’m bound to you by our law.”
    She fell silent and let out a deep sigh. She was very tired and sleep dragged at her, pulling her back down into some sort of deep abyss.
    “I need to sleep. Why don’t you two try to be grown ups and work out your differences?”
    Dick kissed her forehead, as did Caleb so as not to be outdone.
    “We will. Rest. We’ll both be here…” Caleb started.
    “…when you wake up again,” Dick said finishing the other man’s sentence but Kerry’s breathing went deep and even.

Chapter Seven
    Caleb escorted Dick downstairs where Kerry’s parents sat up, waiting for them. Kerry’s mother wrung her hands while her father had his arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
    “How’s she doing?”
    Caleb looked over to Kerry’s mother and gave her what he hoped was