Read Online Wild Rodeo Nights by Sandy Sullivan - Free Book Online

the sheriff’s department, sounding a silent burglar alarm. Within moments, the local police would have the place surrounded.
    As sirens started blaring in the distance, panic registered in the man’s eyes before he snarled and grabbed Carrie by the hair, pulling her away from Jessica. “You set off the fucking alarm!”
    She glared right back. “You did it, not me. The register is rigged to dial when the power is cut off.”
    The man growled, pulled back his hand and slapped her hard across the face. Carrie reeled from the blow and slumped against the glass counter. She tried to stand up, but he grabbed her ponytail and yanked her up against him.
    “We’re leavin’ here—together.”
    Wrapping his arm around her throat, he pushed the gun against her side when they walked toward the door. “Unlock the door.”
    With one hand on his arm trying to keep him from choking her, she reached with the other one to slide the bolt open. They walked out into the parking lot, only to see ten police cars, lights flashing, surrounding the store.

Chapter Seven

    The rodeo events were in full swing. The bull riding was the biggest event of all and drew the most spectators to the arena. Cole looked over the crowd almost hoping to see Carrie among the sea of faces, but in his heart, he knew she wasn’t there. The store didn’t close until five, and he was to meet her there at six. There would be no reason for her to be at the arena unless she came to watch him. He smiled at the thought.
    He stood next to the gate, getting ready for his final ride. Glove on, his bull rope in his hand, he hopped up on the metal railing, straddling it when he heard the crackle of a radio.
    “Robbery in progress. All units respond code three—Marsh’s Feed.”
    He felt the color drain from his face before he jumped down and grabbed the arm of the cop attached to the radio. The man glared at his hand before his gaze ricocheted back to Cole’s face.
    “I know you ain’t grabbin’ my arm there, cowboy.”
    “Sorry. Did they say robbery at Marsh’s Feed?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Carrie,” he murmured.
    “You know her?”
    “You could say that.”
    Cole took off for his truck at a dead run. Spinning tires and spraying gravel as he gunned it out of the parking lot, he drew the attention of the nearby spectators who all stopped to watch when several cop cars and one black Ford hit the pavement.
    His heart dropped into his stomach when he whipped into her parking lot and saw several more police cars parked. Five cops, each crouched behind their doors with their guns drawn and pointed at the front door of the store, met his gaze. Cole jumped out of his truck and hurried behind one of the cop cars.
    “What’s going on?” The policeman turned and shot him a questioning look like he wanted to ask what the hell difference it made to him. “I’m a friend of Carrie’s.”
    The cop shook his head before he answered. “Robbery in progress. We aren’t sure how many perps or what’s going on yet.”
    “Are Carrie and Jessica in there?”
    “Don’t know for sure, but it appears so. You can see shadows moving around.”
    As the words left the policeman's lips, Cole saw the door of the store open. The light from inside reflected behind the two people when they moved outside, making it difficult to discern who they were.
    “Everyone back off, or the little lady here takes a bullet,” the burglar shouted.
    A shadow of what appeared to be two people moved closer to them, and when they did, Cole could see a man with a ski mask over his face holding Carrie in front of him. Cole shifted, ready to move so he could get her away from the crazy guy, until the cop next to him stopped him with a hand on his arm.
    “That’ll just get you killed, mister. Let us handle this.”
    “But he’s got Carrie.”
    “I know, but we have to do this the right way so she doesn’t get hurt.” The policeman shot him a sympathetic look. “I care about her, too. I’ve known