Acquiring Trouble

Co le as he headed for the street.
    “Miles! Please. I can’t let you do this. I would die if anything happened to you. I love you too much. Please, let me do this alone!” Morgan pleaded as they turned up the street and ran toward Main Street.
    “I still think there’s something you don’t unde rstand and that may be my fault for not telling you. See, I thought you had ruined my life when I got that phone call from you. And you have. You’ve ruined the isolated life I had set up for myself. You’ve ruined the daily routine I established and you’ve ruined my ability to think of anything but you. You consume my mind when you’re not with me and drive me wild when you are. I love you with all my heart and soul and there’s no way I’ll e ver let anything happen to yo u.” Miles slowed to a stop and l ooked around the corner. William Brady was looking throu gh the shattered window of the café trying to find them.
    “You love me?” Miles heard Morgan whisper.
    “Sweetheart, I’d move heaven and earth to be with you. Now, zig zag to the first building and duck in the doorway.”
    “Miles! Really? Now you’re saying all this?” Morgan rolled her eyes as she felt her heart swell . Miles smiled down at her. He’d do more than just tell her how much she meant to him, he’d show her every day for the rest of their lives that he would give his life for her in a heartbeat.
    “Ye p. Get ready . ” He pulled her toward him, her back fitting tight against his chest. “Run, Morgan!” Miles screamed loud enough to draw the attention of Brady . Morgan took off at a run. She kept bent over, making herse lf as small as possible and as she ran diagonals across the street.
    Miles kept one hand on her waist as he moved with her, blocking any bullets that m ight be fired at them. He didn’t have to wait long. The first one pinged off the pavement just a foot from them. Miles heard the sound of shell cartridges bouncing off the sidewalk as the man emptied his clip.
    Miles could tell from his erratic firing that Brady was getting mad. Good. When emotions bubbled up to the surface they knocked your aim off. Morgan was still running with her arms over her head, so he pushed s lightly on her waist to direct her to dive into the doorway of Keeneston Antiques and Knickknacks . Morgan responded instantly, slamming into the closed glass door of the shop.
    “What’s going on?” Morgan gasped between gulps of air.
    Miles looked around the corner and s potted Brady , gun raised , walking toward them . His hair was slicked back and he was in full combat gear . “Stay back. He’s coming this way. ” Miles looked toward the alley for Cole when two white heads and one steel gray head drew his attention. Miss Violet stood in the window with a heavy pot in her hand. Miss Daisy and Edna peaked out from eac h side of Violet’s plump frame.
    “Oh no ,” Miles moaned as he watched a pot come flying out the broken window right at Brady . He tensed, ready to run right at the man if he turned on the women. The pot hit Brady right in the middle of the back sending Brady stumbling forward. Before he could recover another pot was hurled from the window, hitting him on the shoulder. The thre e heads ducked back inside the c afé before Brady could turn around .
    Miles searched for Cole, but before he could see him, another white head teetered across the street with a large broom in hand. At least Miss Lily had crossed the street a good two blocks away so she wasn’t overly obvious, but he knew instantly what she meant to do with that broo m. “Com e on Cole,” he whispered as a fr ying pan arched through the air.
    Brady had had enough and fired off two warning shots into the c afé and then turned and fired a couple toward Miles . The bullets h it the bric k and lodged in the old mortar.
    “He shot at us!” Miles hea rd Miss Violet scream in anger.
    “Miles, is that Miss Violet?” Morgan whispered as she tried to get a closer look. Miles pushed her back to make sure she was completely protected from the gunman.
    “B less his heart, he couldn’t hi t the broad side of a barn with aim like that!” Miss Daisy said, rather loudly, back to her sister. These women were going to be the d eath of Miles. He just knew it.
    “ Ain’t that the truth ? ” Apparently Miss Lily had made it successfully into the c afé , Miles thought.
    “Move over! I got this!” a nother voice rang out down the quiet Main Street.
    “Miles, who was