The jail cell is dark and eerie. I spare a glance sideways at my friends. Emmett is sobbing quietly into Ted’s shoulder; Ben’s holding a stunned looking Michael while Cody tries his damn hardest not to kill Ethan. It’s been almost a week since we were arrested and since Justin legged it, his brother hasn’t spoken a word. I caught Michael telling him Justin was probably dead, something young James hadn’t taken to kindly to as I’d had to peel him off the scared older man before he killed him. At present, he’s staring at the wall, unblinking but only turns his head when he hears the gunshots and a rumpus above us. Emmett raises his head as he and Cody approach the bars warily, just in time to see a body rolling down the stairs to land, spread eagled on the floor, blood oozing out his side. He’s followed closely by two blondes rolling down the stone steps, landing in a tangled mess on the floor as the person who, obviously, pushed them follows, “Get up you pathetic children!” he snaps, kicking one in the side, a familiar grown escaping his lips which causes James to squeak. “Justin!” Said Blonde flashes a wolfish grin as he head buts his captor, letting him fall forward before bringing his knee up to catch the mans groin and, soon after he fall on his knees, he’s kneed him in the face too. His companion gets up, brushing himself off as he throws Justin the keys, my baby saying a curt, “Thanks Hobbs” in return as he unlocks the cell door, ushering us all out before he disappears off up the stairs, Chris in tow. I turn to my gang as we grab our weapons from the box in the corner before we leg it up the stairs. There’s authority bodies lying everywhere, a group of teenagers standing amongst them, guns drawn. It’s all boys, dressed pretty much the same as Justin, but there’s two girls. One is dark skinned and is dressed in a dress, ripped at the knees and a pair of boots. The other looks about twelve, dressed the same as the boys, her blonde hair pulled back in a loose ponytail as she stands beside Justin, a gun in her hand as they stare at the Sheriff. A Sheriff that looks a lot like the two blondes. “I should have known this is what would have happened”, I hear him saying to the two unfazed children, who are glaring with such malice, it shocks me to think Justin could hate someone so much. He stays quiet as the older man chooses to draw his gun, aiming at Justin’s face when there’s a scream. “CRAIG NO!” We spin round to watch the woman running forward, a look of confusion on Justin’s face as she stops in front of him and his sister, “I won’t let you hurt my children! Not again”. Ah, so that’s Justin’s mother? James runs over, standing beside Jennifer, “You hurt my brother and I’ll kill you”, he snarls. I had a feeling he was biding his anger during his silent spell, ready to unleash it on anyone who harmed his brother. Either that or on Michael. I watch in horror as Craig pulls the trigger, the bullet clipping Jennifer in the shoulder, then Justin springs into action. With amazing speed, his gun in his hand and the trigger pulled. Two shots. Everything stops and everyone stares. Then Craig crumples to the ground as Justin staggers backwards, his sister screaming as he lands on his ass, blood oozing out his arm, “Shit, not again…” he hisses, rolling his eyes as Ted runs over, again with the bag of goodies. Jennifer crawls over to her son, cradling him in her arms as she strokes his dusty hair, muttering ‘My baby’ over and over. Craig’s men disperse, realising that now Craig’s dead, Justin’s the new boss around town. Where would that leave us? ~~~~~~~~ Four Months Later Well I never thought I’d see myself here. Sure enough, Justin took over the run of the town. The Taylor family had grown. His mother adopted James and Cody into their family, but all three of them still saw Ben as their father (yes even Cody) Melanie had joined Debbie, Daphne and Molly in working at the bar while Ted helped Vic out at the surgery. Emmett opened his own hotel in the town where Ethan helped (God forbid) and as for me? Michael and I opened our own riding stables on the outskirts where people could be taught one of our best skills. Nobody really seemed to care that we were reformed cowboys. And what’s better. I got to live with my baby seeing as his mother accepted me into their family with open arms. Life is good. For now.