Endangered by Pamela Beason

Author:Pamela Beason [Beason, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WildWing Press
Published: 2015-10-08T23:00:00+00:00

13

Gunshots had been reported at Mirror Lake picnic grounds. Rafael Castillo caught two young men taking turns shooting at a post. One was sighting down the barrel of his rifle as he approached from behind, one hand on his service revolver.

“What the heck do you guys think you’re doing?”

The fellow took his shot. The post shattered, sending bits of paper and wood flying through the air. They turned to face Rafael. They took in the park service shield, the service revolver in his holster. The one in back crumpled the beer can in his hand and shoved it into a jeans pocket.

The shooter either didn’t recognize Rafael’s uniform or was too drunk to care. “Shootin’ cougars, man,” he said, waving in the general direction of the post. Rafael now recognized the tattered remains nailed to the post as one of the park service’s cougar posters. “Doin’ a public service.”

“You know, guys,” Rafael said in a mild tone, “we’ve got professional hunters coming tomorrow. We’ve got it covered.”

“Government hunters, I heard,” the can crusher snarled. “Probably couldn’t hit the side of a barn with an M16.”

“Waste of time waiting for them,” the shooter said. “We’re here to nail that cat.”

Rafael held out his hands. “Look, fellas, we don’t—”

“No fuckin’ cougar’s gonna get away with eatin’ a kid,” the shooter interrupted. He thumped the butt of the rifle on the ground. Rafael flinched, anticipating a blast that would take off the guy’s head. He was a little sorry when it didn’t happen.

So much for Mr. Nice Guy. Rafael put his hands on his hips, unsnapped the strap over his revolver. “It’s illegal to discharge weapons in the park. And it’s illegal to even carry one when you’ve been drinking.”

The shooter wiped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry about the beer, man.” But when Rafael reached for the rifle, the drunk pulled it out of his reach. “I got the right to bear arms.”

The other man nodded. “Constitutional right. It’s the First Amendment.”

The shooter took a step closer. “Government pig.”

Rafael retreated to his truck, pulled the radio from his belt, and called for assistance from any other ranger in the vicinity. He wondered where Taylor, the other law enforcement ranger, was right now. None of the general rangers carried guns, but the sight of any other uniform would be welcome. He wondered if the park service would spring for a bulletproof vest. Or pay for his funeral.

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