The Ranch: Evolutions

Jason Sterling had a simple life by all accounts. He had worked the same job his entire adult life, he had never married and he had no children. He was used to doing things on his own. His comfortable life was shaken to the core the day he learned of his fathers death. It was a mysterious meeting that set life altering events in motion and the allure of a new life was too great to walk away from. When an Electromagnetic Pulse brings the modern world to its knees, Jason's choice proves to be the right one.

Book 5: Evolutions

"Tell me, Tara. You do know you can't win now. The only ending here is gonna be a bullet to the head when I'm done messing you up. Trust me, you'll beg for it to end," he let a broad grin play across his face.

"Right now, you're just boring me to death."

"See! There's that spunk again! Death is staring you in the face and yet, you're defiant! I love that! Too bad we couldn't have met under different circumstances. I'm betting we could have been good friends and associates!" he lunged forward but stopped short of getting within engagement range. Instead, he started circling.

"Are your knees getting weaker? I think they are. You're as white as a ghost. Honestly, I don't know how you're still standing," his taunts weren't far from the truth. The knife in my hand was growing heavy, my feet were slow to move, and my vision was beginning to blur.

My legs finally buckled, no longer able to support my weight I collapsed to my knees. My blade clattered to the pavement. I was done. I knew I'd lost too much blood; I couldn't take enough oxygen into my lungs. I raised my head and tried to focus on Keith. He walked toward me, kicking the knife well out of my reach. He put the tip of the bat in the middle of my chest and pushed. Unable to resist either him or gravity, I toppled over backward.