"Texas Lightning" PART FOUR

(Insert here the events from the episode "Eyes of a Ranger" up until Walker asks Trent to look after Kelly Wyman for the time being.)

Eager faces and swift preparations led the way into the rather pleasant start of the following morning as Katheryn and the Malloys prepared for their hike to the secluded cabin. Camping supplies were packed and set on the ground in front of the rental Suburban just outside the resort, awaiting to be carried on the backs of their owners up the long trail to their destination.

Mrs. Malloy sighed as she squatted downward and helped Tandy with the buttons of her coat. Her face glistened with a smile as she looked into the cheery eyes of her little girl. She glanced upward at Tommy. "Will you help Ty with his coat, son?"

"Yes, ma'am." Tommy smiled and finished the last button of his own overcoat before crossing the short distance and aiding his little brother with his.

Katheryn had since finished her preparations to guard against the biting cold and had set to work on adjusting her large camping pack onto her own back. She grimaced a bit as it pinch at her arm but sighed with relief once it slid into place perfectly onto her back. Smiling, Katheryn proceeding to buckle the strap across her chest and middle before testing them to be sure it was tight enough…but not too tight. Settling on one setting, she relaxed and took a deep breath, turning her closed eyes to the mountains and breathing in the fresh mountain air with a delighted smile caressing her face.

Tommy smiled from the corner of his mouth as he neared her, reaching for his own pack that waited with the others at Katheryn's feet. "Leave some oxygen for the rest of us please."

Katheryn opened her eyes, stifling a laugh as she punched Tommy playfully on the arm. He returned with a hearty laugh as Tandy marched over to them.

"Where's mine?" Her eyes twinkled as she looked over them.

Tommy looked into his little sister's eyes with care. "Don't you think you're a bit young to be carry a pack, Tandy? They're sort of heavy."

Tandy pouted. "I'm not too young!"

Mrs. Malloy proceeded to retrieve her own pack. "I'm afraid Tommy's right, hon. These are much too heavy for you. Perhaps in a few years you can help." She offered the little girl a smile only to see the glint fall from the little girl's eyes as she crossed her arms and turned away with a pout. "But I tell you what…" Tandy faced her mother with a renewed interest. "…There's a couple water bottles that need some tender loving care on the hike. Can you help carry those?"

Tandy nodded eagerly…the grin having returned to her soft features.

Tommy handed off the said water bottles to the smiling little girl and never heard another ill word from the little one.

"Alright, guys." Mrs. Malloy inhaled and exhaled. "Let's head out. We've got quite the hike ahead of us."

Fifteen…Maybe twenty minutes passed as the Malloys were well into their hike when a local patrol car slowed to a stop next to the Malloys' black Suburban. Its brakes squeaked ever so softly as the driver put the car in park in the space next to the SUV and eased the door open. An older gentleman emerged from the car all clad in police uniform. His sunglasses were sheltered by his brimmed hat and his arms were open to the bare cold. Yet it didn't seem to bother the rigid man who took in a deep breath, clasping a toothpick between his teeth and proceeding into the nearby resort office.

"Well, good morning, officer." The same gentleman who had welcomed the Malloys smiled as the officer entered the building.

The robust officer glanced over at the raging fire in the stone fireplace and turned back to the counter on the right. His voice was muffled has he tried his best to keep the toothpick in his mouth. "Good morning yourself, Williams. How goes the resort business?"

Williams grinned. "It's doing alright. Going good. And you…You locked up anyone recently in that rusty old jail of yours?"

The officer grinned sarcastically and plopped a stack of papers onto the desk in front of the older gentleman. "Be obliged if you could distribute these among your boarders."

The elder gentleman lifted one of the papers into his limited view with a slightly shaky hand. His squinted at the words as he read. "Oh, my." He looked up at the sheriff. "I'll get right to it." He scurried around from behind the counter and aimed for the elevator. "Have a good day sheriff."

The sheriff smirked. "You too, Williams." And he went his way.

Williams knew the entire building by heart, having memorized nearly everything he need to know and more in his thirty years there. In no time he slipped one of the pieces of paper under each door whether occupied or not so that those coming or going would know about the disturbance. After completing the entire round of all three floors, the tired gentleman returned to his place at the front desk and rested his weary bones in the chair by the corner, reading a leftover piece of paper carefully with a shake of his head. Slowly and to himself, he read aloud, "Bear on the loose. She is dangerous and we advise all visitors to refrain from hiking until further notice."

##

The shiny silver hubcaps of the limousine sparkled under the intense Texas sunshine as the vehicle came to a slow stop in front the governor's mansion. From the mansion came two suited gentleman both clad with hidden firearms and intriguing sun shades that hid any emotion they possessed. The two traced the path to the long car and ceased their step in front of the door. One of them opened it as the other stood by on the other side. Once the door had been opened, that guard also stood at attention on the other side with hands folded atop each other in front of him. Forward they both gazed…unmoved…and untouched…as the doors to the mansion opened and through them first came Sullivan in the lead. The governor was right behind him. Another guard took up the rear just before Carlos exited last.

Carlos squinted as the rays hit his eyes. He glanced briefly at the duffle in his hand which currently housed his trusty shades. He shrugged it off inwardly and kept a keen observation about him as he walked.

Once the group had reached the limousine, Carlos was forced to stop as the governor, Sullivan, and the other bodyguard made their way through the narrow entrance of the vehicle and took their seats. As he waited, his gaze drifted. More out of investigative instinct rather than curiosity. Although he was curious about the premises nonetheless. Who wouldn't be with so much history wrapped up in such a place?

"No it couldn't be." Carlos breathed as his gaze fell upon two women who stood afar off by another car.

One of the women was older. The other was younger…And looked a lot like Katheryn's roommate Molly. Carlos shrugged it off. It couldn't have been.

"Sandoval…" Sullivan's sharp-edged voice tore into Carlos' thoughts.

The young woman conveniently turned away. And a staunch ray of sunlight beamed into Carlos' view. He sighed and entered the vehicle, taking a seat next to Sullivan across from the governor.

"So," the governor grinned as he looked towards Carlos. "I was curious about where your lady friend and her friends were vacationing. Utah is a splendid place. I've been there a couple of times myself. Park City is just beautiful. Is that where they are?"

Carlos smiled. "Yeah. Not too far from there. They were planning a hiking trip."

"Have you been there yourself, detective?"

"Yeah," Carlos stifled a chuckle. "Indeed I have. Just this past year in fact. It didn't turn out so great thanks to three brothers who had it in for us."

"Us?" The governor raised a brow.

"Rangers Walker and Trivette, assistant DA Alex Cahill, myself, and my best friend Trent made a vacation out of it."

The governor chuckled. "And you didn't invite a certain young lady?"

"Unfortunately no. And she hasn't let me forget about it. But she had the opportunity to get some training with a Ranger while we were gone. So I don't think she holds it against me too much."

"And I'm guessing you were just friends."

"Something like that." Carlos tried to hide his growing smile as he spoke.

The governor grinned. "I'm sorry to pester you, detective. I just like hearing about the lives of the people that work for me…ever how long that may be. I don't ever want to be impersonal with any of my bodyguards. You all are just as important as I am."

Carlos nodded. "I completely understand, sir."

Sullivan's piercing eyes went to and from the twosome's friendly conversation as he absorbed every detail through his keenly-listening ears as they made their way to the private airstrip and the plane that awaited to take them to the Dallas…and whatever lay ahead.

##

Seven of the eight miles were traced by the steady steps of the Malloy clan and Katheryn before the first moan came due to aching feet and growling stomachs. The way had even become steeper than at the start, causing weariness to set in even quicker especially among the young ones.

After finally reaching a bit of flatland in a clearing near a beautifully-sounding gurgling creek, Mrs. Malloy stopped and began detaching her large pack from her body. "Alright. Let's rest here for a while."

Tandy immediately plopped down on the grassy area, sighing softly as her head sagged. "Momma, I'm tired."

"I know sweetheart." Mrs. Malloy offered a faint smile as she searched for her daughter's eyes across the short distance.

Both Katheryn and Tommy proceeded to free themselves from their own packs as Ty found a spot to occupy on the ground near his sister.

"Thanks for the help." Tommy playfully scoffed as he grunted one last time, the pack falling to the ground as he made a slight bit of eye contact with his younger brother.

"No problem," Ty grinned, provoking his older brother.

"Oh, I see how it is." Tommy nodded, feigning a bit of aggravation at he hurried forward and tackled his now cackling brother on the ground. They rolled in the grass for a few seconds…Ty at the full mercy of his brother as he kept yelling for Tommy to stop.

Yet Tommy didn't stop. "Say uncle! Say it!" He guffawed as he tickled Tyler even more.

"No! I will not!" Ty screeched through his perpetual laughing fits.

"Say it!"

"No!"

"Say uncle!"

"UNCLE!" Ty finally screamed. His voice echoed into the mountains around them as the ladies of the group hid smirks and smiles as they watched the silliness that unfolded.

Tommy reluctantly backed off of his brother and smiled, punching Ty on the arm ever so softly. "Ah, I'm just teasing."

"I know you are." Ty glared, pointing a finger at Tommy. "And I'll get you back."

Tommy rolled his eyes. "Right."

A sudden roar echoed nearby, quieting the entire group and putting fear into their eyes.

"Momma?" Tandy's voice shook as her eyes scanned the area around them.

Mrs. Malloy slowly eased back up to her feet, searching the area with her eyes also. "It's alright, sweetheart." Yet her faltering voice caused her to doubt her own encouraging words.

Katheryn remembered the sound from yesterday as she eased closer to the others. "That sounded mighty familiar."

"Yup," Tommy chimed in.

"Maybe we'd best be moving on." Mrs. Malloy neared her pack.

Ty's eyes grew large as he spotted something moving in the faraway distance. "Or be climbing some trees!" Ty stood to his feet quite swiftly with his armed outstretched as he pointed to the opening in the winter woods. "Tommy!"

Mrs. Malloy spotted the moving figure next. She stifled the crippling fear that welled up in her and rushed back, gathering up Tandy in her arms as she looked to the others. "Run!"

And running was all they could possibly do as they abandoned their packs, charging forward into the unknown paths before them while eager paws trampled the grasses they had just escaped from.

Not much space remained between them and the bear as Katheryn glanced over her shoulder. Suddenly she tripped. Her foot had snagged against a fallen branch.

Tommy immediately came to a halt and doubled back, crouching low to give Katheryn his hand. They were up in no time thankfully…but the bear was too close. They had no place to go…accept up.

"C'mon!" Tommy yelled and gave Katheryn a leg up as she hoisted her weight up onto the nearby tree, taking hold of the first outstretched branch and pulling her weight upward as fast as she could so that Tommy could follow.

Just as Tommy had reached the first branch, the bear had reached the foot of the tree…and now pawed aimlessly at them from below.

"Tommy!" Katheryn called out as she perched on a single, sturdy branch a few feet above Tommy.

Tommy grunted a bit as he pulled himself up some more, just barely dodging the swiftly waving paw of the bear below.

The beast tore into the air with bellowing howls as she made her objective known. Yet she had failed at securing Tommy in her grasp as he made it to the height Katheryn had and now perched on a sturdy branch on the opposite side of the broad-trunked tree. The bear turned, growling her disappointment softly as she paces the ground at the foot of the tree. She ambled away softly, giving the two tree occupants a small window of freedom.

Tommy panted hard, struggling to catch his breath. "Can you see Mom and the others?"

Katheryn stretched a bit over a hanging branch in her face to see in the distance. She slowly shook her head. "No. I—I can't see them."

Tommy sighed quite roughly as he watched the creature below in earnest.

"You think she'll go away?"

"I don't know." Tommy exhaled.

The determined creature turned indecisive quickly as she paced the area below them…somehow secretly hoping they would come down to her or something.

As the creature continued its fickle deliberation, Katheryn scanned the wooden area beyond them once more. She squinted and focused hard. But to no avail. "Do you think they made it to the cabin?"

Tommy thought for a moment. "Maybe. It's only about a mile away."

Katheryn sighed and rested her forehead quite forcefully on the thick tree trunk before her.

Tommy glanced her way and noticed her agitation, feeling every bit of angst that she felt and even more. He turned back just in time to see the bear giving up and prancing away from the direction they had all came from. Tommy grinned. "Looks like we're getting somewhere now."

Katheryn gently withdrew her head from the tree and blew at the free-falling locks in her eyes as she too noticed the bear's surrender. She smiled as Tommy glanced her way. Victory gleamed in both of their eyes as they began thinking through what they should do next.

Tommy's smile faded as looked at the ground below.

"What?" Katheryn frowned.

"That's much too far to jump."

Katheryn leaned forward slightly, surveying the area also. "You're right."

"And we don't have ropes or anything. All that was in our camping packs."

"We really should try to go back and get the packs."

Tommy shook his head. "We'd never make it. I say we try to make it to the cabin and forget our packs."

"But all our food and emergency supplies were in them, Tommy. I'm the oldest here. I say we go back."

Tommy raised his eyebrows sarcastically. "And let that bear pick our scent back up fairly easily? No way. Count me out."

Katheryn sighed sharply, leaning her head back from agitation as she gazed at the cloudy skies. "You're right." She returned her eyes to Tommy.

Tommy looked off to the distance…already assured of the fact. He glanced one last time at the ground below before scooting forward and attempting his decent.

"Tommy," Katheryn whispered loudly. "What are you doing?!"

"Getting outta here. What do you think?"

"What about the bear?"

"She should be gone."

"And what if she's not?"

Tommy rolled his eyes as he held onto the trunk with all his might and slowly crawled downward. "C'mon. We can make it," he finished, jumping from the trunk onto the cold ground with one final thud.

Katheryn apprehensively followed, turning her body completely around as she guided her foot to the first small branch that stuck out of the tree below her. Slowly and easily, she made her way down much the same way as Tommy had as the young man slowly watched her descent. She too jumped on that final crawl and took in a deep breath, straightening her clothes as the twosome glanced around themselves eagerly.

Katheryn quickly patted Tommy on the back as she sprung forward into a soft run. "Let's go!"

They didn't stop running for the next half mile when a clearing suddenly opened before them, revealing a welcoming cabin. The twosome ceased running long enough to catch their breath and look the place over. Behind them, they could hear the nearing sounds of paws hitting against the grasses below.

The door to the cabin swung open instantly as Mrs. Malloy appeared in the doorway. "Come on!" She yelled urgently as she saw them coming in the distance.

The twosome exchanged wary smiles and charged forward, nearly colliding as they eased into the cabin's narrow doorway. Mrs. Malloy secured the door behind them almost instantly. Their faces were red and flushed from the run as they nearly collapsed onto the floor but managed to stagger to a stop.

Mrs. Malloy rushed to Tommy and embraced him, bringing Katheryn into her embrace also. "I'm so glad you two made it. I was so worried about you both." She drew back and looked them in the eyes.

Tommy smiled and wriggled from his coat, taking Katheryn's also as she eased out hers and placed them both on the pile by the door.

From the other room ran Tandy and Ty. "Katheryn! Tommy!" They called in unison, raising their voices with joy lacing every syllable.

Katheryn scooped up Tandy into her arms for a warm embrace.

"Did you see the bear?" Tandy grinned.

Katheryn chuckled. "Yes, Tandy, we did." She rolled her eyes towards Tommy.

"My God," Mrs. Malloy clasped her eyes shut briefly, taking in a deep breath as she placed her hand over her chest. "When I realized you two had fallen back…" Her words trailed off as she swallowed hard, willing away the tears that ensued.

Katheryn offered a reassuring smile, setting Tandy down and crossing the short space to give Mrs. Malloy a hug. "I can assure you," Katheryn drew away from the embrace, "that no part of me desired to trip over myself back there."

Gentle chuckles floated amongst the Malloys as Katheryn smiled her approval.

"What do we do now?" Tommy crossed to the fireplace and reached his hands out toward the licking flames.

Mrs. Malloy paced the short distance to her older son and rested her weight on the large stone mantle. Sighing, she looked towards Tommy, hope having faded from view. "I don't know, son."

Tommy chuckled. "Katheryn suggested we dodge back for the packs before we ran for the cabin."

Mrs. Malloy looked to Kath with a glint of humor in her eyes. "The sentiment is well-appreciated, hon. And I mean no offense, but thank you for not doing that. For your own sake."

Katheryn simply smiled as she settled into a chair at the plain wooden kitchen table that served the eat-in kitchen appropriately. She propped up her elbow on the table, her fist supporting her chin while she tapped the table continuously with the index finger on her other hand. A silence settled over the room, being replaced by the soft winds outside, the fireplace's welcoming tones, and Katheryn's tapping finger as she tried to think through a solution to the problem.

Everyone else was trying the same thing. Searching the files of their mind to figure out how they would get out of there safely…or merely survive…with no cell phone, little reception that would make any difference, no food, no weapons, and only five dry matches and small stack of wood that was being eaten up by the blazing fire rather quickly.

"There's gotta be something." Tommy finally broke the silence as he turned lethargically towards the open floor of the cabin and paced to where Katheryn remained. "No one will even miss us for a day or two since we told everyone that cell reception was bad up here." Tommy let his arms fall to his sides in surrender with one swift motion as he spun on his heel and crossed his arms, pacing to the front cabin window by the door. He eased one arm from his chest and gently moved the white-laced country curtains. He slowly inhaled. "And besides all that…"

Mrs. Malloy raised her eyes to meet her son's voice.

"…We got company."