Chapter 38
If he had known AJ better, Davies would have recognized the signs of temper rising under the surface. Asking to be shown what area had been covered, he and Clay ate as they poured over the map that Colonel Davies spread out on the table. AJ silently fumed when he saw just how small of an area the search had covered. He also had no idea what Webb was thinking or feeling about any of this because the spy had been strangely quiet since they had landed.
Being back in the desert had brought memories of his and Mac's Paraguay mission for Webb and he was lost in them as AJ and Davies talked. While there was no way the baby had been conceived on that mission, Clay knew it had been that mission that had brought them together. Now Sarah was lost out there somewhere carrying his child and he had to get them back! And he would be sure to find a way to make Victor Galindez pay for not keeping her safe. Killing him would be bad business, but the next 'not returnable' mission that came up had his name all over it!
By late afternoon the three of them could see the village in the distance. There was an unusual amount of activity when the riders were seen. Men with guns stood blocking their path and they demanded to know the strangers purpose for coming. With Shami's help Victor and Mac were able to explain their reason for being there. What they didn't understand why all of a sudden the expressions on the men's faces turned from ones of suspicion and anger to ones of sorrow and regret. Unfortunately it didn't take them long to find out.
Three weeks ago Shami's parents had come upon the village late at night. The villagers had been having problems with raiders from a neighboring village attacking at night. It had become the policy, if after dark strangers approached that they would shoot first and ask questions later. Because the men on guard hadn't known Shami's parents that night, they had been fired upon. The look of horror that came across the face of the tiny child in Victor's lap told the story before the words came out of her mouth to explain to them what had happened.
Her father had been killed on the spot and her mother had been injured as well. The shooting had driven her mother into labor and she delivered a healthy baby boy minutes before she died from blood loss from her wounds. Shami's tears flowed and the sobs were wracking her body.
They were taken to her Aunt's house where she was reunited with her brothers and sisters; she also met her new baby brother that was only a few weeks old. Her aunt's name was Siree and she welcomed the visitors with sad eyes. When she discovered that Mac and Gunny had come to deliver Shami to her parents that were now gone, she shook her head and told Shami to tell them that she simply could not take on another mouth to feed.
Unhappy that they had to have Shami in the middle of this conversation, but unable to find any other way around it, they asked what she suggested that they do with her niece. Shami reported that she had been given to them, and if the new baby hadn't been a boy that she would have turned it over to them too.
Mac and Victor stood there in stunned silence. They had come all this way for nothing. As they looked at each other wondering what to do for the devastated child, Shami ran from the hut. They followed her quickly and Victor caught up to her, scooping her up into his arms.
"Shami, where do you think you are going?" he asked tenderly.
"You don't want me either, do you?" she wept.
"What do you mean honey?" Mac asked.
"I saw your faces, you don't know what to do with me!"
"Shami, I had been just about to ask you if there were any other relatives that we could take you to, we will find a place for you!" Mac insisted.
"But my aunt gave me to you! You and Gunny are now my mommy and daddy!"
Victor looked at Mac and seeing the acceptance in her eyes, he smiled and said, "Well Mrs. Galindez, married for less than a week and we are already parents!"
To Be Continued….