The Family

Chapter 4

…

They had been moving fast through rough country, the ATV tracks being easy to follow. Deeks wasn't embarrassed to admit he was a little tired. Even Sheila was groaning more often. He knew Elan would never admit he was hurting, so he pulled his mare up to give all of them a break. It had been a tough ride, but they'd never slacked off the hurried pace Elan had set. Even though they had a sliver of hope that George was alive, it didn't mean he wasn't in trouble, it just meant the bad guys hadn't found him. Deeks tried not to think of George bleeding out all alone in the mountains he loved.

"What's wrong?" Elan asked as he turned his horse to face him. "That ATV crack a rib when it hit you?"

"Don't think so. Just a big ugly bruise Kensi can kiss and make better," Deeks said with a grin.

"What is it Callen always says? Too much information? So, what's up?"

"Thought I should check your bandage. Make sure the bleeding has stopped."

"It's nothing I can't handle," Elan replied. "No reason to stop."

"Sheila's tired," he said, making Elan smile.

"I'm fine, Cuz."

"You've been leaning a little to the left in the saddle, Elan. Come on…admit it. It's bothering you."

Elan slid effortlessly off Crow's back and silently presented his bandaged arm for inspection. He wouldn't look at him but grunted when Deeks tightened the wrapping. The wound was still seeping blood, but not much, and Deeks was relieved. He knew it had to hurt like hell though, not that Elan would ever admit that. The short rest would help them both, giving them time to take a little water for themselves as well as offer some to the horses.

"I should have asked better questions," Deeks said softly. "Maybe I could have found out why they shot at George in the first place."

"You really think they would have told you?"

"Right. Probably not."

"There was something off about those guys," Elan said. "They weren't your typical hunters. And not from around here."

"The guy that got away looked military."

"Yeah, he did. A real hard ass."

"I think I heard them call him Cecil," Deeks said. "He was definitely worried about what George might have told us. So, you were right. George stumbled on something he wasn't supposed to."

"Sounded like Honcho had George's back," Elan said, sounding proud of the big horse.

"Those bastards deserved a good kick in the pants…and their more sensitive parts," Deeks said.

"Got more than they bargained for when they tried to take us out," Elan commented as he mounted up.

"Yeah, but our buddy Cecil is still out there."

"Head on a swivel, Cuz."

"Copy that."

That Cecil could be lying in wait sharpened him, and Deeks wished he had brought his weapon instead having to rely on George's hunting rifle. He had been tempted to take one of the pistols the two dead men had on them, but they were now evidence, part of a crime scene he didn't want disturbed.

"The one thing I did pick up on…" Deeks said as he looked over at Elan. "Not one of them struck me as being the boss."

"You're right. They were more like rank-and-file guys," Elan said. "You think Cecil is going for reinforcements?"

"Maybe. And if he is, we better find George as soon as possible and get him the hell off this mountain."

From then on, they pushed the horses hard, keeping their rifles in hand and their eyes and minds focused. When they approached a dense stand of spruce the ATV tracks penetrated, Elan held up a fist. He slid off Crow and handed the reins up to Deeks, motioning for him to take up position behind an outcropping of granite. When he disappeared into the trees, Deeks sucked in his breath and readied his rifle. Elan was good at recon, but it was always dangerous, and he barely breathed as he listened for any sign that he had run into trouble. That this whole thing had happened so soon after the last time was troublesome, turning his mind inward toward the haunting memories. This family had been through so much, and now once again it was being threatened. He hadn't been able to reach Kensi before they started out, and that bothered him. He wished she were here with him, but he had no idea how long she would be stuck in DC. He hoped it wouldn't be like last time. He hoped by the time she got here George would be back home, and safe. He hoped all of them would be.

Elan suddenly reappeared and signaled for him to come. "Found Honcho's tracks."

Deeks threw himself up into the saddle and rode out to meet him.

Once they passed through the grove of spruce, the land became steeper. Elan wove his black gelding around the massive trunks of ponderosa pines, pointing out the spots of blood left by George's buckskin.

"He wasn't being ridden here," Elan said, his voice muted by the forest surrounding them.

Elan pulled up and jumped down, kneeling beside a downed tree. "The ground is disturbed here."

They split up and began to search the area. The only sounds came from the horses and the crunch of the broken branches buried in pine needles Deeks stepped on as he moved slowly through the undergrowth. When he saw what looked like a tuft of cotton, he stopped. It clung to a long branch that jutted out from a downed pine.

"Found something," he called out softly and plucked the tiny white bit of stuffing from the branch. "I think it's from a parka. Maybe George's."

"Good eye, Cuz," he said and squeezed his shoulder. "I think you're right. Look."

He pointed to a small pool of blood in the mud off to the left. A horse's hoof prints were easy to make out. Elan began pointing out other signs and it didn't take them long to find where George had hidden himself. Deeks felt a surge of anger at what the good man had been forced to do to survive.

"More footprints down here," Elan called out. "Two men. They came up the slope and stopped. Then went back down. Another set heads through the trees."

Deeks took a deep breath and tried to still his racing heart. "He's alive, isn't he?"

"Yeah. And on foot. Smart to use Honcho to throw them off his hiding spot," Elan said. "Now, all we have to do is follow his trail."

…

Jefferson Hyde stood on the large wraparound porch of his recently acquired ranch house with a cigar in his mouth and a glass of bourbon in his hand. He needed to calm down and he needed to think and plan. Laurel had screamed at him when he told her Jessop was dead, and now she was upstairs crying her eyes out over that slick bastard. He'd liked him. He'd been useful, but he was living on borrowed time anyway. He'd known all along that his wife was fooling around with the idiot. He didn't care too much, but it had gone on long enough. Now he had one less problem to deal with.

"The helicopter is on its way back," Kyle Taft said as he walked up beside him with a bottle of bourbon in one hand and a cut crystal glass in the other. "You want me to call in the Rubino brothers?"

Hyde almost laughed. He turned to see if Kyle was joking, and met only his serious, ice blue eyes. He was disappointed.

"You think those two city slickers could walk around here and not be noticed?" Hyde sneered. "It'd be like 'My Cousin Vinny' if those two showed up. You watched that movie, right? Those two don't blend. So, no I don't want you to call them. I want someone who looks like all these assholes around here."

"Cowboys?"

"Are you trying to piss me off or are you just as stupid as Cecil?"

He was usually cautious about going off on Kyle, but today he was angry and didn't care. His planning had been impeccable up until the day he had listened to his wife's pestering and gone out on that stupid hunting expedition. For a damn set of antlers. For a house he didn't even like. Now he was down three men. Idiots for sure, but they had protected him for a long time. Now they'd been taken out by a couple of backwoods hicks, one claiming to be a federal agent. That was a complication he didn't need.

"I sent a few of the boys out to watch the perimeter," Kyle said. "I put Soji in charge."

"What about the shot-up ATV?"

"CJ is dumping it up in some canyon somewhere," he replied. "Don't worry, he knows to wipe it clean…or else."

Hyde took a long draw on his cigar and downed the last of his bourbon as he stared out at the rippling grasses that covered the long meadow.

"It's not The Battery, is it," he commented.

"Getting homesick, Mr. Hyde?"

"Damn right, Taft. Damn right. This will never be home. Charleston is home, and right now I'm missing the view and the soft-shell crab at The Ordinary. My mouth's watering just thinking about it."

"Give me the crab Benedict at the Vicious Biscuit any day," Kyle said.

"When we're done with this, send Russell back home to pick us up some crab," Hyde ordered. "We could use a break from all the venison and beef."

"The fish isn't bad, if it's cooked right," Taft said. "But we have other fish to fry right now, Jeff."

"Not like you to make a joke at a time like this."

"Not like you to get homesick when there's trouble."

Taft was right. He was wasting time he didn't have. If that guy was a Fed, he had to shut him down before he found out who he was dealing with. He wasn't ready for a stint in federal prison.

"This isn't going to blow over, boss, especially if that hippy really is a federal agent," Taft said, splashing more bourbon into Hyde's empty glass.

"You think they'll backtrack Cecil?"

"Can't take a chance they won't," Taft said. "Let me send Soji and the boys out to find those two guys. Take 'em out before they know what hit 'em. Before they ever see you."

"Don't think they'll be able to tie Jessop and Reese to me or the family," Hyde said. "We were pretty careful about that when they were assigned here."

"If they do, be ready to move…fast," Taft said. "Be smart, Jeff. Let me go get the two Cecil left standing."

Hyde downed the bourbon in one large swallow and threw the glass at the ugly pile of boulders in the center of the circular driveway where it shattered.

"Do it," he ordered. "It took a lot of time and a helluva lot of money to secure this place. No direct ties to me or the family. I want to keep it that way. Understand? And find out everyone who's connected to those two. Find out names and where they live. All of them."

Kyle Taft smiled. It was always eerie when he did because it didn't fit his face. But he was a ruthless sonofabitch and that's just what Hyde needed right now.

"Guess that means you want me to take one of them alive," Taft commented nonchalantly. "That might be fun. Break up the monotony around here."

"Bring me back the hippy Fed," Hyde said. "I wouldn't be out here in the middle of nowhere if it weren't for the damn Feds."

"Want some payback, do you?"

"Answers first. Then payback."

"No reason we can't combine the two," Taft said in that high excited voice that reminded him of the dying throes of the cats they used to kill together. "It'll be like the old days."

"You're a sick bastard, but effective. Get it done. Just not on the property."

…

Elan's black horse, Crow, stopped suddenly, his ears pricked forward. Sheila whinnied, and a horse they couldn't see replied. Elan urged his horse toward the sound, his rifle ready. Deeks did the same. They moved through the pines, the trunks blocking a clear view of what they were coming up on. They crossed a small creek and heard the unknown horse call out again. It sounded as though it was moving away from them, and Elan shot a look his way before kicking Crow into a faster pace. Deeks reined Sheila off to his left, putting space between them as he tried to see who they were up against. Ahead of them the forest was thinning, and Deeks could see a line of yellow aspen just on the other side of a narrow slice of open space. When they broke from the trees a spotted Appaloosa turned to face them. He had no saddle, and its rider was barely hanging on to its bare back. Elan called out in Arapaho and slid out of the saddle before Crow had even stopped, his hand reaching out toward the skittish horse. The sound of Elan's voice seemed to calm the animal, and he was able to take his halter in hand.

"George?" Deeks called out and the rider raised his head.

When Deeks got to him, he smiled. "Damn good to see you boys. Might need a little help getting off this crazy horse."

Deeks grinned as he eased him to the ground. "You scared the hell out of us, George."

"Been a little scared myself. Ran into some bastards. Tried to kill me," he breathed out as Deeks got an arm around him. "Did Honcho make it home?"

"We found him when we were out searching for you," Elan said. "Soldier took him back."

"Thank God. I was afraid they killed him," he whispered. "Had no choice…"

"We know. We ran into the three of them," Deeks said. "They tried to take us out too."

"Two of them didn't make it," Elan said. "One got away."

"That ain't all of them," George said. "There were at least five, including the head guy. Wanted me dead. Just don't know why. Didn't do nothing. All I saw was them poaching an elk."

"You don't kill a man over that," Elan said.

"We need to get him home, Elan," Deeks said as George slumped against him.

"That crazy Appy saved me. Don't know how much longer I could've gone if he hadn't shown up."

"Maybe he's not the devil after all," Elan said. "I'll ride him back. You ride Crow. That saddle ought to feel pretty good after riding bareback."

As Deeks helped George up unto Crow's back, Elan whispered sweet nothings in Arapaho to the horse who had started all this. The animal seemed mesmerized and barely flinched when Elan leaped up on his back. Deeks had forgotten how magnificent Elan looked on the bare back of a horse, especially a dramatically spotted one like Heck.

"I'm calling him Crazy Horse from now on," George said, as if he'd read his thoughts. "He charged at one of those bastards when he drove by in an ATV. It was the damnedest thing. Crazy. I kinda admired him for it."

"We should head for home in case the guy comes back with reinforcements," Elan said.

"Not to mention getting your gunshot wound treated," Deeks added.

"You were shot?" George asked. "I'm damn sorry, Elan. Guess that's on me."

"No, it isn't, Uncle," Elan replied kindly. "I don't blame you. None of this is your fault."

"You once taught me not to take on guilt that wasn't mine. You should take your own advice, George," Deeks said. "Not sure what we're dealing with or who these guys are, but we are definitely going to find out."

The Appy began acting up and Elan bent down over his neck just as a bullet clipped the trunk of the tree beside him. The horse reared and squealed as the sound of gunfire exploded around them.

"Go Elan. George. Go, go, go! I'll cover you," Deeks shouted as he fired in the direction of the shooters.

Both men kicked their mounts, and the horses tore across the narrow break between the trees and into the ponderosa pine forest. Deeks fired, but before he could turn Sheila to follow, several men charged out of the aspens, grabbing Sheila's bridle and pulling her head around. He shot the man closest to him as Sheila fought the other's hold on her. Someone jumped up behind him and he was suddenly in a powerful choke hold. More men surrounded him, ripping the rifle from his hands, pulling him to the ground as he shouted curses that were cut off when his world went dark.

…

Elan was filled with roaring anger as he cut around the trunks of the pine trees, trying to keep himself between George and the men who were now racing after them in ATVs. He fired at them, even though he doubted he would hit any of them. There were two vehicles and at least six men. Very determined men. His ammunition was low, so their only advantage was to lose them in the dense part of the forest. George seemed to know where to go, leading them deeper into places that made it hard for the ATVs to follow, let alone get a good shot at them. He could hear them cursing whenever the trees or outcroppings cut off their route. George suddenly pointed toward a couple of downed pines up ahead. Elan was shocked to see Lily and Joe set up behind them. He was suddenly filled with pride and a little bit of fear, but mostly relief. He charged toward them, leaping the deadfall and sliding off the horse's back. George managed to get off Crow but collapsed before Elan could get to him.

"I'm okay, Elan. Now give me a damn gun."

Joe quickly knelt down by his father, his expression a combination of relief and concern.

"God, it's good to see you, Dad," he said as he and Elan helped him get behind the trunk of the nearest downed pine. "Ready to fight back?"

George nodded and took the gun he offered, but Elan noticed the sudden look of panic on his face.

"Elan? Where's Marty?"

Elan's heart dropped into his stomach, but he had no time to grieve as the ATVs burst from the edge of the forest. Lily killed the driver of the lead vehicle with the first shot, and it veered into the nearest tree, ejecting the two others inside. Elan's anger exploded and he rapid fired until his ammo ran out. Joe put a hand on his arm to stop him, his face as full of anguish as his own. Every one of their attackers were down, but Elan felt empty. Marty was gone, and he had done nothing to save him. When Lily yelled that one man was still alive, he pulled his knife and went to where she stood over a wounded man begging for his life.

"Who the hell are you people?" Joe asked as he held Elan back.

"They'll kill me if I tell you," the man whimpered.

Elan knelt beside him and pressed the blade of his knife up under his chin. He spoke to him in Arapaho, and the man looked from Lily to Joe and then back at Elan.

"You're the Indian," he said.

"What gave it away, asshole?" Joe asked.

"Did you kill my brother?" Elan asked in English.

"Who?" He looked confused for a moment. "You mean the hippy?"

"Yeah…him." Elan growled.

"But he's white…ain't he?" The man asked, looking even more confused.

"Did you kill him?" Elan asked, the knife point now drawing blood.

"No, man. No. Not me."

"Then who did?" Joe demanded.

"Nobody. They didn't want him dead, man," the guy whined. "We had orders to bring him in alive."

"Why?" Elan asked, his anger close to exploding.

"For questioning," he replied weakly. "They want the names of everyone in your family."

"What the hell for?" Joe practically shouted.

"So the boss could have you all killed."

They were all shocked into silence at the immensity of the revelation.

"What did our family ever do to this man?" Lily asked.

"Nobody told us why, and we don't ask," he whispered. "But if I was you, I'd run like hell."

"Where would they take him?" Elan asked.

"I'm tired…done talkin', man."

"You're dying, asshole," Joe said. "Just tell us where he is."

"You're too late, man…too late," he whispered as his eyes became fixed on the sky.

…

…