"We started with the barn because one of the guys commented about Amanda sneezing, and there's at least three horses missing. We're certain they're still on the property because Bo wouldn't have moved Penny far for his crazy plan, but the ranch is 400 acres and most of it is hills, so it's not an easy search area. We'll need to wait for it to be light." Francine was bringing them up to speed as she outlined the ranch on the map in front of them. She glanced at her watch. "So we have about another hour and a half before we can start really hunting."
"This is an original homestead, up here to the north," commented Rheza, pointing to some ordinance markings on the map. "It seems the most likely place to start looking. Bo took us on a trail ride up there once for a picnic. It hasn't been used in years and any old roads have long since disappeared – you can only get to it on foot or horseback now. From what I remember the trail is pretty narrow and treacherous."
"What kind of layout is it?" asked Lee.
Rheza quickly sketched out a small ranch house, marking the doors and windows and the old barn that stood a hundred yards away as Lee and Francine nodded. Lee glanced out the window.
"It's a full moon out there. We could get a head start before the sun comes up," he commented. He looked at Francine, "Can you still ride? Can you even see out of that eye?"
"Yes," she responded instantly then went on as Efraim began to protest, "I'll be fine – it's not swelling anymore and Lee can't go alone."
"I will come too," said Rheza.
"No!" said all three agents in chorus.
"No, Sir, you won't," said Lee. "We need to know you're safe and you'll be safer here with your guards in place. Besides you're the only one who can command them easily unless Beaman's Zakirian has improved drastically since yesterday."
"The Agency has reinforcements on the way – most by road but Billy's flying up as soon as it's light. It will be best if you're here to brief him," added Francine.
It was obvious Rheza wasn't happy about the situation but he nodded angrily. "Fine, but you will bring my wife back to me safely, yes?"
"Oh yes. But after this," Francine pointed to her face, "I can't answer for Bo's safety."
The three agents made their way to the barn, Francine scouting out tack while Lee haltered two horses and led them out to be bridled. Working easily, they had them saddled within moments and Lee had swung up onto his mount. He watched as Francine leaned in to hug Beaman briefly before mounting herself.
"Be careful," said Efraim unnecessarily, one hand resting on her thigh as he looked up at her.
"I will. Don't worry about me," she answered, smiling when he rolled his eyes in response. "Well, try not to worry about me then."
"Come on, let's get moving," Lee interrupted them, gruffly.
With a last wave, they turned and headed up the dark trail. It was still dark enough among the trees that they had to go slowly at first, but the full moon shining through the trees let Francine catch sight of something on the trail.
"Hang on a second," she called, swinging down off her horse to pick it up. "We're definitely on their trail," she went on holding up what they both recognized as Amanda's hair bands. She remounted and urged her horse after Lee who had already started back up the trail, his sense of urgency increasing as they got closer to their quarry.
Twenty minutes later, the sun was beginning to rise and they slipped off their horses and crept up a nearby hill to survey the route ahead. They could see the old homestead and its barn below them. There were three horses in the corral and Sultan's reins were draped loosely over the rail in front of the barn.
"If there's only three horses, Earl definitely brought them up here by himself," whispered Francine. "And Bo must be planning to move off again pretty soon if he hasn't even unsaddled Sultan."
"Let's swing around and come at the house from behind the barn. They won't be expecting an approach from that direction."
Francine nodded and they began to move through the trees.
