Family Ties

Chapter 13

I woke to the smell of coffee and the feel of Ranger's warm hands stroking my back. I highly recommend it. It was one of the few times in my adult life I didn't wake up cranky. I stretched just a little, enjoying the feel of his hands on me.

"Babe, time to get up. Coffee's ready, and Sonny will be here in less than an hour."

I nodded, eyes still closed. I rolled over to look at Ranger. "Kay, getting up now."

His eyes were warm and amused. "Sleep okay?"

I smiled up at him. "Definitely. You?"

He nodded. "Better than I have in weeks." He held a hand out to me and I took it, letting him pull me out of bed. "What do you want for breakfast?"

I shrugged. I didn't think we had an awful lot of choices. "What do we have?"

He grinned. "I'm sure I can find something you'll eat. Let me surprise you?"

I nodded, and took a quick shower, mostly to tame my hair. As I opened the bathroom door, I smelled bacon. Ranger was making bacon? This I had to see.

I followed my nose to the kitchen. Ranger was just setting plates on the counter. He looked up as I walked in. "Good timing, hungry?"

I smiled as I answered. "Silly question, don't you think?"

"Normally I'd agree, but you've changed a lot of habits in the last couple of months."

"Not my eating habits. Well, not all my eating habits, anyway."

He looked over at me, curious. "Which ones did you change?"

I thought about it. "Not really any big changes. A little less sugar, a little more fruits and veggies."

"No more donuts?"

"Oh no, I'll never give up donuts. I just don't have them every day anymore. Thanks for the bacon, by the way."

He shook his head, grinning a little. "No need. I made it so I could watch you eat it."

I blushed. "How about you? Bacon and eggs isn't your usual breakfast."

He shrugged. "It's what we have. If we get time later, we'll have to stock the refrigerator."

"It still surprises me to see you eat that."

He chuckled. "Lesson learned in combat: Never miss a chance to eat, sleep, or piss. The next opportunity may be a long way off."

I had no reply to that, so just finished my breakfast. Ranger started to clear the table. "I'll do that. You cooked, I'll clean up."

"I don't mind, Babe."

"Well, I do. And since it's healthier for both of us to eat your cooking than mine...this is my bribe to get you to do all the cooking."

He laughed. "Deal. Thanks."

"How long until Sonny gets here?"

"I expect him any time now."

I had finished the kitchen, and was just finishing brushing my teeth when I heard Ranger let Sonny in. I hurried into the living room.

Sonny turned to me and smiled, before addressing both of us. "Saddle up, I have news."

Ranger and I looked at him expectantly.

"Seems your friends had been staying with Luz. Somehow they got wind that someone was looking for them, and yesterday they stole her truck."

"She called the police?" I asked.

Sonny grinned. "She called everybody she could think of. But that's not all they stole. Seems one of the local ranchers discovered their gate left open early this morning. After they rounded up all the horses, four were missing. They checked the barn after that, and two saddles were missing, along with their small horse trailer. At some point in the middle of the night, the local grocery store was broken into."

"What did they get there?" Ranger asked.

"Food that didn't need to be kept cold, and water."

"They've gone to ground." Ranger seemed lost in thought.

Sonny smiled. "Yeah, but they were stupid about it."

This got Ranger's attention. "How so?"

"They only took enough water for them and the horses for two, three days, tops." Sonny pulled a map out of his pocket and looked around. "I need a table."

We all headed into the kitchen, and he spread the map out. "We're here," he said, pointing. "The nearest water source is here." He pointed to what looked like a river north and east of us. "There are two ways they can go with the truck. Here, and here. From there, they can follow the river on horseback in either direction. I have a friend on the tribal police force. I'm hoping they find the truck, so we can narrow it down. Can you ride?"

Ranger nodded, then shrugged. "I'm rusty. It's been years. Babe?"

I blew out a frustrated breath. The closest I'd ever come to horseback riding was the pony rides at the local fair when I was very small. I shook my head. "Sorry."

Sonny grinned at me. "No problem, I'll find you a gentle mount, and you'll get a crash course. In the meantime, I'd suggest you call Snake and Kap. When we get to the river, you'll need two teams to follow in both directions. I'll get some food and water together, and arrange for the horses. Decide what you need to take with you. Pack light."

Ranger nodded. "Done. Call me if you here from your police friend, and we'll call you after we talk to the Imaris."

"Good enough. I better get to it." He turned to leave.

"Sonny?" Ranger called.

Sonny turned, waiting.

"Thanks. Sure you don't want a job?"

Sonny grinned. "I already have one impossible job. I don't think I can handle another."