Family Ties

Chapter 23

Before I knew it, Ranger was waking me up. "Babe, Snake and Kappy will be here in a few minutes."

I stretched. "I'm up, sort of."

He smiled and handed me a bottle of water.

I shook my head, then reconsidered. He handed me the box of baby wipes and the bag with my toothbrush and such in it. "Go ahead and clean up. It'll help wake you up."

I nodded and got up.

"Babe? Don't go too far."

"I won't."

I heard Pat and Jack arriving as I was cleaning up. They might be able to move as quietly as Ranger for all I knew, but there was nothing they could do to muffle the sounds of horses' hooves.

I joined them just as Ranger was telling them to take a quick nap, and that we'd go over what he'd seen when they got up. Pat grabbed their sleeping bags while Jack handed the reigns of their horses to Ranger with a nod. As soon as they were settled, we unsaddled their horses before feeding and watering them.

We quietly started packing our things. Ranger double checked all the equipment, both ours and the Imari's. He smiled when he noticed that the bags were nearly identical.

Ranger woke them after a couple of hours, and he saddled the horses while they got cleaned up. We gathered together.

Ranger knelt as he spoke. "They're upriver a couple of miles, on the other side of it. There's a hill with a small overhang, and they were set up to sleep under it. I'd like to come in on either side of that hill." He drew lines in the dirt as he spoke. "The river is here, and the hill is a short distance away, call it 25 yards. They have the horses staked out on this side. Stephanie and Pat, that's where I want you to be. You two need to be in position before Snake and I move in. We'll move in here" he drew another line. "They'll have two choices: stand and fight or turn and run. If they run, they'll either go straight to the horses or toward the river. If they head to the river any of us can get a clear shot at them without risking any of the others. If the horses, they'll be sandwiched between us, so we'll need to be careful. Questions?"

"See any weapons?" asked Jack.

Ranger was shaking his head. "No, but if I were them, I'd have them in the sleeping bag with me."

"Where are we leaving the horses?" I asked.

"You and Kap are going to ride yours around the hill, leading ours. You'll need to move slow once you get close, so that the noise will be mistaken for their own horses shifting and grazing."

"And if they turn and fight?" Pat wanted to know.

Ranger's smile was hard. "Then we'll give them one. No unnecessary chances."

We all nodded our understanding. "Check your weapons and grab what equipment you need, we'll head out in ten." I grabbed a set of handcuffs out of the bag, and double checked both Glocks and the ammunition.

We all mounted up, and followed Ranger for a mile or so. He and Jack dismounted and handed the reigns of their horses to us. Ranger gave Pat and me our last minute instructions. "Make a fairly large circle around the hill. Key the walkie-talkie several times when you are in position and the horses secured. Expect us about two minutes after that. If either of them wakes up before we have our hands on them they may be headed right for you, so be ready."

I looked down at him. "We will be."

"I know. Good luck, and be careful."

"Same back."

Jack grabbed Pat's hand and gave it a quick squeeze before both men faded into the darkness. Pat looked after them for a minute, then turned to me. She pointed to herself and cocked her head in the direction we needed to go. I nodded, and she led us out.

Pat slowed way, way down as we passed the other side of the hill, so I followed suit. The pace we needed to set was excruciatingly slow. I focused on watching Pat, and not thinking.

After what seemed like hours but probably wasn't, I finally saw their horses a little ahead of us. Pat stopped, dismounting, and indicated for me to do the same. We slowly led the horses closer, stopping a few yards away. Pat held her hand out for the reigns, and I watched as she secured our horses. We moved closer slowly, trying not to make a pattern with our footsteps.

Finally, we were in position. Pat picked a good one. We were between them and the horses, but in the dark, among the trees, hopefully they wouldn't even see us until they were on top of us. I felt . . . good, actually. Calm, ready. I thought of the Merry Men and smiled. Thanks guys. I gave Pat the thumbs up on the position, and she pointed to the walkie-talkie.

Nodding my understanding, I took the Glock out with my right hand while keying the radio with my left. I noticed Pat had armed herself as well, and smiled a little as I turned to face the hill.

A few minutes later, we heard a gunshot. My heart clenched in my chest, and my grip tightened on the Glock. Suddenly we heard footsteps running toward us. Sounded like one person. He got a little closer and I saw him. Brennan. He had a gun in his right hand, and was looking over his shoulder. At the last minute I stepped away from the trees and brought the heel of my hand up as hard as I could, just under his chin. Bobby would have been proud.

The shockwave traveled up my arm as he went down. Pat was on him before I could blink. She kicked his gun farther away from him, and rolled him over to cuff him. Once that was done, she flicked her eyes to me as she searched him. "Nice move. He's out for the count."

I holstered my gun and helped her search. We found a knife in his boot and bullets in his pockets, but no other weapons. Once finished, Pat pulled out her weapon and held it on him, hands steady. "I've got him. You go check on the boys."

I took a deep breath and readied the Glock. As I crept toward the hill, I heard a woman sobbing. When I reached the point that I'd have to reveal myself to come any closer, I called out. "It's Stephanie. I'm coming in."

I stepped out into the open and let out a breath. Jack was walking toward me, and Ranger was searching Lydia. I checked them both over, and neither looked injured. Lydia was cuffed behind her back, on her knees, sobbing.

Both men looked up as I approached. Jack looked a question at me. "Pat?"

"Is fine." I answered before he could start to worry. "She's got Brennan cuffed and unconscious at her feet, and could probably use a hand moving him."

He nodded and smiled before heading in that direction. Ranger had finished his search, and watched me as I approached. "You okay?"

I smiled. "Yeah, you?"

He nodded. "Fine."

"We heard a gunshot."

He shrugged, and almost smiled. "He missed."

Jack and Pat returned, Brennan over Jack's shoulder. He grinned at me. "Still out like a light and not a mark on him. Pat tells me this was your doing?"

I shrugged and nodded, while Ranger's almost smile turned into the real thing. "Damn Babe, I'm sorry I missed that."

Pat's eyes were dancing. "Yeah, it was a sweet move. You'd have been proud."

Ranger's eyes met mine. "I know. I am."