Family Ties

Chapter 25

We rode through lunch, only stopping to refill our water and take a quick break. I wondered how much longer we could go at this pace. The sun was starting to get low in the sky. Jack slowed, then stopped. He called out to Ranger. "We're going to settle in for the night soon. Another half hour and the horses won't be able to pick their footing."

Ranger nodded. "As soon as you see a likely spot."

We rode for another few minutes, slower now. Finally Jack stopped, and we dismounted. Ranger and Jack got our fugitives down and shackled to separate trees, while Kappy and I unsaddled the horses.

The four of us set up camp as if we'd rehearsed it. Soon a fire was going and the guys were cooking dinner. Ranger asked us to switch the cuffs to the front for those two so they could eat. I took off my holsters and did it while Pat held her gun on them.

Lydia was whiny at this point. "How am I supposed to eat with these things on?"

Jack was not amused. "Figure it out or starve, we don't really give a shit. Now shut up."

I wondered how long she'd been acting like the helpless victim. Maybe it was just for our benefit. Maybe she was practicing for court.

I watched Ranger as he worked. He looked tired. We all did. Lydia was sniffling quietly. I rolled my eyes. "It's going to be a long trip if she keeps this up the whole way."

Ranger grinned. "You could always stun her."

"Maybe after she eats."

We ate first, then fed them. They had to make do with spoons, as none of us were willing to give them anything sharper. I was a little creeped out that Brennan still hadn't spoken a word. He'd thrown a couple of dirty looks in Lydia's direction, but that was it.

Kappy and I cleaned up and offered to take first watch. We both agreed we'd be more alert now than after a few hours sleep. The guys agreed, eventually, and Pat and I took turns tucking our men in.

Ranger and Jack had been asleep for a couple of hours before Brennan finally spoke up, complaining that he had to go to the bathroom.

Pat just looked at him. "Ranger offered to let you up after dinner so you could go. No way am I waking either of them up, and no way am I letting you up. Hold it or go in your pants."

He turned to me, and I just shook my head. "Bitch. You're the one that cold cocked me, aren't you?"

"I am. I'm not a toddler who can't fight back."

His smile was cruel. "Oh, she tried. I had to shut her up. I wonder if you'll scream like that when I have you under me?"

I felt sick. He kept talking. "First I'm going to break your arms and legs, so you can't fight. If you're lucky, I won't snap your neck when I'm done. That's what I should have done to that little brat."

I'd heard enough. I handed my guns to Kappy, and walked to the bags.

"Scared, little girl? That's just the way I like them. Maybe we should invite your friend to our little party." He stopped talking abruptly as the stun gun touched him, but by the time he noticed it, I was discharging it.

"Thanks." Said Pat, handing my guns back.

"No problem."

"Well, I'm not tired now."

"Me either."

We talked of little things. I learned she had a brother in Jersey. He worked at the state prison. "He's the one that advised me to call Rangeman when I was there."

I told her about my family, and Connie and Lula. By the time we woke the guys up, we'd exchanged basic histories. I'd also stunned Brennan three more times, and he had indeed wet himself.

Ranger stood and stretched, blinking at his watch. "You let us sleep too long."

I shrugged. "We can ride half asleep while you two take charge of them. Besides, you needed it."

He didn't argue further, just got cleaned up and met Jack near the fire. Ranger was the first to notice Brennan. "Babe?"

Pat spoke up before I could. "Stunning him was the only way to shut him up."

I broke in. "Shutting him up kept us from shooting him."

Ranger and Jack looked at each other. Jack turned to us. "What did he say?"

Pat shook her head. "Ask me when I get up. If I go into it now I'll be too mad to sleep."

Ranger tucked me into the sleeping bag. "Breakfast in three hours. Sweet dreams." His goodnight kisses could practically guarantee that.

The next thing I knew, Ranger was already waking me up. "Babe. Breakfast in ten minutes. Thought you'd want to get cleaned up a little first." It took a minute for his words to register. I was really, really tired.

I stumbled up and cleaned up as best I could. I was out of clean clothes, and I really hoped we'd get out of here today. I wanted a shower and a real bed. We hurried through breakfast, and packed quickly. Brennan gave me dirty looks as Ranger and Jack got him secured on his horse, but kept quiet in front of the guys. Even Lydia was quiet today, and I counted that as a blessing.

This time, Jack and Ranger took the lead with our fugitives behind them, while Kappy and I followed. I wasn't kidding about riding half asleep. Even with the pace we were keeping, I wasn't really all the way awake.

We stopped for a very quick lunch. Ranger called Sonny to let him know we were on our way. "How much longer?" I wanted to know.

Ranger smiled a little. "Two hours, three at the outside. I had Sonny call the Phoenix PD and explain the situation. They're supposed to have a car waiting for these two, so we won't even have to drop them off."

We remounted, and I got a little bit of a second wind just knowing it was almost over. A little more than two hours later, I saw trucks in the distance. As promised, there was a squad car there for Brennan and Lydia. Ranger and Pat spent a few minutes with them going over the paperwork while Jack and I turned the horses back in to Sonny and Wendy.

I asked about the horses Brennan had stolen, and Wendy assured me that she and Sonny could return them for us. Sonny didn't say much, just listened, his arm around Wendy's shoulders.

Ranger and Pat joined us, having turned over custody and gotten a receipt for them. "We should be able to pick them up tomorrow anytime after one." Pat told us.

Ranger turned to Wendy and Sonny. "We really appreciate all your help. We're exhausted and need to get some rest, but I'd like it if you could join us for lunch tomorrow before we leave town."

Sonny turned to Wendy. "Can you get away?" She agreed, and Ranger promised to call as soon as we figured out a time and place.

Ranger and I got into the SUV after promising Pat we'd call her the minute we woke up. It felt like weeks since we'd parked here. Ranger had us on the road and headed back to town.

"Why don't you lean your seat back and get a nap, Babe? It'll be a couple of hours at least until we make it back to the hotel." I took his suggestion and leaned the seat back. I sighed a little. Even the seat was more comfortable than a sleeping bag. I think I was asleep before I finished the thought.