Thanks to everyone who reviewed as well as two very special thanks.
To the Guest who left the constructive criticism, thank you! I am very appreciative of anyone who is willing to take their time to help me improve as a writer. Both you and James mentioned issues with the gun scenario (more about that in a second). I could say I had set this story in North Carolina so the xenolith would make sense but truth be told, I didn't do as much research as I should have. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of accurate research. I will continue to work on the participle phrases and try to keep them in check. A friend recently pointed out I had something of a 'love affair' with adverbs so my focus has been on removing them. Any additional suggestions you may have would be welcomed!
To James – thanks buddy, for your help with phrasing to make the gun loading scene more realistic and plausible. You always tell me what you like but don't hesitate to point out areas that could be improved and I appreciate that. I'm sure I'll be taking you up on the offer to take advantage of your expertise again in the future! Thanks!
Chapter 11
Frank kept his eyes trained on the bushes for over a minute, barely daring to blink. Whomever was there hadn't moved, he was certain. They were probably waiting and wondering, just as he was. Normally he wouldn't mind a standoff; he knew he could outwait anyone. But Jamie…Frank knew he was seriously pressing his luck expecting the small tornado of a boy to remain still and silent for any length of time.
As if to prove him right, Frank sensed Jamie growing restless and starting to fidget behind him. Frank gritted his teeth, unable to risk taking his eyes off his target or speak to reprimand the boy. 'Come on, Jamie, please stay still!'
His silent plea went unanswered as he felt Jamie's hand on his back. Jamie slowly stood, pressing himself against Frank and peering over his shoulder.
Moving quickly but quietly, Joe opened his backpack and reached inside, his eyes never moving from the area where the voices had originated. He'd hoped he wouldn't have to do this at all, he had a definite aversion to loaded guns anywhere near children, but he had no choice. Feeling around inside the pack, his fingers brushed up against the unloaded gun lying snugly in an inside pocket. He felt around until he found the magazine and slowly slipped it in place and hoped the padding would muffle the sound. Lifting the weapon to eye level, Joe aimed it across the way, and trained his eyes on the bushes. Then he waited.
Preparing for a lengthy wait, Joe was surprised when he saw movement between the branches, and a flash of blonde hair.
"It's Jamie!" Ford hissed in his ear.
Joe lowered the gun, thankful Ford didn't try to grab his arm to prevent him from firing. He'd come to the same realization a split second earlier. Joe removed the clip and returned it and the gun to his pack. Ford started to stand up behind him. He grabbed the boy's arm and pushed him back down. Ford glared at him, a look Joe returned in kind. While he and Ford now knew they were facing off against Frank and Jamie, he understood that Frank might not yet realize it. Joe was certain Frank had his own gun trained on them right now.
Joe motioned Ford to stay down and be quiet, pursed his lips and whistled a bird call. It was a signal he and Frank had agreed on long ago and had been using in similar situations for many years. Seconds later, he heard it returned and smiled.
"Okay, now we can move," Joe said, his voice a low whisper.
Ford quickly emerged from their hiding place, and rushed forward, his eyes scanning the bushes anxiously. Seeing Jamie, he ran forward, grabbed the little boy in a hug and held him tightly.
As Joe watched the two young brothers, he slung the backpack over his shoulder and felt a rush of warm memories. He glanced up to see Frank walking towards him.
"Good to see you, bro," Frank said.
Joe grinned. "You, too."
Suddenly Jamie broke free from his brother and ran to Joe. He jumped up and Joe easily lifted him off the ground. Jamie hugged him tightly for a moment. When the small boy loosened his grip, he immediately turned to glare at Frank.
"He was gonna shoot you!" he said hotly, pointing an accusing finger at the elder Hardy.
Frank looked at the little boy incredulous. "I was not!" he cried out, dumbfounded.
"Were too!"
"Was not!"
"Were too!" Jamie declared, wriggling out of Joe's arms and dropping to the ground. "You were aimin' at him!"
Frank stared, speechless. Then he heard Joe's voice, punctuated by barely restrained snickering.
"I dunno, bro. Sounds like he's got a valid point there. You were aiming at me….Were you gonna shoot me?"
Very slowly, Frank looked up and met his brother's gaze. Joe was grinning, laughter dancing in his eyes.
"No," Frank said evenly, "I wasn't going to shoot you – then." He waited a beat, glowering at his younger brother. "But I'm giving it serious thought right now."
Jamie gasped and grabbed Joe's sleeve, tugging hard. "See! See! I told you he was gonna shoot you!" He looked back over his shoulder at Frank with a deadly scowl.
Frank rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh. "You know, I can take either of you one on one." He looked from Joe to Jamie and back again. "But together…" he shuddered dramatically. "That's just cruel and unusual punishment. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." He turned and started walking away, his voice slowly fading out. "It's inhuman. Sadistic. Pure torture." Ford immediately fell in step beside him.
Laughing softly to himself and wishing he could've been privy to any conversations between Frank and Jamie while they'd been separated, Joe followed, almost choking when Jamie said, under his breath, "He was too gonna shoot you. I know he was!"
"I heard that!" Frank's voice floated back towards them. "And I was not going to shoot him!"
A few moments later, Frank stopped and dropped to one knee. With a dense canopy of trees blocking out the clear blue sky, he put his backpack on the ground in front of him. "We need to regroup," he said as Joe and Jamie approached. "I just didn't want to do it where they might be able to get a bead on us from the air."
Joe sat down next to his brother, pulling Jamie down onto his lap. "No wandering, okay, pal? We're only stopping for a minute."
Jamie grinned and nodded agreeably, happily settling back against Joe's chest. Frank removed the map from his pack and unrolled it. Seated on the other side of Frank, Ford held the edge of the map, looking at it intently.
"They obviously know we're out here," Frank began, "so this isn't going to work anymore." He pointed to the trail they were supposed to follow. "There's going to be certain points where we'd be out in the open."
Joe scanned the map. "We need to find a detour that gives us continuous cover."
"Are they gonna catch us?" Jamie asked softly, sounding scared for the first time.
Joe hugged the little boy. "Not a chance, pal."
"We can continue up to this point," Frank tapped a spot on the map, "then we'll have to veer to the east for a little bit." He frowned, seeing two additional areas where they would have to veer off course to maintain the cover they needed to avoid being spotted by the helicopter again. "This is going to add at least fifteen, twenty minutes. And now that they know our general area, they'll probably have a search party on the ground, too."
He looked up at Joe, his eyes expressing concern. Were these detours and the possibility of having to elude pursuers on foot as well as in the air going to prevent them from reaching the rendezvous point on time?
An hour later, Frank was starting to relax a little. All talk had ceased early on as, having no choice, he and Joe pushed their young charges hard, needing to make up the time they lost to the deviation in the original trail. Keeping up with the intense pace they'd set had left the two young boys little energy for idle chatter. However, they'd made better time than even Frank had expected and within minutes, would be emerging out of the woods to face what he considered the most dangerous part of their trek, crossing the ravine.
Slowing down so he could tell Joe they were almost there, Frank turned towards his brother and stiffened. He held up a hand, palm out, forcing Joe to stop. Frank placed a finger to his lips. As his gaze scanned the area behind them, he strained to hear. Joe cocked his head to one side, also listening intently.
At first all they heard were the normal woodland sounds, birds calling to one another, the rustle of a branch overhead as a squirrel jumped from tree to tree, a few leaves skittering along the ground in the gentle breeze…and then Frank felt an icy chill. The unmistakable sound of voices carried on the breeze; whether by luck or skill, their pursuers had picked up their trail.
With a jerk of his head, Frank turned, grabbed Ford's hand and broke into a jog, silently apologizing to the young boy who had no choice but to keep up with him. He heard Joe and Jamie right behind him, but the sounds of their running feet quickly began to fade. He cursed, knowing Jamie couldn't possibly keep up a running pace. A moment later, he couldn't hear his brother or Jamie at all.
Unable to do anything to remedy that situation, he focused on his own young charge and getting Ford to the other side of the ravine. Plunging ahead, Frank kept his eyes glued to the narrow trail, periodically ducking right or left to avoid low hanging branches, thankful Ford was short enough that Mother Nature's hidden arsenal wasn't an issue for him. Frank's relentless pace was, however, as the boy was now panting heavily.
"Almost there," Frank murmured encouragingly.
A moment later, the two of them burst out of the trees and into bright sunshine. Frank slowed and squinted, momentarily blinded by the intense sunlight. His eyes quickly adjusted and he saw the wooden plank just ahead of them and to the right. Veering towards it, he slowed considerably, pulling Ford to a complete stop at the edge of the ravine.
"Okay, I need you to do a few things for me," Frank said, looking at the boy intently. "Don't let go of my hand, don't look down and do not look back. Keep your eyes glued to the trees on the other side." He emphasized the last request by squeezing Ford's hand tightly. He knew that Ford would want to check on Joe and Jamie's progress, to make sure they were close behind. Frank himself would be fighting the very same urge.
Ford hesitated and glanced back over his shoulder.
Frank tugged on the boy's hand to regain his attention. "Joe will take care of Jamie. I need you to stay focused on me. Can you do that?"
Ford swallowed hard, looking for the first time like a scared little boy. "O-okay."
"Good. Let's go." Frank put one foot on the board, then the other, testing the stability. It wobbled slightly, causing Frank's heart to leap into his throat, but then steadied again. Slow, cautious steps rapidly turned into a record setting pace, with Frank feeling as if he were running across a tightrope.
Racing across the wooden plank, Frank reminded himself not to look down. He could feel himself practically dragging Ford behind him, their hands locked together, and hoped the young boy had heeded his advice to keep his eyes glued to the trees on the opposite side of the ravine. Closer and closer they got, with Frank never slowing down. He and Ford needed to complete their journey before Joe and Jamie could even start theirs.
Falling into a rhythm, he was able to maintain a fast pace without rocking the slim board. Resisting the overpowering urge to look down or look back, Frank focused on the trees, willing them to move closer. At first it seemed they weren't getting any closer, but Frank took a split second to glance at the far end of the board and cheered silently. They were almost to the end of the board; only a few more seconds…
'YES!' Frank exulted as his foot hit solid ground.
He and Ford stepped off the narrow piece of wood and broke into a run, disappearing into the trees. As soon as he was sure they could not be seen, they stopped, and turned around, crouching down among the bushes, and peered out across the gulf that now separated them from Joe and Jamie.
'Come on, Joe. What are you waiting for?' Their pursuers weren't more than a minute or so behind them. With a relieved sigh, he saw Joe emerge from the woods with Jamie by his side.
They broke into a jog heading for the plank that would lead them to safety when Jamie stumbled and fell. As Frank watched anxiously, Joe dropped the backpack he'd been carrying and knelt down next to Jamie, checking to see if the little boy was okay. Standing up, Joe shouldered the backpack and took Jamie's hand, the two of them resuming their journey. They were still several yards away from the dangerously narrow board that was their only escape when a gunshot rang out. Frank watched, horrified and helpless as Joe fell to the ground on top of Jamie.