Sounds of more footsteps approaching could be heard in the distance. More heads poked over the edge of the little bluff. The end of a rope was lowered with a harness attached. While the team above worked to pull Anna upward, Jamie made her way back to the crevice and climbed, grabbing handfuls of grass until she reached on top. The little girl’s father stood with Anna wrapped in his arms.
“The dog saved me,” Anna said, pointing at Tessa. “What’s her name?”
“She’s Tessa, and she’s my best friend,” Jamie said, smiling proudly. “Want to meet her?”
Late that afternoon, Jamie entered the MBH office in Bear Lodge with Tessa beside her, both dirty but happy with how things had turned out. An EMT crew had taken Anna to the hospital to be examined, but other than mild dehydration, Anna was fine. Too many times, searches didn’t end as well, so Jamie was feeling a little high when she strode in.
Brian sat in his wheelchair in front of his computer monitor, working on the Excel list of bounties they shared with the office in Kalispell. He glanced up and gave her a wide smile. “I heard. Congratulations!”
Jamie glanced around the empty office. “Everyone out hunting?”
Brian nodded. “Reaper, along with Lacey and Dagger, took the new guy, Quincy, with them to meet with a bail bondsman in Whitefish. Their skip’s charged with armed robbery and is part of some survivalist group up there. Dagger said if you’re free, they might need Tessa because he was last seen fishing in the Flathead forest.”
Hunting with Lacey wasn’t what she wanted right now. Maybe she could peel off with Quincy to “cover more ground.”
“Hook, Cochise, and Animal are in Glacier,” Brian continued. “They’re looking for a poacher who didn’t make his court date.”
“Big bounties?”
Brian grinned. “One of the film crew was here this morning. Said he wanted to get some more wilderness footage with the crew.”
“Is he hoping Animal will chase another bear?”
He chuckled. “Animal growled all the way out the door.”
Jamie settled in chair and rolled it up beside Brian. “I have clothes in my vehicle. Guess a shower’s going to have to wait. Anyone call?”
Brian shook his head. “Felicity’s popping in this afternoon. We’re going to work on the ops van tonight.”
“Thought you two had it fully outfitted.”
Brian smiled. “Just tweaking. We’ve had it out three times now. Every time we go, we have more ideas. She’s bringing some railing for behind the driver’s seat. Something that will make it easier and faster for me to get out of this chair and into the seat,” he said, tapping the arm of his wheelchair. “She had her metal guy bending pipe, and she wants to make sure it fits.”
“Gotcha.”
Brian gave her glance. “Did you ever think you’d be here, doing this?”
“You mean, working as a bounty hunter with film crews up our asses? Getting famous?” She shook her head. “Not in a million years.” She raised her eyebrows. “You know the producer wants to do a segment focused on you.”
Brian grimaced. “I’m hoping it’s more like brief cameos. They already have my voice on the radio.”
“Yeah, but she thinks people would be totally into ‘meeting’ you—the guy who runs the ops.”
“From a fucking wheelchair,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“It’s pretty special, Brian. There are lots of disabled folks out there, many of them vets, who need to see there’s life after injury. What does Raydeen say about it? They want to include her and the Soldiers’ Sanctuary in the episode, too.” She pressed her lips to keep from grinning, because any mention of the beautiful physical therapist seemed to bother Brian.
His eyes narrowed. “No clue. Haven’t spoken with her, and Hook hasn’t said.”
“You still avoiding her?”
He grimaced. “I’m not avoiding her. I have work to do.”
Jamie tilted her head. “When’s the last time you attended a meeting at the sanctuary?”
He shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be getting out on the road? It’ll be after dark before you get to Whitefish as it is.”
She placed her hand atop his and gave it a squeeze. “This place doesn’t have to be your whole life, Brian. Yeah, you lost your legs, but you’re so much more than two knobby-kneed appendages.”
“I did not have knobby knees.”
“No, your legs were fine.” She cupped the side of his cheek. “You’re still a handsome man. Raydeen seems interested. Don’t let fear hold you back from moving on with your life.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond, standing quickly, then bending to kiss his cheek. “I’m outta here.”
“Be safe,” he mumbled.
“Always try. Worry about Reaper’s ass. He’s always getting into trouble.”
His chuckles followed her out the door.
Chapter 4
Sky sat in the back of the skiff beside “Boomer” Rayne, grateful for the breeze the boat stirred up because the sun was beating down and the temperature was well over a hundred degrees.
Conversation was necessarily brief and loud due to the sound of the boat’s high-powered engine. This was their second run through the Strait of Hormuz, and they were drawing near the tip of the Omani Musandam Peninsula, which jutted into the narrow channel between Oman and Iran. The last run had gone off without a hitch. They’d only sighted fishing boats along the way. Their second run would be their last.
Once past the Strait, they’d escort the oil tanker to the port in Mumbai, India, where they’d catch a plane back to the States.
Sky had enjoyed reconnecting with the guys he already knew well from the Brotherhood Protectors. Boomer, Maddog, Chuck, and Swede were all SEALs, ones he’d met while on active duty. Before they’d left Hank’s place, they’d walked their way through every possible scenario, every way things could go sideways.
Sky and Boomer had experience repelling pirates off the coast of Somalia during escorts. This wasn’t their first rodeo. All the men were battle tested. No one expected this mission to be a cakewalk, but they were ready for whatever came their way, whether it be underwater mines, pirates, or the Iranian Navy, which of late had been flexing its muscle, taking ships for ransom on the pretext of the ships edging into their waters.
On the flight to Qatar, Boomer had sat beside him. He’d shared pictures of his wife Daphne and their daughter Maya. Sky had shared pictures of Jamie, although they weren’t needed. Boomer had seen the trailers for the show. All the guys had ribbed him about being famous and a sellout, but they’d congratulated him on finding a new home and someone he loved.
With Boomer, he’d mentioned the difficult time he’d had nailing down wedding plans with Jamie.
“She doesn’t seem like the type to get cold feet,” Boomer had said. “She seems like she knows her own mind. Hell, she’s running that place with Reaper, so she must be solid. What are her biggest concerns?”
“She says weddings are a big waste of money.”
Boomer raised his eyebrows. “They kind of are.”
Sky frowned. “It’s one day. A day for us to celebrate everything we’ve been through to be together. A celebration we can look back on with our kids. I don’t want some ceremony in front of an Elvis impersonator or some stranger at City Hall. I want something we can be proud of.”
Boomer nodded. “Has she said what’s important to her? Break it down. Maybe you two aren’t really all that far apart concerning what you want.”
Sky thought for a minute then raised his hand to count off the things he knew. He lifted his thumb. “Well, she’s not all that keen about a church wedding. Said she’s not religious, although she does pray a lot when things go sideways.”
“Don’t we all…?” Boomer said, the corners of his mouth twitching.
He stuck out his index finger. “She doesn’t see the point of a wedding dress.” He scrunched his nose, remembering the scarcity inside her closet. “Heck, she doesn’t own that many
dresses. She’s more comfortable in jeans and sweats.”
“She’s not fussy. I like her already.”
Sky smiled. Yeah, Jamie wasn’t fussy all right; she definitely wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty. Another finger. “She doesn’t want a big crowd. Just her friends.”
Boomer nodded then raised an eyebrow. “Do you want a big crowd?”
Sky realized some of her points matched his. “Not really. I’m okay with just friends, but I’d like my dad and brother there.”
“So, no wedding dress or tux. No big church wedding. Who does she want walking her down the aisle?”
Sky blew out a breath. “I can’t get her to agree there ought to be an aisle, but my guess would be Fetch, the guy who owns the agency. He was her commander in the desert and gave her the job of running the Bear Lodge office. She looks up to him as a mentor and father figure.”
“Does she want bridesmaids?”
Sky lowered his hand. This was getting complicated. And a little overwhelming, thinking about all the details—no wonder Jamie looked like she was being dragged through hell every time they sat down to plan. “No bridesmaids, although I’m sure Lacey will be disappointed—”
Boomer grinned. “You mean Bounty Hunter Barbie?”
Sky chuckled. “Yeah, but she’s not as fluffy as she appears. The girl’s smart as a whip.”
“Does Jamie want anyone else standing up with her?”
“Maybe her best friends—her dog, Tessa, and Reaper.”
Boomer grinned. “The dog, I understand, but Reaper? That big ugly Marine she works with?”
Sky shook his head. “Reaper’s a little rough around the edges, and he drives her nuts, but yeah, they’re pretty tight.”
Boomer sat back. “So that covers it, right? Maybe a bouquet? Something simple?”
Sky nodded, realizing that he felt a lot less intimidated. “I still don’t have a place or a preacher.”
“What about the agency’s office?”
Sky looked at Boomer. “That’s a damn fine idea. Then all I have to do is find someone to officiate.” He felt lighter after finally running through the list. The wedding didn’t have to be a big deal. Their getting married at all was.
The skiff bounced on the water.
Boomer reached out and touched his shoulder. “We’ve got company,” he shouted over the engine noise.
Sky slipped off his sunglasses and lifted his mini-binoculars to watch as two green-painted vessels bore down on them. The men in the boat all wore green uniforms, and the Iranian flag snapped in the wind above them. “Shit.”
He turned to Maddog, who was captaining the skiff. Maddog gave him a grim nod. He already had his radio out, communicating with the tanker.
“Hold on tight!” Maddog shouted to the crew aboard the skiff then maneuvered the boat, whipping it wildly in the wake of the big ship to cut off the Iranian vessels.
As they zigged and zagged between the boats, every SEAL, other than Maddog, trained his weapon on the Iranian boats. The water cannons on the starboard side of the tanker began shooting long, fat streams of water in the direction of the Iranians.
Sky hunkered down behind a firing notch in the armored plating surrounding the back of the skiff, sighting on the closest boat. He hoped the Iranians were only playing a game of chicken, hoping to intimidate the tanker into surrendering.
However, the Norwegian company that had hired the team had been very specific in their instructions. They would rather lose the ship than hand over their cargo and their crew. They were unwilling to set a precedent of negotiating with the Iranians.
Moments stretched. Then the first vessel turned, and machinegun fire rattled, spitting rounds into the water twenty yards in front of them.
“Don’t return their fire,” Maddog shouted.
Sky understood. So long as they didn’t hit the boat or one of their team, they had to assume this was just another act of intimidation.
The boat veered away, and Maddog steered the skiff along the length of the tanker, just out of range of the water cannons, then turned sharply to intercept the second boat.
A loudspeaker sounded from the Iranian boat. “You have violated the sovereignty of the people of Iran. Put down your weapons and prepare to be boarded. We do not wish to harm you.”
“Funny fucking way of showing it,” Boomer muttered beside him.
Chuck manned the radio while Maddog made another zig-zagging maneuver between the boat and the tanker. When he lowered the mic, he shouted, “Tanker’s holding steady. The captain’s talking to them now, telling them they’re dead wrong. We’re in international waters. The Iranians don’t appear to give a shit.”
Sky continued to stare down his scope, watching the movement of the machine gunner on the Iranian ship. If he had to, he’d take him out.
“We’re nearing the tip of the peninsula,” Maddog shouted.
The “tip” was composed of eight separate islands, seven of which Iran controlled. But once they cleared them, they’d have smooth sailing through the Arabian Sea on their way to India.
The minutes ticked by, and then suddenly, the second boat pulled forward, heading straight their way.
Maddog steered right. As the back of the skiff faced the side of the Iranian boat, Sky watched as the machine gunner positioned near the rails turned his weapon to track them. “He’s going to fire!”
“Hold yours,” Maddog shouted.
Sky gritted his teeth, knowing the gunner was aiming right at him, that the distance was close enough the gunner could easily strafe the boat and, depending on the type of rounds he fired, pierce the armor protecting him, but he drew a deep breath, and then another.
He only had to live through the next few minutes, and then he’d be home free. He’d see Jamie again. Have a chance to make things right between them. Marry the girl.
Just a few minutes more.
Chapter 5
Melvin Wakley was a lucky bastard. So far, the armed robber had managed to easily evade the team tracking him through the Flathead National Forest. Lacey and Quincy were in Whitefish, staking out Wakley’s brother’s house, just in case he managed to give them the slip in the woods and look for outside help. Jamie and Tessa were hoofing it in the forest with Reaper and Dagger.
Jamie stared down in disgust at the remnants of a campfire Wakley hadn’t bothered putting out entirely, which was a shameful act in and of itself, given this was fire season in the forest. The fire had likely been burning for hours going by the size of the branch he’d lain across the firepit that was still glowing red between cracks of the charred exterior.
“We’ll need water from the creek,” Jamie said as she sat on a fallen log. She opened her pack, pulled out Tessa’s collapsible bowl, and poured water from her canteen into it. Tessa lapped at the water then stretched out on the ground, resting on her side with her tongue lolling.
Jamie envied her. She wished she could strip off her boots and socks and truly take a load off her aching feet. The tongue-lolling might have been enjoyable, too, but Reaper was stomping through the woods with her, and after she’d blown up the photo of Carlito swooning his arms, she didn’t trust that he wouldn’t be looking for a little payback.
Reaper settled on the log beside her and blew out a breath that billowed his chiseled cheeks. “Bastard must be laughing up his sleeves at us. This camp is five miles from where we were two days ago. He’s moving back and forth and forward, leading us in circles. Fucker.”
Jamie gave him a tired smile. “Tessa’s exhausted. The heat’s getting to her. She needs a break.”
“We all do. I figure we should head out of the forest. Maybe call in some guys from Kalispell—Mace and his dog Taco, for sure. We could have them meet us at Polebridge.”
“Damn, I hate knowing we’re that far north. Think that’s where he’s heading? Canada? We should have Quincy and Lacey meet us in Polebridge.” She pulled out her cellphone and powered up. Their elevation was high enough she had two bars. The ph
one dinged six or seven times. She’d had calls. She quickly looked at her list of recent calls and saw Hank Patterson’s number listed twice.
Hank had called. Why hadn’t Sky? He should have been on a plane home by now. Had something happened?
She stood.
Tessa rolled her head to look at her.
“You stay, girl.”
“Anything wrong, Jamie?” Reaper said.
“I don’t know. I have to make a call.” She walked away, passing Dagger coming into the clearing with a big bowl of water for the fire.
When she was far enough away for privacy, she took a deep breath and dialed Hank’s number.
Hank picked up on the first ring. “Jamie, I’ve been trying to reach you.”
Her hand tightened on the phone. “Was there a reason you were calling, Hank?”
“Oh, sweetheart, didn’t mean to worry you. Sky told me to relay a message. Said he wasn’t hurt bad, broke his phone, otherwise he would have called.”
The heat must be why she was swaying on her feet. “What do you mean he’s not hurt bad?” she said, speaking slowly.
“Said it’s nothing that will keep him from making his flight. But that was three days ago.”
“Hank…?”
“Sorry, one of the kids is crawling on my shoulders. He’s fine. He’s coming. He didn’t want you to worry, and now, I’ve made you worry. Sorry about that.”
She drew a deep breath. “Men. I swear. You’re the worst communicators.”
“Have to take another call. I’ll let you know when I hear from him again.”
The call ended, and she stood still for a moment. A breeze lifted the hair framing her face, cooling her skin. No, she felt clammy, like she could throw up.
Said he wasn’t hurt bad…
What the hell did that mean? She kept her back to the clearing while she tried to get her head straight. Then she turned abruptly on her heel and walked back to the two men who were eyeing her with concern.
“We’ve dawdled long enough,” she said. “Dagger, set the GPS for Polebridge. We’re getting the hell out of these woods.” She made her way to Tessa. She poured more water and directed the dog’s attention to it, pointing a finger toward the bowl. Tessa lapped more water then glanced up at Jamie. She was ready. Whatever Jamie wanted or needed, Tessa would give her a hundred percent. Why couldn’t people be more like dogs?
Big Sky Wedding - Brotherhood Protectors World Page 3
