by D C Little
Blake let himself chuckle as he told his friend goodbye. He didn’t like leaving him with Brent, but the guy really was harmless, at least he hoped.
“Ready?” Blake asked Kevin, then started off at a fast pace without waiting for an answer.
Kevin, being a good soldier, kept his mouth shut and kept up. Except, they hadn’t made it more than a mile or two before a frantic bellowing stopped them short. Blake held up his hand as Kevin approached. The sound definitely was a cow and a cow in trouble.
Blake groaned. He looked down the trail longingly and then headed off in the direction of the bellow.
Rounding a thick section of brush, he saw the cow thrashing its body, wrapping itself tighter and tighter in the barbed wire fence.
“That’s not good,” Kevin said next to him.
“No, it isn’t,” Blake said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t good on many levels.
Blood dripped down the cow in multiple places, and its back leg kinked at an awkward angle. The cow’s eyes rolled back as it let out another long, frantic bellow. Blake swore he could taste the animal’s fear.
In resignation, he pulled out his bow. A pistol shot would be much quicker and certain on such a large animal, but he couldn’t afford the chance of the echo being heard.
“No way to save it?” Kevin asked, his voice more hopeful than sad. “We get steak tonight?”
“Have some consideration, man. At least wait until it’s out of its misery.” Blake pulled back the arrow until his thumb rested on his jaw.
Cows were much thicker creatures than deer. He hoped at this close distance, his arrow would aim true and have the power to push through clean to its heart and end the creature’s suffering.
He loosened the arrow with a breath and sighed when it hit true. The animal didn’t even cry out, but let out a long sigh as if it were glad its torture had ended.
Just to be sure, Blake put his bow over his shoulder, pulled out his knife, and made his way over to the fallen cow. In one swift movement, he passed the blade across its throat.
Blake rested his hand on the cow’s head. His heart ached, though it seemed heavier than for just the cow. It had a rough ending to its life.
Kevin walked over. “That was impressive, man. Look at the size. It could feed the whole camp for a week!”
“We have to get it there first. Start making a travois. I’ll gut it and then slice off a slab for David and Brent. It wouldn’t be right not to share it and we’re only about twenty minutes away.”
“That’s an extra mile or so...”
“Yeah, but I’d hope they’d do the same for us. This is going to put us past dark, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend another night without my wife warming me up.”
Kevin smiled and without a word left to search out a tree for poles. Soon Blake could hear the thwack of his large hunting knife cutting down the sapling.
Funny how things repeat. It didn’t seem that long ago that he was in this same place, butchering an animal with the sense of doom building with every second. Last time it played out fine. He had to tell himself it would this time as well.
He didn’t think his son was telepathic, or his wife for that matter, but he sent out a message to them as strong as he could just in case. He needed them to know he would be there soon.
His stomach roiled, and the spilling intestines didn’t help. Leaving his family left him nauseous, and all he wanted to do was get back to them.
****
“Dada, Dada, Dada,” Mercy babbled on and on as she had been for the last twenty minutes.
“Yes, Dada. He will be back soon. It will be okay,” Kris told her, though she really told herself.
“He’s going to be mad, isn’t he?” Tucker asked as he stuffed the last blanket into his pack.
“Probably, but once he sees we’re alright, he’ll calm down.” She cinched up her own pack and looked at her son. “I don’t know how else to do this. Ryan needs us, and I know how to get to the cabin faster than following his tracks back.”
Tucker nodded. “I don’t mind going on the adventure, Mom, but I don’t want Dad to be angry.”
“Getting angry is a part of life, Sweetie. We just have to learn how to manage it.”
“Dada, Dada home.” Mercy drew out the word and missed the /h/ sound, but she definitely said home.
Kris dropped her pack and looked down at her daughter rocking back and forth on her hands and knees. She glanced at Tucker. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah!” He ran over to crouch next to his sister. “You said home, didn’t you little sister. Dada is coming home.” He over-enunciated the /h/ for her.
Mercy trilled her answer and took a few crawling steps.
Tucker looked up at Kris. “She is growing and learning so fast!”
“Yes, she is.” Kris bent down, thinking about how proud Blake would be of her.
He hadn’t wanted to miss anything with Mercy because of how much he missed with Tucker, and yet, he had left again and missed again.
She sighed, pushing her melancholy away. “Mama is proud of you.” She touched the tip of Mercy’s nose before picking her up and wrapping her tightly against her chest.
Her daughter’s weight pulled on her, and once she got her pack on, her legs and back rebelled. Could she do this as fast as they needed? Maybe she should just do her best to describe how to get there. So much of it, though, she knew she would only remember and recognize once she saw the terrain.
There was no way around this. Blake would get over it. If he got home before they did, he would probably follow them and things would be better then.
Footsteps out the door urged her movements on. She doused the fire, the pungent smell of wet ash filled the dwelling.
“You guys about ready?” Butler called as he tugged open the deer-hide door.
“Yep, on our way out, right, Sweetie?”
“Yep,” Tucker said as he glanced around the dwelling like his dad always did before they left for a journey. “Can’t see anything we forgot.”
It felt odd leaving the dwelling empty, without fire, without life. She shook off the eerie feeling and stepped out into the sun after Tucker. The sun. She was so glad to have it back.
Ryan finished strapping on his skis then slid them back and forth, watching the direction he had come from. He bit his lip and glanced back at them.
Kris tried not to groan as she bent down under the weight of her pack and Mercy in order to tie on her snowshoes. Gratitude filled her when she saw Butler helping Tucker with his.
“Can I do that for you?” Lexi asked as she waddled up in her own snowshoes.
“Thank you for the offer. Almost done,” Kris said as she tied the last knot and pushed to a stand.
Lexi grabbed her elbow to assist her. “Are you sure you want to do this? That’s a lot of weight for you to carry.”
“I have tried to figure out a way around it, but I can’t remember the way to the cabin enough to describe it.”
“We could follow his tracks back.”
“If they are still there. The sun has been bright for the last two days, and it could take a lot longer.” She looked longingly at where Blake had disappeared only yesterday. “It will be okay,” she reassured Lexi, but really it was for herself once again.
“Dada, Dada, home, Dada.”
“Did she just say home?” Lexi asked.
“Yeah, a new word. Blake will be proud.”
“Seems like she misses her daddy.”
“She always does. Such a daddy’s girl already, aren’t you?” Kris bent down to kiss her daughter’s head.
“Well,” Arland said as he approached the group, “thank you for doing this.”
Kris heard the murmuring of the crowd gathering at the edge of camp.
“What is their deal, Arland? They don’t want us helping a boy?” Kris asked.
“They are fearful of others finding the camp and what that could mean. They are afraid Ryan and his fath
er will tell the wrong people we are here.”
“I give my word, sir. Neither of us will speak of your location. We are remaining hidden, too.” Ryan’s brows scrunched together.
“I trust you, Ryan. Remember what I said. You and your father are both welcome to join us. It would be safer for you that way.”
“I will do my best to convince my father, sir.” Ryan looked over at Tucker. “It’s nice to see friendly faces.”
“It is,” Tucker said with a smile.
Arland turned to Kris. “I know Blake. I will do my best to calm him if he returns before you do.”
“Thank you, Arland. If anyone is up to that task, you are. Tell him that we are headed toward the ski cabin. He’ll know where I’m talking about.”
“I will. Godspeed.” He turned back toward Ryan. “I hope your father is well when you find him. He’s in good hands with Lexi.”
“Thank you, sir,” Ryan said with a nod and then started skiing in the direction they were headed.
“I’m going to have to figure out how to make me some of those,” Arland said.
Ryan stopped and turned his head back. “My dad made them. I helped. Maybe we can teach you in trade for saving his life.”
“I would like that. Now be safe, all of you.”
They all said goodbye. Laurie came over to give Lexi a pouch of herbs and Kris a hug. “Good luck, and stay safe.”
“We’ll return tomorrow hopefully.” Kris hugged her friend.
“See you then.”
Kris reached for Tucker’s hand, but he rolled his shoulders back and snowshoed briskly by her, doing his best to catch up with Ryan despite his awkward footwear.
“They grow up so fast,” Kris said as she took off after him.
“Too fast,” she heard Laurie say as she walked away.
“Let Blake know I won’t take my eyes off them as promised,” Butler said, and then muttered, “Ask him not to kill me, if you would.”
Kris heard the whisper and smiled. Blake would be angry, no doubt, and Butler had cause to worry, but she knew her husband would never harm his friend. The man meant more to Blake than he would ever let on.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she told him as he caught up with her.
“You’ll be even more grateful once you give me that pack.”
“I’m fine,” she said, rolling her shoulders under the weight and wishing for once she didn’t have to be so stubbornly independent.
“We’ll see. Just say the word.”
“Thank you,” she said and focused on keeping up with everyone. As the slowest and weakest link, she would have to push herself to keep up and keep aware to not lead them astray. They had about six more hours of daylight, just enough to get there without any mistakes.
~7~
Blake growled low in his chest. He had sent Kevin back with a slab of beef for David and Brent. The travois was finished and the cow prepared and tied on. All he needed now was for Kevin to get back.
“What’s taking him so long?” He paced beside the carcass he had packed in the hide and surrounded it with snow.
As cold as it was, the meat would keep. He tried to focus on how happy the camp would be, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something was going on. He would get waves of reassurance, but nothing stopped that knowing.
He put his hands to his mouth and only barely stopped himself before hollering out Kevin’s name. No need to draw attention. Dropping his hands, he took up the travois instead.
Kevin could catch up.
Half the day had already passed, and it would take them two to three times longer to get back now because of the meat they brought with them. Whether Kevin liked it or not, they would be pushing through the night. He needed to return.
He glanced back once, scanning the trees, but no sign of Kevin caught his attention. His gut twisted with indecision. If something happened to the guy, then he would be abandoning him. If not, then he would be wasting valuable time.
The urge to get back to his family pushed him forward. He would give Kevin some time to catch up. If he hadn’t caught up within the hour, he would stash the beef and run back.
Kevin was young, fit, and capable of managing himself. Besides, what trouble could he have gotten into in the mile between him and where the others camped? More than likely he got to talking.
Blake continued the internal dialogue, doing whatever he could to convince himself he had made the right choice. That was, until he saw the sun dip lower as he arrived at the creek crossing, crossing that would be much easier with two people.
Why hadn’t Kevin caught up yet?
Guilt squeezed his heart, causing bile and panic to rise. He had left a man behind.
He threw off his bow and his pack before scanning the area around him, looking for a way to stash all the meat he carried. He had to be fast. If something happened to Kevin, then he could have been alone for a couple hours now. In some situations that would mean life or death.
He found his solution in the form of a black alder tree. Rummaging in his pack, he produced a long length of rope, an asset he always carried. After double-checking all the ties on the travois to make sure the meat would stay in place, he tied a small, heavy branch to one end of the rope and swung it toward a sturdy branch high into the alder tree.
The stick hit the branch, falling back to the ground. Blake took a deep breath, reeled the rope back up, and attempted again. The stick flew through the air, but this time he overshot and the stick got caught up in smaller branches above.
Blake growled, stress mounting in the moment, knowing how precious seconds could be in a life and death situation. He swung the stick-weighted rope before launching it only to miss again.
He let out a guttural yell before gritting his teeth and attempting again. Finally, on the seventh try, the stick careened over the large branch, taking the rope with it and stopping about ten feet off the ground.
In his younger years, he could have easily jumped up and yanked the rope the rest of the way, but right now only his fingertips brushed the stick, no matter how hard he jumped.
He went back to the other end of the rope, trying to whip it and let down the stick a tad. It moved slightly. Elated, Blake went back over to attempt the grab again, but somehow still only his fingertips could touch it.
He stood back, fisted his hands, threw his head back and roared out his frustration, forgetting his need to stay quiet.
“Well, if that wasn’t a call from the jungle?” Kevin panted from the edge of the clearing, before putting his arms on his head and doing his best to breathe deep.
Blake shot toward the younger man. He felt the animalistic need to attack, barely catching himself before reaching Kevin. His hands clenched into fists as he seethed, anger rolling through him.
“Where have you been?” Blake growled.
“I had no idea you could do what you did so fast. The guys convinced me to stay long enough to sizzle up some steak. It only took ten minutes or so. I didn’t think you’d be done by the time I got back. Yet, you were gone. Luckily, those pole drags leave a lasting trail.” Kevin shot him a lackadaisical smile that irked him.
“You were that far back because you took the time to cook a steak?” Blake fumed, closing the distance between him and Kevin. His chest felt on fire, consuming the relief of seeing his friend safe and replacing it with pure rage.
“Like I said, I didn’t think you could do everything that had to be done so fast...” Kevin’s eyes went wide as he backed up. “Calm down, man. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“If we were still in the service you would get the Captain’s Mast for this. And I’m starting to think that denying you food is a good idea.”
“Blake, seriously, man. Taking away my food? What’s the big deal about getting back to camp tonight anyway?”
Kevin’s question stopped Blake in his tracks. He was wasting time. Using his anger productively, he pulled the rope back out of the tree, whipping it around hi
s arm to wrap it tightly into a packable bundle. He shoved the rope into his pack, doing his best to shove his frustration in there as well.
It didn’t matter. He just needed to get back.
With barely a glance at Kevin, he shouldered his pack. “We’ll be traveling through the night to reach camp. Don’t get left behind,” he threw over his shoulder as he hefted the travois and started toward the creek.
When he reached the bank, he paused to contemplate the best method to cross without getting the meat wet. The weight of the travois shifted in his hands, and he peered behind him to see Kevin lifting the other end.
Kevin nodded with a slight smile.
The smile irritated Blake, but at least the kid knew how to help without being told. He balanced from rock to rock while trying to keep the load of beef stable. When Kevin reached the rocks, it became an even bigger challenge, but they made it across with only wet toes.
Normally, he would have waded on through the creek, but with walking all night in the snow, soaking wet feet was the last thing he wanted.
“You still not going to tell me what the big rush is?” Kevin asked as he set down the tail of the travois.
“There are times when things just don’t feel right.”
“Yeah, man. I get that. That feeling saved my skin a couple times on tour.” He looked at him more intently. “What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know, but something is going on with my family. I can feel it.”
“You should have said something before.” Kevin adjusted his pack and then took one of the handles of the travois in his hand. “My shift.”
“I’ve got it.”
“I’m sure you do, but to make the best time, we take shifts, right?”
Blake watched the guy with no admiration and nodded.
“Let’s hoof it.”
Blake took a second to let it all sink in. He never thought about the guys understanding that sense of urgency. Maybe Kris was right; maybe it wasn’t bad to share a little. He shook his head. It was merely a fluke, but at least this fluke would help him get home faster.
His long strides took him past Kevin and ahead, but the man kept on his tail as they made their way back toward camp and their families.
