“We have to be right on his ass,” Reaper said, catching up to Jamie who was following Tessa’s wagging tail.
“I don’t even want to know how you SEALs can guess that looking at poop. Do they have special classes in BUD/s training?”
Reaper chuckled. “We learned on the job. Follow a group of insurgents through the mountains, and you learn things.”
Her sat phone rang, and she called Tessa back to her side. The call was from Lacey.
“Hey, girl, you guys nearly to Eureka?” Lacey said without a greeting.
“Should exit on the highway a couple of miles south in the next half hour. Anyone see him in Eureka?”
“Not yet, but we have flyers everywhere. Oh, and the show’s cameraman turned up a couple of hours ago. He’s hoping to be here for the capture.”
Jamie snorted. “Warn him he may be filming a bunch of sad faces if we don’t find Wakley soon. He’s within spitting distance of Canada.”
“He said he’d be just as happy watching you guys hike up to the border station and look all forlorn. Said every hunt can’t end on a good note or viewers will think we’re a scripted reality show.”
“Good to know he sees a fucking silver lining.”
Lacey laughed. “Good to know you’re still in bubbly mood, you know, now that you and Sky are sharing a sleeping bag.”
“We are not. Ever have sex in the summer in the woods? Too many damn mosquitoes.”
Lacey cleared her throat. “Thought you might want to know things could get trickier than usual once you get to Eureka.”
Jamie looked skyward. Would they ever catch a break? “Oh, God. What now?”
“The town’s having some summer event. An ATV convention, it looks like. Free outdoor barbecue. A mud race…”
Now, that didn’t sound so bad. “Sounds like something a man who’s been chowing down on protein bars might not be able to resist.”
“I’ll send Meg with the vehicle to pick you up on the highway. Send your coordinates when you get to the road. I’ll be at the barbecue next to the river.”
Jamie ended the call and headed back to the men waiting for her. “Meg Henry’s picking us up on the highway. Looks like we’re going to a barbecue.”
Less than half an hour later, Jamie sat in front of the SUV with Meg, after shedding her rain gear and rolling it up. A sudden downpour had struck the moment she’d gotten off the phone with Lacey.
After rolling up her rain poncho and stowing it in her pack, she’d called shotgun but moved her seat as far forward as she could to make room for Reaper’s “delicate stems”.
“So,” Jamie said, looking at the redhead next to her. “How are you liking bounty hunting?”
Meg laughed. “The sheriff asks me that all the time. I think he’s worried I’ll go over to the dark side.” She shot Jamie a glance. “I like it fine, though. Especially when I can work with Wolf. If I didn’t use my downtime hunting, we’d really find it hard to spend time together. I never realized how busy you guys were until I hired on. Now, I don’t know how you manage to keep sane with a production crew following you around, too.
Jamie shook her head. “Sometimes, I regret signing the contract, but the checks sure are nice.”
“I bet,” Meg said smiling. “Looks like our office is going to get some exposure on your television show today.”
Jamie noted that she wrinkled her nose. “Will that be a problem?”
“Just so long as your fans don’t go and give us nicknames like ‘Bounty Hunter Barbie’.”
Jamie grinned. “Lacey’s all into that. Plays it up.”
“She’s something. Must be a lot of fun to work with.”
“She makes life interesting. That’s for sure.”
The women laughed. Jamie glanced back at Dagger to make sure he was okay with them talking about his woman, but he shrugged and gave her a wink.
They passed through the long strip of road that was Eureka’s main street then followed the signs to the barbecue taking place along the banks of the Tobacco River. When they arrived at a grassy parking lot, Meg found a spot far from the entrance of the event. Two more dark SUVs were parked there. The doors opened. More hunters emerged.
Jamie shook her head. She hadn’t seen this many MBH hunters in one place…well, ever. The biggest surprise was seeing Fetch among the mix. She walked up to him and reached out her hand to shake, but he ignored her hand and gave her a hug.
“Long time no see,” he said when he let her go. “And what’s this about you fighting with Sky over wedding plans?”
Jamie’s eyes widened, and she shot a glare at Reaper.
Reaper glanced away, whistling.
She’d have a little talk with him later. Maybe put that photo of him hugging Carlito on the website for the entire world to see.
She glanced around the group. Yeah, no way Wakley would mistake them for locals out to enjoy a barbecue. “Fetch, is every hunter in MBH here today?”
“Not quite, as you well know. You still have three working in Glacier. But there’s not a more important skip to catch than our friend Wakley. He’s not afraid to use a weapon. He’ll escalate if he’s left free.”
Jamie nodded, knowing what he said was true. Still, it seemed like overkill having so many hunters dedicated to this takedown. But she wasn’t the big boss…
She turned to address the group. “I’m thinking we should enter a few at a time,” she said. “And go fully armed, and with our vests. This is Montana. Folks around here won’t blink. But if they do, maybe they’ll see our badges and decide to stay clear of us. There’s no way of knowing if Wakley’s even here. For all we know, he’s already stolen supplies and is back out in the woods. By nightfall, he could easily be across the border. However, if he is here, we want a clean takedown.” She pointed to the cameraman, who already held his camera on his shoulder filming. “And ignore the fact he’s here. Keep your head in the game. Melvin Wakley is a violent man. I don’t want anyone hurt, especially not any of the town folk here to have a good time. Any questions?”
When no one answered, she said, “Let’s head out. We have a dipshit to arrest.”
Sky loved watching Jamie take charge of their merry band of hunters. Seeing her so confident and knowing every man there respected her, made him feel proud he was the guy who got to take her home.
The hunters made an intimidating sight as they moved through the crowd, gazes scanning the vendors’ stalls and rows of banquet tables.
Sky kept his gaze scanning as he walked, but his boots made annoying sucking sounds. Where there wasn’t wet grass, there was slick, gooey mud.
Ahead of him, Jamie had Tessa on a lead, keeping her close to her side. Suddenly, Tessa’s body stiffened. Her nose lifted, scenting the air. She gave a sharp bark then strained against her leash.
Jamie released some leash and hurried forward, letting the dog dart through the crowd, making her way toward the row of four-wheelers lined up on display, salesmen hovering over customers. Beyond the line of ATVs was a dirt track, where locals drove their four-wheelers around a muddy obstacle course, their tires leaving deep grooves in the muck.
Tessa ran straight toward the track, but Jamie pulled her lead near the end of the line of shiny new ATVs. Sky stopped beside her, and they watched as a young man in a helmet ran toward them.
“Hey!” the teenager said, as came closer. He pointed toward a red ATV nearing the end of the track. “That guy pulled me off my ATV. He has a gun!”
Jamie turned to a salesman and raised her badge. “These vehicles have gas?” she asked.
He gave her a nod and tossed her a set of keys. “Take that one,” he said, pointing toward one painted in a green and black camouflage pattern.
“Got another?” Sky asked. Keys flew, and the salesman pointed toward another rugged-looking vehicle.
More hunters appeared, and Jamie tossed Tessa’s leash to Lacey. “Keep her off the track. Wakley’s making a run for it.”
They both mounted, started the ig
nitions, and gunned their engines. Sky kept behind Jamie as she leaned forward and headed in a straight line toward Wakley, who was heading toward the forest on the far side of the clearing.
Wakley had the lead but didn’t have the fastest ride. Jamie was on his tail before he hit the forest line.
Then they were racing around trees, through thickets, engines roaring.
Wakley made the mistake of glancing back at his pursuers. When he turned forward again, he was aimed at a tree. He steered hard to the right, and the wheels on that side left the ground. He rolled the ATV, which landed upside down with him several feet away. He quickly pushed up to his feet and ran.
They chased him through the forest, but he soon slowed, tripping over vines and smacking against tree trunks. They let him tire, waiting for the moment he’d stop and make his stand.
When he slid behind a tree, Sky didn’t have time to give a shout. He saw the barrel of a handgun appear from around the tree and gunned his engine, circling to the left while Jamie went right. He kicked off the vehicle, letting it roll past Wakley while he took cover, drew his weapon, and shot high and into the tree. A warning.
Jamie stopped her vehicle and slid behind another tree. They shared glances. He smiled. She scowled. Then she tilted her head toward Wakley, telling him silently to wait for his opening.
“Melvin,” she shouted. “We have agents closing in all around you. You have nowhere left to run. Do yourself a favor. End it now. Throw down your gun and come out with your hands up.”
His barrel disappeared from the left side of the tree. Sky knew he was taking aim at Jamie. He moved stealthily through the brush, while she continued to banter.
“You’re going to spend some time in jail, but you’ll want a chance at freedom, someday. Shooting us won’t help you. You’ll spend the rest of your life in jail.”
“I know who you are,” Wakley shouted. “You’re those hunters on the TV. Hollywood hunters. You got a film crew out here?”
“We do,” she said. “Want to be famous?”
“I can be real famous if I take you down.”
Sky made his way behind Wakley. He was almost there.
“That’s not the kind of fame you want to chase, Melvin,” Jamie said.
“Don’t need another woman tellin’ me what I should want, you mouthy bitch.”
Sky took another step. A twig snapped beneath his boot.
Wakley jerked around, and Sky knew he had only a second as the man turned his weapon and pointed it at his chest. They both fired.
Blood blossomed on Wakley’s right shoulder, and his gun fell out of his hand. Sky dropped to his knees, with his breath knocked out of him.
Jamie ran forward, making it to Wakley and kicking away his weapon before turning to Sky. “You hit?”
“Kevlar,” he gritted out, because it hurt like hell, and he felt like he’d been stomped on by a horse. “Not hurt bad… Be okay.”
Chapter 8
Suddenly, they were surrounded by more hunters, moving in to secure Wakley. They got him to his feet and led him away. Sky barely noticed because he was trying to remember how to breathe.
Jamie moved toward him and went down on her knees beside him. She began pulling at the Velcro fastenings on his vest, pushed the vest off his shoulders, then went to work shoving up his T-shirt. Her hands smoothed over the huge red welt on his ribs, and then she pressed on it.
“Fuck,” he gritted out.
“You might have cracked a rib or two,” she said, her eyebrows lowered.
“I didn’t. I’m just bruised. I’m fine.”
“We’ll need to get you to the hospital to have the doctors take some x-rays.”
“They’ll have to wait.”
She locked her gaze with his and scowled. “The others can handle getting him to jail.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” He shook his head. “Just…let me get up.” When he was on his feet, she crossed her arms over her chest, and her expression turned mulish. Sky had to bite back a grin.
Reaper and Dagger were rocking his ATV and easily turned it over. Sky walked toward them and gave them a nod. “Better get back. Make sure Brian’s here,” he said under his breath.
Reaper grinned. “Don’t make me come look for you.”
Sky noted the cameraman still hanging back. He gave him a faint nod then turned to Jamie, making sure the cameraman had a view of both of their profiles.
“You’re up to something. What’s going on?” Jamie asked.
He cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking her stance. “Staking my claim. Making damn sure you don’t have any wiggle room left.”
Her eyebrows shot upward. “You think I need wiggle room? Wait…” She tilted her head. “Are you talking about the wedding? I told you last night I’d do whatever you want. I’m through fighting about…details.”
He reached for her hands and held them. “Then let’s make it today. Now.”
She blinked and leaned away, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. Then she drew a deep breath. “Ah, I get it. That’s why Fetch is here. And that huge-ass crew of hunters.”
Sky wrinkled his nose. “The Kalispell guys are taking Wakley in, because we have some business to conduct.”
Her lips thinned, but then the corners twitched. “I don’t have a dress.”
“No, you don’t. Do you need one?”
She shook her head. “You arrange this with Lacey?”
He smiled. “Just tell me you’ll do it. Honor your promise to go along with whatever I want.”
She grimaced, but her cheeks were flushed a lovely rose. So, there was a smudge or two of mud on her face. She’d be a radiant bride.
Jamie tilted up her chin. “Guess we better hurry back then before I change my mind.”
He tugged her hands, and she fell against him. As they kissed, he drew the rubber band from the bottom of her braid and sifted through her hair, loosening it. The easier for Lacey to get a brush through the tangles.
When they broke apart, she gave him a coy glance from beneath her lashes. “Race you!” Then she ran to her four-wheeler.
Smiling, he followed her all the way back to the gathering beside the river.
So, she didn’t get married in her muddy clothes. While Jamie had been traipsing through the woods, Lacey had headed back to Sky and Jamie’s house with instructions concerning what to bring—a clean pair of well-polished cowboy boots, freshly washed Levis, and a powder-blue chambray shirt with tiny pink flowers. Lacey made quick work of fashioning a braided crown atop Jamie’s head with sprigs of baby’s breath woven in. She carried a small wildflower bouquet.
She’d never felt prettier than when she stood in front of Sky with his stormy, blue-gray eyes looking down at her. And he looked so handsome, she knew all the women in the crowd around them were sighing. Dark hair, chiseled features, those stunning blue eyes, a well-built frame...
Being Jamie, she still had some questions. She glanced to the side at Reaper, who still wore his black Kevlar vest, but who had washed his face and hands. It appeared that he’d be officiating this hastily arranged wedding. “Is this even going to be legal?” she asked him.
Reaper gave her a wink. “I got my license over the internet last night in the cabin.” He reached into a pocket and pulled out a printout that was wet around the folds, but which proclaimed him to be a minister in the Universal Life Church and eligible to perform weddings.
“You did that for me?”
Reaper shrugged and a blush stole across his rugged features. “Someone had to do it.”
“And I brought the license for him to sign,” Sky said. “No more excuses.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Wasn’t making one. Just wanted to be sure this thing will stick.”
The crowd around them laughed. They were on a small dais with all the attendees standing on the wet grass. Fetch had walked her up the “aisle” formed in the crowd of her friends from MBH and the locals who’d s
tuck around to be a part of the TV moment the cameraman had really been recruited to capture.
With Brian, Fetch, and Tessa standing right behind her, she felt at peace and warmed by the thoughtfulness of her soon-to-be husband and friends. This was the wedding she hadn’t been able to articulate that she wanted.
“By the way,” Fetch said behind her. “You two earned the special bonus. I’m sending you to Hawaii.”
Reaper cleared his throat. “So, if no one has any objections, let’s get these two hitched!”
Jamie surfaced a few feet from Sky and waved at him. She moved the mouthpiece of her snorkel to the side and pointed downward. “Turtle!” she said, excitement in her voice. They’d snorkeled off the beach in front of their hotel in Oahu every day without having sighted a single turtle. Seeing one had been their goal since they’d arrived six days ago.
Their honeymoon had passed in a haze of sex, lavish room service dinners, more sex, and daily swims to see the underwater wildlife around the coral reef. Neither had wanted to do the usual touristy things, other than attend a luau, which they’d crossed off their list on day three, both taking hula lessons and grimacing over the taste of the traditional Hawaiian dish of poi. Mostly, they’d wanted to spend time with each other, holding each other, making love and plans for their future.
He followed her down to the reef they’d been exploring, and he saw the large oval shell of a turtle as it gracefully swam toward deeper water. Jamie stayed several feet above it, not interfering with it or trying to touch it, just watching for as long as her breath held out. Then she kicked her flippers toward the surface.
They made their way to the beach and flopped down on the blanket they’d laid in the sand. She turned her head toward him. “This has been really nice.”
“But?”
She arched a brow. “Does there have to be one?”
“I heard it in your voice,” he said, his tone dry.
“You know me so well.” She leaned toward him and kissed him. “But…I can’t wait to get back and see what’s been happening at work.”
Sky chuckled. “You don’t think Reaper has it all handled?”
Big Sky Wedding: Brotherhood Protectors World Page 5
