by Dale Mayer
She leaned her head back, eyes closed and waited. Please stop the gunshots. Her ears were ringing and she couldn’t hear any voices over the loud noises. Surely everyone had to be dead by now. She shuddered.
Shadow twisted to look and his gruff voice, low and harsh, asked, “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“Hurt? No, just my leg.” She stared at him fearfully. “Did they shoot Kevin?”
“They tried and missed.” He shifted position so she could see around him. “He’s with Swede.”
And sure enough she could see her brother. He clung to Swede’s back as the big man still carried her father. Jesus.
“Shouldn’t we try to go back to the cabin?” she cried out, her heart hurting at the look of her father.
Shadow shook his head. “No. Reinforcements are coming. And an air ambulance will land on the lake in less than an hour.”
She stared at him in hope. “Really?”
He nodded.
“Oh thank God.”
“It’s only been a few hours since you escaped the bedroom,” he muttered. “It takes a little time to get some things done.”
She wanted to laugh. Hell she really wanted to cry. Neither was an option. Their voices were so low she didn’t think they’d carry, but they were taking a chance.
Thunder clapped overhead yet again. She jumped in surprise. Normally she loved storms, but if that heavy rain came back to soak them she’d be more than miserable and that was without taking her injured leg into account. An air ambulance sounded so normal and lovely she knew she was losing it. Several single shots sounded from across the way but not far enough away to make her happy. “You’ve got him pinned down,” she whispered. “Finish him off.”
“Can’t until he shows himself.”
“Then go get him,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I.”
Of course he’d refuse to listen to reason. She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. He could leave her and be back before she got to her feet. And she slowly slid down the damn trunk. It was dark, wet, cold and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and forget that his night had happened.
“Go,” she ordered. “Then come back.” She sensed his surprise, felt his doubt. She waved her hand to send him away. “I’m fine.”
“Back in a moment,” Shadow whispered, but before she understood what he meant, he was gone. She closed her eyes again. In this weather, no one was going to find her. It was too dark and ugly to bother looking.
Only she didn’t have a moment to rest before he was there hauling her up onto her feet again. She shook off his help and stepped on her own. And shuddered. Damn it. She needed to be able to stand or he couldn’t do what he needed to do. He gave her an arm for support. Yet again, she didn’t protest. She kept walking and hung on. Stupid system. Why couldn’t the good guys have nice vehicles to ride in? Instead they had no cabin and no wheels.
She was ready to round on him and tear a strip off him for not having the right equipment when a boom split the night sky. She cried out, instinctively crouching down as the night sky lit up all around them. Shadow slid an arm across her shoulders, tugging her up close. Then his voice, a harsh but reassuring whisper in her ear, said, “That’s why we didn’t go back to the cabin. If they were prepared to blow up the truck with your parents in it, likely they weren’t going to leave much else behind either.”
“My grandfather’s cabin?” she asked, her voice cracking. She’d spent many happy weeks up here. But even thinking about those holidays it was hard to feel anything but shock at the moment as she watched the smoke curl in the sky.
It was gone.
“Could it have been the truck?” She barely got the words out when the second small boom sounded and she assumed that was the truck.
“They don’t want us using their truck to escape either, I gather.”
“No. They think we’ll be handicapped by the terrain.”
She looked around. “I have to admit it would be a lot easier to handle if my leg wasn’t killing me.”
“Not an issue. It’s less than a mile to the lake, but we’ve been moving steady.”
She shot him a look as if to say, hell, no, then realized that was really nothing of a distance and if they wanted to catch that plane…there wasn’t much choice.
Except…as they slowly continued, the lack of light impeded their progress. How was the plane going to be able to land in this dark? When she asked Shadow, he said, “Dawn is only twenty minutes away. Bush pilot’s don’t live by the same rules that we live by.”
“You? Rules? I don’t think you follow any.” She’d been trying to limp her way forward since starting again and now her leg was killing her, her breath coming out in harsh pants.
“Ready for some help?” he asked in a neutral voice, letting her know he’d noticed her struggle.
Shamefaced, she nodded. “Yes, please.”
He swung her up in his arms and marched forward, his steps strong and sure in the dark.
She had to love that ability right now. Tired and sore and feeling very emotional for some reason, she gasped when she caught sight of the water twinkling through the trees.
“It’s beautiful.” Moonlight shone down on the ripples moving gently in the wind. She glanced back to see the progress the others had made. They were all close behind.
For all that he was tired and worn out, her brother was handling this adventure wonderfully. She was proud of him. “Kevin is doing really well.”
“You both are.”
She glanced at Shadow, her arms looped around his neck and shook her head. “No, we aren’t. It’s been a tough day for all my family.”
He nodded but his scrutiny never strayed as he made his way to the water’s edge. She loved that about him. Such focus. She could imagine he was the man to choose if you were alone on a desert island. He oozed competence. And that power that each of the SEALs exhibited was damn sexy.
But Shadow more so.
Knowing she shouldn’t but unable to stop herself, she stroked his neck then leaned over and kissed his cheek again. She felt his start of surprise and had to wonder if he had much relationship experience. He always seemed so shocked at signs of affection. Every time she touched him, he seemed startled. As if not used to touch. Then again, this was a rescue mission, not a midnight tryst.
“What was that for?” he growled in low tones.
“Because I wanted to,” she whispered. “Because it seemed like the right thing to do.”
He gave her a slant-eyed look that said he didn’t believe her. And just to be perverse, because she was being carried in a man’s arms and probably not for much longer, and the experience was so new and different and, she admitted, quite surprisingly wonderful – she did it again. This time she kissed his jaw. Then dropped a kiss on his cheekbone. And one close to his ear.
A muscle in that beautiful chiseled jaw twitched.
And she realized something else. They’d been out long enough that he had a dark shadow growing along his neck and jawline adding to his dangerous look. It looked deadly good on him. How had she not noticed?
Shadow stopped and looked down at her. She smiled. “I know. You don’t know what to do with someone like me. I’m different from other women. That’s okay. Being different is allowed.”
He shook his head. “And you talk too much.” He slowly lowered her and pointed to the lake. Though she’d seen it peeking through the trees already, now the vista was open in front of her.
“It’s beautiful. And I don’t talk too much.”
“Yes, you do.” He smiled. “But maybe that’s okay.”
*
Shadow searched the rocky approach to the water. This was the most dangerous part of the rescue. With the new assault rifles the terrorists could shoot from hundreds of yards away allowing them to hide in the trees and pick off those standing on the beach – or worse, as they’d boarded the plane.
That they
couldn’t afford. They’d made it this far, now was not the time to lose focus. It could go perfectly or they could be slaughtered. Only one was acceptable. He studied the terrain. There were few places to hide on the beach. It wasn’t sandy enough to burrow into, nor was it full of logs or large rocks to hide behind. Short and rocky, it was going to be hard to run across if that was their only choice. The trees were the enemies’ best bet and that in itself was where he’d go. He needed to scout the line and see what the approach looked like from all angles.
He glanced at Arianna. She was pale but holding on. Good. The trip wasn’t over yet. With a quick nudge of his head toward her, Shadow told Swede to watch her. Swede, still standing strong with the weight of the senator in his arms and the boy on his back, nodded.
Shadow, with a last look at the small group, disappeared into the woods. A hawk’s call, long and lonely in the predawn light, told him Hawk was standing vigil on the captured soldiers. He’d barely heard what had happened but knew men were down. He just didn’t know how bad. And the captives had another agenda. If they tried anything else, well they wouldn’t be around for a third attempt. He quickly slipped through the trees.
The light was fascinating. Early morning, not quite night, not quite day. But getting lighter by the second. Hearing something up ahead, he slipped behind a large tree and waited. A huge buck stepped out onto the path. Shadow smiled. “It’s okay, buddy, you go and get a drink.”
The buck gave a light snort, his coat was damp from the night but steam rose off his back. He was on his morning trek to the lake for a drink. If he stayed to the one side he’d stay out of the path of the bullets. But if not…well Shadow would hate to see him get hurt.
The buck passed by, his gaze never straying from Shadow. After the big animal was gone, Shadow shifted his position to see if any unwanted attention had been attracted. But nothing moved. Uneasy but with nothing to show for it, he hunkered down and waited.
In the distance he could hear the hum of the plane as it approached. He tensed.
This was where it was going to get dicey. This was a Canadian military plane. It needed to be able to take the four family members out safely. No one could be left behind.
Swede gave a low cry. Shadow answered with the same series of raptor cries they’d perfected.
The plane’s arrival had been noted.
He waited until the plane was visible. Still there was no movement. Either the enemy wasn’t here or they had been in position already. They were terrorists, but that didn’t mean they had outdoor training and maneuvers or were used to the sheer vastness of the Canadian wilderness. He’d spent months in the Yukon exploring a countryside that was so different than anything else he’d seen. If anyone needed to remember their connection to nature, spending a week in the woods up there would do it. Like here, there was so much country it was daunting. And stunning. And full of hardship, yet also offered great rewards.
The plane came in low and landed smoothly, just barely enough light to make it down. Thankfully, the storm had passed and the water was calm.
The first out of the plane were two soldiers with a stretcher.
Good, now to transport the casualties.
Swede met them at the edge of the water. Transferring the senator to the first stretcher and loading him on board took time. Knuckle baring time. According to Swede, the senator wasn’t likely to make it. He hadn’t regained consciousness once, and his old frail body had taken a beating that left Swede thinking major internal injuries. There’d been nothing they could do for him out there, but Swede hadn’t wanted the old man who’d given his life to his country in a different way – to die alone. So he’d held the injured man to the end.
Now as the senator was loaded up into the small plane, Shadow could only wish him well. Then it was the wife’s turn. He hadn’t had a chance to ask Cooper about her, but Cooper would have said something if it had been bad. He smiled as Cooper got wet carrying Kevin to the plane. Kevin turned to check on his sister’s progress.
Shadow had finally caught sight of something.
The enemy. Sneaking up on Arianna.
He lowered his rifle.
And took aim.
Chapter 9
Arianna watched the plane land with wonder. It had actually arrived. The night had begun to feel endless. With the moon fading back and the sky brightening as the sun rose but a long time away from sunrise, she studied the area in surprise. It felt locked in time. Frozen by the years. She didn’t think anyone had been here since her last visit. Her favorite rocks and hollows leading to the lake where she’d spent hours of fun swimming were undisturbed. But it was not a world she wanted anything to do with right now.
“We’re up next,” Swede said. “Can you walk?”
“I can. But go ahead. Get Father on first.” She hobbled forward, hating the pain biting into her with each step.
They walked together as a group until she realized how slow she really was. “Go and come back for me,” she said.
Indecision rode him then he nodded abruptly and ran ahead. As in he picked up his feet and raced to the water’s edge. The plane had coasted in as close as it could. She watched as two soldiers hopped into the water and carrying a stretcher, made their way over to Swede. Catching her breath and trying to hold back the waves of pain, she kept moving forward. Her brother was almost to the water now. He’d gone with Cooper. She took several more steps and gasped. Then a couple more. She didn’t have far to go. And that plane was looking mighty fine. She watched her father being transferred and then it was her stepmother’s turn. They were safe. Thank God. Cooper had picked up Kevin and carried him into the water to the men. He turned and called back, “Arianna?”
“I’m coming.”
Swede started back toward her. She grimaced, but managed a smile for him.
And saw his expression change. He grabbed for his gun. She tried to hurry, but her leg gave out and she dropped to the ground.
Shots rained around her as rough hands picked her up and threw her over a shoulder and raced back toward the woods. “No,” she screamed, flailing at the man who carried her. “Leave me alone.”
More shots fired. This time toward the plane. As she struggled to free herself, the man shifted his grip on her leg and from a different direction grabbed at her wound. She screamed in agony.
The pain continued to ripple through her. She couldn’t stop sobbing. Oh dear God. She swore he dug his fingers into the bullet hole on purpose.
“Shadow,” she screamed, then couldn’t speak as the pain kept rolling in deep greasy waves. So much damn pain. At least her family had made it. They’d been worse off than her. Tears rolled down her face as the plane started up and pulled away from the firestorm. Damn. She wanted to be on that plane. She so wanted to be leaving with the rest of her family. Instead, she was being carried deeper into the woods.
Shadow would save her. Surely.
Please.
A single bullet sounded. A man on the left dropped. She didn’t even realize what had happened to him until he didn’t get up again. Good. Bastards. Picking on her like that. Hanging down over the man’s back, she could see he was dressed in khakis, so one of the damn terrorists. Of course. Through the pain she tried to focus. How many men were with her? Four. Well, three now. Any chance they were the last four? Because she was damn tired of this. The men were racing in a tight group and moving fast. Every step made her stomach roil in pain, and she came close to losing the peanut butter sandwich she’d eaten hours ago.
Then her eyes caught sight of something important. Could she?
She reached down and without letting herself second guess, she grabbed the man’s handgun from the hip holster and pointed it at the head of the man running beside her.
Pop. Down he went. She turned to the next and clenched her fingers and shot him. The man carrying her squeezed her injury again and she screamed. And fired and fired and fired.
She couldn’t stop even after the hammer fell and fell an
d no bullets came out.
“Easy. baby. Take it easy. They are all dead.”
Shadow’s voice washed over her. He’d come. He’d saved her again. Crying out, she opened her arms. He picked her up and cuddled her close.
She burst into tears.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He rocked her gently in his arms as Swede and Cooper raced to their side. She couldn’t stop crying. Her leg. Killing those men. Seeing the plane and knowing her family was gone. To know she’d been so close to flying out safely and having it all snatched away.
Finally, she wound down, and just lay against his chest. The odd sniffle still escaped but it was softer, faint. Then gulps of air as she tried to still the inside wretchedness.
Finally, she muttered, “Sorry.”
He squeezed her gently. “Don’t be. You needed that.”
“Then how come I don’t feel better?” But she did. She felt much better, but was that being safe again or being in Shadow’s arms or from a complete breakdown in front of all the men? Then she remembered. She’d missed the flight. “They left without me, didn’t they?”
“We sent them off. In a case like that, it’s the best answer.”
“I know.” But she hated it. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
“They couldn’t wait. Your dad needs medical attention.” Shadow hesitated. “He’s in bad shape, Arianna.”
She stared at him dry eyed. “He won’t make it, will he?”
Shadow’s lips curled down. She nodded. “I was afraid of that. He was always a stubborn old coot. But honorable.”
