Military K-9 Unit Christmas: Christmas Escape ; Yuletide Target

by Valerie Hansen

  “Father, help us,” she whispered, meaning every word. “We can’t do this alone.”

  When Stryker met her at the door, panting, tail wagging, eager to please, Rachel realized that part of her urgent prayer had been answered before she’d even asked. They already had capable help, ready and willing. Now all they had to do was get off the base and disappear.

  * * *

  Kyle was doing his best to keep his pain at bay. The only sign of suffering he could not control was the perspiration dotting his forehead. “Act calm when we’re passing through the gate,” he reminded Rachel.

  “I wish you’d quit telling me to do that. This may be normal for a guy who’s been in combat but it isn’t to me.”

  “Then fake it,” he said with a forced chuckle. “I’m glad you decided to do things your own way this time and came to pick me up. I was getting the worst of that fight.”

  “Probably because you were the only one bleeding,” she said, grimacing and eyeing him.

  He slipped his hand into the pocket of his jacket and began to apply pressure unobtrusively to hide his injury. With a wave at the nearest guard, they sailed through the gate unchallenged.

  Rachel was shaking visibly when she eased her grip on the wheel and reached down to adjust the driver’s seat to her size.

  “I wondered if you always drove perched on the edge and clinging to the steering wheel.”

  “I was in a hurry to rescue you,” she said with a touch of cynicism.

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Kyle phoned a friend at the training unit. “That’s right. I was attacked outside the BX. The airmen who came to my aid did not instigate the fight.” He paused, listening, then said, “When I explained everything to Lieutenant General Hall, he gave me permission to do whatever was necessary to assist one of my techs. As I said before, trouble followed us back from San Antonio. At least two male civilians. Peter VanHoven and an unnamed assailant jumped me. I have no idea how they got on base, but there was dirt on VanHoven’s clothing. Security should check perimeter fences. If there are any questions, I’ll be available by cell.”

  When Kyle ended the call he relaxed back against the seat and briefly closed his eyes.

  “Are you feeling faint?”

  “No. Why?”

  “You shut your eyes.”

  “If you must know, I was praying about our next move.”

  He checked his phone again. “GPS puts us seventeen miles from my cabin. That’s where we’re going.”

  “Your what?”

  “Cabin. And don’t give me any flack.”

  “What makes you think that will be any safer than holing up on base?”

  “I owned the place before I reenlisted, and I haven’t visited there in years.”

  “Really? Why didn’t you sell it?”

  “It’s a long story,” Kyle said. The cabin held poignant memories for him, memories he didn’t want to let go of, yet didn’t want to be reminded of, either.

  He glanced into the side mirror. A passenger car was keeping pace with them despite their speed. Had his decision to pick up Stryker given Peter a chance to track them down? It didn’t look good.

  * * *

  Rachel noticed Kyle’s concern before he had time to tell her anything. “Are we being followed?”

  “I’m not sure. Get ready to turn off the highway.”

  “Where?”

  “It’s coming up.” He pointed ahead. “There. Don’t slow down on the dirt road.”

  She complied, surprised at how rough the track was. “This bouncing must be hurting you.”

  “I’ll live. Faster!”

  She failed to see anyone behind them due to the brownish cloud they were raising. “They’ll see our dust!”

  “Can’t be helped. Turn off at that pine with a gouge in its trunk. The cabin is just ahead on the right.”

  “I see it.”

  “Try to pull behind and get out of sight.”

  “Wow. It’s sure overgrown.”

  Tense and perspiring, Rachel plowed through the undergrowth, hearing it snap, crush and scrape the sides of the SUV. Their stop was jarring. For a moment she just sat there, catching her breath.

  The tiny cabin was pioneer log construction. Casement windows flanked a front door. There was no entrance in the rear. Kyle got out and led the way to a hidden key while Rachel fetched Natalie. Stryker followed.

  When Kyle swung open the door the little girl gasped. The interior was a wonderland. Garlands were festooned from the ceiling. Tinsel hung from strings of tiny colored lights. Bright glass orbs twisted on invisible threads.

  And in the far corner stood a miniature plastic evergreen tree with a manger scene at its base.

  Christmas had been waiting for him for four long years.

  TEN

  Rachel didn’t know what to say. Natalie was clapping her hands and jumping up and down. “Look, Auntie Rachel. Isn’t it beautiful?”

  “Yes.” It was. Truly. Natalie made a dash for the crèche while Kyle checked the windows and reported no one else coming up the road.

  “This is baby Jesus,” the little girl said. “And these are the wise men. They brought birthday presents. Gold, common sense and fur.”

  Relieved to have escaped, Rachel smiled at Kyle. “Leave it to kids to put life in perspective. Did you learn about the wise men in Sunday school, honey?”

  “Uh-uh. Maria told me. I miss her.”

  “We can go visit her after I adopt you.”

  “You’re gonna be my mommy?”

  “Yes.”

  The little girl giggled. “That’s silly. Then you’d be Auntie Mommy.” She paused. “Will Kyle be my new daddy? Please?”

  He crouched next to the five-year-old. “I’ll always be your friend,” he said tenderly. “Your aunt works for me so I’m sure you and I will see each other a lot.”

  Joining them, Rachel added, “That’s right. But there’s a rule in the air force that I’m not supposed to date my boss, so Kyle can’t be your daddy.”

  It took a few seconds for Natalie to process that information. When she had, she was totally candid. “Well, that’s a dumb rule.”

  He ruffled her hair. “I agree completely. That is one very dumb rule.”

  “Maria says we have to be good and keep rules,” Natalie told him. “Do we? Even if they’re dumb?”

  “I’ll have to give that question some thought,” Kyle told her. “Now you play over here while your aunt Rachel puts a bandage on my owie, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Rachel followed him to a section of the single room where he’d stored first-aid supplies.

  “Use rubbing alcohol to clean the cut.” He was taking off his jacket.

  More aspects of their isolation began to occur to her. “There’s no water?”

  “We have fruit juice in cans and enough to eat for a few days. I’ll phone the base and let Security know where we are after you patch me up. We’ll go back as soon as they have your buddy Peter in custody.”

  “Do you think he was in the car that followed us?”

  “Possibly. But we lost them.”

  Rachel’s hands were trembling as she cleansed the wound. “I think a few butterfly bandages will take care of it.”

  “You just don’t want to suture me.”

  “It’s not something I’ve always dreamed of doing, no.”

  “What are your dreams, Rachel? Will they change now that you’re about to become Auntie Mommy?”

  That made her smile. “There was a time, long ago, when I wanted a family. Seeing what happened to my sister turned that dream into a nightmare but...”

  Kyle touched her hand. Stilled it. Looked into her eyes as if he was able to see all the way to her heart’s desires. “But?”

  “Our time together
has been extraordinary. It’s hard to put into words without sounding sappy, but I’ve looked forward to almost every moment.” She lowered her gaze to where his hand touched hers. “Especially to spending more time with you.”

  “I feel the same.” He leaned closer. Rachel felt her cheeks flaming. She closed her eyes, hardly able to believe what she knew was about to happen. His nearness was palpable. A tender touch against her cheek, the whisper of his breath mingling with hers.

  And then he kissed her.

  Rachel was floating on clouds of intense emotion, yearning for the moment to continue. Kyle’s kiss was everything she had hoped, and more. Walls that had stood between them crumbled to dust. Problems that had seemed insurmountable shrank into nothingness. Surrounded by love, she felt his arms encircle her, pull her closer, deepen the kiss until she was breathless, boneless, mindless.

  He must love her. He simply must. No man could convey that depth of emotion without feeling the same affection she had been fighting ever since their trip to see Angela. She hadn’t realized it then, but she’d started to fall for him almost as soon as he’d shown her his true self.

  Kyle slowly released her, studying her expression until she felt the heat rising in her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Yes, you should,” Rachel said boldly. “And if you try to take it back I’ll be really disappointed.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes, I will.” She stood her ground despite her spinning head and racing pulse. “Unless of course you didn’t like it.”

  “Oh, I liked it. I liked it just fine.”

  It amused her to see high color in his face, too, so she grinned. “Okay. Good. What now?”

  He grew even redder. “Um...”

  Rachel laughed lightly. “I was referring to taking more precautions and notifying the base again.”

  “Um, yeah. Right.”

  “You’re cute when you blush,” she teased.

  “I’m way too old to be cute,” Kyle countered. “Besides, officers are not supposed to blush. We’re supposed to be all the things that my being here with you negates.”

  “Would it help your case if I quit the service at the end of my current enlistment?”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “I did have permission to help you so we may skate through.”

  “Suppose we don’t?”

  Before Kyle could reply, Stryker sat up. A low rumble began in the K-9’s throat and grew to a full growl.

  Rachel jumped. Natalie began to cry and ran to her. Kyle strode to the window and scanned the otherwise quiet forest.

  “They found us?”

  “Not necessarily. It could be a nosy neighbor.”

  “You can’t really believe that.”

  As she held the frightened child close, Rachel cast around for a safe place to hide her. A one-room cabin didn’t provide a lot of options.

  She watched Kyle barricade the door by upending a table. “You’re not acting like you think it’s a neighbor.”

  “That’s because there’s more than one person.”

  “Peter?”

  Natalie began to sob against Rachel’s shoulder and cling to her neck.

  “Maybe. Call the police and tell them to hurry.” Kyle displayed a shotgun and half a box of 12-gauge shells. “This is all we have for self-defense.”

  * * *

  Rachel made the brief call and stashed Natalie behind the Christmas tree with Stryker, then joined Kyle. “How can I help?”

  “You didn’t happen to bring a rifle, did you?”

  “Nope. And the local sheriff is busy at a multiple-vehicle wreck on the highway so we can’t count on him. Do you think they’ll attack?”

  “Hard to tell. If they don’t know we’re sitting ducks they may try to wait us out. I don’t intend to shoot unless they do.” He looked past her. “Where’s our girl?”

  “Hiding with Stryker.” Rachel shivered and rubbed her hands together. “I wrapped her in a blanket but that won’t stop a bullet.”

  “I doubt they’ll harm her,” Kyle said. “You and I are another matter.”

  “I’m so sorry I got you into this.” There was a catch in her voice.

  “If anybody got me into anything it wasn’t you,” he countered. “I still see this as my second chance to do the right thing. I was absent by choice the first time, when I should have been there for my family. God gave me another opportunity to prove myself.”

  Was he trying to say he loved her, loved Natalie? Was that even possible? She and Kyle had known each other through work for a couple of years but that wasn’t the same as dating. As for her niece, he’d barely met her.

  Those facts definitely made them surrogates, she reasoned. This wasn’t the only time that premise had occurred to her but it was the first time Kyle had put it into his own words. There was no doubt they needed each other. He needed healing of his spirit, and she needed protection from evil. That was for everyone’s good, so how could she argue?

  Because I’m selfish, Rachel concluded. When all this was over, perhaps Kyle would still be interested in her. If he wasn’t, she’d have to accept it as an unwelcome answer to prayer. Just because she had worked out a pleasing solution in her mind, there was no guarantee God would agree with her plans. The Lord might just as easily see to it that they were separated by air-force protocol and hardly ever saw each other.

  That notion brought tears to her eyes and made her want to throw herself into Kyle’s arms. Well, she wasn’t going to. He needed to be alert, not distracted.

  She was searching the cabin for a makeshift weapon when banging on the door startled everyone. Stryker barked. Rachel gasped and froze. Kyle levered a shell into the shotgun.

  Whoever was outside must have heard the metallic noise of the slide working, because they stopped pounding.

  Rachel peeked through a gap in the curtains. “They’re leaving!”

  “Not for long, I’m afraid. Get my phone out of my jacket pocket and bring it here. It’s high time I called in reinforcements.”

  As soon as she delivered his phone, she went back to the window and watched four men searching the forest floor.

  “Tell them to hurry,” she shouted to Kyle. “I think Peter’s making a battering ram!”

  ELEVEN

  “I’ll leave my cell connected,” Kyle shouted into the phone. “You can home in on it. Just hurry.”

  “Who’s coming?” Rachel asked.

  “As many of the K-9 unit as will fit into a small chopper. There’s no clearance to land so they’ll have to rappel down with their dogs and take the chance of becoming a target.”

  “It’ll take too long for them to drive?”

  “A few will fly in while the rest approach from the ground. It’s an operation they’ve trained for.”

  “How can I help?”

  “Stay back, out of the way.”

  “Not a chance—Captain.”

  “Forget rank and listen to me,” Kyle insisted. “You’re defenseless. If the bullets start to fly I don’t want to worry about you.” He jerked his head toward the rear corner. “Get behind the tree with Natalie and Stryker and make sure they stay down, too.”

  “Is that an order?”

  Kyle rolled his eyes. “No, Rachel, it’s not. It’s a sensible suggestion from someone who cares for you in spite of himself, okay?” To his relief, her resistance gave way to shock, then acquiescence.

  “All right. I’ll get out of your way. But I won’t promise to sit idle if I see you’re in danger. Understood?”

  Nodding, he figured that was the best he was going to get. Truth to tell, she’d bailed him out before by using her head and not panicking. If he needed help again it was good to know she’d be handy. His biggest problem was letting go of the notion that pr
otecting them all was solely up to him.

  Wrong. It’s up to God, his thoughts insisted, pushing him to wordless prayer and reminding him of everything he had lost. How could he possibly reconcile those memories with the ones he was making at present? That was asking the impossible, leaving him with the need to place absolute trust in his heavenly Father’s decisions. Much of life was beyond understanding for man. Either he believed and relied upon God or he didn’t.

  As soon as Kyle realized that he needed a different kind of help, he called to Rachel, “Pray. Hard.”

  He watched as she fell to her knees and pulled Natalie close. They bowed their heads. Kyle joined them in his heart and he gave thanks despite the risk of impending attack.

  It was a lot easier to do so on a sunny Sunday morning in the safety of church, which was the point, he guessed. Faith without testing and proving was far too easy to take for granted. So was love.

  * * *

  Rachel let Natalie speak for both of them because the child’s prayer was direct and heartfelt instead of being filled with the pat phrases so many adults fell back on when they didn’t know what else to say.

  “Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from Peter and hug my mommy for me. Please help Auntie Rachel and Kyle. Amen.”

  The little girl turned misty eyes to Rachel. “Was that okay?”

  “It was perfect, honey.”

  “Good.” Rachel let go and Natalie looped both arms around the three-legged dog’s neck. “And thank you for Stryker. Amen again.”

  This was no time for smiles, yet the corners of Rachel’s mouth lifted. What a precious little girl. Angela may have failed her in many ways, but the Lord had sent Maria into her life to plant seeds of faith. To take care of His child. Was He using her and Kyle, too? Undoubtedly. All Rachel had to figure out was how to assist without getting in God’s way. That had been her error in the past, more times than she cared to count. She had tried to help too much, to do things her way. Listening to Kyle, however, was a different story.