To her relief he angled them up into a wadi. Once down inside it, hidden by the trees and tall brush, he dismounted. Kell put his finger to his lips, indicating to her to remain silent. He pulled the AK-47 off his back, fitted it into his shoulder and left her alone with the horses, disappearing into the brush higher up in the wadi. Leah sat there, glad to be not moving at all. Her horse was pulling sparse sprigs of grass from the surrounding area.
Kell reappeared ten minutes later. He pulled the cloth off his face, indicating for her to do the same.
“We’re clear,” he told her, slipping the AK-47 on his back. He walked over to her, holding out his hand. “How are you doing?”
“My ass is so sore,” she muttered. Trying to lift her right leg up and over the horse, she lost her balance and grabbed for the horse’s mane. Kell held her firmly by the arm and helped her get her leg up and over the rump of the horse. She groaned and he guided her feet to the ground. Leaning over, hands on her knees, she grimaced. “I think I’d rather walk.”
Kell chuckled. “In three days, you’ll be fine.” He went to the packhorse and pulled out bottles of water and some protein bars.
Leah sat on a nearby rock, pushing the cloth away from her face, dragging in a breath of fresh air. Kell crouched next to her as she drank deeply, surprisingly thirsty. Kell handed her a protein bar. Leah was touched by his thoughtfulness. He wanted her to eat and drink first.
“Thanks,” she murmured, opening it and giving him half of it. Grinning, she met his gaze and said, “Like deserves like.”
He nodded and gave her a lazy smile. “We’re going to rest for about half an hour. I have to check in with Bagram Intel. Find out if they got a drone over us yet.”
“A drone?” Hope filled her voice.
“Yes. I requested one via the master chief. If they got a drone available, we’ll get it.” We’re in so much damn danger every minute because we’re out here riding during daylight hours. But he said nothing more.
*
FOR THE REST of the day, they dodged groups of Taliban, thanks to the intel officer at Bagram who was working with the pilot of the drone circling high above them. Without that extra set of eyes, Kell knew they’d run into an enemy group sooner or later. And then, it would become a shoot-out and a run for their lives.
The place was crawling with Taliban who were gathering for future assaults against Americans deep into Afghanistan. He knew the area well, knew where to pull up and hide and wait until a group rode by them, completely unaware of their presence.
By the time dusk came, they were climbing the flank of a mountain. At nine thousand feet, Kell found the trail he’d been looking for. Leah had suffered badly beneath the hundred-degree heat on the desert floor. He’d seen her perk up a bit as they climbed high, into the cooler temperature zones.
Finding a small path, he nudged his horse forward and soon the animal was forcing its way through thick brush. When Kell came out on the other side, he smiled. Dismounting, he got the horses out of the way so Leah could come through the thick, overgrown brush near the entrance.
Tying the animals on some branches, he opened the tarp and pulled out his M-4 rifle, unsafing it.
Leah rode through, looking around. In front of her was the mouth of a cave. She managed to dismount, her legs so bruised and tired that she had to hold on to the saddle to stop from collapsing to the ground. Kell walked over to her.
“Stay here. I’m going to clear this place.”
She nodded, holding on to the saddle, getting her legs under her once more. Up above her, she could see clouds turning pink as the sun set. It was beautiful in the Hindu Kush, but so deadly.
Kell came back fifteen minutes later. He gave her a smile and untied the horses.
“Come on, I’m going to give you a five-star cave for tonight.”
Leah wondered if Kell ever lost his sense of humor. She tugged at her horse’s reins and wearily followed him into tunnels with twists, turns and switchbacks. Leah felt as if they walked at least half a mile up a slight, ascending trail. It was dark after a while and she pulled out her penlight, not wanting to stumble on the rough limestone tunnel floor.
The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves echoed and reechoed up and down the various tunnels as they continued to climb.
Finally, they stopped. Leah couldn’t believe her ears. Water? It sounded like a waterfall! Here, in this desert? She waited by the entrance, holding the reins of all three horses as Kell moved deep into the cave and then disappeared. Soon enough, there was bright yellow light emanating from around the corner of it. Surprised, she saw Kell walk toward her with a lantern that threw plenty of light around.
“I’ll take the horses,” he told her. “Follow me.”
Leah was led into yet another chamber. There were two stone walls jutting out in the cave, reminding her of wings of a sort, and they enclosed the area where Kell led her and the horses. The light was bright and welcoming.
She saw a grate and a teakettle. Someone had lived here. Or was living here. She started getting out of all the Afghan clothes and then was more than happy to rid herself of the heavy Kevlar vest and her weapon. It was wonderful to strip down to a damp, soaked T-shirt that clung to her skin, and her cammie trousers.
Kell had taken the horses and tied them on metal rings that had been placed into the limestone wall. She saw there was a smaller cave near the horses. Kell went into it and came out carrying flakes of alfalfa hay. What was this place? Curious, Leah walked down the tunnel toward him.
“Does someone live here now?” She watched him take the saddles off the horses and set them on the floor.
“Did. A woman Marine, a black ops sniper by the name of Sergeant Khatera Shinwari lived here for five years. Now, black ops groups traveling through this area use this cave as a sort of safe house.” Kell removed the tarp and unpacked the heavy load on the horse, setting all the items in the small hay cave.
“Am I hearing things? Is there water running nearby?”
Kell smiled. “That’s the five-star treat. Soon as I get these animals fed and watered, I’ll take you over to check it out. Why don’t you get us some MREs out of that box?” He pointed to one on the ground near the horse.
Leah chose two. “Have you been here before?”
“A number of times.” As Kell gave each of the sweaty animals their hay, he picked up three buckets from the other cave. “Why don’t you make yourself at home in her kitchen? There’s all kinds of stuff in those cave holes in the tunnel on the other side of where the horses are at. Each black ops group leaves canned food and other items for the next operators who hole up here for a day or two.”
She was stunned by the cave. The fact a woman lived here for years made Leah’s brows rise with surprise.
She set the MREs down by the metal grate and began to investigate the holes in the cave wall. In some, she found cans of food: vegetables, salmon, sardines and just about everything else. There was a can opener with them, as well.
In another, she found sugar, flour, salt and pepper in aluminum tins. In a smaller one she found bags of candy, chocolate bars and chewing gum. She smiled, thinking about the men and women who had passed through here. She wondered what Kell would leave to restock the place after they left.
Kell hauled three large wooden pails of water, one for each horse. When he was done, he caught her hand, took the lantern and said, “Come on…”
She held his hand, feeling its strength, knowing how gentle he could be. In one way, it felt strange to be with a man. Could it last? Leah wasn’t sure. But she wanted a chance to find out.
As Kell rounded the corner, a whole new cave opened up before her. It was twice as large as the other one. Leah gasped, halting, her eyes widening. There in front of her was a waterfall at least ten to fifteen feet high, coming out of the ceiling above and flowing into a huge pool that took up a third of the cave. She saw a wooden bench sitting near it.
“What do you think?” Kell asked, watching her expres
sion.
“Five stars. You were right. I never imagined something like this here in this desert country.”
“The mountain surrounding this cave is fourteen thousand feet high. It has year-round snow on its summit and in the summer, some of it melts and this is where it flows.”
“This…is so beautiful,” Leah whispered. Kell’s arm slid around her shoulder, pulling her close. It felt so natural to be with him. Leah wondered how she’d lived all these years without him. But she wasn’t sure whether their relationship, which had taken root under the worst of circumstances, would continue to bloom once they arrived at the FOB. She felt tentative, yet hungered for what he effortlessly shared with her.
“Let’s go eat and then you can take your shower under that waterfall.”
As they ate, Leah asked, “What’s the plan for us?”
“We’re going to reach Camp Bravo by horseback.” Kell didn’t want to give her any more information than necessary. Leah was still working out the shock of the crash, and the news that her ex-husband was sticking his nose into her life once again. She was under a lot of ongoing stress. He could see the fragility in Leah’s eyes, although she didn’t say anything. She was a lot stronger than he’d given her credit for. Mentally, she was tough, and that’s where it counted. Anyone who could keep moving with painful leg cramps like she had gained his respect. With most people, it instantly crippled them and they fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
“How far is Bravo from here?” Leah remembered his face, the tight tension, the focus in his expression just before he killed the Taliban who had wandered into their cave. Now, Kell was relaxed, and it touched her deeply. Hayden always wore a game face and never let it down around her. Kell was himself around her. Not the SEAL. Not the military man. Just a Kentucky-bred boy whose natural warmth oozed out of him like warm honey in sunlight.
“Roughly twenty-five miles.”
“That’s not far.”
“No, but it’s not a straight shot, either. We’re going to be riding and making changes all the time, based upon what the drone sees. We have to avoid Taliban at all costs.”
“It’s dangerous.”
His mouth lifted a little. “Anything we do falls into that category, Sugar.”
She sighed and put the MRE aside after finishing it. “I’ve really been protected by being up in the sky.” She held Kell’s somber look. “It’s very different here on the ground.”
“It’s always a game of cat and mouse,” he agreed. Worse, because of intense Taliban activity, if they got into trouble, they were on their own. Kell was going to have to use his considerable experience over here, his knowledge of the land and mountains, to thread the eye of this particular needle and get them safely back to the forward operating base.
Leah leaned back against the protruding wall, her hands wrapped around her drawn-up knees. “Sometimes,” she admitted softly, “I don’t want to go back.” She saw Kell lift his head and study her. “I know it’s immature to say that. Since meeting you, my life has changed so dramatically. When we go back to Bravo, everything will change again. I won’t get to see you that often and I know it.”
“We’ll make it work, Leah. Don’t forget, I’m black ops.” Kell smiled a little. And then he became serious, placing his empty MRE aside. “You’ve given a lot of thought to us? About the fact you’re a warrant officer? If you ever get outed by someone in your squadron who discovers that you’re consorting with an enlisted man, it could hurt your career very badly. You’ve worked hard for years to get where you are.” He saw Leah nod, her expression placid, as if she were at peace with the threat.
“I’ve thought about it, Kell. I know the danger. The guys I’m with at Bravo have my back. It’s my ex-husband who doesn’t, but he’s at Bagram, thank God.”
“But you’re putting your entire career on the line.” Kell dug into her green eyes. As much as he wanted to continue to explore what they had, the price would be steep.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Leah teased, seeing the worry in his eyes, the concern in his voice.
“No. Not even.”
“This cuts both ways and you know it. What if your officers find out you’re in a relationship with an Army warrant officer?”
Kell shook his head. “SEALs operate differently. I’m not saying they’d like it. But as long as I do my job, I’m accountable to my team, they don’t care. If I were to flaunt it under their noses, that would get me in hot water. The team is everything, Leah. But if I do my job, keep us under wraps, they will look the other way.”
“Wish the Army had that live-and-let-live attitude, but they don’t.”
“No, and that’s why we really need to be sure of what’s going on between us. Because once we make it back to Bravo, you’ve got a thousand men watching you whether you like it or not. Not many women, especially good-looking women like you, are out here in the badlands. And that means we’re going to have to be extra careful, because if there’s fallout, it’s coming your way, not mine.”
She tipped her head back and listened to the music of the waterfall. “I’ll roll with it, Kell. Take it a day at a time.” She felt the danger of what could happen, how military regulations could tear them apart. Was she being wise? Foolhardy? Leah had taken very few risks in the emotional department with men. The three times she had, they had all ended in disaster.
Was she seeing Kell accurately? Would he change once they were back at Bravo? Hayden had seemed so warm and open to her until they’d gotten married, and then her life became a nightmare. Leah had thrown those experiences around, trying to compare those men to Kell. He was just so different from them that she felt hopeful. Maybe she was idealizing their relationship? Only time would tell.
Leah wasn’t going to rush into anything. Hayden had taught her that. They had time at Bravo to slowly move forward and she could, by being more mature, handle this relationship differently. Better.
“Your ex is gunning for you,” Kell warned, not wanting to say any more than that. “He could get one of the pilots at Bravo to watch you. Report back to him. If he found out we had a relationship, would he put you up on court-martial charges for it?”
She snorted. “Hayden is vindictive. He’s been wanting to trip me up for years, ever since he divorced me. He’s filled my father’s ears with all the things he can find that I’ve done wrong, and then he tattles on me.” Leah held his dark gaze. “I don’t care anymore, Kell. This crash has done something to me.” Leah hitched one shoulder upward. “I can’t put it into words. Since the crash, I just don’t care.”
“It’s shock,” he muttered. “It’s going to take you a month or more to shake it off. You almost died.” You should have died. But didn’t. And Kell knew better than anyone, because he’d cheated death too many times himself. It changed a person’s outlook forever. Usually, they realized it months after the event. With Leah, she was already there. “I don’t want you making snap decisions right now because of it,” he warned her. Kell had seen other team members, once they almost died, walk away. Quit. Others just sucked it up, internalized the experience and kept on moving forward. A person never knew what they’d do until it happened to them. In Leah’s case, she was reviewing her life as a pilot. Kell had no idea where it would lead or what Leah would decide because of it.
“I know.” She gave him a sad smile. “The past few days have been so different from the life I knew. It’s you, Kell. I know that. And I want you in my life. I want to explore what we have.” She opened her hands and added, “I know we haven’t had much time with one another, but I’m serious about you. Maybe I’m crazy. Maybe it’s that shock you’re talking about. I don’t know. What I do know is I want you in my life.”
Kell sat very still, listening to her impassioned words, absorbing her expression, the urgency underlying her admission. “I’m serious about you, too, Leah,” he said. He’d never expected in a million years that a woman would drop out of the sky, drop into his arms, and he’d fall
so damned hard for her, body and soul. “I don’t know where we’re going, either, Sugar. I want you in my life as much as possible. It’s going to be tough to do at Bravo. Most of the time, I’m out on missions for a day, maybe a few days, at a time. Sometimes longer. And you have your flight schedule, too.”
“Distance makes the heart grow fonder,” Leah said, giving him a tender look. Just the idea that their close intimacy with one another might be coming to an end, that she’d not have this with Kell at Bravo, made her heart ache. Leah had never felt so emotionally connected to a man in her life as she did with Kell. It was inexplicable. It was heady. Scary. And the future wasn’t bright. It looked like a minefield to her, and Kell realized the same thing. They were older, mature, and realistic about themselves and the issues confronting them. Leah knew it didn’t look good. But something deep was driving her toward him, not away from him.
“I’ll find ways for us to be together,” Kell assured her, and he saw her perk up and smile a little. He wasn’t going to tell Leah that he’d have her six, that he’d either watch out for her himself or one of his team members would. Kell was going to let Clutch and a few of his other SEAL brothers know the truth. If he was off on a mission, he was going to make damn sure Leah wasn’t left in the lurch, alone and possibly having to face Major Grant by herself if the bastard suddenly showed his face at Bravo to confront her.
One of his brothers would have her back, would protect her in his absence. That’s how SEALs worked; they protected those that they loved. Kell didn’t swerve from the word. He knew what love was; had had it once. But through his own mistakes, immaturity and from being gone so much, he’d lost Addy.
What he felt for Leah was even more powerful and life-altering. There hadn’t been time for him to absorb it all, or even work through his feelings toward her. One thing he did know, however, was that she was his woman and nothing else mattered. So long as she felt the same way toward him, the path was clear for both of them. But nothing was guaranteed and Kell knew that. Leah was right, they’d take it one day at a time once they got back to Bravo. He was unsure what the outcome would be.
Running Fire Page 17
