by Dell Sweet
~
When the sun began to peek over the top of the ridge on the opposite shore of the Hudson river, everyone filed out to the two remaining trucks. It had been decided that Conner and Jan would stay behind while the others went in search of the stolen truck. They switched on and tested two sets of F.M. radios.
“The range is normally only about two miles or so, but it’s not like there’s anything to interfere with them anymore,” Jake said. “We’ll take three with us, and you keep the other here to monitor us, or if they come back here,” Jake finished.
“Do you think that’s a possibility?” Janna Adams asked.
“I doubt it, dear,” James told her with a reassuring smile. “It’s just to be safe.”
Conner walked over to Katie. Her eyes met his. He kissed her softly, and her arms slipped around him.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered, “I’ll be careful. And I’ll make sure they’re careful.” She kissed him and pulled back.
Conner stared at the face of the two way radio for a long second and then watched her get into the Suburban. James got into the front seat with her. Her eyes met his once more, and she smiled reassuringly, then started the Suburban, and fell in behind Jake as he drove the big State truck out across the pavement.
Conner and Janna stood quietly as the two trucks drove away. Neither of them wanted to go back inside the factory. The sun was up and warming the old asphalt of the road where it passed in front of the factory, and what little snow remained was already beginning to melt.
“Left here,” The radio squawked. It sounded like Lydia.
“Behind you,” came an answer that sounded like James.
Conner shifted the 30-30 Deer rifle he held in one hand and thumbed off the strap that held his Nine Millimeter in his web holster. Janna Adams grimaced and then thumbed the safety off the shotgun she was holding. A short clip protruded from the base of the shotgun, just forward of the trigger. She had two more clips in a small pouch on her side, as well as a fully loaded three eighty in a tooled leather side holster she wore.
What must we look like, Conner thought. Aloud he said, “They’ll be fine.”
“Really?” Janna Adams asked. “I truly hope so. I truly do.”
