Follow the Tiger

by Cindy Combs

  However, Rose Nighthawk had no such reservations. As Cory pulled away, she stood on tiptoes to brush back his hair. "Another headache, grandson?"

  Cory sighed, then shrugged. "It comes and goes."

  "That's what happens with head injuries." She tucked her arm through his comfortingly. "It will get better."

  "I hope so."

  "I got your mail here," Dave told him as he turned around. "There's a big package from your sister."

  Cory smiled as he studied the box in Dave's arms. "Missy said she'd be sending me something." His little half-sister may not be the brightest bulb in the family, but she had the biggest heart.

  "Got some letters from Mark and Bill, too."

  For a moment, Cory met Dave's eyes. He wanted to ask if his father had sent anything. Reading the negative look in the older man's face, Cory felt his walls harden. Of course his father hadn't sent him anything -- that would mean that he actually cared. He mentally shook off the disappointment. At least his siblings had remembered him. "Mark should still be in Japan."

  Dave glanced at the return address of the letter, hiding his anger. Cory deserved better from his father. "Yes, Japan. His carrier in port?"

  "Yep. He should be getting his fill of sushi." Cory took the mail from Dave, barely glancing at the writing. His head hurt too much to read.

  Dave nodded, glancing at the stack of wood nearby. "Why don't I chop up some wood while I'm here?"

  Cory frowned. "You don't have to do that."

  "Doc said for you to be resting that knee," Dave replied, pointing at the brace.

  "And I want to hear what Bill has to say," Rose added sweetly. She led Cory into the cabin. Soon she had the young man sitting at the small table unloading his troubled dreams as she unloaded the basket.

  Cory ran a finger along the rim of his glass as he finished. "It doesn't make sense. What do a tiger and hawk have to do with anything?"

  At the sink, Rose's back had straightened as she listened. "An orange-striped tiger, honey?"

  "Yeah. Why?"

  Rose turned around. "No reason. However, I think you're right. It is a vision."

  Cory's eyes grew round. Even his headache couldn't extinguish his excitement. "Really? But why now? Is it about Colombia?"

  Rose shook her head. "Colombia is your past. This vision is about your future."

  "My future?"

  "I've always known you were special, you know." Rose brushed back a lock of hair from his dark eyes, noting the pain from his headache was still evident.

  Blinking from the apparent change of topic, Cory asked, "What do you mean?"

  "You'll find out soon. The Hawk will help you."

  Cory could feel his headache gaining strength. "The Hawk?"

  "Your companion."

  "Ah, with all due respect, Grandmother, the last thing I need right now is a wife."

  Rose laughed. "No, not that type of companion. I'm talking about another warrior like you. The one who will guard your back as you will guard his."

  "Then he's getting a bad deal. I'm obviously not too good with partners," Cory replied bitterly.

  "That is the past," Rose told him firmly. "A past you do not even remember. The Hawk is your future."

  Cory sighed. Grandmother believed that he couldn't have been at fault for what had gone wrong in Colombia. He wasn't so certain. "So now what do I do?"

  "You need to eat." Rose turned back to the sink. "And follow the tiger."

  "Follow the tiger?" Cory whispered, totally confused. Weren't visions suppose to make things clearer? He allowed his spinning head to sink to the table.

  Late afternoon, Los Angeles, CA

  "MacGyver?" Lisa Woodman pushed open the door, hoping she had the right place. The young woman, light brown hair pulled back in a long pony tail, hesitantly entered. Looking around, she couldn't help but smile. She could almost picture an old fire truck sitting in the open space two stories high. Walking towards the familiar Jeep parked in the center, she called again, "MacGyver!"

  A flash from the left turned her head in time to see Mac sliding down the pole. Lisa was delighted to see her friend, who was old enough to be her father, acting like a kid. "Now I know why you bought this place."

  MacGyver grinned widely as he walked over to give her a hug. "It has its charms."

  Lisa gave him a brilliant smile as she pulled back. "You know, most people buy houses to live in."

  "Ah, but that's not me," Mac pointed out.

  Lisa giggled, remembering when Mac had lived in a houseboat and a warehouse. "Nope, not you at all."

  "So, ready for the grand tour?"

  "Sure, but remember we need to leave soon to meet Nikki at the airport."

  A contented smile stretched across MacGyver's face as he pointed at his luggage and equipment. "I'm all ready. Did you remember to keep anything smelling like food separate from the rest of your gear?"

  Lisa nodded. "Trust me, the last thing I want to meet on this trip is a bear." Glancing around again, she asked, "How many rooms to this place?"

  Mac shrugged as he led her towards the back. "Five bedrooms, two and a half baths, a kitchen, dining room, living room," he waved around them, "and a great work room."

  Lisa chuckled in agreement. "But that's a lot of room for just you, or even you and Sam."

  "I know." Mac paused, his foot on the bottom step of the stairs. "But this just feels right somehow. Besides, you never know. It'll make things easier if Blair and or maybe Jim come down for Christmas." Shaking off the feeling, Mac continued the tour.

  Early evening, Cascade International Airport

  "...So he's all locked up, we've finished the paperwork, and now I'm ready for a vacation." Blair declared, waving his fork.

  Jim swallowed a bite of his hamburger. "At least as much of a vacation as we can have looking for lost loot."

  "Jim, it'll be an adventure! Just us, out in the sun..."

  "One hundred degrees plus sun."

  "Trekking over hill and dale..."

  "More like rocky mountains and steep ravines."

  "Out in the wild..."

  "With the bears and rattlesnakes."

  Sam snickered. "I thought you wanted to go on this trip, Jim?"

  "I do. But I'm looking at it realistically."

  Blair just shook his head. "No sense of adventure, man."

  "We get enough adventure chasing after bad guys, Chief. I'm just hoping for a couple of days under a shady tree with beer and a book."

  "Well, we do have a week. Hopefully, we won't be searching for the Hanson gang hideout the whole time." Blair turned to his brother. "When do you have to get back?"

  Sam concentrated on his wrapper, wiping up the last of the ketchup with a French fry. "I don't."

  "What?" Blair stared at his brother while Jim focused all his attention on him, too.

  Sam shrugged. "Let's just say my last talk with my editor didn't go well."

  "He fired you?" Blair asked, anger rising in his voice.

  "No, I resigned first." Sam's head rose to meet his brother's eyes. "I've had it, Indy. All that guy wants is to dig through the mud for the ugliest rumors he can find, substantiated or not. I wanted to be a journalist to help people, not ruin people who may not deserve it."

  Blair sighed. "I can understand that."

  "What are you going to do now?" Jim inquired.

  "Not sure yet. I can always be an independent stringer again, but I'm not sure that's what I want, either."

  "Not all news agencies and editors are like that jerk," Blair pointed out.

  "Maybe. But I'm tired of being the objective observer on the sidelines. I want to make a difference."

  "You do make a difference," Blair assured him.

  Glancing between his brother and his friend, Sam shrugged. "Maybe. But I see you two taking an active part in helping people. Dad's been putting his life on the line for decades to help people. Maybe it's about time I did, too."

  Eyes narrowing, Blair's voice lowe
red an octave. "You're not thinking about taking Larabee up on his offer to join the ATF, are you?" Sam smirked at him. "Sa-am."

  "Why not?" Sam chuckled as Blair's eyes grew narrower. "Honest, Blair, I'm not really sure yet. ATF's just one option. I've had an open offer at Phoenix for awhile now, and a friend at National Geographic said I could pick up an assignment with them."

  Jim tilted his head. "Like one of those pieces on tribesmen in another country?"

  "Exactly. I just need some down time to think."

  Jim nodded. "Sounds like a sensible plan."

  Blair was still studying his brother worriedly. "Does Dad know yet?"

  Sam shook his head. "Figured I'd tell him tonight."

  "Sounds like another quoting Harry discussion."

  Looking into his brother's eyes, Sam asked, "Is that good or bad?"

  "Definitely good. He gave me some good advice after my disaster." Blair reached over the table to squeeze his brother's shoulder. "You know, Olsen, I'm behind you no matter what you decide to do, right?"

  Sam soaked in his brother's sincerity. "Thanks."

  Jim glanced at his watch. "We need to head for the gate." He gently tousled Sam's hair as they stood, silently lending his own support.

  Three hours later, Cheyenne, WY

  "There he is," Jim pointed out to his younger companions as they exited the gate area.

  Blair smiled and gave his father an exaggerated wave. MacGyver waved back as he walked towards them, Lisa Woodman and Nikki Carpenter trailing behind him. After giving both sons a hug, Mac held out his hand to Jim. "How was your flight?"

  "Not bad," Sam replied, giving Lisa a hug as well. "Yours?"

  "A bit bumpy over the Rockies, but not bad," Lisa replied.

  "Everyone looking forward to a week of adventure?" Nikki asked.

  Jim, Sam, and Blair all looked at each other and started to snicker. "At least two of us are," Blair explained. "Jim wants a beer and a book."

  "Under a shade tree," Sam added.

  Jim just gave the two a playful glare.

  MacGyver chuckled. "We'll have to see what we can arrange. How long do you have?"

  Again, the three men looked at each other, only more seriously. "Jim and I have a week," Blair responded.

  Sam draped his arm around his father's shoulders. "And I need to tell you something."

  Mac shot his son a penetrating look. "What do you need to tell me?"

  "Well..." Sam started, leading his father towards baggage claims.

  Lisa lifted her head to look at Jim and Blair. "What's up?"

  "Sam quit the newspaper," Blair explained.

  "Well, that's not unexpected." Lisa sighed as they turned to follow Mac and Sam. "Sam's been fighting with that new editor from day one."

  Nikki looked at Sam's back thoughtfully. "I need to remind him about the Phoenix offer. I'd love to have him working for me."

  "Better work fast," Blair chuckled. "Sam's still got that offer from the ATF on his mind."

  "Oh, that'll go over real well with MacGyver," Lisa commented worriedly.

  "Sam's aware of that, too." Jim gave the girl a smile. "Shouldn't you be out on a boat somewhere?"

  Lisa laughed. "Pretty weird place for a marine biologist starting her doctorate, right?"

  Jim smiled again. "Not too many oceans in Wyoming."

  "The 'Tidal Pool' is in dock getting some work done. We won't be going out for another three weeks, and the prep works mostly done. Besides, after having memorized that map a couple of years ago, I'm curious to actually see where it leads. Since it only cost the plane ticket and the money we chipped in for food, why not?"

  "Agree." Jim looked ahead to see Mac comfortingly wrap his arm around Sam's neck and squeeze. Apparently, the 'Harry talk' was progressing well. "Where's Dr. Hudson?"

  "He's bringing the Suburban around," Nikki explained.

  "Yeah," Lisa giggled, "he and MacGyver have already had a discussion over some of the equipment. We even went to an Army supply store before you guys arrived."

  Blair lifted an eyebrow. "How come?"

  "MacGyver kept asking if Rick had brought certain things," Lisa explained.

  Nikki chuckled. "Which has to be a first; MacGyver wanting to BRING more stuff instead of just going with whatever's available."

  "Very true." Lisa's smile grew bigger. "Though I have to admit that water containers sound like a big item to me."

  "Me, too," Blair agreed. "So I take it Rick's not up on planning such a big trip?"

  Nikki shrugged. "I'd say eager but inexperienced. Most of his knowledge is from 19th century records. It's probably a good thing MacGyver made out the menu, or we'd be eating beef jerky."

  "Sounds good to me," Sam interjected as he joined the group. Jim noted that he was at ease, meaning the talk with Mac had ended favorably.

  "You say that now," Mac returned, walking in behind Sam. "But by the third meal you would have been complaining." He glanced at the baggage carousel. "Here comes your luggage."

  Soon, the three in from Cascade had their bags and Nikki led the party to the exit.

  Looking over the girls' heads, Jim spotted a silver Suburban pull up to the curb, gear already tied on the top. A blond man about Blair's height and Mac's age jumped out. "We got everybody?"

  "All here and accounted for," Mac replied. He waved a hand at Sam. "This is my son, Sam. That's my other son, Blair," he gestured at Blair, then tilted his head, "And this is Blair's partner, Jim."

  "Great to finally meet you all." Rick vigorously shook first Sam's, then Jim's hand.

  Blair took his hand last. "We've been looking forward to this, too, Dr. Hudson."

  Rick waved his hand. "Just call me Rick, or Dr. Rick as my students call me."

  "Dr. Rick," Blair grinned.

  The man then rubbed his hands together. "I've got us booked into the Sheridan for tonight. Figured we could start fresh tomorrow."

  Jim nodded his head. "Sounds like a good idea."

  "Then we can go find out how men tamed the West," Blair joked.

  "Actually, it was the women who tamed the West," Rick explained as he opened the sliding door. "Between accidents, fights, heart attacks, and other fatal incidents, men only lasted five to seven years out here on average. It was usually the women who then picked up the pieces and continued on."

  "Really?" Lisa asked, surprised.

  "Oh, yes. Did you know that Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote? Though some said that was just to attract women to homestead..."

  Rick continued to lecture as they piled into the Suburban. Before climbing in, Sam lifted an eyebrow at Jim, horror lurking in his eyes. Use to Blair's lecturing, Jim just gave a commiserating shrug before giving Sam a push in.

  Next morning, Bill Nighthawk's cabin

  A knock on the door raised Cory's face from his laptop. "Hey, Neil," a voice called out.

  Cory smiled as he called back, "Hey, Tobe."

  Deputy Toby Nighthawk walked through the door carrying a sack. "How's the big city guy doing?"

  "Glad to be out in the country." It had been nearly a year since he had last seen Toby, but it always felt like it had been just last week. Cory closed the lid of the laptop. "What's in the sack?"

  Chuckling, Toby opened the fridge. "Chicken, green bean salad, and Mom's peanut butter pie."

  "Yum." Cory stood up to watch Toby shove it inside. "Though you didn't need to. Grandmother brought some stuff yesterday."

  "Yeah, I did." Toby closed the refrigerator door. He walked over to the table, pulling out a chair and dropping into it. "Grandmother mentioned to Mom that you'd lost weight and she's worried you're not eating. So Mom decided that even if you didn't eat anything else, you'd eat her peanut butter pie." As he talked, Toby covertly studied his longtime friend. Cory did look pale and withdrawn. He was going to have to do something about that.

  "She's got that right. I love her peanut butter pie." Sitting back down, Cory couldn't hold back a slight groan.
r />   Toby frowned. "Knee or ribs?" He knew it wasn't a headache, since Cory had been on his computer.

  "Ribs are almost healed."

  "Knee?" Watching Cory grimace as he lifted his leg to rest on another chair, Toby frowned. "Dave said he didn't understand why the docs didn't just go in and repair it before you left DC."

  "They thought it may get better if I just rested it. And to be honest, it was doing better until this morning."

  "You pushing it?"

  "No." Cory decided he'd better change the subject. "So, when did you get back from your training session?"

  "Yesterday."

  Maintaining a straight face, Cory inquired, "Seen the lovely Miss Rhodes lately?"

  Toby stared at the ceiling. "Maybe."

  A deep chuckle rumbled from his friend. "You propose yet?"

  "I'm getting there." Toby's teasing glare turned worried. "As long as I don't get any outside interference."

  "From who?"

  Toby sighed. "There's a historian here from Florida with a group to look for that old Hanson gang loot."

  "You mean the one we searched for that summer when we were twelve and got lost?"

  "And I sprained my ankle on that loose rock?"

  "And your dad, Dave, and Bill had to rescue us?"

  "Yep, that's the one."

  "So you're worried about Jill falling for a historian?"

  "No, one of them is an international photojournalist. He and his family were here a couple of years ago, and Jill is fascinated by him."

  Cory struggled against a smile. "So? My Aunt Suzanne has had a crush on Robert Redford ever since I can remember, and she still married George."

  Toby glared at him. "Your aunt never actually met Robert Redford."

  "Same thing, Tobe. Why would Jill go after some international star? She loves Fortuity and her dad's newspaper. If she wanted to leave, she would have done it by now." Cory sighed. "Besides, there's something to be said for small, quiet American towns."

  The moment weighed heavy in the silence. "What happened?"

  "Didn't the moccasin telegraph fill you in?"

  "I haven't heard it from you, Neil."

  The warmth of the familiar nickname tipped the balance. Cory and Toby had been friends since they were four, the year Cory lived with Bill's family. Even with all of Cory's moving, Toby was the one person he had stayed in touch. He was someone Cory could confess anything to and not be rejected. "That's the problem, Tobe. I don't remember much of it."