It was then Megan realized the group wasn't completely meshed. They still had this natural division between old and new. It wasn't on purpose, but she was still learning to trust the new people. She trusted Chase, Jack and Wyatt with her life. She wasn't quite prepared to rely on the others just yet.
“Did you hear that?” Megan asked in the darkness, as a gunshot echoed.
“Yes,” Wyatt replied. “It was just one. Who knows, it could have been McDaniels shooting another one of his men.”
That didn't exactly make her feel better, but she accepted the explanation. One less man they had to kill.
Several times throughout the night, they heard gunshots. Megan knew they couldn't be hunting. Either the men were shooting each other or shooting for fun. Neither option was very comforting.
She lay awake most of the night. When she heard the birds start singing, her initial reaction was to stay right where she was. Comfy and safe. She knew it wasn't an option, but for a moment, she allowed herself to appreciate the feeling.
“Wyatt,” she whispered, trying not to wake everyone in the shelter.
“I'm awake,” he said.
“It's almost dawn.”
He yawned. “I know.”
He didn't move. Megan began to wonder if he had changed his mind.
She was about to say something when he squeezed her hand, “I need you to know I love you. If things go bad and I tell you to run, you better do it. Do not try to save me or anyone else. You get out of there as fast as you can.”
Her breath hitched in her throat at the thought of him dying.
“I will,” she said, even though she knew she wouldn't. She would not leave him to die. Never.
“Megan,” he growled, he clearly didn't buy it.
“I will do what I can to save myself,” she said again, still refusing to say the word promise.
“You know she won't, Wyatt. Don't waste your breath,” Jack said softly.
Megan was instantly on alert. He sounded weak, as if speaking required more energy than he had.
She found her flashlight and shone it on Jack.
She gasped when she saw him.
“Jack!”
“I'm fine. I just need a minute.”
“Take your pants off. Let me see your leg,” she demanded.
He guffawed, “Brother, do you hear your woman demanding I take off my pants?”
Wyatt didn't laugh, “Do what she says. I want to see as well.”
Jack grimaced.
“I'll be okay. It's just a little infected.”
“Do it, Jack,” Wyatt growled.
Jack shimmied under the sleeping bag for a few minutes. Megan could see the pain on his face every time he moved.
“There.”
Megan shone the light on his thigh. The sight of the injury made her nauseated. A bright red area all the way around the cut was a bad sign. It was swollen. A horrible yellowish ooze was leaking from the area Rosie had left open. Megan covered her mouth and nose when the putrid smell reached her.
Coughing, she took a shallow breath. “Jack, why didn't you say something? This isn't good. I'll get Brenda. She needs to see this.”
Wyatt stared at the leg without saying a word.
“She knows,” Jack managed to get out. He laid his head back on the pillow, taking deep breaths.
“And what did she say?” Wyatt asked.
“Not much to say. It’s infected and not healing like it should.”
Wyatt clearly didn't believe him.
“I need some fresh air,” Jack said suddenly. He flipped the blanket back over and quickly pulled up his pants.
He didn't take the time to button them before he stumbled out of the shelter. Megan knew the situation was dire when she heard him vomiting.
She thought back to last night and throughout the day. Jack hadn't eaten a thing.
“It's bad, isn't it?” she looked at Wyatt.
His mouth was set in a grim line.
He nodded his head.
Chase sat up. He had been on the other side of Jack.
“He knew this trip would be tough, but he’s stubborn. Your mom tried to tell him he needed to rest and let his body heal, but he wouldn't listen. Brenda told him it was badly infected. She used the word ‘septic’.”
“Why didn't she tell me?” Wyatt half-yelled.
“Jack made her promise not to. They didn't want to worry you.”
“You knew?” he looked at Chase with anger and hurt in his eyes.
“I found out yesterday. I accidentally walked in on them bandaging it. They made me promise not to say anything. Willow doesn't know how bad it is,” Chase explained. “Jack really wanted to be a part of this. He said he couldn't sit back while his family was at risk.”
Wyatt shook his head, “That is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. He never could do the smart thing.”
Evan popped his head in, “We're ready when you are.”
Megan's stomach dropped and heat flooded her body as she realized it was time to head into war.
“You good?” Evan asked.
She nodded, “Yep, ready to get this over with and get back home to my baby.”
They decided to leave the shelters. The extra weight of the tarps would only be a hindrance. If they were successful, they wouldn't need the shelters. If they failed, well, they wouldn’t need the blankets.
Jack was leaning against a tree when Megan emerged from the tent. He offered her a wane smile.
She went to him, “You should have told me, Jack. You didn't have to push yourself so hard.”
He smiled, “I wasn't going to miss out on this. Besides, I owe somebody for this,” he said gesturing to his leg.
“Okay, be careful, please.”
“I will. Now, let's get this done.”
Everyone headed towards the road that would lead to their victory; or their doom.
Bryan had decided to take on the role of cheerleader. “We can do this guys. Tonight, we will be back at the lodge. Finally, safe.”
No one bothered to respond. Each of them was focused on the task at hand knowing full well his words held no real guarantees. They were walking into a battle that offered very little chance of a roaring success story.
It was David versus Goliath, but the happy ending wasn't a guarantee.
29
They spread out in a semi-circle around the massive stone house. With a fine rain falling, it created an eerie mist around the home. Megan took a moment to take it all in. It was a gorgeous home. A curved staircase with high stone walls led to an upstairs deck. Massive wood doors gave the home the look of a real medieval fortress. It was spectacular.
She imagined the home was at least twice, maybe three times as big as the lodge. It sprawled out over the property and the height of the home suggested both floors had high, vaulted ceilings. The dark wood that surrounded the windows and doors created a dramatic look against the stone walls.
This is the kind of home she envisioned some Hollywood celebrity living in. Three sides were surrounded by trees. What was probably once a gorgeous manicured lawn could still be made out in front of the home. The landscaping was beautiful. She was going to hate to destroy it, but if it meant ridding the earth of the vile creatures inside, so be it.
She studied the house and realized it was probably impenetrable as well. Wyatt had said he remembered the supplies were on the bottom floor. Maybe they could set the dynamite on one end and preserve the food that was hopefully still tucked away.
The upstairs deck was one of the many vantage points. Off to the left, there was another smaller deck that would allow a person to see three sides. A similar deck on the opposite side would provide the same vantage point.
“What do you think?” Megan whispered to Wyatt.
“We need to get a little closer to see if anyone is up and about.”
He put his hand up in the air and pointed towards the house.
The group advanced, making sure to move slowly
and to keep to the trees as much as possible. Once they crossed the tree line in front of the home, they would be completely exposed. That meant they would have to flank the home, leaving the front uncovered.
As they got closer, Megan nearly laughed at what she saw.
Now she knew what the gunshots had been. The men had clearly had a wild night.
“Beer cans?” Evan said in disbelief. “Who has beer? I want a beer.”
Megan rolled her eyes. Of course, that’s what he chose to focus on.
She blinked a few times. She had thought a shirt was hanging through the rails of the top deck. It was a shirt all right, but the shirt had an arm in it and the arm was attached to a large man passed out on the deck.
“Seriously?” she said under her breath.
“This could be very good for us. I don't see any movement. They’re hopefully all still drunk or in too bad a shape to fight back,” Wyatt said, sounding a little more upbeat.
“Look,” Megan said pointing to several rifles propped up in the corner of the deck.
Chase pulled out a pair of small binoculars to get a better look.
“It's those damn ARs,” he said. “They must have an arsenal in there.”
Wyatt stood, put his hand in the air again and motioned for everyone to move back.
They retreated back into the forest.
“We need a plan,” Wyatt started. “It’s obvious that place is easy to defend. I'm guessing there are men ready to take their places at each corner of the house and we know they’re armed with semi-automatic weapons. We’re only going to have one shot at this.”
There were several ideas tossed around about how best to approach but given their small group size and with the sun rising quickly, they needed to decide fast. Ultimately, it was decided to use the dynamite to blow up the arches in the front of the house. The arches would bring down the top deck and possibly cause more damage to the structural integrity of the house.
If they could just bring the house down on top of the men inside, it would make their battle short and sweet and almost a guaranteed success.
“I'll stay on the front side,” Jack said. “If anyone comes out the front, I will take them out.”
Megan looked at him, “Jack, the front is completely open. You would be extremely vulnerable.”
“I’ll set up on the other side of the yard in that thicket. I can use the rifle to pick them off one at a time. They won't see me.”
She didn't want to point out the obvious—the men would figure out he was there and spray the area with bullets.
“We have to have that area covered and I am not going to be able to run around much. This is the best place for me,” he said in a voice that said he was done arguing.
“Fine,” she said not thrilled with the plan, but accepting it for what it was.
Chase, Evan and Garrett volunteered to cover the back of the house.
Wyatt and Megan would be on the right with Greg and Brenda on the left.
“Bryan, you set the dynamite and then join Greg and Brenda,” Wyatt instructed.
He looked at Megan, “You sure you are okay with putting the dynamite out?”
Megan's job was to set the dynamite under the arches in front of the double-car garage and then get back to safety. The blast would drop the deck on that side, which would give them an entry point to the home.
She nodded. How hard could it be? Albert had explained how to attach the blasting cap and the fuse could be lit with a lighter or match. Since she was so much smaller, she felt better about lighting a stick of dynamite with Wyatt covering her rather than the other way around.
Everyone voiced their agreement with the plan.
“The fog,” Megan gestured around them. “How are we going to see clearly?”
The fog continued to grow and thicken, which could work in their favor but could also make shooting the right people a little tricky.
“Everyone knows their positions. Shoot anyone that comes out of that house. Our main goal is Connor McDaniels. We take him out and we’ll create a power vacuum. They’ll implode. We don't retreat or call it quits until he is dead,” Chase reiterated. “We’re close enough that you should be able to see clearly. Before we split up, everyone look at what everyone else is wearing. Remember that before you take a shot.”
Brenda was all business, checking her weapon, tucking in her shirt and tightening the laces on her boots. Megan watched her and realized she should probably do the same. The woman was a trained soldier. If she was double checking her laces, Megan was going to, as well.
“Guys, if things look bad, like we don't have a chance of succeeding, get out. Go to the bug-out cabin—not the lodge. Albert radioed earlier, he is taking the kids to the cabin today to be on the safe side,” Wyatt said.
“Did something happen?” Megan asked, instantly worried about Caitlin.
“No, he thinks it would be wise, in case some of these guys break away and make a run for the lodge. It's a smart move. They'll be safer there.”
Everyone agreed.
“Let's move,” Wyatt ordered.
As they approached, Wyatt turned back to Jack who was limping behind. “Keep your eyes on that garage. We may not be able to take them all out if they leave on ATVs. No one escapes.”
Jack was out of breath already. “Got it.”
Megan fell back to walk with Jack. “Are you sure you are up for this?”
“Yep, I'm okay, Megan. We get through this and then you better believe when we get home I am lying in bed and Willow will be waiting on me hand and foot.”
Megan giggled, “Sure she will. She’s going to be kicking your butt for not telling her how bad your wound is.”
He winked. “She is a lot of fun when she's mad.”
Megan touched his arm, “Jack, please be careful. Watch your back. You aren't going to be able to run, so give yourself a head start if we have to get out of there fast.”
“We aren't going to be running. We are going to do fine. You have to believe it. Don't be putting any bad juju into the air by being negative.”
“Take care of yourself, Jack,” she told him before speeding up and falling into step by Wyatt.
Everyone split off to get in position. Bryan carried the dynamite to the edge of the garage and waited to hear the bird call announcing all was clear. They couldn't afford tipping off the men inside. They had one chance. One shot to use surprise to their advantage. Bryan crouched down and crab-walked to the giant stone arches. Megan watched as he laid a stick of dynamite at the base. She was a little sad to destroy such a beautiful piece of architecture, but it had to be done.
She got busy putting her own stick into place and pulling out a lighter—then she heard heavy footsteps above. Someone was coming out on the small deck.
She had two choices, run now or, light the dynamite and then run. If she delayed, the person might see her. If she didn't light the dynamite, the entire plan would be ruined.
With her decision made, she bent down and used her lighter to ignite the fuse on the stick of dynamite. Knowing Wyatt was watching and would shoot the man if she was spotted. She crouched low and rushed back to the hiding spot next to Wyatt.
They watched as the man, threw open the doors to the upstairs room. He was shirtless and smoking a cigarette. The glow of the cigarette was like a beacon in the dawn light, shrouded by the swirling mist. He walked to the edge, scratched himself and then started to urinate over the side. He stumbled to the right and his clumsiness knocked over a semi-full beer can, causing it to dump out over the side onto the stick of dynamite, effectively extinguishing it.
She looked to Wyatt, “Now what?”
“Plan B.”
“Plan B? What is Plan B?” she was frantic. They didn't have a second plan. “Wyatt, what are we doing?”
Just then another man opened the side door of the garage on the ground floor. He too looked in rough shape. He was carrying a rifle slung over one shoulder.
“Quit pissing
off the porch, man,” he said with frustration.
The guy up above chuckled, “Watch where you're walking.”
The man below directed the beam of a flashlight to the area where the urine pooled.
“What the?”
“What?” the man above said leaning over the railing.
Megan froze. He had found the dynamite.
Their surprise was blown. Megan started to panic. They wouldn't walk out of here alive if they didn't have the element of surprise.
Wyatt whistled. It was the signal for the attack.
Megan looked towards the front of the house. The dynamite hadn't exploded.
“Take cover,” Wyatt said in a low voice.
She saw what at first appeared to be a shooting star, but it was far too close to the ground.
It was a stick of lit dynamite. It was sparking and creating a spectacular display. Before it hit the ground it exploded. The front of the house crumbled in places, but the stone was solid. What would have leveled a typical home barely did any damage to the fortress in front of her.
The sound of the explosion rang in her ears.
The smoke and the mayhem that followed left her stunned. There were men pouring out of the home, firing weapons in every direction.
Wyatt was shooting every few seconds. The sound of the gunshots made the ringing in her ears even worse.
“You good?” Wyatt shouted over the bedlam unfolding below.
She stared at him, watching as he pulled the trigger over and over. She was enthralled with how methodical he was. It mesmerized her; much like a fire dancing did to anyone that allowed themselves to be hypnotized by the flames.
“Megan! Shoot!”
Her vision cleared and everything was blissfully silent. It felt like she was in a bubble. She aimed her rifle and pulled the trigger.
Bullets were spraying the hillside all around the house.
“Watch yourself, Megan!” he shouted sinking into the ground to protect himself from the bullets.
She quickly imitated his actions and hoped the ground would swallow her up.
Megan couldn't believe she hadn't been shot yet. There were bullets peppering the area where she and Wyatt were hunkered down.
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 56
