by Victor Zugg
Taylor, lounged in an overstuffed chair, opened his eyes and rubbed his face. “What’s up?” he asked with a yawn.
“Going to check on Elliot—he’s still not back.”
“I’ll come with,” Taylor said. He got to his feet and picked up Sam’s rifle.
Tiff opened the front door just as the Hummer pulled to a stop in front of the cabin. She walked over and met Sam as he stepped from the passenger seat. Taylor ambled up but stood well behind Tiff.
“Did you guys run into trouble?” Tiff asked.
“Yes,” Sam replied. “It’s headed our way, but we need to talk about something else.”
“Can it wait?” She asked. “Elliot’s not back and I’m on my way to find him.”
Sam walked over and put his hand on Tiff’s shoulder. “Already found him.” Sam clenched his jaw.
Tiff gazed at Sam’s eyes. “What… where—“
Sam raised his hand to cut her off. “A hundred yards down; he’s dead.”
“We didn’t hear anything last night,” she said. “How’s that possible?”
Chet stepped up. “He wasn’t shot.”
Tiff glanced at Sam and then Chet with a questioning look. “If he wasn’t shot—how then?”
“His neck was broken,” Sam said. “I’m really sorry, Tiff.”
Tiff took off running down the drive. Sam grabbed his rifle from Taylor and then followed Tiff down the drive and down the road. Tiff rushed through the brush at the side of the road to Elliot lying in sight. She dropped to her knees next to his body. Sam rushed up right behind her.
Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I don’t get it,” she said choking up. “Why would Jones kill Elliot and then not attack the cabin?”
“I don’t think it was Jones,” Sam replied. “He was busy most of the night with Chet and me back in town.”
Tiff looked up at Sam. “Who then?”
“I don’t know,” Sam answered. “All I know is someone was able to approach Elliot in the dark and disarm him before he could get a shot off.”
Tiff shook her head back and forth as she looked down at Elliot.
“Tiff, I’m sorry about Elliot,” Sam said. “But Jones is on his way and we need to get ready.”
Tiff stood up and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She paused a few moments with her head down. Then she looked up and started walking out of the brush. She stopped when she got to the edge of the road and looked back at Sam who was following close behind. “We need to bury him.”
“We will, but right now we need to get ready for Jones and his band of shitheads,” Sam said.
Sam stepped up on the pavement and then began jogging toward the cabin. Tiff sauntered a few steps and then started jogging behind him.
Charlie, Emma, Taylor, and Chet were standing next to the Hummer when Sam and Tiff ran up.
“Chet told us what happened to Elliot,” Charlie said, as he and Emma wrapped their arms around Tiff.
“That’s just it, what did happen?” Tiff mumbled.
“We’ll figure it out, but right now we need a plan,” Sam said. “Jones will likely be arriving any time and I don’t expect him to drive up to the front door.”
“He’s probably working his way through the woods as we stand here,” Chet added.
Sam glanced around the compound. “We’ll be sitting ducks if we stay in this cabin,” he said. “They’ll burn it while we’re in there. We need to meet them before they get to the cabin.”
“What do you have in mind?” Charlie asked.
Sam glanced at the bow in Charlie’s hand. “What kind of range do you get with that thing?”
“I can hit most things at a hundred yards,” Charlie replied. “Not too good beyond that.”
Chet scratched his beard while Sam did a full hand rub of his face.
After a few moments, Sam looked at Charlie. “Okay, you and Chet take a position up the road a hundred yards in the trees on the left side. Whether they drive in or walk in you should be in a good spot to come up behind them. You’ll need to load up on ammo and arrows.”
Charlie and Chet nodded.
“What about me?” Tiff asked.
Sam walked to the Hummer and retrieved Elliot’s rifle. He handed the rifle and the 5.56 magazines to Taylor and then pointed to him and Tiff.
“How about if you two wait at the rear of the property, down by the stream? Whether they come from the north or south, you’ll be able to flank them. Expect them from the north but stay alert.”
Tiff and Taylor nodded.
“And me?” Emma asked.
Sam turned his attention to Emma. “If you’re okay with loading magazines, I’d like to have you in the cabin with me.”
“I can do that,” Emma said.
“Okay, load up with ammo, water, and something to eat,” Sam said. “It might be a long day. And then take your positions. I’ll put the Hummer in the garage.”
“How many are coming,” Tiff asked.
“From what Chet and I saw, they started out with fifteen last night. We were able to drop that to ten. But there could be more.”
As everyone turned away to head into the cabin, Sam took a long look at Taylor. Taylor glanced back at Sam and caught his gaze. The corners of his mouth turned up with a smirk just before he turned his head back to the cabin. Sam clenched his jaw and kept his gaze on Taylor as he walked away.
CHAPTER 24
Tiff and Taylor hunkered down at water’s edge behind the embankment. From their position, Tiff could see the clearing north of the cabin and pump house along with the tree line.
“Are you going to say something?” Taylor asked.
Tiff focused on the clearing. “First of all, keep your voice down,” she replied in a low tone. “Beyond that, what would you like me to say?”
“I can tell you’re upset,” Taylor said. “Look, I’m sorry about Elliot.”
Tiff jerked her head toward Taylor. “Are you? Really?” She jerked her head back to the clearing.
“Of course, he seemed like a nice guy,” Taylor said.
Tiff glanced down the embankment. “We need to move farther north, more into the tree line.” She got to a low crouch and started moving north along the embankment.
Taylor followed. “You act like it’s my fault or something,” he said.
Tiff stopped, turned, and looked straight into Taylor’s eyes. “Shut the hell up and pay attention. Got it?” she said in a low but stern voice.
“Got it,” Taylor said.
Tiff turned and continued down the embankment. They settled into a spot twenty yards farther up, just beyond where the tree line met the embankment. A large dead oak, probably taken down by a storm, had fallen across the bank giving them partial cover from the south and from the other side of the stream. Tiff and Taylor nestled into the natural cubby-hole provided by the tree trunk and the embankment. She raised her head above the embankment and surveyed her field of fire. From here she had a better view into the woods and she could still see the clearing leading up to the cabin. She motioned for Taylor to turn around and keep his eyes toward the trees on the other side of the stream. Taylor spun around, resumed a sitting position, and leaned his back against the embankment.
Tiff took a water bottle from a canvas bag, unscrewed the top, and was in the process of raising the bottle when a twig snapped in the distance, from the woods in front of her. She peeked over the embankment but saw nothing. She screwed the cap back on and replaced the water bottle. Taylor started to spin around. Tiff stopped him with her hand and then motioned with her fingers to keep his eyes on the other side of the stream.
***
Charlie peeked around the tree trunk. “Movement,” he whispered.
Chet glanced at where Charlie was looking and then peered around his own tree trunk. No movement. “You sure?” he asked in a low voice.
“I think so, but now it’s gone.”
Chet scanned the trees and brush on the other side of the road. Something cau
ght his eye. “Shithead due east moving toward the cabin.”
“Shithead?”
“Bad guy,” Chet replied.
Charlie looked due east. “Got him. Now what?
“We wait until they are past us,” Chet replied.
Chet continued his survey of the trees. He spotted three men skulking through the brush. He was wondering where the rest of Jones’ men were when he heard the snap—from the forest behind him.
Chet caught Charlie’s attention with a slight hand motion. Charlie glanced over and was about to say something. Chet put his finger to his lips and then pointed to their rear. Chet dropped to a squat, then to his knees, then prone on the ground. Charlie did the same. Chet then crawled to the nearest bush behind him and slowly separated the branches and leaves. About thirty-five yards out, Chet saw three more men creeping from cover to cover. He looked back at Charlie who was on the ground in front of his original tree. Chet figured Charlie would not be able to crawl with his bow and quiver of arrows without making noise so Chet turned and crawled to Charlie.
“Three men,” Chet whispered. “Thirty-five yards out.”
Charlie nodded.
“Can you take them with your bow?”
Charlie nodded and started to rise up. Chet stopped him with his hand.
“We need to wait until they are a little past our position,” Chet said.
Chet checked the forest on the other side of the road. After a few moments, he had the three men in sight. They were still moving toward the cabin. That made six he had been able to spot so far.
After a couple of minutes, Chet crawled back to the bush and looked through the branches and leaves. The three men he saw before were much farther down, almost fifty yards out. Chet motioned for Charlie to join him.
Charlie crouched low and stepped carefully holding his bow in one hand and the quiver of arrows in the other. He joined Chet at the bush. Chet gave hand signals to indicate the relative position and distance. Charlie then moved to the closest large tree.
Chet watched as Charlie put his right arm through the quiver strap and then raised the strap over his head to position the arrows on his right hip. He pulled an arrow, placed it on the bowstring, and set the shaft in the slot.
Chet moved to an adjacent tree and brought his rifle up pointed in the direction of the three men. He then motioned for Charlie to proceed.
Charlie pulled the arrow back and paused for a moment while he took aim.
***
The north side of the cabin had only one window. Sam knelt at that window, in the family room, with the blanket pulled back just enough to give him a view of the clearing and tree line to the north. He took his time and focused on the details about every five degrees of the hundred or so degree arc. Nothing. He looked back at Emma in the dull light, standing in the middle of the room wringing her hands together. Finally, she unclasped her hands.
“Sorry, never been very good at waiting,” she said. “And I’m worried about Charlie.”
“Chet knows what he’s doing,” Sam said. “Charlie will be fine.”
“What can I do?” Emma asked.
“How about if you check the view from the bedrooms and kitchen,” he said. “Let me know if you see any movement.”
Emma left the room.
Sam resumed his scrutiny of the north side through the window. After a few minutes, Sam saw a man run to a tree at the edge of the woods. And then another man hustled to an adjacent tree.
“Emma,” he called out.
Emma hurried into the room.
“I have movement on the north side—two men so far,” he said. “I need you to stay low, as low to the floor as possible. These walls won’t stop rifle bullets.”
Emma got down on her hands and knees and then all the way to a prone position in the center of the room. Sam brought his rife up, moved the blanket to the side with the tip of the barrel, and rested the muzzle brake on the window sill. With the window casing raised a few inches, Sam was able to aim the rifle without any obstruction.
He looked through his magnified sight and placed the red dot on the arm of the first man, partially visible behind the tree. Sam couldn’t see the man’s face but could tell from body movements that he appeared to be talking to someone to his right. Sam swung his rifle to the left and picked up the second man behind the adjacent tree. He swung the rifle farther left and picked up a third man behind a small bush. Sam then swung the rifle back to the first man. His arm and left thigh were visible.
Sam debated on whether to take the shot. He knew Tiff was on their left flank and Chet might be on their rear. But what about the other men? There should be at least ten men. Sam controlled his breathing and lightly massaged the trigger with his finger.
In his peripheral vision, he saw movement to the left. He glanced up from the rifle sight and saw the second man dart from his tree. He raced toward the pump house. Sam swung the rifle around, but too late to get the man in the magnified sight. Sam swung the rifle back to the first man. He was still behind the tree. Sam saw him motion with his hand. Sam swung his rifle to the left just in time to see the third man leap from the bush and run toward the pump house. Through the magnified sight, Sam led the man just a bit with the red dot and squeezed the trigger. Without ear protection, the blast was deafening. Sound became muffled. Sam saw the runner crumple to the ground about halfway across the clearing. Sam swung the rifle back to the first man. About four inches of his shoulder and an inch of his head were exposed from behind the tree. Sam immediately placed the red dot on the man’s shoulder and squeezed the trigger again. Sam saw wood splinter from the tree but couldn’t tell if the man was hit.
***
Charlie let the arrow go a split second before he heard a gun blast from the cabin. The arrow left the bow on a trajectory that would intercept the closest man in the center of his back—but only if he kept the same pace. He didn’t. The man stopped at the sound of the gunshot and jerked his head to his left. The arrow sailed past an inch in front of the man’s chest. Charlie instantly brought another arrow up, pulled the string to its full stretch, and let go while the man stood frozen apparently wondering what just flew past. He didn’t wonder long. The second arrow found its mark in the man’s temple. He crumpled to the ground.
Charlie brought a third arrow up, placed it on the string, and pulled back. He took aim at the next closest man who had turned at the sound of his friend hitting the ground. Charlie released the string. The arrow flew silently until it came to rest in the man’s chest. The man stood stunned for a moment before he finally collapsed to the ground.
With the gunfire and hearing his two friends fall to the ground, the third man ducked behind the nearest tree. He jerked his head around in all directions, apparently not sure from where the arrows came.
Charlie let loose a fourth arrow just as the man caught sight of Charlie standing to the side of the bush. The arrow sunk into the tree trunk with a loud thunk. The man glanced at the vibrating shaft and then brought his rifle up, pointing it toward Charlie.
***
Tiff saw the man crouched on the north side of the pump house, a second man on the ground in the clearing, and the third man standing behind a tree north of the clearing. Sam’s shot splintered wood but missed the third man.
Tiff was in a perfect position to flank the man at the pump house and the man in the woods. Tiff glanced at Taylor and saw that he had turned around, his head above the embankment looking at the clearing. He wasn’t watching their rear. That’s when she heard the sounds from the woods behind them, on the other side of the stream. People were running through the woods.
Tiff spun around and scooted up to the tree trunk. Four men were sprinting through the woods toward the stream a few yards south of Tiff and Taylor. The man in the lead was Jones. Apparently, he had not seen Tiff and Taylor. Tiff dropped her head below the trunk to wait for the men to reach the stream. Then they would be in the open where she and Taylor could cut them down.
Tif
f sensed Taylor moving to join her at the tree trunk. A moment later blasts of gunfire opened up next to her. Her hearing went muffled and hot brass from Taylor’s ejection port pelted Tiff in the head and neck. Too late to do anything about it, Tiff peeked above the trunk and saw that all four men had taken cover behind trees well back from the stream. Despite the threat from the men, she was more pissed at Taylor for being such an idiot. If he had waited a few more moments, the men would have been in the open.
The four men began returning fire. Taylor ceased firing and rolled up into a ball behind the tree trunk. Rounds whizzed over Tiff’s head and also slammed into the trunk in front of her. The dense wood absorbed the bullets, but Tiff and Taylor were completely pinned down. They both buried their face in the sand and scrunched their bodies as close to the tree trunk as possible. Tiff realized that the four men could keep up the rate of fire while they walked right up and shot Tiff and Taylor at point blank range. Tiff had nowhere to run. Taylor had managed to turn a tactical advantage into a death trap.
Tiff raised one eye above the bark for a split second, long enough to see that the four men had apparently read her mind. One man was working his way north through the woods and another was moving south while two remained to keep Tiff and Taylor pinned. They intended to flank her and Taylor from the north and south. She thought of Sam and Chet. But Chet was too far away, and Sam was in the cabin. And neither knew how much trouble Tiff was in. If the man at the pump house decided to attack from the west, it would all be over in less than a minute.
***
Sam heard gunfire from the stream just before the man behind the pump house brought his rifle around and opened fire on Sam’s window. The first round hit the window frame and shattered the glass. Sam dropped to the floor and looked back at Emma to make sure she was flat on the floor. He motioned for her to crawl closer to the wall, but she was frozen stiff. She had her eyes clamped shut and her hands over her head. Sam then heard a second string of gunfire coming from the north side of the clearing. Obviously, he had missed the man in the woods.
