His To Claim (The Westmoreland Legacy Book 4)

by Brenda Jackson

  Five minutes later, when everything went still, they knew the twister had moved on and everything was calm again. “I’m going to remove whatever is blocking the entrance so we can get out of here,” Mac said.

  “And I’ll help you.”

  Mac and Teri worked together a good twenty minutes before finally accepting the inevitable. Unblocking the entrance wasn’t going to be as easy as they’d hoped. In addition to the flying debris, there seemed to be something large blocking the entry. Teri had a feeling that huge windmill had collapsed.

  “What do we do now?” she asked Mac. “Can you use your phone to call for help?”

  Mac shook his head, obviously frustrated. “No, but the flashlight has at least eight hours of battery life. Let’s use it to see if there’s another way out of here.”

  Teri wondered if Mac actually thought there was, or if he was saying that to calm her fears. “Okay.”

  He didn’t say anything more as they walked farther and farther into the mineshaft. Mac would pause every so often to study the walls around them, reaching out to touch a rocky surface or a wooded wall covered with thick dust. He looked around for a long moment before turning to her. “Not certain how sturdy some of these planks are we’re walking on, so watch your step.”

  “I’ll be careful, Mac.”

  As if he assumed she wouldn’t, he took her hand in his. She started to pull it back but figured doing such a thing would be childish. He was only making sure she was okay and wasn’t going to take any chances. A part of her couldn’t help appreciating his protectiveness; she knew that was an ingrained part of Mac and who he was.

  When she’d met him, he’d been a SEAL and she had married him knowing what that kind of life meant for her. It hadn’t mattered. She had loved him. They’d been different as day and night in how they dealt with life in general but they had always managed to work through it. As their marriage had grown, so had they. But lately it seemed they were encountering more and more roadblocks. He seemed to have less faith in her ability to handle things without his input. Was this what it meant for couples to grow apart?

  She glanced over at him and saw how he was walking slowly and with purpose as he continued to take in their surroundings. There was a question she had to ask him. “Mac?”

  He turned to her. “Yes?”

  “Is our air supply limited in here?”

  He held her gaze as if he was trying to decide how much to tell her. He then said, “Yes, somewhat, but not as much as I figured it would be.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because vegetation is covering some of the rocks.”

  She’d noticed it, too, but hadn’t thought much about it. “And?”

  “And in order for anything to grow in here it would need a sufficient amount of air, water and sunshine. I figure there is water coming from somewhere, probably some underground canal. But I’m not sure about the sunshine. This mineshaft shouldn’t be anything more than a black hole in the earth’s surface, and I haven’t figured out the atmospheric piece yet.”

  She nodded. “I wonder how long it’s been boarded up.”

  He shrugged massive shoulders that she had to admit looked good in his Western shirt. “There’s no telling.”

  They continued walking and he held tight to her hand. When was the last time they’d held hands? Honestly, she shouldn’t be wondering about that now, but she couldn’t help doing so. When was the last time they’d taken time to just spend together? Just the two of them, away from the kids? Whenever he returned home, he slept the first day off. After that he had to readjust to the role of husband and father and would immediately want to become king of the castle. When that happened, his attitude would clash with hers.

  Then there were always the numerous activities the kids were involved with, too many for them to set aside “daddy and mommy” time. All four girls were active in something. Even Tasha had started taking piano lessons at an early age. Several people had told them they thought their youngest daughter would grow up to be a gifted pianist one day. While Mac was home it was important to him to be there and share in their training, progress and achievements. Their daily schedules were full and to take off in search of time for each other seemed like a selfish act. Now more than ever she saw how such togetherness was needed for couples.

  Dr. Blum had tried to encourage them during their counseling sessions to carve out periods for themselves. They’d said they would and it was then that Mac had promised to take her on a second honeymoon to Torchlight. But they had never found the opportunity and at some point had stopped making the effort to try. Now they were here, a couple still in the same predicament they’d been when they sought Dr. Blum’s services.

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  Skirting around boards and makeshift walls, they came upon what had once been a storage room. Shelves were stocked with several kinds of canned goods. Teri moved closer to see tuna, peaches and dry milk. There were also several huge water barrels.

  Mac checked out the barrels, smiled and gave a thumbs-up. “They are full, but I suspect there’s an additional water channel somewhere in here, which is even better.”

  Teri nodded. “What type of place do you think this was?”

  He glanced over at her. “I would guess it’s what they thought of as their shelter—where food, water and supplies were kept. Usually, it’s where they would bed down for the night when they weren’t in the productive mines. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are sleeping quarters somewhere in here.”

  Teri studied Mac. “You seem knowledgeable about mines.”

  He nodded. “Not as much mines as caves. Part of my duties as a SEAL is to scout and find the best place for us to hunker down whenever we’re in hostile territory. A cave is where we were holed up most of the time while in Syria. Being out in the open in a camp is too risky.”

  He glanced around before saying, “SEALs have a knack of making caves appear inhabitable. You wouldn’t believe how many times our enemies were right there, outside the entrance of the cave, and we were able to listen to their every word. Once we overheard them strategize their entire plan of attack against us.”

  Teri wondered if Mac realized this was the first time he’d ever talked about his work as a navy SEAL and the danger he faced. Whenever he returned home it was as if he needed to put out of his mind whatever mission he’d gone through. Like that time a couple of years ago, when he’d assumed his teammate Laramie “Coop” Cooper had gotten killed, and Mac had shut up his emotions. No matter how she’d tried, she hadn’t been able to tear through the grieving wall he’d erected.

  “Ready to move on?”

  She looked up at him. “Ready whenever you are.”

  Teri didn’t want to think about how differently things might have turned out if he’d left when she’d asked him to leave earlier. Or if he hadn’t come after her at all. She would have tried to outrun the twister and would probably have died doing so. She had begun resenting Mac’s presence, but now she appreciated it.

  She tightened her hold on his hand and they moved forward, going deeper and deeper toward the back of the mine.

  * * *

  Teri had stopped asking questions and Mac thought that was a good thing. He hadn’t given her a straight answer when she asked about how much air they had. In addition to his concern regarding lack of oxygen, he was worried about the possibility of poisonous gases in the air.

  Knowing this particular mineshaft had been used as a shelter facility was a good thing. He couldn’t tell for sure just how good until they checked out the place more. At least they had water and food for a while. But the uncertainty about the air component bothered him.

  Nowadays most mineshafts were equipped with emergency kits that included portable devices providing a supply of breathable oxygen in case anyone got trapped underground, or should any type of poisonous gases
leak into the air. Other kits contained small tanks filled with oxygen to which a miner had immediate access. He would love having either about now.

  He figured this particular mine had undergone its share of digging and blasting, which accounted for the worn-looking internal structure. Typically mines, especially those used as shelters, had escape tunnels. If this one had such a thing, he was determined to find it.

  He suddenly stopped when he heard a sound and immediately placed Teri behind him.

  “Mac? What is it?” she asked, whispering close to his ear.

  “I thought I heard something.”

  It wasn’t uncommon for wild animals to take refuge in deserted mines. With that thought in mind, he eased his hunting knife from his pocket and immediately his stance went into an attack mode. He waited and when he didn’t hear the sound again, he relaxed somewhat.

  “False alarm.”

  “What do you think the sound was?” Teri asked him.

  “Probably the shifting of the foundation. There’s no telling what all has fallen in on top of us.” He glanced up and wondered if there was a chance the ceiling might collapse down on them. It didn’t look too solid.

  Checking his watch, Mac saw it was late afternoon. Chances were the authorities were out trying to assess damage in the region. Because of the magnitude of that tornado he figured there had been extensive destruction over a wide area. He hoped everyone had time to take shelter and that there weren’t any casualties. But he’d seen that tornado, had witnessed its power and knew a number of places were flattened to the ground by now.

  Because the cabin Teri had reserved was so far from the main house, there was no telling how long it would take before they were missed. Would the authorities assume they were in the house and look for them there? If the horses returned without riders would that clue them in? He knew that wouldn’t necessarily be the case since they’d removed the saddles from the horses’ backs.

  Mac knew that meant they had to assume no one would be looking for them. Not totally true. He knew a certain group would come looking for him eventually. Namely his SEAL teammates. They would know he was alive and wouldn’t give up until they found him.

  When he heard Teri’s stomach growl he remembered how late it was and realized they’d missed a meal. They wouldn’t be eating by candlelight but at least they would be sharing a meal together.

  Tightening his hand on hers, he said, “Come on, let’s go back to where those canned goods were and get something to eat.”

  * * *

  Bane Westmoreland heard the beeping of his phone and recognized it for what it was. It was an alert from one of his teammates. He eased away from his wife’s side, hoping not to wake her, but he wasn’t surprised when her eyes flew open. He should have known that with three-year-old triplets she didn’t know the meaning of sound sleep, especially since it was four in the afternoon. Early on they had learned to take a nap whenever the triplets took theirs.

  “That’s my SEAL phone,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on the lips.

  “Do you think they’re calling you back for another assignment this soon? You haven’t been home but two days,” Crystal said, pulling up beside him in bed.

  “No, that’s not it. That ringtone is from one of the guys. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  He left his bedroom to go into the kitchen, walking over several toys to do so. Glancing out the window, he could see the structure of his home that was still under construction in the distance. He and Crystal had met with the builders that day and had been told their home would be ready in a few months. They were looking forward to moving in. There would definitely be more room for their three-year-old triplets. His cousin Gemma, the interior designer in the family, would be coming all the way from Australia to decorate.

  He sat down at the kitchen table and called Coop when he saw the alert had come from him. “What’s up, man? I know you aren’t calling again for tips on how to get your daughter to sleep.” Coop and his wife, Bristol, had a four-year-old son named Laramie and a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter named Paris.

  “No, that’s not it. Teri and Mac are missing.”

  Bane sat up straight. “What do you mean they are missing?”

  “I take it you haven’t been watching the news.”

  Bane rubbed a hand down his face. “No. Crystal and I decided to grab a nap while the kids took theirs.”

  “Then you wouldn’t know about that tornado that ripped through the outskirts of Cheyenne, namely the town of Torchlight, a little more than an hour ago. And it was a bad one. Already the death toll has reached double digits.”

  Bane released a whistle, as he stood to his feet. “Mac is still alive,” he said with certainty.

  “Yes, our tracker says he is, but they’re listed as missing for now. Mac’s parents called our commanding officer after they were notified Mac and Teri are among those unaccounted for. I’m letting the others know we need to head out for Wyoming.”

  Bane nodded. “I’ll see you in Torchlight.”

  * * *

  David Holloway, known by family and friends as Flipper, glanced around the table. He was with his family, dining at their favorite restaurant in Dallas as they celebrated his brother’s announcement that he would be remarrying in a few months. The woman his brother was marrying was none other than a cousin of Swan, Flipper’s wife. His brother Liam had met Jamila Fairchild at his and Swan’s wedding a year and a half ago.

  Everyone was happy for the couple, especially his parents, Colin and Lenora Holloway. He knew they’d been worried about Liam, especially after his split with Bonnie over five years ago. He hadn’t dated anyone seriously since then. He’d concentrated on being the perfect dad to his little girl.

  Flipper noted the size of the Holloway family was growing. Now it included his parents, their five sons and four of those sons’ wives, their grandkids, and Jamila, soon to be the newest addition to the family. Flipper and his brothers were close to his parents. Their loving and tight-knit relationships had been the reason none of their sons had had any qualms about settling down and marrying. Unfortunately, the woman his brother Liam had married the first time around had been bad news. The only good thing that had come from the union was their little girl.

  Something else others found unique about his family was that his father had retired as a SEAL commander-in-chief. All five of his sons had followed in his footsteps to become SEALs, as well.

  After congratulations were said by all, his father made a toast to welcome Jamila to the family. Flipper could tell from the huge smile on Swan’s face that she was happy for the cousin with whom she shared a very close relationship. Although he and Swan made their home in Key West, they visited the family in Dallas every chance they got.

  His cell phone went off and he recognized the ringtone. Excusing himself from the table, he moved to a different area to take Coop’s call. He returned a few minutes later with a grim look on his face.

  “What’s wrong, Flipper?” his father asked him.

  When all eyes went to him, he said, “That was Coop. A tornado went through Wyoming a few hours ago, not far from Cheyenne. The media is saying it’s one of the deadliest to hit the area. Coop got a call from our commander-in-chief. Mac and Teri were there and now they’re missing.”

  “Missing?” It seemed everyone at the table asked all at once.

  “Yes, he and Teri were on a dude ranch there. The entire ranch was destroyed, and Mac and Teri can’t be found. So they’re listed as missing.”

  He turned to Swan. “I’m leaving tonight to go help find Mac.”

  “I’m joining you. I can leave tomorrow,” Liam said.

  “Don’t leave us out.” His other three brothers agreed to join them.

  Flipper wasn’t surprised. Because Mac had been a part of his life since his first day as a SEAL—as a teammate, another older brother a
nd a mentor—he had won a special place in the hearts of Flipper’s family members.

  “Great. We’ll need all the help we can get.”

  * * *

  “What do you mean Mac is missing?” Viper asked Coop, struggling to prop his cell phone on his shoulder close to his ear, while handing their two-year-old son to his wife, Layla. His words, he noticed, had given her pause, as well.

  He’d been out teaching his son, Gavin Blake IV, how to ride a pony. Gavin was at the same age Viper had been when he’d been taught to ride. He listened as Coop gave him the details about the tornado that had touched down near Wyoming, destroying the dude ranch where Mac and Teri had been staying.

  “I’m calling everyone so we can get together and find Mac,” Coop informed him.

  “That’s good. I’m leaving tonight.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you then.” Coop clicked off the phone knowing they never ceased being a team whether they were on duty or off. That was the SEAL way and for them, the only way.

  Six

  Mac used his knife to open the cans of tuna and thought the tin mugs from the saddlebags came in handy for water. They had turned over empty water barrels to sit on. Being the ever-efficient mom that she was, Teri never left home without a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer and pulled it out of her saddlebag.

  “This is all we have to eat for now. At least until I scope out the place to find what else might be here.”

  Teri glanced over at her husband. “No problem. Tuna and water are okay. Besides, I need to lose a few pounds.”

  “No, you don’t. You look good. You always look good.”

  Teri smiled at her husband’s compliment. He would tell her that often enough, but always when they were naked and about to make love. Never when she’d been fully dressed. “Thanks, but losing a few pounds won’t hurt.”