Rocky Trail

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  He then asked David to sit in the driver’s seat. Within reach on the front of the dash sat four toggle switches. They were about three inches long sitting about the same distance apart as they were long. Janice was sitting in the passenger seat with eager eyes and fascinated by the hi-tech vehicle. The first switch, Sam said, activated the wheel covers from bullets; the second one was for a smoke canister in the back to obscure being seen from the rear. The third one was for the sun roof. Upon activation, the sunroof would open and a set of two rockets were fired up with heat seeking ability. A heavy plastic shield protected the driver and passenger from the rockets fire. All of the material inside and out was fireproof.

  David said, after Sam had finished, “This rig makes James Bond’s special cars obsolete.”

  Janice said, “I pray we don’t need to use any of this stuff. However, the thrill of it all is exciting, don’t you think so Kemosabe?”

  “Yes, my Pine Queen, Silver would go pout in the pasture if he saw this horseless carriage.” Bloom was first to crack up laughing then even Johnny broke into a grin.

  Janice said, “Coffee time boys. Gather around the camp fire and take your hats off please.”

  Later Sam took off in their old SUV. This new special SUV had been flown out aboard an Air Force cargo plane to Spokane, Washington. From there Sam drove it to Montana last night.

  The rest of the morning was spent unloading and inventorying the order David had requested. Johnny told them he knew a good place to sight in the rifles. Bloom had thought ahead ordering ear protection.

  Chapter VIII

  At forty thousand feet a jet from Europe carried a first class passenger to Texas. He looked like any other young businessman. Clean cut, nice smile, polite and under his custom tailored Italian suit, a rock hard body. And inside the rock hard body, a ruthless killer for hire was on an assignment.

  He went by many names, but on this flight he was Dennis Winfield from Toronto Canada. With him, most thought a secretary, was his girlfriend and partner, Ann Dallas. She too was both impeccably dressed and just as formidable.

  As the seatbelt sign came on for landing in Huston, Ann whispered to Dennis, “I think we are going to freeze our asses off on this assignment.”

  “My dear, that’s what they make down sleeping bags for. We’ll get the zip together kind,” he whispered back.

  They were met in the pickup passenger zone. The only luggage was their brief cases. A security camera recorded the pickup, but never was of any use. Soon they were logged in the Hilton.

  An hour later a black man arrived and was let in with a quiet greeting. He came right to the point. Out of his attaché case came four glossy 8 X 10 pictures of David Cockrun and his partner Janice Beaker Cockrun. All that was known of them was passed out to both Dennis and Ann.

  Dennis read carefully about David Cockrun. He noted Special Forces with a tour in Afghanistan. It would seem that Major Cockrun was no slouch, but then Dennis was a match for any human being.

  Ann read about Janice seeing nothing special about her. She thought, nothing should be taken for granted, but this looks like a piece of cake to me. Dennis, on the other hand, felt a chill run down his spine, but just for a second or two. The black man asked if there were any questions. Dennis handed him a list of supplies. The man looked it over and said the contents would be ready in a day or so.

  Then he handed Dennis two credit cards in his name. Also two for Ann. Plastic is better than cash he said. He gave them the name of an outdoor store along with the address. He stood up and left taking the two men outside the door with him.

  Ann said to Dennis, “Honey, I’m starving. Let’s order in. I need a shower to wash off the airplane. Would you like a body wash?”

  “I’ve yet to turn one down my dear. Before we become mountain men, we’d best take advantage of modern day luxuries.”

  *~~~~~*

  D. Bloom asked, “Inspector, I realize I’m a rookie at this stuff, but why would you want a fishing net?”

  David and Johnny were looking at the topo maps of the area. He looked up at Bloom and smiled. He said, “Why would a fisherman use a net Bloom?”

  “I know that inspector, but how do you plan on using this in the mountains?”

  “I don’t know yet. But when I know I’ll let you know.”

  Janice who had been listening and greasing their hiking boots said, “Black Bart, I think you will be the bait for the fish,” and gave off a stress relieving laugh.

  The next two days were spent sighting in the rifles, hiking the area behind the cabin and then doing a helicopter fly over of the area. Bloom had set up a communication system with Dr. Jones and Carol from his motor home. A laptop was used in the cabin via satellite. With the webcam, David talked to AJ.

  AJ said they had a watch on Allied in Houston. The only thing interesting was their corporate jet was flight planned to Glacier International for the next day Friday. After talking to AJ, Johnny said, “We have some friends who know how to use a camera very well David.”

  When the Allied jet landed, a middle aged couple deplaned. The give-a-way was the amount of baggage that accompanied them. In addition, the photographers had a zoom lens that clearly defined the body. In the video the couple didn’t walk like they were middle aged, but very athletic. David and Janice both saw their first mistake.

  Before the cabin and its habitants went on alert, they went to the tribal center for a pow-wow. The three Chicago detectives were amazed at the turn out. Janice thought there must be hundreds of Indian and non-Indians there. Sitting on the stage, with his leg on a foot stool, Old Eddie Two Shoes rested slightly rocking to the drums.

  Both Janice and David would remember this event forever, she thought. That is, if they lived through the coming days. For both of them the Indian gathering gave them the strength they needed. David thought, no wonder these people never gave up until the end, when there was nowhere to go. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe was the last to surrender.

  A feast of fish and fry bread, the traditional food of Native Americans was in bountiful supply. After the dancing and eating was over, Old Eddie Two Shoes was handed a mic. He said, in a voice belying his age, “We have among us tonight two friends from Chicago. I’m told that some bad white folks are coming to our land. I’m calling on all of you to help our friends out. Johnny Eagle that Soars needs some lookouts. I’m a little tired now so will turn the mic over to Johnny.”

  Johnny said, “Our pow-wow is over. Those of you that want to help me, hang around for awhile.”

  David and et al left to go back to the cabin and they would drop Bloom off at his campground. On the way back, Janice asked him to think out loud for what his plan might be.

  David said, “It appears that the shooter will take the high ground behind the cabin or road. Both Johnny and I have checked it out and there are two places where he could take a clear shot at the back of the cabin. Both are around two hundred yards from the cabin. On the sides there is only one place that a shooter could use. The opposite side is full of too many trees. As our wood pile is behind the cabin, he’ll wait until someone comes out for wood.”

  “Starting tomorrow we will drive to town at eleven am in our new SUV. If by chance he decides to take us out by ambush, well, that’s another story. I’d love the opportunity to go on a chase with him. If that happens then our fishing net could come into play. Your role Bloom is to stay in the cabin to protect it and we could use the back up.”

  “My personal thinking is they will try an air strike with a chopper first and then the ground man can finish us off. I’m hoping our moccasin telegraph will alert us if a chopper is in the air. When will all of this happen? Shit, I’ve no idea. The survivor is the one with the most patience. I’ve stashed some things in the mountains and let me say this to both of you. If it comes to a one on one with this guy, don’t come looking for me. He’ll either kill you or use you for a hostage. That’s an order to both of you. Also that means for you to clear out of the
cabin and I’ll find you at Blooms’ motor home.”

  When he finished talking, Janice felt her heart in her throat. Her ears rang and her body shook from the inside out in fear for her man. The only sound was coming from the powerful diesel engine of their armored SUV. Even the usual chatter box Bloom was silent. When they arrived at the campground, he said he would be up at daylight tomorrow. David told him to get a good night's sleep and breakfast would be ready soon after he arrived.

  At the cabin Johnny had yet to arrive, but BT was sitting on the porch ears up waiting. David gave him a back rub telling him what a good dog he was. BT accepted the rub and then turned to lick his hand. One lick and that was all. Janice offered her hand as she walked up the wood stairs. BT nudged her hand and went back to guard duty.

  Inside David built a fire. He was starting to like this outdoor life. Janice on the other hand wished they were safe and sound in a motel that had hot water to spare and auto heat to adjust with a remote. She felt exhausted both physically and mentally. After a trip to the bathroom, she told him good night and went to bed with the electric blanket on high. At first she had ten thousand things running through her head, and then with some deep breathing, she relaxed.

  David quietly slipped under the covers, waited till he warmed a little, then draped an arm over his Pine Queen, who sighed and then he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

  With the day beginning to break, David took a look out the window. He saw a skiff of snow on the ground. A few flakes were drifting down. Dressing quickly with long handles on he went to stoke the fire. By now he knew that there was would be a bed of coals at the bottom to ease the pain of starting a fire. He heard rather than saw Janice make a trip to the bathroom.

  Once he was assured that the stove was going to percolate he went back to the bedroom. With the covers up around her neck, she smiled and invited him to join her. Both realized this morning was not the time for lovemaking. This was the time to be close and loving. Janice had just ran her hand down his hard belly to find a growing member, when they heard Bloom arrive in his truck. David grumbled some choice words about crummy timing and got up.

  A knock on the door and a voice saying it was not locked, produced a smiling Bloom. David was making a pot of canned coffee that would drip out some form of almost drinkable caffeine. He really did miss Alex's good brew. He took two full mugs into the living room where Bloom was standing with his back to the stove. One mug he handed Bloom and the other he sat on the fireplace mantle.

  David went to the door to call Johnny in for coffee. He gave off a holler and before long a stomp, stomp at the door produced Johnny. He knocked the snow off his hat and came in. David gave him his coffee and went to the kitchen to get one of his own.

  Bloom said, "The only snow is right here Inspector. Down at the campground is dry as a bone, but cold as hell. The weather report is for clear and cold today.

  David came back in and said, "This would be a good day to sit around the stove telling some lies. Bloom and Johnny both noticed the intense look in his eyes. Johnny had seen it many times wearing a uniform. Bloom had seen the same look the day he took out the serial killer Dr Zee.

  Johnny had his cell phone in his shirt pocket. David felt good about that end of things. He really didn't know what kind of lookouts were out there but had faith that these Indians knew what the hell they were doing.

  Janice came in dressed again looking like a lumber jack. She said hello and sat down staring at the stove. Bloom thought she was spacing out a little when she looked up and said, "How's ham and scrambled eggs sound to you guys?"

  Bloom said, as he hurried towards the door, "Oh I forgot I brought you a present. Hang on I'll be right back. The three of them drank their coffee quietly while he was gone. Bloom burst through the door, shook a few flakes of snow off, and handed an Ace Hardware bag to Janice.

  She looked inside and had to use two hands to lift out a new toaster. David smiled and said, "Bloom, you're a good man. I can't live without toast; or strawberry jam for that matter"

  After breakfast, sitting around the stove talking, Bloom noticed the supply of wood almost gone. He decided to replenish the stock. Janice was cleaning up the kitchen, noticing out the window it was snowing harder than earlier. Bloom passed by to the ‘mud room’ which is a place where you can take off your boots; hang up your coat and hat, before tracking mud into the cabin. Bloom put on an old coat to protect his arm and shirt, doffed an old cowboy hat, and stepped out the door. The wood room was off to his right. It was open to the outside, but an old roof kept the wood dry.

  Taking a step to the wood pile, he saw BT come around and stop looking up the hill. Bloom, being alert, in a flash, dove for the protection behind the rick of wood. He felt something slam his leg and then he heard the shot.

  Inside, Johnny was out the front door in a flash. David heard he say, “BT stay.”

  David, moving quickly and with purpose, put on his hiking boots, camo vest, slipped on an already to go back pack, slung the 30.06 over his shoulder and went out the front door.

  Janice was on the phone calling 911. She told the person that answered who she was, location and needed an ambulance. After that, she rang up Dr. Jones. They really needed to air vac Bloom to a hospital. He’d hollered he was alive and shot in the leg.

  Johnny after he slowly rounded the cabin corner, dove over the rick of wood almost landing on Bloom. BT came in behind the wood pile. Johnny looked at Blooms leg. He’d seen this type of wound many times in Afghanistan. The bullet had hit just below the knee, completely shattering the leg bone. A fair amount of blood had leaked out, but Bloom knowing the pressure points had stopped and started the blood flow.

  Johnny took Blooms belt off and made a tourniquet. Then made him as comfortable as possible, knowing shock would soon set in and the pain would make even a grown man cry.

  David knew exactly where the shooter was or had been as he ran around to the side of the cabin intending to make a circle up the mountain.

  Janice, meanwhile, was still sitting on the floor in the kitchen. She’d hung up from talking to Alex who had told her not to worry help was on its way. Janice crawled into the living room seeing spilled coffee mugs on the floor. Now she wished they had closed the wooden shutters to the windows. Staying clear of the window that looked up the mountain and to the side of the cabin, Janice slowly raised her head for a peek out the corner of the window.

  Cautiously, with one eye looked out the window when the glass exploded inches from her head. Later she would thank God that the bullet missed and no glass got in her eye. Now she sat with her back to the log wall sucking in huge amounts of air. This was the first time she’d been shot at and it scared the hell out of her. The math was easy to figure: two shooters.

  ‘Janice, you’re a professional,’ she thought. ‘Think, girl, think’ echoed in her head. Slowly, ignoring the thunder in her chest, she had the two shooters located on her mental map. She crawled back to the kitchen to talk to Johnny.

  Meanwhile, Johnny had heard the shot and the glass breaking. He realized they were exposed to that side where the shot came from. In no time he had a stack of wood closing off the exposed side protecting them from the shooters.

  By now the pain had hit Bloom. Johnny felt bad for him, but nothing he could do. He took his coat off and put it over the moaning Bloom. He made BT lie down next to him to keep him warm.

  ***

  Dennis knew he’d hit the target, but a kill it wasn’t. It was time to get the hell out of there. The meeting point was down the mountain where a made over Forest Service truck was parked. It was the day before they had parachuted in and spent the night inside their down bags. Ann went off to the uphill side for an either front of the cabin shot or a partial back yard shot.

  The difficulty was for Ann to exit the area. She had to either go below the road to pass by the cabin or circle up and then down to the downhill side of the road where the pickup truck was parked.

  Now without knowing w
hat transpired from when Dennis fired first and not knowing the results of her shot, frustration was taking over for Ann. The one thing she did know was that she needed to get the hell out there before the Calvary arrived.

  Dennis fleet footed it down and across the mountain to the road. If anyone was coming to investigate, he wanted to swing around the side hill far enough to not be intercepted.

  Ann on the other hand, hugged the bank side of the road jogging downhill to the waiting green Forest Service truck. She passed by the front of the cabin unseen and unheard.

  David, thought he’d side hilled enough to cut off any escape down the mountain. He was right about the escape route, but his shooter was over about one hundred yards further to his right going down as he was coming up.

  Later David followed the tracks left in the snow down to the road. By that time, no snow was on the road and some traffic, police cars, ambulance, and various other vehicles had passed by.

  By the time he arrived back and the cabin, the place was a hot bed of activity. He’d met the ambulance racing down hill with Bloom in the back. David wished he was going to be fine. He knew Bloom was hit, but didn’t know to what extent his injuries might be. Also he’d heard the second shot and wondered what happened there. His heart skipped a beat as he thought about his Pine Queen in harms way. His up road pace quickened at that thought. The closer he got the worse he thought that this whole event was a disaster. By then he realized the shooters must have parachuted in. well, round one to them, he said to himself.