Without waiting for a response, Sean ran back out the front door and sprinted back over to the barn. He knocked loudly twice and entered. “Bug, it’s Sean!” he yelled out. Bug came running down the stairs from the upper floor of the barn. “What’s going on? Where did that come from?” Sean asked hurriedly.
“I don’t know for sure, it was hard to make out from down here.” Bug answered shaking his head. “It sounded like it was close though. Do you think it’s someone deer hunting?”
“I sure hope so,” Sean replied. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we just put the cows out to pasture. If they’re cow hunting, we are going to have problems.” He pushed past Bug who followed Sean back up the narrow steps. “Did you signal the LP/OP yet?”
“Not yet. I was watching for any movement out the loft window.”
“Good, head back up there and keep watch. Everyone should be here shortly.” Bug climbed back up into the loft and took position at the one window overlooking the back pasture. “See anything?”
“Nothing,” Bug answered. “But all the cows are back up here now. They went down over the hill to the pond first thing this morning like they always do.”
“Damn,” Sean whispered to himself. Something must have spooked them. “Try and get a head count for me.”
“OK,” Bug answered as Sean was cracking open the main barn door. He took a red shirt they had tied to a stick and waved it back and forth in the opening three times in the direction of the LP/OP. He grabbed the 10-60x50 Bushnell spotting scope they kept next to the door and zeroed in on the observation post two hundred yards away. He could see one head-shaped shadow in the opening with another spotting scope pointed back at him. Another shadow moved and his cousin Danny reached his arm out the eight inch gap and waved back with his hand three times. Then he raised his hand and made a fist once, lowered it then raised it in a fist a second time. He paused for a few seconds then waved back in forth twice with his index finger pointed and thumb out in the shape of a handgun. Danny paused a few more seconds before pointing in the direction of the lower pond before his arm disappeared back into the shadows of the LP/OP. Sean waved the red flag in the opening once to signal the message was received. Sean made a pushing motion with his hand in their direction letting them know to stay put. Sean picked up the spotting scope and watch Danny’s arm come out of the shadows once more and wave once signaling that they got the directive.
“Looks like we have two intruders by the lower pond that are armed,” he hollered up to Bug.
“That’s not all,” Bug said as he walked back into view and leaned on the loft railing above. “I’ve counted twice now, and I’m coming up one short.”
“Damn,” Sean said aloud this time. He started trying to formulate a plan in his head as he grabbed an old car door that was lying on the ground with years of dust covering it. Not even considering why there was a car door in the barn, he laid it flat on the ground and started drawing a sketch of the farm in the thick barn dust. He heard the lower barn door open and quickly shouldered his weapon towards the steps. “Announce yourself!” he hollered.
“It’s us!” He recognized his brother Joshua’s voice right away as the group climbed the narrow steps.
“Alright, everyone. Gather ‘round. Tyler, relieve Bug from watch in the loft and send him down. You are going to keep a watch over the cows and for anyone coming this way.” Sean’s brother-in-law nodded, slung the deer rifle over his shoulder, and started scrambling up the loft ladder. Tyler was the least experienced with firearms and Sean wanted only the best shooters.
Sean waited for Bug to join the group before starting. “It looks like we have two people down near the pond who are armed. The cattle have been spooked back up from the lower pasture and it seems we are short one. Here is what I’m thinking. Kenneth, you will lead a support squad with Uncle Luke and Nathan up around the LP/OP and approach the lower pasture from the northeast hillside since we can’t approach from the open pasture to the east and west. Your job is primarily containment and making sure we have them surrounded. Stay out of the pasture and take positions near the edge of the woods overlooking the pond. If there is a fire fight, and you are SURE of your target, and SURE of your aim, you can engage with deer rifles but not battle rifles. If there is an engagement, it will probably be close quarters so watch your fire!”
“I am going to take the main squad with Joshua, Brian, Maria, Bug, Jackson, and Uncle Lawrence. We will double time all the way around the west pasture and down the neighbor’s fence line to approach the woods from the south. That patch of woods, as you all know, is only seventy-five yards wide and I’m guessing that is where we are going to find them if they aren’t dumb enough to be out in the open pasture. We’ll form a skirmish line and slowly, and I mean slowly, clear those woods. Uncle Lawrence, I’m going to have you post up on the fence line right here behind that large tree that’s all by itself.” Sean pointed to a spot on the car door where there was a single tree near the fence line they would be following. “That should give you a great view of the back side of the woods we’ll be pushing out. Alright, anyone have any questions?”
Joshua raised his hand like he was back in school. “What are we going to do if they are still there?”
“We are going to confront them as to why they are on our property and what they are shooting at. But to be perfectly honest with you, I fully expect to find a dead cow down there. We need to capture them and remove any weapons from them and put the fear of God into them to make sure they never return. Once we get them unarmed, we can have a meeting and vote how to go about that. For now we need to get down there before they get away. Cause if that happens; you can bet they will be back another time.”
“Let’s get a move on, guys. Don’t forget who we are dealing with here. There is a good chance they may be hungry, desperate and willing to kill for what we have. If they don’t immediately surrender and if someone raises their gun to their shoulder, you CANNOT hesitate! Not for one second! If you aren’t prepared to pull that trigger, don’t come. The result of your hesitation may not end up with you being killed; it may be the person next to you. We need to have each other’s backs out there.”
“Last couple points: we don’t know exactly where they are and we may stumble across them as we are heading down there. Remember the drills we practiced. Don’t bunch up and make it easy for them. Keep five paces between the man in front of you and behind. Remember concealment is not cover. Make sure what you take cover behind something that can stop a bullet. For those of us on the skirmish line: maintain visual contact with the guy to your left and right and don’t get ahead or fall behind. We’ll be moving five yards at a time, roll your steps from heel to toe and make sure you move from tree to tree. Don’t stop out in the open. Every ten yards, we are going to pause for thirty seconds to listen. Chamber a round now if you haven’t already. Safeties on, and watch your point of aim. Again, no hesitation or someone could get killed or seriously injured. Okay, let’s go.”
They filed back down the steps and stepped back out into a cold windy morning. Without any other discussion the group split up and went in separate directions. Sean’s group worked their way through the open pasture to the west of the barn. When they reached the far property line they crossed the fence one at a time. “Everyone make sure your safeties are on. Watch your spacing, and stay low.” Sean found himself whispering even though they were still four or five hundred yards away from the lower pasture. “Maria, come next. I want you in sight at all times.” Without waiting for a response, Sean turned and started moving at a crouch along the fence line.
Sean had his SU-16 shouldered and scanned the open pasture in front of him. He focused in on every clump of high grass and bush looking for movement or anything out of place. They were working their way up hill and would soon crest it leading down to the lower pond and pasture on their left. Sean slowed their pace as they slowly rounded the top of the knoll. His eyes scanned the lower pasture that was visibl
e and couldn’t make anything out of the ordinary. They moved at a slow but steady pace until they reached the tree about hundred yards from the patch of woods they were moving to. Sean held up his fist giving the signal to stop. Each member crouched down near the nearest fencepost as Sean signaled for Uncle Lawrence to come forward. Without speaking Sean lifted the lower fence wire, allowing his uncle to low crawl under.
Sean grabbed his foot as he was almost through. “Take it slow and stay down” he mouthed the words to his uncle who nodded his head in response. The tree was about five yards inside the fence line and Sean watched as his uncle slowly dragged his body across the frozen ground at a snail’s pace. Once he was behind the large maple’s trunk he adjusted himself into a comfortable position and slowly slid out to the right of the trunk, looking through the scope of his deer rifle.
Sean was just turning and about to give the signal to move when he heard a “Psst” from his uncle. He turned back to see his uncle pulling his body fully back behind the tree. “There’s a guy down there gutting one of the cows near the edge of the woods by the pond,” his uncle whispered. “He has a deer rifle lying on the ground next to him.”
“Ok. Is he near the closest edge of the woods or the far end?”
“He’s almost at the very far end. I would guess maybe twenty yards from the far east side of the woods.”
“Ok,” Sean answered. “Can you see the other guy?”
“No. The guy I see is about a hundred and fifty yards away and I can barely see him around the close edge of the woods. I can’t see into the woods that far away to see if there is anyone else. However, I don’t see anyone in the wood line closest to us.”
“Alright,” Sean answered. He looked his uncle in the eye. “The man you can see is your target now, Uncle Lawrence. If things go south and he points that rifle in our direction, you have to take him out. Can you do that?”
Uncle Lawrence was looking back at him. It was real now and there was no going back to simpler days. He nodded his head in affirmative and Sean nodded back. He turned back and looked at his wife. He wished she wasn’t there, but at the same time he was glad she was. She was very proficient with the Ruger PC9 she clutched in her hands and Sean had no doubt that she would drop the first person that posed a threat. Sean gave the hand signal to move out and slowly continued down the fence line. They came to the edge of the woods on their left with the neighbor’s field continuing straight. Sean paused long enough to turn and signal their group to keep their eyes focused into the woods. They continued another fifty yards until they were about halfway down the wood line. Sean gave the rally up signal as he trained his rifle into the woods and looked for the slightest movement or color that was out of place. When everyone was gathered in a tight circle, he turned back to set the game plan.
“Uncle Lawrence said there is a guy gutting one of the cows by the pond on the other side of the woods.” Sean pointed in the direction he thought the guy would be, based on Uncle Lawrence’s description. “Bug, you’re going to take first position by continuing to the end of the fence line and following the back edge of the woods. If things go bad, make sure you step into the woods and take cover. I don’t want you stuck out in the open if they make a run for it in your direction. Joshua, you are going to take second position fifteen yards into the woods from Bug. I am going to take third position fifteen yards from you. Maria you take next, same distance. Then Brian with the BAR, and Jackson, you’ll be at the end. We should be able to cover this whole area. If you see someone, give them a chance to give up by yelling ‘freeze’. If they don’t freeze or if they raise their weapon at you, then drop them and don’t hesitate.”
“Be aware that there may be more than two of them. For all we know there are ten people in there, so keep your eyes open. Again, move from cover to cover and don’t stop in the open. Every ten yards we are going to pause for thirty seconds to listen. Watch your steps, roll your feet and try not to step on any twigs. If you step on a loud branch or the person next to you does, then we all freeze and listen. Be aware of the guy to your left and right and let’s keep a straight line.” Sean wanted to say something else but wasn’t sure what to say so he just paused. “God help us and keep us safe. Let’s go.” Sean grabbed his wife’s sleeve and pulled her close as everyone started moving to their position along the fence line. “Don’t be a hero, baby, and make sure you stay behind cover at all times.”
“You don’t be a hero,” she said sharply in reply.
Sean pulled her close and gave her a hug and quick kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she said as she turned and walked to her position. She seemed surprisingly calm. Sean’s heart was pounding with adrenaline and he felt as if his heart would burst at any moment. Once each person was in position, Sean gave the signal and they climbed over the fence line in unison. Once across they slowly started into the woods. The next few minutes passed by in a haze. Sean was so entirely focused on every tree, every bush, and every step that he entered into what can only be described as a precision-like daze.
They were over halfway through the first time he heard voices whispering in front of him. He snuggled up to the tree in front of him and waited for his brother to look his way. Sean pointed at his ear and held up two fingers before pointing in front of him. His brother nodded in understanding. Sean turned and did the same thing to Maria who also nodded. He waited for the signal to make it down the skirmish line before proceeding further. Sean couldn’t very well yell for someone to freeze if he couldn’t see them. At the same time, the smallest twig cracking underfoot could ruin their whole element of surprise.
They moved another ten yards when Sean caught a glimpse of a red jacket just ahead near the far edge of the woods. Sean looked at his wife and she nodded before he even signaled anything, so he turned back to his brother who signaled towards his eyes and held up two fingers. Sean signaled back towards his brother and mouthed the words, “Can you see them?” His brother nodded in the affirmative. “Here we go,” he mouthed back. “Stay out of sight and let Bug know. I’m going to yell ‘freeze’!” He turned back to Maria and mouthed to her. “Here we go. Let them know I’m going to yell ‘freeze’.” He watched her turn towards Brian, whom he couldn’t see, and a moment later she turned back and braced herself against the tree with her rifle pointed towards the two men.
Sean waited another thirty seconds to make sure the message got passed on to Jackson before turning and pointing his SU-16 at the man with the red jacket who had stepped out from behind the tree and had his back to Sean. There was a deer rifle leaning against the tree beside him. Even though he was only ten or fifteen yards away, he still couldn’t see the second person. He turned and nodded to his brother who nodded back at him before Joshua turned back and aimed his AR-15 around the tree he was crouched behind. It was now or never.
Chapter 13
Sean took a deep breath and tried to slow his breathing and heart rate. “Freeze!” he yelled at the top of his lungs as the man jumped in surprise. “Don’t you dare reach for that rifle or I will drop you where you stand! Turn around and put your hands on your head!” Sean waited for a few moments but the guy didn’t move. “I am not playing with you mister. You better....” The tree next to Sean’s face exploded into splinters as a shot rang out from his left in front of Maria. It sent him flying back on his back as the burning sensation of a thousand needles seemed to pierce his face. Apparently, there was someone else that they hadn’t seen. The woods around him exploded in gunfire as Sean tried to shimmy back up against the tree he had fallen away from. He opened his eyes, and although they were watering, he could still see. Sean could hear the distinct sound of the BAR over the massive gunfire that seemed to come from every direction. “Maria,” the thought pierced his mind as he swung his gaze to his left to see her crouched down behind the tree, reloading another thirty round magazine into the PC9. He couldn’t believe that she had already gone through a complete magazine. “Sean!” he heard her sc
ream in desperation.
He wasn’t sure if she was screaming his name to see if he was ok or if she was scared. The thought that someone could be shooting at his wife made his blood boil. Sean summoned some inner strength and came up on his knee, leaning out to his left while leading with his rifle. Just as the red dot centered on the man to his left, he watched a bullet clip him in the upper arm from the BAR. It threw him off his feet onto the ground nearly taking his arm off at the shoulder. His heels were kicking in the dirt as he frantically tried to scramble away on his back, his arm flopping weirdly. Sean gently squeezed the trigger twice, watching the man flinch both times as the bullets entered his chest. His kicking slowed and Sean squeezed the trigger twice more, finishing him off. Another bullet whizzed by his ear causing him to jerk back behind the tree. He heard Maria’s PC9 open up again, “rat tat tat tat...” as she started unloading her magazine back in the direction of the original two men in front of him. Sean took advantage of her cover fire to lean out to the right side of the tree. With both eyes open, Sean’s red dot searched for a target and fell on the man in the red jacket who was lying lifeless on the ground with the rifle clutched in his hand. Sean turned his rifle towards the tree where he believed the other man might be. Maria’s gun fell silent, momentarily causing the man to lean out from behind his cover right where Sean expected. What the man didn’t know was that he leaned his head directly in front of Sean’s red dot scope. Sean squeezed the trigger and saw a flash of red mist. The man fell backwards like a stone statue. A moment later, Sean could see the man’s right tennis shoe sticking out from behind the tree, twitching.
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