Moving to a spot a few feet lower down the bank, she said, “I’d say this is the leader. He’s probably just over six feet and weighs about two-twenty. He’s carrying a lot of weight, so it’s hard to tell exactly. The third man is smaller, about five-eight or five-nine. Weighs near one-sixty. I think he’s the one who’s been concealing the trail. Sometimes he moves ahead of them too, sort of like a scout. He’s very quick and light on his feet. You should watch out for him.”
“You can tell all of that from these prints?” Cord sounded very skeptical.
“Believe what you want to,” Stacey shrugged, having faced such doubt before. “We’d better move if we hope to catch them.” She accepted her canteen, hooked it to her pack, and started along the trail.
“How far ahead are they now? Are we catching up at all?”
“I’d say about five hours. I think we’re gaining on them faster now.” The tracks were more visible due to the damp ground and conversation wasn’t possible as they hiked more quickly through the brush and trees.
Cord noticed hardwoods were beginning to be mixed throughout what had previously been all pines and firs. The low-growing vegetation thickened with briar patches and thickets became more prominent. Wildlife was abundant. They saw rabbits, foxes, and several deer scurrying to avoid contact with them.
At one point, Stacey stopped short and motioned Cord to the side of the trail.
He immediately pulled his gun from the holster in the center of his back and waited.
She silently led him under a large spruce with low-hanging branches then turned to indicate the danger.
A very large, ragged looking bear followed by two small cubs was making her way slowly down the trail they just left. The bear halted to sniff the area Stacey and Cord occupied just moments before. Growling warningly and making loud huffing grunts to her cubs, she rocked back and forth from one front paw to the other as she sought the source of the danger. Deciding finally to avoid the human smell, the mother bear led her babies off to the other side of the trail and into the brush.
“Man, she was a big one.” Awed, Cord whispered, “What now?”
Stacey took a drink from her canteen to wet her dry throat. “She’ll circle back to the trail farther along when our scent fades. We can go on.” Walking back to the deer trail the men they were after seemed to be following, Stacey was glad she heard the bear before it reached their location. A large, angry female bear with small cubs could charge in an instant. They were totally unpredictable and highly dangerous.
Following the deer trail made traveling easier and faster than if they pushed through the thickets all around them. As the criminals tired, they began to take the path of least resistance while worrying less about concealing their movements. They didn’t realize they were being tracked, yet.
At three in the afternoon, Stacey found where the fugitives and the two boys stopped at or near noon. Stacey told Cord, “We’re rapidly closing the gap.” Searching the area carefully, she pointed several things out to her companion. “It looks like the one with the injury is in trouble. He’s really slowing them down. The leader cut him a walking stick, but it doesn’t seem to be helping much. The boys are doing okay from what I see, but they’re hanging back. I don’t know if it’s to make it more difficult for the others or to give them time to forage for food. They’ve been eating plant leaves and seeds from the looks of it. I haven’t found any more blood, which is a very good sign. If we can keep going and I don’t lose their trail at dark, we should catch them after they stop for the night,” Stacey reported.
Cord straightened from looking at the signs she showed him. “Good work, Parker. Don’t forget that you stop when we’re a mile away. Then you will do just as I tell you so I can get those boys out,” he ordered firmly.
“Do I salute or will a curtsey do?” Stacey hated the precise, military tone he used to issue orders.
“Stacey, this is serious. It could mean the difference between life and death. These men are not playing games.”
“I know that, McConnell. Almost every time I come out on a search it means that kind of difference. I will do what I’m supposed to when the time comes. But, I am not one of your soldiers to be ordered around in that tone of voice. Asking gets much better results with me,” she explained patiently.
“Point taken. Now, may we please move on, Miss Parker?” Cord asked in an exaggerated, overly polite manner.
Stacey shook her head and smiled. He was infuriating, but she was getting used to him. Picking up her pack, she led the way once more.
After another hour they came to the top of a very steep slope with a fast flowing river at the bottom. It made the ones they previously crossed look small in comparison. The game trail was deeply rutted into the hillside from years of use by animals going to the water. It angled back and forth down the slope to make the descent easier.
Stacey and Cord carefully followed the trail down. About halfway to the bottom, Stacey stopped and studied the ground. “The guy with the hurt leg fell here.” She pointed for Cord’s benefit. “He tumbled down that way. See the broken branches on those bushes.” She edged carefully off the narrow trail to see where the man landed. Sliding down the steep incline to avoid falling, she safely reached the spot. “There’s some blood and a piece of torn material down here.”
Cord slid down to join her. “Are you sure it wasn’t one of the boys who fell?” An injury to one of them would definitely hamper rescue efforts.
“I’m sure. But they were here; looks like they helped the guy up. See how deep the sneaker prints are on each side of these lighter shoeprints. They supported his weight. We’ll need to be extra careful. If they decide to stop early because of this or if they’re traveling slower, we could run up on them before we know it.”
“From now on, you point the way and I go first. If I hold up my hand, stop and stay silent. If I make a fist, slip away and find cover. Got it?” he asked.
“I understand.” Stacey reached out and laid her hand on his arm. “Promise you’ll be careful, Cord.” She stared up at him, concern in her soft blue eyes.
He swallowed an uncustomary lump in his throat before he could answer. “I’ll be careful. We better go, Stacey.”
When they reached the riverbank at the foot of the slope, even Cord could see the footprints leading downstream. The light was beginning to fade and it would be dark soon, but he kept going with Stacey close behind. He held his weapon at the ready, just in case, and walked warily along the edge of the water. Suddenly at a deep bend in the river, he stopped and raised his hand.
Stacey stopped immediately and stood quietly watching. Creeping stealthily to the edge of the woods, he used the trees and brush for cover then quickly disappeared. Stacey stayed still and wished she knew what was happening.
After what seemed an hour to Stacey, but was actually only ten minutes, he came back. As soon as he was in sight he made a fist then motioned her to return the way they had come. She understood that he wanted her to find a safe place away from the bend in the river. Using a small feeder stream to cover their trail, she climbed up the slope away from the river for several hundred feet. A fallen tree provided the perfect print-concealing exit and she climbed up then walked along the trunk to get away from the stream. At the end of the tree was a large briar patch. This created good cover and she ducked down behind them.
Cord breathed heavily as he dropped down beside her.
“You found them?” Stacey wanted to know.
“Yes. You were right.” He took several deep breaths then went on, “If we had kept going as fast as we were earlier, we would have walked right into them. They’re camped less than half a mile from that deep bend. The river widens out and slows down. They must plan to cross there tomorrow. I didn’t want to get too close, but I counted five heads. They’ve even built a fire this time so they’re either not worried about being seen or they’ve stopped caring.”
Needing to know what to expect, Stacey asked, “Are you
going to try to get those boys out of there tonight? What will you do?”
“I want to think about it for a while. Let them get settled in and relaxed for the night. We need some rest, too—just in case we have to move in a hurry later,” Cord kept his voice low. “It will be best if we eat and bed down without unpacking or undressing. Be as quiet as you can in case one of them gets close.”
“And I was looking forward to a hot cup of coffee, a bath in the river, and maybe a nicely grilled trout. Oh well, how does an apple, some trail mix, and dried pineapple washed down with purified water sound?”
“Beats starving, but I liked the first idea better. Why don’t you make supper while I look around up here a little? I don’t want any surprises.” Cord slipped off his pack and stood. Watching warily, he left the cover of the thicket to scout around and make sure they would be safe while they slept.
Stacey dug in her pack to find the meager supper they would share. After spreading out a single blanket to keep them off the ground, she put her arms in her flannel shirt. Using her backpack to lean against, she reclined and munched slowly on the trail mix. The sky was completely dark and the stars were shining when Cord returned.
“You look comfy,” he remarked quietly as he sat on the edge of the blanket, reaching for an apple.
“Is everything okay?”
“So far, so good. When nature calls, don’t go far. Over to the west there’s a large ditch you could easily fall into in the dark. It will be best to go southeast.” He finished the apple and reached for the trail mix bag. “Could you hand me my canteen?” He pointed to where it was hooked to his pack near hers.
“Sure, but you can move up here. I thought one blanket would be quicker to grab if we have to move fast.” She unclipped his canteen then held it out to him. “I guess I better take a walk and get some rest.” Pushing up with a low groan, she went carefully past the briars and to the southeast.
When she returned, Cord was fully on the blanket lying back against his pack with his gun on his stomach. “You really won’t need that to keep me from attacking you tonight. I’m much too tired,” she teased as she lowered herself to sit beside him.
Cord ignored her playing, but explained, “I’d rather keep it handy with them so near. Try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
She wanted to ask, time for what, but decided to let it wait. Staring up at the stars, she watched a few scattered clouds float across the dark sky. There would be a quarter-moon out later tonight, after midnight. Stacey drifted off to sleep thinking she should remember to tell Cord about it.
Cord knew the exact moment she fell asleep. He relaxed a little and thought about her crack concerning the gun. If she knew how close he was to attacking her, she would demand the weapon to protect herself from him. The little minx definitely got under his skin. The mental picture he carried of her sitting in the sun by the stream wouldn’t leave him alone. He needed to think of the safest way to extract Ricky and Don, but the girl asleep beside him made it extremely difficult. All he had to do was move his left hand to touch her.
Almost as if his thoughts caused it, Stacey turned onto her side facing him and curled up tightly against the cold night air. Her elbow and her knees brushed against him. Muttering curses, Cord rolled away and got up. He flipped his side of the blanket over her and moved to lean against the trunk of a tree. With some distance between them, he hoped to concentrate on his job.
* * * * *
At midnight, Cord shook Stacey awake. “Time to wake up, Parker. I need you awake and alert.”
“Awake you got, but I don’t know about alert,” she grumbled sleepily. She sat up and pushed her wild tangle of hair back from her face. “What time is it?” It was too dark for her to see her watch.
“Midnight. I’ll need to get moving before long.”
“There’s going to be a quarter-moon in a little while. Is that going to create a problem?”
“Yes and no. If I can get the boys out, the light might help us see to get away, but it makes the rescue effort a little riskier. The wind is blowing upriver so I think it’s safe to make some coffee. Let me have your pack.”
Stacey reached behind her and lifted her pack. She passed it to him and watched as he found the tinned fuel, the tiny stove, two packets of coffee, and the metal cup.
Cord placed their packs to form an L-shape and hid the foldable stove between them and the thickest part of the briars. The tiny flame from the canned fuel was only visible if you were almost directly over it.
Moving quietly, Stacey folded the blanket she slept on and placed it near Cord to sit down on.
“This is important, Stacey. I need you to listen closely.” He spoke quietly and firmly but kept the cold, military tone that she hated out of his voice. “For a while, I think it would be best to go back the way we’ve come. I’m going to walk you back upriver to where the game trail came down to the water. Then I’m going to come back here and get the boys. If you hear shots or I haven’t reached you by dawn, you have to take off. It will mean something has gone wrong and you will have to get help in here. Don’t waste any time and don’t come to see what happened, just go. Understand?” Using his sweatshirt sleeve, Cord picked up the hot metal cup, mixed in a packet of coffee then passed it to her. He stared at her, waiting for an answer to his question.
After sipping and passing him the cup, she insisted, “I can make it to the game trail by myself. That way you’ll be less tired when you go after the boys. I think you’re right about going back the way we came. With their injured man it will be hard for them to climb back up the slope and across those ridges. We should be able to stay well ahead of them if they pursue us. What about your pack? Couldn’t you move faster and easier if I take it with me?” she suggested.
Cord broke a candy bar in half and handed her a piece along with the coffee cup as he considered what she said. “I think it would be too much weight for you. I can stash it down near the river and get it on our way out. Besides, if there’s trouble, I might need some of the supplies in it.”
“I’m stronger than I look. I can make you a small pack you can stick in your shirt in case of an emergency. I really wish you would let me wait down here by the river and be on hand if you need help or someone gets hurt,” Stacey argued.
“Tell you what. We’ll put almost everything in your pack and only leave emergency supplies in mine. That will keep it light enough so it won’t slow me down. But you have to leave as soon as we finish transferring the stuff. You need to get back to the trail without having to push too hard. I want you fresh in case we have to move fast when I get there with the boys or if you have to go for help. Okay?” Cord wasn’t used to compromise and this was the best he could offer under the circumstances.
Stacey watched as he put the lid on the tin of fuel and rinsed their single cup while she thought over his terms. “Okay, if you’re sure that’s the way you want it. I don’t want anything, not even me, to keep your mind off those boys when you start this.” Stacey smiled at him and began helping him move some of his gear into her backpack.
They divided the water equally between the canteens, but left them less than half full. They could add water after they had the boys safely out and right now every extra ounce mattered.
Cord kept his ammunition, one blanket, first aid kit, and a small coil of rope, three power bars, and a flashlight in his pack. He carefully checked his gun and secured it in the holster clipped at the small of his back.
“I hope you don’t have to use that,” Stacey whispered as the reality of how dangerous this could get sank in.
“I hope not, too,” Cord agreed. “Are you ready? There’s still time for me to go with you, if you’ve changed your mind.”
“I’m not afraid of the dark, Cord. I just hate to leave you.” Stacey got up and tied the blanket she sat on to her pack. “I should go.” Turning back to Cord she wasn’t quite sure what else to say.
“I’ll wait an hour then start working my
way toward their camp. That should get you over half-way to the game trail, even with the extra weight you’re carrying.”
“Cord; will you do me a favor?” She took a step closer to him and he stood up.
“What is it, Stacey? You really need to leave.”
“Kiss me before I go, please,” she whispered, gazing deeply into his eyes.
“This isn’t a good idea,” he groaned, but he couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms and touching his lips to hers. She melted into him, winding her arms around his neck and he kissed her as if he would never let her go. Cord was extremely tempted to lay her down and make love to her before she left him. What difference would an hour make? Then he could send her away.
Stacey obviously felt the same way as she passionately returned his kisses and caressed the nape of his neck as he stroked her back and hips.
His fingers were on her shirt buttons when he came to himself enough to fight off the temptation. He had a job to do and no business taking advantage of her heightened emotions. Many times before, he had dealt with the adrenaline rush and the urge to prove you were alive through sex in dangerous situations. It was part of the survival instinct that helped species exist in hostile territories. But he couldn’t do that to Stacey. He also had a strange feeling he wouldn’t be able to send her away if he made her his right now. Finally, he withdrew with a few, soft, nibbling kisses.
Stacey moaned in protest when he lifted his head and moved her away from contact with his heated body.
“You have to go. Now,” Cord ordered hoarsely. He reached to pick up the heavily loaded pack and held it for her to slip her arms into the straps. Lifting gently, he helped settle it on her back and adjusted the straps. “If it’s too heavy...” he began.
“It’s not. I’ve carried heavier. Be careful and good luck, Cord,” she didn’t want to admit how worried she was for him and the two boys he would be going after.
Surviving With Love Page 6