by Gerri Hill
The captain smiled at her as she set her coffee cup down. “Thank you for that,” she said. “I suppose I should go check on Butch…and Dana.”
Jean nodded. “I’ll be fine right here.”
As soon as she left, Jean’s mind returned to the kiss she’d witnessed. Could it be that Dana and the captain really did have a connection like she and Hal had? She supposed it was possible. They surely did seem to be fond of each other, that was for sure.
Chapter Forty-Five
Corey looked skeptically at Butch as he tried to pretend he was okay and fit enough to ride. If she thought they had any other choice, she’d insist they wait it out another day. But something was going on. She could feel it. They all could. And it had nothing to do with the gunfire they’d heard during the night. Nothing to do with the gunfire they’d heard as they were saddling up the horses at daybreak.
“That last shot sounded like it came from the other side of the creek,” Jean said quietly. “Down across the bridge, there are only a few families that live out that way.” She shook her head slowly. “I sure hope they’re okay.”
“I hope you’re not suggesting we go check on them,” Dana said as she pulled herself on top of Gretchen.
“We can’t take a chance,” Corey said to Jean. “Not with Butch injured. We need to get out of here.”
“Yeah, we do,” Dana agreed. “Because I’ve got a really bad feeling.”
It was something Dana had said several times before on this trip, and Corey had to agree with her. She met her gaze and nodded. “Me too,” she said as she swung up in the saddle, pulling up on the reins as the white stallion danced around.
“I hope the other horses will be okay,” Jean said.
“They’ll find their way to the creek,” she said. “There’s plenty of grass.”
After much debate, they’d decided it best to only take the four horses they would ride. The other three, they’d left in the corral where they had access to the stalls where there was hay, but they’d left the gate open. Butch thought they’d be fine until someone could come back and round them up.
“And my chickens,” Jean added with a sigh.
Well, Corey would miss fresh eggs, that was for sure. What they hadn’t eaten for breakfast, Jean had boiled up the rest and they’d packed them, along with the sandwiches they made with the leftover roast from yesterday.
They’d slept very little last night, catnaps, not much more. But it gave Jean time to cook, and she’d baked two loaves of bread. The smell alone was enough to keep Corey from sleeping, and Jean had allowed her to eat a warm slice with butter while Dana was sleeping. They’d practically devoured one loaf for breakfast with the scrambled eggs and sausage Jean had whipped up. The other loaf was made into sandwiches.
Now, with the sun’s light starting to poke through the trees that lined Jean’s lane, they headed out in single file, Lucky leading the way and Dana bringing up the rear.
Despite her apprehension, it proved to be an uneventful morning. That is, if she ignored the gunfire that occasionally broke the silence. She hadn’t shared with the others, but several of the blasts were from automatic weapons, most likely M16s. That told her that Brinkley had indeed sent in more troops…or her assumption of the number in the original squad was off. Or else somehow those weapons ended up in the hands of civilians…or worse.
She kept those thoughts to herself. When they’d reached the main road, they’d paused. Left would take them toward the cutoff to Paradox, where Dana and Butch had picked her up all those days ago. Right would take them to the checkpoint. Butch had voiced his opinion—Paradox would be a lot closer. Corey knew that it would, but they had to get out of the zone. She needed to report back to Sutter and Brinkley. They needed to know what was really going on out here. Besides, her gut told her the checkpoint would be safer than Paradox anyway. Dana echoed that sentiment.
“All this shooting we’ve heard,” Dana had said. “Who knows what the hell is going on in Paradox? I vote for the checkpoint.”
“I trust the captain,” Jean had said, leaving Butch no choice but to agree.
So they turned right, leaving the trees and valley behind as the road left the creek and headed west, through the arid high desert of rocks and the occasional clusters of scrub brush. They rode mostly in silence, a comment here or there breaking in from time to time. It was another sunny, warm day, and with the sun hot overhead, she thought a break for lunch was in order. A clump of trees—if three scraggly oaks could be called a clump—would provide a little shade. She pulled her horse to a stop and glanced behind her.
“How about a break?”
“I wouldn’t mind getting out of this saddle for a little bit,” Jean said. “To use Dana’s words…my ass hurts.”
They all laughed, easing some of the tension. Corey swung down, then held Daisy while Jean got off.
“I’m hungry,” Dana said.
“Surprise, surprise,” Butch replied.
Dana went over to him and helped him down. “How are you feeling?”
He gave a false smile. “Not too bad if I ignore the bass drum in my head.”
Corey turned him around, noting that the knot on the back of his head was still pronounced, although it wasn’t quite as bad as last night. He needed a doctor to check him out, and she hoped they weren’t doing a disservice to him by traveling. However, there had been little choice, she knew.
He seemed to read her thoughts, and he squeezed her forearm quickly. “I’m going to be fine, Captain. Probably just a hell of a concussion, that’s all.”
“Your vision was blurred this morning,” she reminded him. “How is it now?”
“It’s fine,” he said quickly. Too quickly.
She knew he was lying, but she didn’t press. It would do no good. The situation was what it was. And that meant another four or five hours until they reached the checkpoint, if her guess was right.
They stood in the shade of the trees and ate sandwiches, sharing with Lucky from time to time. The dog, however, didn’t seem all that interested in food. He seemed to be more alert than normal, his ears held at attention as if listening for predators…or something worse. When he walked out into the middle of the road, looking across it into the vast expanse of nothingness, she followed him.
“What is it, boy?” she whispered. “You hear something?”
“You think we’re being followed?” Dana asked beside her, her gaze on Lucky. “He’s acting like something’s out there.”
“I know. But with this terrain, there’s not a lot of places to hide, not enough trees or brush to conceal someone. I imagine we’d see them coming, if we were being followed,” Corey said.
“I saw you with that solar transmitter thing that you have. Any luck?”
She shook her head. “Mostly static. I’ve sent a few messages in the last couple of days, but I don’t know if they’re getting through or not.”
Dana nodded. “So, at the checkpoint, they’ll have power? Phone? You’ll be able to contact someone?”
“Yes. They’ll be outside of the zone. I’ll call my commanding officer immediately,” she said, wondering if she should bypass Sutter and simply call General Brinkley instead. Dana’s eyes were searching hers and Corey lifted an eyebrow questioningly.
“My parents,” Dana said quietly. “I’m really worried about them.”
“I know you are.”
Dana chewed on her lip nervously. “Once we get Butch and Miss Jean to safety…do you think…well, could we—”
“You want to come back here?”
“I feel like I’m deserting them. Like I’m just leaving them behind to fend for themselves,” Dana said. “Which, of course, is the truth.”
Corey didn’t know if she was surprised or not by Dana’s suggestion. She knew Dana was scared. Hell, she was too. Once they got out of here, would Dana really want to come back?
“All the shooting we’ve heard,” Dana continued. “That can’t be good. I grew up in a fam
ily of hunters. I’ve been around rifles,” she said. “Some of those didn’t sound like rifle shots.”
“No. Automatic weapons,” she said quietly, glancing over to where Jean and Butch were still leaning against the tree. Were they listening to their conversation? If so, they were hiding it well.
“So maybe they’ve…they’ve learned how to shoot now.”
“Or maybe it’s another team that was sent in,” she said.
“Then who are they shooting at?”
“Don’t think the worst, Dana.”
“I’d rather be prepared for the worst to happen than to think everything’s going to be okay. Because we both know it’s not.”
Lucky barked once and took another step toward the edge of the road. Corey followed his gaze, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, she felt the urge to push on. Dana apparently did too because she gripped her arm and pulled her back toward the others.
“Let’s go,” Dana said urgently.
They helped Butch and Jean back on their horses, then took off at a little faster pace than normal. However, Lucky didn’t seem agitated any longer, so Corey slowed her horse to a walk and finally exhaled.
“I’m nervous as hell,” Dana said. “I feel like we’re being stalked.”
“How much farther to the checkpoint?” Jean asked.
“I don’t know. Nothing looks familiar,” she said. “They dropped me off on Monday, about five. I hiked until dark, then started out again the next morning at first light.” She looked over at Dana. “I guess it was late afternoon when I met you and Butch.”
“So…on foot, what, ten, twelve hours or so?”
“I’d guess.”
“Should take half that with horses,” Butch said. He shielded his eyes as he looked toward the sun. “We should get there well before dark.”
“From where the checkpoint was, they calculated it to be about forty miles from the Paradox turnoff,” she said.
“Quite a hike,” Dana said.
Corey smiled. “Why do you think I was so thrilled when you offered me a ride on Gretchen?”
Dana smiled back at her. “I thought it was because you were getting to ride behind me.”
Butch laughed. “I don’t think now’s a good time for flirting, Dana.”
“If not now…when?” Jean chimed in.
Corey laughed at the blush that lit up Dana’s face. Indeed. If not now, when? Of course, that thought sobered her. As soon as they were safe, would Dana head back to Seattle? Would she forget about Corey? And who knew where Corey’s next assignment would be? Would they give her another team to train? Could she handle that again? Hell, did she even want to? As she’d told Jean, most times she couldn’t imagine having any other life than what she had. Except for those times when she longed for any life other than this. Since losing her team, those times came far more often now. She’d attributed it to her grief, nothing more, feeling that it would pass. Yet here she was, whether she wanted to be or not, taking on the responsibility of trying to get them all out of here safely, this new team of hers, a team of civilians. She pushed the stress of it all aside…it was what she was trained to do. Still, the stress weighed on her, she could feel that. If there wasn’t an outlet for it soon, she feared she would crash and burn. And if she was feeling that way, how must they feel? Did Jean, at seventy-five-years-old, feel helpless? Did Butch feel helpless right now with his banged up head and blurred vision? And Dana? Did she feel helpless?
No. Jean had been the first to experience the craziness of what was going on. She’d had the courage to shoot her own husband with a shotgun. Butch had experienced—twice now—the telepathic pull of this unknown entity and had managed to survive it, albeit with a little help. He’d survived a vicious attack too, and even though the last thing he should be doing now was riding a horse, he hadn’t once suggested that they delay their escape because of him.
And Dana? God, Dana had been a trouper through it all. She wasn’t shy about voicing her opinion, wasn’t shy about admitting that she was scared. Yet when Corey needed her, she’d been there, firing a weapon she had no business firing, firing it without flinching. Corey smiled to herself, thankful Dana had managed to not hit her in the process.
No…no one was feeling helpless. But feeling the stress? Yes, she imagined it weighed heavy on all of them.
Chapter Forty-Six
Dana smiled as she glanced at Lucky, who was perched in Corey’s lap, riding in the saddle with her.
Even though their pace had slowed, Lucky had been laboring and at one point had simply laid down on the road, refusing to go another step. They’d stopped to rest for a few minutes, then she and Jean had helped lift Lucky up on the horse with Corey.
They were getting close, or so Corey had said. The sun was sinking lower in the sky, but she guessed they still had a couple of hours of daylight left. It had been a hot, almost blistering day and without the benefit of traveling next to the creek, the horses were starting to labor as well.
She glanced behind her, wondering how Butch was holding up. Even though he repeatedly said he was fine, she could tell he was not. He had a tight grip on the saddle, and she suspected that he might be feeling a bit dizzy or maybe it was just the effects of his blurred vision.
“Look up ahead,” Corey said.
Dana saw sunlight reflecting off a windshield, and she felt relief flood her as she dared to hope it was the checkpoint. Corey had stopped her horse and she pulled out her binoculars.
“It’s the checkpoint. We made it,” Corey said with a laugh. “We actually made it.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Jean said. “I never doubted you for a minute.”
Dana pulled her horse up beside Corey’s, a big smile on her face. “It’s kinda anticlimactic, isn’t it?”
“What? You’d rather have us running for our lives as we’re being chased?”
“No. Been there, done that,” Dana said. Her smile faltered just a bit. “You’re sure this is the checkpoint, right?”
“The soldiers appear to be real soldiers, if that’s what you mean.”
“I’m worried about Butch,” she said, her voice low. “I think he needs a doctor.”
Corey nodded. “Yeah. There’s probably a medic here, at least. Judging by the number of tents, I’m guessing there’s at least a platoon here.”
As they got closer, she saw two of the soldiers step out onto the road, watching them. She held back, letting Corey go first. They appeared to be a little wary, and she noticed that both of them were holding their weapons in front of them.
She looked back at Jean, seeing the concern in her eyes.
“I think we’re okay,” she said quietly, then turned her attention back to Corey.
“Corporal Perez,” Corey said with a curt nod.
Dana’s eyes widened as both soldiers snapped to attention, saluting her quickly even though she wasn’t in uniform.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t recognize you. Glad you made it back safely, Captain,” he said.
“You still have power here?”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re out of the zone.”
“Great. Who’s in charge?”
“Lieutenant Jones, ma’am.”
“Can you get him? We’ll need to get Colonel Sutter on the horn.”
“Of course, Captain.” He paused. “Need help with the dog?”
Corey nodded. “Yeah. He could use some water too, if you have it.”
“What about a doctor?” Dana called.
Corey pointed back at Butch. “Got an injured man. You got a medic?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They took Lucky from the saddle, and Corey slid to the ground, stretching her back and legs as she looked back over at Dana.
“I’ll be right over there,” Corey said, pointing to an area where vehicles were lined along the road.
Dana nodded. “Okay.”
Dana got off Gretchen, then went over to help Jean down. She couldn’t help but smil
e up at her. They were safe. The day had been, as she’d said, anticlimactic. Other than the sporadic gunfire they’d heard that morning, which eventually had faded away, making the afternoon quiet and as nonthreatening as a walk down a country road could be. But after all they’d been through, she had a nagging feeling that it was only the calm before the storm. She hoped that wasn’t the case.
“We should have asked them what day it is,” Dana said to Jean. “I don’t have a clue.”
Two soldiers came up, holding Butch’s horse steady as he got off. Dana hurried over to him to help.
“What kind of an injury, sir?”
“Head,” Dana answered for him. “He has a gash on the back, some swelling. He had blurred vision this morning.” She looked at Butch. “Still?”
“A little,” he admitted.
“Okay. Come with me. I’ll have the doc take a look.”
Dana held his and Corey’s horse, then looked at the other soldier. “I don’t guess you have any water for them, huh?”
“I can probably round up something, ma’am.”
“Thanks.” When he turned to leave, she stopped him. “Oh…what day is it?”
He frowned. “Day?”
“Yeah, you know…Saturday, Sunday?”
“Oh. It’s Tuesday, ma’am.”
Dana sighed as she looked at Jean. “The power went out Saturday, more than a week ago already.”
“I lost track of the days too,” Jean said. Then she motioned to where Corey was standing, a phone held to her ear. “The captain looks like she’s yelling.”
Dana nodded. “Yeah, she doesn’t look too happy.”
“That’s because whoever she’s talking to probably doesn’t believe her,” Jean said.
Dana watched as Corey made a fist and pounded the side of the vehicle, her voice almost loud enough for her to hear. “I’m going to go see what’s wrong,” she said, handing the reins to Jean. As she approached, Corey pounded the vehicle again.
“Goddamn it, I know it’s farfetched. You think I’m making this shit up?” she yelled.
Dana touched her arm and squeezed tightly, feeling how tense Corey was. Corey met her eyes, holding them.