by Robert Boren
“Of course,” Jerry said. “Everything’s still set up downstairs.”
“Good, you guys work, we come down and tend bar in little while,” Rosie said.
“Good to be home,” Jeb said
Chapter 15 – Stuck in the Muck
“You don’t think we should follow them back there?” Jane asked Frank as he was setting up his laptop. The generator motor was purring softly in the lush green clearing.
“We’re more use to them running the web meeting and watching the road,” Frank said. “Besides, I’m afraid our geezer Jeep will get stuck. A Jeep Liberty is no Wrangler. Malcolm can take everybody in his Unlimited except Gabe, and he’s staying here to keep watch.”
“It’s worse back there than it was coming this far?” Jane asked. “I thought we were going to get stuck a couple of times.”
“Oh, it’s a lot worse back there,” Malcolm said, chuckling as he stuck his head in their coach. “Trust me.”
“Yeah,” Gabe said. “That was a long dirt road to get here, but it gets a fair amount of traffic, and you can tell that this boondocking site gets used a lot.”
“We’re ready to go,” Malcolm said, coming inside.
“Connect to the web meeting,” Frank said. “Just remember you’ll probably lose it when you get back there a ways.”
Dobie came in behind him. “Here, these might help.” He had two walkie talkies. He came in and handed one to Frank. “Chanel 5. These have good range, but the hills might impact it a little.”
“Worth a shot anyway,” Frank said. “Thanks.”
Agent Williams and Ted joined them.
“You look worried,” Jane said to Agent Williams.
“I am,” he said. “Those creeps are gonna find you guys first if they show up. They don’t want Sarah, they want Frank. I think I ought to stick around here too.”
“I have no problem with that,” Malcolm said.
“Me neither,” Dobie said. “Maybe we ought to leave Duchess here too. She’s a good early warning system.”
“I like that idea,” Gabe said.
“We have Lucy, but every little bit helps if you don’t need her back there,” Jane said.
“Done,” Dobie said. He went back to his rig to get her.
“Okay, let’s blow this joint,” Malcolm said. He went outside, the others following.
“I’m getting the guns out,” Jane said. “This makes me really nervous.”
“I know,” Frank said. “Maybe it’s a good day to put on my holster.”
“Yeah, Tex,” Jane said, forcing a smile. “I’ll get out the grenades too.”
***
“Malcolm’s team is rolling,” Jerry said, slipping his blue tooth headset on.
“Good,” Jasmine said. She was next to him in the lounge, her headset on. “You guys hear us?”
“I hear you,” Dobie said.
“Likewise,” Malcolm said.
“Me too,” Ted said.
“And me,” Frank said. “Agent Williams and Gabe are staying here with us.”
“Good,” General Hogan said. “I think you guys are in more danger than Malcolm’s team.”
“Oh, you’re on, General,” Jerry said. “Great. You down here?”
“No, I’m up top with my boys, in front of the barn,” he said. “I’m seeing quite a few people come over, though.”
“Happy hour with Rosie,” Jerry said. “They’ll have to keep it down to a dull roar.”
“Yeah,” General Hogan said.
“Wish we were there for that,” Malcolm said. “Pretty country back here, though. Good thing Frank didn’t follow us. Just went through a creek that would have swamped his Liberty.”
“We put a description of this Jeep in the drop box,” Ted said. “So Hank doesn’t shoot at us.”
“You tried Sarah’s phone recently?” General Hogan asked. “Range and coverage is a lot better than it was just a couple years ago.”
“I just tried a few minutes ago,” Jane said. “It rang, but she didn’t answer. Maybe she had her hands full.”
“How far from you guys are they?” General Hogan asked.
“Looks like about twelve miles,” Dobie said, looking at his GPS unit. “That’s a ways at this speed, and I haven’t seen any stretches yet where we can speed up.”
“Yeah, pretty rugged back here,” Malcolm said. “Too bad Jeb isn’t here with his bow. Looks gamey.”
“Here comes mom,” Jasmine said, looking at the stairs. Charlie, Kurt, and the Sheriff were carrying Rosie down the stairs. They installed her behind the bar, and she lined up bottles.
“Hey, guys, not too loud, okay?” Jerry said. “We’re helping with the operation.”
“We be quiet,” Rosie said.
Jeb came down and walked over to Jerry. “How’s it going up there?”
“So far so good,” Jerry said. “They’ve got a ways to go, at about five miles per hour.”
“Wish we had a video feed,” he said.
“Hey, how about a drone?” Jasmine asked.
“We don’t want to do that,” General Hogan said. “Can’t without certain bad people finding out about it. It’ll give away their location.”
“We don’t have that problem here?” Jeb asked.
“The bad guys already know where we are,” General Hogan said.
“True,” Jasmine said. “Maybe we should have had Jake rig up Malcolm’s Jeep with a cam.”
“We didn’t know they’d be going into the boonies before, remember?” Frank said. “We thought we’d just be in Boise.”
“Hey, guys, I’m going to sit on that little ridge to the north,” Gabe said. “I’ll be able to see the whole area, including down the road quite a ways. It’s got decent cover.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Agent Williams said. “I’ll go on the small ridge to the south.”
“How about the dog?” Jane asked.
“Leave her where she is,” Dobie said. “She’ll stay by Frank and Jane’s coach unless she hears or smells somebody else coming.”
“Son of a bitch, look at that!” Malcolm said.
“What?” General Hogan asked, sounding alarmed.
“Wreckage of a chopper,” Malcolm said. “Down the mountain from this fire road.”
“Military?” Jerry asked.
“Yeah,” Dobie said. “Looks like it’s been there a while.”
“Shit, there’s a bear down there,” Ted said, straining against his seatbelt to see over the side of the cliff.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Malcolm said. “Hope he doesn’t get interested in us.”
One of the dogs growled. “Princess sees it,” Dobie said. “Forget it girl, that thing would tear you apart.”
“Another creek coming up,” Malcolm said. “Deeper than the last one. Keep your fingers crossed.”
“Whoa,” Ted said.
The sound of the Jeep gunning its engine came through over the web meeting.
“Holy shit,” Malcolm said. “That was close.”
“Seriously,” Dobie said. “Look at the tracks in the mud.”
“How many sets of tracks?” General Hogan asked.
“Just one, from the look of it,” Dobie said. “Probably Sarah and Hank. They’re fresh.”
“Uh oh,” Malcolm said. “Look up ahead. Log across the road.”
“Dammit, we aren’t in far enough yet,” Dobie said, looking at his GPS.
“I’m gonna stop and look for tracks,” Malcolm said. “This log has been here for a while. It’s got growth all around it.”
There was the sound of car doors opening and closing over the web meeting.
“There we go,” Ted said, squatting down and looking close. “They went off that way, into the ravine.”
“Yeah,” Malcolm said. “We’ll be able to get back there, probably better than a four-wheel-drive truck could.”
They got into the Jeep, Malcolm driving forward, following the tracks.
“Big bend in the road ahead,” Te
d said. “If you can call this a road.”
“Yeah, going into 4L,” Malcolm said. “This is pretty hairy.”
“Hey, look, there they are,” Ted said. “They’re stuck.”
“That must be Sarah,” Dobie said. “Looks a lot like Frank.”
“Oh, thank God,” Jane said. “They look okay?”
“I only see Sarah so far,” Malcolm said. “She looks okay.”
***
“You want to go to the Lounge?” Jake asked. He was sitting next to Frankie, under his awning with Ned and Clara.
“They starting up already?” Frankie asked.
“I see the usual suspects heading down there,” Jake said. “Charlie and a few of the others carried Rosie down there too.”
“I wondered what was going on there,” Ned said. “She’s quite a card, that Rosie.”
“Sure is,” Jake said. “She knows how to party, too.”
“What’s the matter with her?” Clara asked. “Why can’t she walk?”
“Bad knees,” Jake said. “One of the doctors at that hospital they were at offered to fix them. Good thing that didn’t happen. Would have made the rescue tougher, I’ll bet.”
“Yeah,” Ned said. “She actually can walk, just not very far, and it’s painful.”
“When the war is over she’ll get taken care of,” Jake said. “She doesn’t think she can afford it, but we’ll make sure she does.”
“Good,” Ned said.
“Well, what do you guys think?” Jake asked. “Shall we go join in the fun?”
“I’m game,” Frankie said. “That place does have a good vibe to party in, if you’re in the mood.”
Jake chuckled. “I don’t think anybody else will get that. Might want to keep it to yourself.”
“Like that will happen,” Clara said, laughing.
“Well, Clara, it’s up to you,” Ned said. “I just want to be with you. Don’t care where.”
“We have a date, remember?” she said. “I want you all to myself.”
“Good, that’s what I was hoping,” Ned said.
“Let’s leave the love birds alone, then,” Jake said, standing. He helped Frankie up, and they started towards the barn. Terry and Trish were on their way there, and met them before they got to the trap door.
“Shall we?” Clara asked.
“We shall,” Ned said. They got up and walked to Clara’s rig. Clara stopped in front of Vicki’s trailer.
“You okay, honey?” Clara asked. Vicki was sitting on a chair under her awning, head in her hands. She looked up slowly.
“Oh, hi, Clara,” she said, her cheeks and pixie nose red. “I’m just worried about Dobie.”
“You should go into the lounge,” Ned said. “They’ve got a web meeting up. You could listen in, and watch the satellite feed too.”
“You think they’d mind?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so, as long as you don’t chatter too much,” Ned said.
“I’d keep my mouth shut,” she said. “I’ll take my laptop down there so the kids can watch cartoons. You don’t think the drinking will get out of hand, do you?”
“With this crowd, I doubt it,” Clara said. “Jamie might pick up on the bad vibe down there, though.”
“Oh, you believe in that stuff that Frankie says?” Vicki asked. “I thought you didn’t.”
“I didn’t, but I’m starting to change my mind,” she said sheepishly.
Vicki smiled at her, and then turned to her door. “Hey, kids, grab my laptop and come out. We’re going to the basement under the barn.”
“Oh, goody!” Derek shouted, running outside. Jamie followed more slowly, carrying a laptop case by the handle. Vicki took it from her, and they headed for the barn.
“Have fun, you two,” Vicki said, shooting Clara a knowing glance.
“C’mon,” Clara said. They walked to her rig and knocked on the door. “Anybody here?”
“Your son?” Ned asked.
“He’s been staying with Britney over at Frankie’s trailer,” Clara said. “Just wanted to be sure they weren’t here.”
“Oh,” he said, watching as she unlocked the door, her jet black hair with its lines of gray swaying as she moved. He followed her inside.
“Nice,” he said. “After being with this group, I can see how great the lifestyle is.”
“I love it. Especially the freedom and the lack of clutter.”
“You have a regular house someplace?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Don’t know if it survived. I barely got out in time.”
“What happened to your husband?”
“He took off years ago,” Clara said.
“You never remarried?”
“No,” she said. “I tried to focus on raising Josh. I had a boyfriend every now and then, but nothing too serious. Never lived with anybody. Have a seat.” She nodded over at the couch.
Ned sat as she puttered in the kitchen and looked in the pantry. “Oh, want a drink?”
“Sure,” Ned said.
“I’ve got some tequila. Used to have a bottle of margarita mix. I’ll check.”
“Excellent,” Ned said, watching her slim form. “You are so beautiful.”
She turned to him, face red. “Thanks.” She got down on her knees and looked into the bottom shelf of the pantry. “Ah, there it is.”
“Mix?” Ned asked.
“Yeah.” She pulled several bottles out, and then reached way in and brought it out. “Eeww, dusty.” She set it on the floor next to her, and put the other bottles back in.
Ned chuckled. “Hiding it from the kids?” he asked.
“Nah, I think I had it in here for a rally that Frankie and I went to, and never ended up using it.” She put the large bottle on the counter, wet a paper towel, and wiped it off. “Wonder if it’s out of date?” She looked at the label. “Expired about six months ago, but it says best if used by the date. Want to try it?”
“I’m game,” Ned said. “Need help?”
“Yeah, you could lift the blender out for me,” she said.
He got up and went to the cabinet she opened, squatting and reaching in. He lifted the unit up and put it on the counter, then turned and threw his arms around her, pulling her close. They kissed passionately.
“Wow,” she said, face flushed. “That got me going pretty good. It’s been a long time.”
“Tell me about it,” Ned said, breath coming quicker.
“I’d better figure out dinner, or we’ll never eat,” she said, a tremor in her voice.
“Just one more,” Ned said, pulling her to him again, kissing her hard, hand roaming all over her back and up to her shiny hair. After they broke the kiss, they stared in each other’s eyes for over a minute, Ned petting her hair gently.
“Why don’t you get the drinks going while I find us something to eat,” she said, flustered but smiling.
“Sure,” he said, looking at the bottle of mixer. Clara got the tequila out of the pantry and slid it down the counter to him, then opened the freezer door.
“Ice?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said, taking out the bin and handing it to him. “Hey, how about beef stew? I have some in here. It’ll have to defrost.”
“That sounds great,” Ned said as he poured the ingredients into the blender. “Want this on the rocks, or you want the ice blended in?”
“On the rocks.” She put plastic container of beef stew in the microwave and turned on the defrost cycle. “This will take a little while.”
“No problem, we can drink while we wait,” Ned said with a twinkle in his eye. He started the blender, the amber mixture spinning. Clara got down the glasses.
“Salt?” she asked.
“Sure, if you’ve got it.”
“Yeah,” she said, going back to the pantry, and getting it out of the top cubby. She brought it over and got the glasses salted. Ned put in the ice and poured the drinks.
“This is gonna be good,” he said.
&nbs
p; “If that mix is okay,” Clara said, smiling. She took the glass he handed to her and had a sip. “Oh, it’s still good. Tastes great.”
Ned took a sip. “Oh, yeah, that’s tasty.”
“Sit with me,” she said, moving to the couch. They sat down next to each other, sipping their drinks.
“I’m so glad you’re back safe and sound,” Clara said.
“Me too,” Ned said. “Wow, this hits you fast.”
“Sure does,” she said, setting her drink down on the side table. She turned towards him, cuddling up, laying her head on his chest. Ned took a big gulp of his drink, his heart hammering in his chest. He put his hand on her head, petting her again. She looked up at him, and they kissed, more passionately this time.
“Wow,” Ned said, hands on either side of her head, looking into her eyes.
“I need a little more,” she said, reaching her drink. Ned took his, and raised it.
“To us,” he said, watching her eyes tear up. They both drank.
“I’m glad we skipped happy hour,” Clara said, setting her drink back down. “Come here.”
Ned put his drink back down and pulled her close, kissing longer this time, their passion building, hands roaming over each other, breath coming fast.
“C’mon,” Clara said, standing, taking his hand. “Let’s go in there.” She pulled him towards her bedroom.
***
“You’re Malcolm,” Sarah shouted, running towards him. “I’ve seen your picture.”
“Yes, I’m Malcolm, and that’s Ted and Dobie.”
Sarah looked at them smiling. She was a blonde with a light build and a slight baby bump.
Dobie got his dogs out of the back and rushed them over, introducing them. “Wow, Frank’s eyes, and Jane’s nose and mouth.”
“Sarah’s fine,” Malcolm said into his blue tooth headset. Then he showed her the number and password on his phone. She took out her phone and got onto the web meeting.
“Mom?” she asked.
“Sarah! So good to hear your voice, honey. We were so worried.”
“Hi, honey,” Frank said.
“Hi, daddy,” she said.
The dogs growled. Everybody looked in the direction the dogs were looking.
“Oh, that’s Hank,” she said. “He was looking for some firewood. Hey, honey, they found us!”
He dropped the wood by the truck and hurried over. He was a huge man, clean cut and shaven.