“Looks like we can all use a break,” Boom announced. Tapping Connor’s shoulder he asked, “Can I speak with you outside for a minute?”
Connor stood and turned toward his friend.
“Wait!” Kylee called out. “You never told us who you are.”
That’s interesting. Connor turned to face the girl. His eyebrows crept up his forehead. “Why do you want to know?”
She swallowed. “In case we remember anything else. Anything that can help you find our mom.”
After considering her answer, he replied. “Connor.”
“So that’s it, Connor?” Braden stood to his feet, fists balled up and face distorting with anger and frustration. “You’re not even gonna look for our mom, are you?”
If Braden and Kylee’s mother had truly been taken by the Progression, she was probably dead or wishing for death by now. But no matter how much Braden grated on Connor’s nerves, he didn’t have the heart to squash the kids’ hopes by voicing the Progression’s policy on prisoners.
Boom must have felt the same way. He lowered his head and said, “I’m sorry for your loss, but we cannot spare the man power needed for a rescue mission.”
“Fine. If you’re too much of a coward, I’ll go for her myself.” Braden glared at Connor. “I thought you said the Army was the good guys.”
“They are the good guys,” Liberty said from the doorway. She walked into the tent and stopped beside Connor. “So good that they can’t sentence their men to death in order to storm the Progression camp.”
“Who the heck are you, and how’s this any of your business?” Braden asked.
Connor tensed. Liberty briefly squeezed his arm, and then pushed past him. She knelt on the floor in front of Braden, making herself shorter than the boy.
“I’m sorry about your mother,” she told him, her voice shaky and uncertain. “I know if it was my mom, I’d be angry and scared too. I’d want everyone to do something to help her. But honestly, I don’t know if anything can be done. The Progression… not a lot of their hostages survive. Boom is great and he likes to help people in need. If there was anything he could do, he would,” Liberty continued. “But it’s probably…”
“She’s not dead!” Braden shouted. His face reddened and his eyes bulged. “Shut up! You don’t know nothing! She’s strong. They couldn’t have killed her.”
Liberty didn’t flinch. She stayed on her knees and let the child rage just inches from her face. Connor wanted to step in and move her to safety, but Boom stepped in front of him. The captain clearly wanted to see how the scene played out.
“She’s still alive. You just wanna give up on her like everyone. But I know she’s not dead. You shut your lyin’ mouth!”
Kylee tugged at her brother’s arm, but he shrugged her off.
“I’m sorry,” Liberty replied. “I’m so sorry.”
“No!” Braden shouted. “You didn’t even know her. You don’t care about her any more than they do. You’re a liar and I hate you!”
Liberty’s shoulders shook. She opened her arms and Braden rushed into them. He laid his head on her shoulder and let her wrap him up in her arms. His skinny frame heaved with loud sobs. Moments ticked by as Braden mourned in Liberty’s embrace.
Feeling like an invader in this very private moment, Connor looked away. He would have walked out of the tent if he thought he could trust the explosive child alone with Liberty.
“I knew it,” Braden said after a time. “I knew they’d kill her. I told her not to go. Why’d she go with them?”
Kylee slunk in her chair. “We both know why. She’d do anything to keep us safe. Mom could still be alive, though. She’s tough. If anyone could make it, she could.”
Braden shook his head. “She’s dead, Kye. She died the minute they took her. She knew it, too. You didn’t see her face when she said goodbye.”
Liberty squeezed him tighter. “I’m so sorry. If I could take her place, I would.”
Kylee started tearing up, and Braden released Liberty and retook his seat beside his sister. He draped an arm over her shoulders and squeezed her. “It’ll be okay, Kye. We’ll get through this.”
Liberty stood and turned. Tears streamed from her eyes. She pushed past Connor and slipped out of the tent. He called out to her to wait, but by the time he reached the tent entrance, she was gone.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Liberty
MY HEART FELT heavy when I left Connor, Boom, and the kids. I searched the camp for Ashley, and found her doing more karate training with Jeff. It looked like she was actually learning a stance, so I didn’t interrupt their session. Since I didn’t want to be alone I wiped the tears from my eyes and let my feet carry me to Osberg’s tent. After standing outside of it for what seemed like forever, I finally mustered up the courage to tap on the canvas.
“Osberg? You awake?” I asked.
No answer.
I frowned. Boom had reassured me that Osberg still lived, but that was the extent of his medical report. I wanted to see the soldier myself, but I didn’t want to wake him if he slept. Turning to leave I heard a weak cough coming from inside the tent.
“Osberg? Can I come in?”
“Yeah. Just give me a sec,” he replied. Rustling noises preceded a weak, “Okay. You can come in now.”
I unzipped the flap and the smell of antiseptic smacked into me like a wall of sterilization. I fanned the air in front of my face. “Whew. It smells like a hospital in here.”
“Yeah, Magee just stopped by to clean and redress the wound,” he replied.
Mention of the medic reminded me that I still need to talk to him. I made a mental note to do so and ducked into the tent.
My eyes took a moment to adjust to the inside of Osberg’s tent. Once they finally did, I could see that his sleeping bag was zipped to his left armpit with his left shoulder and arm sticking out at a twenty degree angle away from his body. The shoulder had been wrapped with what appeared to be a mile’s worth of white gauze. His color looked marginally better than the last time I’d seen him, but his eyes were still unfocused.
“He cleaned it? That sounds painful,” I replied.
“You have no idea. But thankfully, I’ve got these.” He held up a bottle of pills. “Good stuff. Percocet. The breakfast of fallen champions.”
“You’re surprisingly upbeat this morning. So what did the doc say? Will you recover use of your shoulder?”
He started to shrug, but only raised his right shoulder a fraction of an inch before realizing what a bad idea that was. “I don’t know. Depends on how quickly we can get to the fort. Pretty much destroyed the bone. If you wouldn’t have popped in and put that tourniquet on me, I would have bled out in that hole. Thank you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I ducked and hurried to change the subject. “I guess this takes you out of combat for a while, doesn’t it?” Sometimes my awkwardness even surprised me. Smacking a hand against my forehead, I added, “Sorry. That was stupid.”
He grinned. “Rock climbing is probably out, too.”
Thankful for the rope he’d thrown me to climb out of my own stupidity, I asked, “You like to rock climb?”
“Yep. I’d tell you that I’m good at it, but it’s Tuesday.”
“It is?” I asked.
He gave me another grin.
“And what does that have to do with anything?”
“I never get away with lies on Tuesdays. Thursdays are the best for lying. I become a pyro on Fridays.”
“Good to know.” I laughed. “Are you always this funny, or is that the Percocet talking?”
He grinned at the bottle. “Did you hear that? She thinks I’m funny.”
Definitely the drugs.
Enjoying the banter, but still curious about his injury, I asked, “So, surgery, huh?”
“Surgery, smurgery,” Osberg replied. Clearly wasted out of his mind, he gave me a big, toothy smile and declared, “I like you.”
Thrown off guard
, I hesitated, and then replied, “Thanks. I like you too.”
“You should come around more. It gets boring. Magee is the only one who comes to see me, and he’s dull. I mean it. No funny bone at all.”
“All right. I’ll see what I can do. Do you need anything while I’m here? Some water? A cheeseburger?”
He chuckled and started to say something, but drifted off mid-sentence. I sat with him for a while, watching the rise and fall of his chest, wishing I could do something else to help him.
Feeling useless, I quietly ordered him to get lots of rest and let myself out of his tent.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Connor
CONNOR FOLLOWED BOOM out of the main tent and into the glaring sunlight, shielded his eyes. He wanted to follow Liberty, but Boom motioned for him.
“I need to check on the horses,” Boom said. “Walk with me.”
Connor rubbed the back of his neck and followed Boom toward a dapple grey stud. One by one, Boom checked over the horse’s legs and hooves.
“What’s your take on the kids?” Connor asked.
“Braden’s reaction to Liberty surprised me. At first it looked fabricated, but toward the end… there was too much pain for it to be all fake. There is some truth in it, but I’m not sure how much.”
Boom stopped talking and waved at a soldier who was brushing down the horse Liberty had ridden when they picked up Noke. Dressed in full Army combat uniform, he looked like every other soldier in the platoon. At least until he stepped out from behind the horse and his dark brown cowboy boots made a stark contrast.
The soldier walked over and saluted. “Captain,” he said by way of greeting.
“Connor, have you met Private Ryan Pearson yet?” Boom asked.
“Don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” Connor replied.
“Pearson, this is First Sergeant Dunstan, a brother of mine from Special Forces.”
Pearson saluted. “Pleasure to meet you, First Sergeant,”
Connor returned the salute.
“Pearson was working as a ranch hand outside of Puyallup,” Boom explained. “The ranch was supplying one of our units with meat, so when we got word that the Progression was stealing their livestock we went to help. We took out the threat, but not before the ranch had been drastically downsized.”
Pearson chuckled. “I needed a job, and it turns out the captain needed someone who knew their way around a horse.”
Boom patted Pearson on the back. “It’s been a good arrangement. Since we will be mobilizing soon, I thought you might want Pearson to suggest a gentle horse for Ashley.”
“The young girl, right?” Pearson asked.
Connor nodded.
“Does she have any riding experience?”
“No. Well, yes, but she was unconscious.”
Pearson turned and studied the horses for a moment before pointing to the one Liberty had ridden. “That girl right there. She’s no spring chicken, but she’s gentle with an even temperament. I saw her walk right over a snake the other day and she didn’t even flinch. Perfect for a new rider.”
Connor thanked him for the recommendation, and then he and Boom returned to the camp, parting ways once they reached it. Connor went in search of the girls, finding Ashley was with Jeff. Connor stood back and watched the two of them train.
Ashley crouched with her arms straight in front of her, while Jeff tugged her shoulders back.
“Your spine is supposed to be straight,” he said.
Ashley sighed deeply. “This is so stupid. How is this going to help me do one of those really cool round house kicks?”
“It’ll keep you from messing up your back in the process.”
Ashley relaxed her stance and fell on the ground, clearly too exhausted to stand. “You never let me do anything fun. You make me pose and flex in all these stupid, uncomfortable positions, and that’s not what I signed up for. I want to kick and punch!”
Jeff threw back his head and stared at the sky, no doubt promising to never have kids of his own.
Connor chuckled at the sight.
Ashley heard him and perked up. She pulled herself to a sitting position and asked, “Are you done questioning them?”
Connor nodded.
“Think Kylee will want to play cards again?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. They could be dangerous.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “They’re kids, Connor, and it’s not like we’re leaving the camp or anything. We’ll be right in the main tent. It’s totally safe.”
My daughter the negotiator.
“Fine, you can go ask if she wants to, but you guys need to stay in the tent. I mean it.”
“Thank you, thank you!” Ashley shouted and took two steps in the direction Connor had come from. Then, as an afterthought, she turned around and said, “Sorry, Jeff, but this is boring.” Before he could reply she sprinted toward the main tent.
Connor ran a hand through his hair, wishing he could push away all the worries nagging at his brain. He glanced around the camp, and then asked Jeff, “Have you seen Liberty?”
“No, First Sergeant.” Jeff replied.
His weapons sat piled up on a box beside his tent. One by one, Jeff picked them up and checked them over before equipping them. After he finished, he addressed Connor again. “Will that be all, First Sergeant?”
Connor sighed. “When nobody is around, you can drop the title.” He stepped forward and lowered his shoulders, trying to relax, hoping Jeff would do the same.
Jeff nodded, but still stood stiff and rigid, as if expecting Connor to pounce on him or something.
Connor made another attempt to offer the soldier an olive branch. “I know we haven’t exactly seen eye to eye on… well on anything, but I'm glad you’ve decided to join us.”
It was an irrefutably true statement, since Connor would much rather have Jeff right where he could keep an eye on him than lurking around in the woods with a gun aimed at Connor’s head. And if Jeff continued to stare at Liberty like some love-sick puppy, Connor wanted the boy where he could stab a knife in his eye.
As if reading Connor’s mind, Jeff grinned. The upturn of his lips didn’t look at all friendly. “Where else would I go?” he asked. “I like it here.”
Connor kept his expression neutral. “You’re a good soldier, and I appreciate that you would do anything to help Liberty and Ashley.” He leveled a hard stare at Jeff. “But don’t push me.”
Jeff’s gaze flickered to something behind Connor, and his smile widened.
“That sounds a little like a threat,” Liberty said, sliding next to Connor, her fishing pole in her hand. “You wouldn’t be threatening Jeff, would you?”
“No, ma’am,” Connor replied, turning so he faced her. “Of course not.”
Jeff snorted.
Liberty leveled a hard stare at Connor and he gave her his best innocent smile.
Jeff shouldered his rifle. “Hey, Lib. Good to see you, but I gotta go on patrol soon.” He smiled and stepped forward to wrap her in a hug, squeezing her tightly and lifting her feet off the ground. She yelled at him and pounded her fists into his chest until he put her down.
“You’re such a dork. Don’t do that again,” Liberty warned, but she smiled.
Connor did not.
Jeff seemed unfazed by Connor’s glare and Liberty’s chastising. He gave her a wide toothy grin and said, “Thanks for our talk yesterday. I feel better. About everything. You really helped me.”
Liberty lit up. “Good. I’m glad you’re coming around about it all.”
Connor felt like a fifth wheel, but he didn’t care. Determined not to give Jeff the pleasure of making him uncomfortable, he crossed his arms and prepared to wait out their conversation.
“We should talk after your shift. Find me, okay, Jeff?” Liberty asked.
“Will do.” Jeff turned his smirk back on Connor and saluted. “First Sergeant, Sir.”
Connor dismissed Jeff,
and then watched him stride away.
“He’s come so far,” Liberty said, after Jeff disappeared behind the trees. “I’m glad to see him growing and thriving. He’s doing well.”
Connor was just glad to see him leave. Jeff’s friendship with Liberty seemed easy and comfortable from the moment they met, while Connor had to strive and sweat for every ounce of trust and affection he got from her.
“Connor?” Liberty asked, concern lined her forehead. “You okay?”
He shook himself out of his thoughts and focused on her. “Yeah, a little worn out, but I don’t have to meet with Boom until this evening. You want to go get something to eat and talk for a while?”
“Sure.”
He walked with her toward the main tent. “Truth is, I’m worried about Ashley. We don’t know much about these kids and I’m hesitant to leave her with them.”
“I don’t know, Con. They just seem a bit roughed-up to me.”
“No, there’s something we’re missing. The kids don’t look or act like Progression soldiers, but there’s definitely something off about them.”
Liberty’s eyebrows scrunched up in disbelief. “They lost their mom and they have issues, but who doesn’t nowadays?”
“It’s more than that. The girl… it’s like she’s always watching me.”
A smile spread across Liberty’s face. “Maybe she has a crush on you? You are pretty handsome, you know?” Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned bright red.
Connor grinned. “You think I’m handsome.”
She rolled her eyes and turned away. “I just remembered that I have something else I need to be doing right now.”
“Wait.” Connor grabbed her arm. “Please come with me. I really am worried and don’t want it to look like I’m spying on her, you know?”
One of Liberty’s eyebrows rose in question. “So you think if you and I randomly hanging out in the main tent won’t look suspicious?”
“Less suspicious?” He smiled at her. “Please don’t make me spy on her alone.”
“Fine, but if we get in trouble, remember that this brilliant idea is all you, and I will totally sell you out.”
Connor chuckled and followed Liberty. They entered the main tent just in time to watch Ashley jump out of her chair and point a finger at Braden.
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