Saving Sidewinder: Brotherhood Protectors World

by Kate McKeever

  Sam sat quietly, scribbling in a small notebook. She poured their coffee and took his to him, then found the creamer and whitened hers. After she sat at the table she glanced at him. He was staring into the coffee cup with a perplexed look on his face. “What?”

  “Is this coffee?” He lifted the cup and sniffed the contents.

  “Sure it’s coffee. It’s hazelnut.” She sipped her own brew and sighed in pleasure. Sam took a tentative sip and grimaced then pushed his cup away. “What happened to the coffee I made this morning?”

  “It’s in the cabinet. I just thought— “She bit her lip then took another look at him. He eyed the coffee in front of him as if it were poison and he was under threat to drink it. She tried to stifle a giggle then let it go. He frowned at her a second but didn’t pick up the coffee. He sent her another frown, this time a mock ferocious one and growled, “I make the next batch.”

  She nodded and grinned. “Deal.”

  “Okay, tell me about Shepherd.”

  “The Shepherd brothers live in the county next to this one, Price and Hanson. They’ve lived there all their lives, except when they’ve been in jail, apparently. They have a pretty long history of crime in the county, with drugs, illegal sales of tobacco and liquor, car theft, you name it. Every ten years or so one of them will get caught and the state will get enough evidence to send him to jail but usually, they get off.”

  “If they’ve got long rap sheets how do they manage to get away with the crimes?”

  “Intimidation, mainly. Both of them are mean, violent men. Witnesses that report seeing them with stolen goods suddenly recant their testimony, leave the county for extended periods of time, that sort of thing.”

  “So how did you get involved?”

  “I sat in the first chair for Hanson’s case in distributing and possession of drugs with intent. Price was out of the state and Hanson apparently didn’t have the same reputation to fall back on so when he threatened the witnesses, or they didn’t take him seriously. He was convicted and is serving eight to ten years. He’s been in prison for eight months, now and my office has been getting threats, probably from Price, ever since Hanson went in.”

  “Any personal threats to you?” His voice quietened to a rumble and she examined his face. He’d gone from the open smile and laughing eyes of the coffee incident to intense gaze at her now.

  “Not to me personally, but to the prosecution team. I thought it was going to remain that way.”

  “So, you’re sure it was the brothers?”

  She shrugged, “I can’t think of anyone else it could be.”

  “Not your ex-husband?”

  “No, never. Rich and I had problems, but he loves Charlie.” Even if he didn’t see his son often, Rich faithfully sent monies and phoned Charlie on special occasions.

  “Okay, but we still need to go over the other possibilities, just in case. And I’ll start looking into Shepherd’s whereabouts.”

  Chapter 4

  “That’s not your job,” Hank Patterson said as Sam finished typing in his email to a detective friend. Sam hit send and then turned to his new boss.

  “How you figure that?”

  “Your job is to act as a bodyguard, go with your clients when they are out on the ranch, in town, that sort of thing. You aren’t hired to investigate.”

  “If I only act as a bodyguard, I’m basically sitting on my thumbs. In the past few days, Alana and Charlie haven’t left the ranch. She’s spending time either working, researching or with Charlie. I’m not doing much good.”

  Hank leaned against the wall next to the open office door. “They’re still alive and healthy, aren’t they?”

  “Yeah, but—“

  “But nothing. Alana’s boss is doing the investigating, trying to find out where the man who’s been threatening her is. You just need to concentrate on this.” Hank gestured toward the outside of the ranch. “By the way, did you know Charlie is outside?”

  Sam frowned, “Yeah, and so is Kid. I told them I’d be five minutes.” He glanced at his watch, “And it’s been three.” He stood and strode out of the office, toward the back door. Hank kept pace with him and they exited the house at the same time, then came to a stop at the edge of the exercise pen. Charlie, astride the horse he’d been riding for his lessons, rode the animal in a large circle while Kid held a lead rope in his hands and turned to watch the younger boy. Talley stood at the edge of the exercise yard and looked on.

  “He’s doing good here, isn’t he?” Hank gestured toward the group in the enclosure.

  “Charlie? Yeah, he seems to have lost his fear since he’s been here.”

  “I was talking about Kid, but yeah, Charlie is doing well too.”

  Sam eyed the older man, “I didn’t know you knew Kid.”

  “I met him the day you signed on with the Brotherhood. Figured I wanted to see what was so important you’d leave the Rangers for it.”

  “I didn’t leave the Rangers for Kid, I left cause it was time.” He’d had enough of seeing young men blown to bits, but he wasn’t about to share it.

  “Well, whatever the reason, it was a good thing Kid ended up here. It looks like he’s found his place.”

  Sam shook his head in wonder. “For a kid born and raised in the city, I’d never thought he’d warm up to horses like he’s done. And they seem to like him, too.” He watched as Kid approached the giant gelding and pat it on the head. The horse nudged him in the chest, almost knocking him down. Kid responded with a laugh, followed by Charlie’s peal of laughter.

  “He’s good with kids too,” Hannah said from behind Sam and he glanced over his shoulder at her and Alana’s approach. The two women couldn’t be any different, with Alana wearing a sweater and slacks fit for an office and Hannah in her jeans and hoodie over a plaid shirt. Still, both women looked comfortable in their skins and Sam looked on in appreciation at Alana’s curves as she approached, her tred sure and confident.

  She’d changed in the few days she’d been at the ranch as well. She’d arrived angry and frightened for her son. Now, she appeared at ease, if a little antsy at times. He suspected she suffered the same ills he did, that of being still when she preferred activity. He nodded toward Charlie. “He’s really getting good at riding.”

  She nodded with a frown, “And he wants me to learn how to ride as well. I’m willing but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go on the type of rides he wants to do.”

  “So use a four-wheeler,” Hannah said, her eyes still on Charlie and Kid.

  “Four wheelers?” Sam’s ears perked up. He hadn’t been on an ATV in months. In the field, they’d used the vehicles to scout but also for fun.

  “We have several, we use them to herd the horses in the winter when we need to get them in the stables. And we use them for fun, too,” Hannah grinned. “Taz and I like to take them into the mountains sometimes.”

  “Can we use them?” Sam had a plan forming in his head even as he spoke.

  “Sure. Just make sure you stay on the marked trails. We try to keep the erosion to a minimum in the hills. There should be clear trails marked, made by the elk.”

  Sam turned to Alana and grinned, “Wanta go for a ride? We’ll take Kid and Charlie, show them you don’t have to be on the backside of a horse to have a good time.”

  Alana squeezed her eyes shut as they climbed the hill at almost a thirty-degree angle. What had she been thinking, going on a four-wheeler ride? With a daredevil. Wouldn’t an ex Ranger be a thrill seeker? She hugged Sam tighter around the middle and glanced over her shoulder at her son and his riding partner.

  Kid grinned under the visor of his helmet and nodded to her, his speed steady and his distance behind their ATV well within eye gaze distance. Was he too close? Too far away? He’d seemed to be pretty well in control of the machine but Jeez, they were big!

  The radio inside her helmet crackled for a second then Sam’s voice came through. “Relax, it’s going to be fine. We’ll hit the crest of the
hill in a minute and then start down.”

  “And that’s fine? Are the brakes okay? Is Kid okay to do this? I mean, he’s in rehab, right?”

  The silence on Sam’s end told her more than a response would have and Alana tried to explain, “Sorry. I just haven’t done this before and neither has Charlie. If Kid has some issues—“

  “His issues have been with short term memory and self-confidence, not with skills he’s known for years. He was hot wiring cars and riding motorbikes when he was ten years old, Alana. He’s a natural with machines.”

  “And apparently, horses,” She murmured. “I guess I’m out of my element in more ways than one,” she muttered into the microphone. Sam crested the hill and veered off the path onto a flat area so Kid could come up beside him. He glanced over his shoulder at Alana then took his helmet off and looked at Kid. “Wanta take a break and walk around a bit?”

  Kid and Charlie had the same look on their faces, one of surprise and astonishment. “No way!” Charlie yelled over the rumble of the ATV’s engine. “I wanna keep going.”

  Kid eyed Sam and Alana then flipped the key in the ignition and motioned for Charlie to dismount. Alana watched as her son climbed off the machine with a slight pout on his face, the first she’d seen since he’d arrived at the ranch. Kid stood at the side of the four-wheeler and took his helmet off then stretched. “Let’s go hunt some of those rocks your mom was talking about, what do you say?”

  Charlie grimaced, “Ah, Mom. Do I have to?”

  She reached behind her and extracted a folded piece of paper from the bungee corded backpack then unfolded it. “If you do this today, you won’t have to do it on the computer tomorrow. And I’ll give you some extra credit if you can find all types of rocks in the area. There are only four listed there. We’ll confirm them when we get back to the ranch.”

  “If I find all of them can I get more riding time tomorrow?” Charlie’s expression turned canny, reminding Alana of herself as a kid. She laughed and nodded. “Ten minutes for every different type of rock. And I have a snack for after your hunt.”

  “Come on, Charlie. I’ll help. I’ve been reading up on the area since I came here.” Kid dropped his helmet on the ATV seat and turned to survey the area. After a warning not to wander out of sight, Sam and Alana relieved themselves of their helmets as well.

  “Why didn’t you go with him?” Sam stretched, his arms behind his back and his chest expanded. Alana tried not to notice how the movement tightened his shirt around his arms and chest but failed miserably. She turned and watched her son bend over to examine a stone.

  “I know I’m too protective of him. The only time he’s away from my sight is when he’s with you and Kid, and even then I’m watching him. I don’t want this whole affair to give him a complex or stain him in some way.”

  Sam followed her gaze as he came to stand beside her. “He may never forget this, Alana. But you’re not making him scared. Giving him room to ride and permission to do chores with Kid have helped him feel secure and useful. That’s what he’ll remember.”

  She looked at him, hopeful he was right. “Is that what you remember about the army?”

  His expression closed down immediately. “That’s different. Let’s find someplace to sit if we’re not going to go with them.” He turned away and started walking toward a flat stone. She was debating on whether to follow him or not when he tackled her to the ground.

  Her lungs emptied upon impact of both the hard ground beneath her and the hard muscle landing on top of her. Alana gasped, her vision blurring at the edges and she stared into Sam’s hard eyes.

  “Stay down,” he ordered and he levered himself up an inch from her. Alana swallowed then tried to breathe, her nostrils filling with a combination of his sharp spicy scent and the dust from beneath her. Sam crawled backwards, his body nearly touching hers as he maneuvered away from her. Once she could see clearly, Alana lifted her head only to slam it back to the ground when he barked at her to stay still. In direct opposition to his orders, he then dragged her several inches until she lay next to the ATV. Sam hunkered down and yelled, “Kid?”

  “Yeah?” Kid’s voice came from below them and to the left. Alana turned toward the sound, keeping her head on the ground. As she did, her mind raced, had Sam had a flashback to the battlefield? Had he lost it when she asked about his memories? No, it couldn’t be. He’d not seemed stressed until she asked the question, stupid woman that she was.

  “Did you hear anything?” Sam’s voice dropped from a shout to normal and Kid responded in kind.

  “Only the ping of the bullet hitting something. Did it get the gas tank?”

  “No, a rock near the machines. Are you hidden?”

  “We are now.”

  “Stay there. You armed?”

  “No,” Even Alana could hear the regret in Kid’s voice. She looked at Sam and then turned toward Kid’s voice. “Is Charlie okay? Charlie?” She heard the panic in her voice but couldn’t stifle it.

  “I’m here, Mom. I’m okay.” Charlie’s voice held a touch of panic as well and she closed her eyes, found something deep inside her and sought to reassure him.

  “Stay with Kid, honey. He knows what he’s doing.” She glared at Sam and whispered. “He does know what to do, doesn’t he?”

  Sam levered himself beside her and looked around as if searching for something or someone. He nodded and glanced at her briefly before moving his hand to beside him. Only then did Alana notice the gun in his hand. “He’s a trained soldier, Alana. He may have been injured but years of training doesn’t disappear that easily.”

  She shifted and glanced around. “What rock did the bullet hit?”

  Sam’s expression turned harder, if that were possible. “The one we were going to sit on. Stay here, I’m going to see if I can spot him.”

  Her hand shot out and grabbed him by the shirt. “Don’t!”

  Sam looked down at her, “If I don’t find this guy, we’ll be here until night fall or until he decides to shoot us again.” He gently stretched covered her hand with his larger one and pulled it away from his shirt. “I’m a trained soldier, too. Remember?”

  She swallowed, “Be careful.”

  She followed his movements as Sam belly crawled from the ATV to behind a scrubby bush. Nothing happened but Alana’s brain scrambled around, thinking of rattle snakes, poisonous spiders and masked gunmen surrounding them. Her heart thudded in her ears, making it almost impossible to hear anything other than her rapid breathing and she realized she was nearing a panic stage. If she didn’t calm her breathing, her heart rate, she’d not be any help to Sam. She held her breath, forcing her heart to slow and then took a deep breath and slowly released it. By the time she’d calmed enough to think clearly, Sam was at the edge of the ridge, staring toward a clump of trees. He glanced over his shoulder at her and with a frown rolled out of sight.

  Alana’s heart dropped. He’d left her? Here, with only one place to hide? Why?

  Sam cursed under his breath as he slid toward a small rock formation near the tree line. By all calculations, the shot had been fired from there and he only had one chance to find the son of a bitch who’d fired at them. Leaving Alana alone wasn’t something he wanted to do but it was necessary.

  He crawled slowly, stopping every foot or so to listen for any evidence of movement, sounds, foot falls, rocks settling. He turned his head and caught sight of Kid’s head around the side of a rock. He signaled the younger man to stay put and Kid nodded, gave an ok signal and disappeared behind the rock again. Sam hadn’t held much faith in the past few months since Kid’s injuries, but he sent a request upward to keep his charges safe until he could find a way to get them back to the ranch house intact.

  As he crawled he tried to keep his mind blank, think only of moving ahead and listening, watching for movement. The cool air gave way to warmth as the sun bounced off the light rocks and heated his skin. Bugs buzzed around him, a lizard skittered across the sandy dirt in front of
him and memories of doing the same thing in a much hotter environment threatened to assault him. Sam pushed the thoughts away and found himself at the base of a rock outcropping. He stopped and studied the area, planning his way into the fork of the rocks. Some kind of pine tree pierced the space between the rocks, offering a perfect hiding place for a sniper. He skirted the tree and silently entered the rock cluster.

  The tree stood only about eight feet in height but offered a good hiding spot under its branches. Smaller, scrubbier trees also fought for life in the space between the rocks and all together, provided a secure area for someone wanting to remain invisible. But no one could leave no trace, Sam knew. He found heel prints from a work boot, not a cowboy boot and, removing his phone from his pocket, snapped a photo of the impression. Even if animals or the weather eroded the print, he’d have a record of sorts. Further examination of the area yielded a cigarette butt, a gum wrapper and what looked like a toothpick. Sam shook his head. Whoever used this area didn’t have enough sense to police it as he squatted there. He stood and surveyed the hills behind him and found tracks leading to the top of another hill. There, in the dust, were wheel tracks. Not ATV tracks but something larger. Maybe a utility vehicle? He took another photo and surveyed the region once more. Whoever the shooter was, they’d moved on. And it was time for him to retrieve his charges and get them back to safety.

  A few minutes later, Sam, along with Charlie and Kid topped the hill to find Alana still on the ground, her face wet with tears. She’d not made a sound, Kid had assured him. Yet, her face showed the ravages of his abandonment, as well as her worry for her son. Sam cursed himself silently and made a promise her make it up to her. He looked on as she sprang to her feet, ran to Charlie and engulfed him in a hug. To the kid’s credit, he didn’t budge until she released him with a sniff.

  “I brought the rocks, Mom,” Charlie held out a grocery bag weighted down with stones. Alana choked off a laugh and accepted the bag, which she stuffed into the backpack. “We’ll check them tomorrow morning, okay?”