Sampson stopped and picked up the treat, but then he looked at the woods. He gave out a low growl.
Haley came to his side. “What do you hear?” she asked the pup.
He stood at attention and kept looking in one direction. Haley saw nothing, but she ran inside and got her binoculars. When she got back, she heard a rustling in the bushes.
She adjusted her binoculars and looked in the direction where she heard the sound and where her puppy was still looking. A deer jumped through the trees. Haley sighed with relief. She glanced down at Sampson and laughed. “You had me so scared, and it was only a deer. Eat your treat, and we’ll go in. I don’t know if my heart can take another fright like that one.”
Inside the cabin, she locked the windows and doors. “If I don’t start feeling less anxious, we’ll head home,” Haley told Sampson. “It’s a good thing I have you to talk to even if you don’t understand.” She scooped him up in her arms. “I can’t relax on this trip. I know I’m acting silly, but I might as well not waste my vacation days if I can’t shake my nervousness.”
Ranger and Alec studied the maps of Nevada and Arizona. They didn’t think she’d have chosen a cabin in the mountains of California. They were too close, and she liked more privacy.
“There are way too many places she could go,” Alec said.
“Yeah, I know. Do you have any other ideas?”
“Not me.”
“I’m worried about the disappearance of the man and his group who want to capture her. If he’s alive, he won’t give up. His men shamed him by letting us rescue her. I’d be surprised if some of them didn’t lose their lives over that mistake.” Ranger shook his head and looked back down at the maps.
“Let’s get something to eat, and then we’ll check and see if the FBI guys are back. Maybe her brother has some idea we can follow up on,” Alec said.
“I wish she’d call. I’d bet anything she has a burner phone with her. Damn it, after getting almost tortured and killed the last time, her idea of going to a secluded cabin was stupid.”
“Calm down. We can ask if your team and mine can start checking out the less populated areas in Nevada and Arizona. She’d never call a cabin in one of the resort areas secluded. Once we mark them off the list, it’ll narrow our search.”
Ranger slapped Alec across the back. “Thanks for helping. Most guys would give up by now.”
Alec shoved him playfully. “I’m helping because I want to see you walk down the aisle.” He chuckled. “I thought for sure you’d never marry.”
“I was trying to decide whether to marry the nurse I’d dated so long, but I never got the words out to ask her.”
After they ate, Alec said he was going home for the night. “I have to work tomorrow. I’m behind on paperwork and reorganizing the office area. The captain yelled at us a few days ago about how bad the place looked. I’ve been too easy on my team. I’ll check with you when I get off duty.”
“No problem. Thanks for helping me this weekend. I may take a vacation and check out a few places we discussed.
“What worries me is she’s alone, even if it did take time for her to get there. She’s arrived by now. I have to find her soon.”
“Good luck. I’ve always thought it’s best to go with your hunches.”
“Me, too.”
Ranger went to his room and packed a bag with enough clothes to last a week. He called Captain Buchanan and got permission to take a week’s vacation. By four a.m., he was headed out of town.
Ranger drank a lot of coffee and finally stopped at eight P.M. and got a motel room off the normal path. The motel sign had one letter burned out, and it backed into a woodsy area. A white-haired man greeted him and took his credit card for payment.
“Do you get many customers on this route?” Ranger asked.
“Not too many. Our light goes off at nine. I live behind the office, and occasionally late arrivals ring the bell outside.”
“I’m looking for a lady traveling with a puppy.”
“Don’t recall seeing any puppies lately.”
“If you think of anyone, let me know. I suspect my friend may be in danger.”
The man made a scoffing sound. “How do I know you aren’t the danger?”
Ranger laughed and nodded. “You’re right to be cautious.” He showed his Navy ID.
The man turned to spit a wad of tobacco into a trash can. “I ain’t trusting no one. Here are your keys.”
When Ranger opened the room, it had a musty smell. He shrugged. It’s better than sleeping on the ground.
He turned on the air conditioner, took a quick shower, and lay awake wondering how he’d find Haley in time. He had to. His gut kept telling him she was in danger.
Early the next morning, Ranger started checking the map for little mountain towns. He looked at the names and area. She’d said her grandmother named the mountain where the cabin was located. There were many resorts and some towns named after famous people or areas. None seemed right. He’d almost given up when he spotted a small town with mountains around it.
He had to lean closer to see the name of the mountain, Dorren Lake Mountain. He’d ask the owner of the motel if he’d heard of it.
The proprietor nodded his head. “Yes, but you’re a long way from there. You’ve come too far West. I’d say you need to go East, get on the Interstate for about two hundred miles, get off at Heaven’s Pass, and it’s still a hundred miles of two-lane winding roads.”
“Thanks, that’s a big help.” Ranger waited until he was in his car before contacting the captain.
“I think I have an idea where I can find Haley.”
“Where?”
“I’m looking for the property a relative left Haley in a will. She told me her grandmother had left her a cabin. I’ve studied the maps thoroughly, and last night I found a mountain called Dorren Lake Mountain. It’s the only one I’ve found named after an unknown person. All the other mountains I found were named after distinguished people.”
“Okay, but you’re not going up there alone. I’ve got your GPS. I’ll send a helicopter to pick you up and take you, Kijika, and Jackson to the bottom of the mountain. I want Jackson there so you don’t do something stupid and get in trouble. If you’re right about this mountain, you’ll have gear in the helicopter to use to climb up and find a spot near her.”
“Thanks. And don’t worry, I won’t do anything stupid.”
“Not with Jackson there. I’m going to send a plane out to check if they can pick up the heat from a body in any cabins in that area. Stay right where you are and wait for your helicopter.”
“I will. I can’t thank you enough, Captain.”
Buchanan laughed. “Thank goodness you’ll be the last to marry, and my team can settle down to concentrate on our dangerous missions.”
“I’m not sure I’ll marry her.”
“Shut up. You’d better.” The captain hung up, still laughing.
Ranger got out of his car and paced. It seemed hours before he heard the helicopter. He stuck his head in the door of the motel office. “I’ll be leaving, but I’ll come back for my car.”
The owner spat his wad of tobacco into the trash can and followed Ranger outside. When the chopper set down in his parking area, he looked at Ranger. “Who the hell are you?”
“No one special.”
“Hell, if you aren’t special, I don’t want to see the next guy.” He turned and walked back to the office, saying over his shoulder, “He might be in a spaceship.”
Jackson and Kijika got out and greeted Ranger. “Let’s get going,” Jackson said. “I’d just as soon a car doesn’t come by and see us.”
“We’re lucky. Few cars choose this road.” Ranger strode over to the helicopter. “Well, are you two coming with me?”
Once they had on the headphones, the helo took off. They covered the distance much faster than Ranger would have driving. He watched the windy roads below and was glad for the transportation. The pilot put the
helicopter down, out of sight, but near a gas station.
“When do you guys want to be picked up?” the pilot asked.
“We’ll call if needed, but we’ll probably go back by car,” Jackson said. “Thanks for your help. We’ll unload the equipment here and hide it under the brush.”
“Anytime.”
The chopper took off and flew out of sight and they headed for the gas station. All three went inside and faced a lone man sitting at the register.
“What’d you three do, drop down out of the sky? I don’t see no car.”
“We have a cabin back down the road and decided we’d go on a hike. Are there other cabins near your store? I’d rather find a place near here than where we are now,” Jackson said.
“The nearest cabin I know of is on the mountain right outside.” He nodded to a small road opposite the gas station, the entrance almost hidden by shrubbery. “But since Miss Dorren died, I ain’t seen no one around. That’s why the shrubbery’s grown up. As far as I know it’s never been rented.”
“Who was Miss Dorren?” Jackson asked.
She bought that their mountain years ago. I was just a baby. My Ma said she was the nicest lady. She did a lot for our town and had the area around the lake cleaned out so the residents could have a place to swim. We named the lake after her. The lake’s a mile further down the road.”
“Sounds peaceful,” Ranger said. “Does anyone come here now? I mean, any of her family?”
“Heard tell she left it to a granddaughter, but if she’s been here, then she must bring her stuff with her. Haven’t seen any activity on the mountain in years.”
“I know a lady whose last name is Quinn,” Ranger said. “Would that be Miss Dorren’s last name?
“Yes sir, it sure is.”
We’ve been trying to contact her. We believe she may be at the cabin, but she must have her phone off, or it’s not working on the higher elevation.”
“Well, if you do see her, tell her to come by and introduce herself. I’d like to meet Miss Dorren’s granddaughter.”
“We’ll tell her if we find her.” Jackson grabbed three bottles of water and some snacks. Ranger paid the man and they left.
Outside, they picked up the supplies they’d taken off the helicopter—camping gear, water, and an assortment of equipment to fight off Naldo’s goons if they attacked before help arrived.
They maneuvered between the bushes and headed up the steep hill. “Before we get to the top, we’ll walk through the bush to find a good hiding spot. We don’t want Miss Quinn or anyone else up here to know we’ve arrived,” Jackson whispered.
“I agree. I’ll slip around and assess the situation,” Kijika said and waved as he left them.
Jackson studied the thick terrain around them. “This is a good place to be alone.”
“Yeah, as long as no one’s after you.” Ranger frowned, realizing how vulnerable the place would be if someone wanted to kidnap the person in the house. He spotted a wider area to the left to walk on. They hid behind shrubbery and ran low between more open areas.
They took a brief break and drank water from the bottles they’d put in their pockets, then stashed the other supplies nearby. Jackson motioned for Ranger to move. He whispered, “We still have a ways to go before finding the cabin, and I want to meet up with Kijika before dark.”
Silently, Kijika moved between trees and bushes. His moccasins made no noise. A breeze blew across him, keeping him cool and sending his scent back toward Ranger and Jackson.
Kijika stopped. He’d heard a noise. There it was again. A twig broke, and it sounded loud to his ears. Someone else was in the forest, but who? The noise got louder, and Kijika lay behind a tree.
“I wish the boss would get here,” one man growled. “I’m tired of sitting in this damn jungle. The mosquitoes would eat a man alive if we didn’t have that bugspray.”
“He’ll be here soon. He’s gotten the message by now telling him we’re keeping an eye on the woman he’s so keen to capture.”
“We’re chasing some dumb broad he has the hots for and not making any money.” The larger man threw down his cigarette and stomped on it. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to lose her now.”
Kijika followed and watched as the men separated and hid behind large trees on each side of the trail.
A dog barked.
“That must be the damn puppy she has with her.” The larger man motioned for the thinner one to duck. “She may look out the window,” he warned. Kijika lay still on the dirt, not far from them.
Ranger’s hunch had been right. Kijika recognized Haley when she looked out the window. She peered all around and then let the curtain drop.
Kijika crawled toward where he hoped to find Jackson and Ranger camped. Once he got far enough away, he stood and hurried to tell them what he’d seen. In a thick area of trees and bushes, he heard movement and dropped down. Then he crawled closer and spotted Jackson.
Kijika stood and walked into the small area between the trees. Jackson smiled. “I hope you have some good news.”
“Good and bad. Two guys just moved into place to watch the cabin until the head guy arrives. He must not have died. They were bitching about him running after a woman, and them not making any money.”
Jackson pulled out his cell and dialed a number. He punched in his message: Target found. Operatives waiting for boss to attack. Be ready.
“I’m glad the captain decided to position others nearby in case we needed support. We may rescue your lady,” Jackson said to Ranger, “and get the guys the FBI was after. Ironically, the FBI may give Miss Quinn a medal.
“Shit, she’d never quit then.”
Kijika and Jackson stared at Ranger.
“Ranger,” Jackson said. “You need to realize she’s not going to quit her job with the FBI any more than you’d quit the SEALs.”
“Damn it, I know.”
Ranger and Kijika moved carefully toward the cabin. When they got close, they lay on the ground, their shoes touching. They’d darkened their faces and didn’t flinch when bugs flew around them. This was like any other stakeout. Only the person they wanted to save was the woman Ranger thought he loved.
Kijika motioned his head toward where the two bruisers hid. Ranger nodded. They’d agreed before moving closer to the cabin that they’d take out those two first, quietly. They’d already found the frequency the men were using to send and receive messages and were monitoring it.
A message came through: “All’s good. The family is close. We’ll make our plan on arrival.”
A burst of static sputtered through the radio, followed by, “Be ready. Help fifteen minutes away.”
Ranger quickly sent the same message to Jackson. Then he and Kijika separated and moved toward the two men from opposite sides. They’d wait until just before the others got close and take out the men.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Haley said to herself. “I knew yesterday was the time to leave.” She glanced at her pup. “I need to put you somewhere safe.” She carried Sampson to the large storage room off the kitchen, put on the light, and hugged him.
“Hopefully, my armory of supplies will protect me. Maybe we’ll make enough noise that someone will come to help.” She sat down and Sampson curled onto her lap. “I don’t think that will happen. I shouldn’t have ignored Ranger’s warnings. Whatever happens,” she whispered in the puppy’s ear, “it’s my fault. Got to go.”
She made sure he had water and food. With tears in her eyes, she shut the door on him. He immediately started to whimper. Carefully, she moved along the wall and knelt to look out the window. She couldn’t see the men, but she knew where they were.
Would it be better to wait until others hopefully arrive and then take out my guards? Or should I kill them now?
She decided to start with the big stuff. Maybe that will scare them, and they’ll move back to warn the others off.
Haley went to the first bedroom where she’d stored many of her more dang
erous supplies. After setting up a small rocket, she estimated the distance of each person. She got the second rocket ready beside her — one for each.
She’d have to work fast. Once she set the launcher in the window, she risked her quarry spotting it and taking evasive action. She took a steadying breath, aimed and squeezed.
The noise was louder than she expected. There was a huge hole in the foliage where the first man had been poorly concealed.
She’d never deliberately killed a man. Forgetting her plan to move fast, to reload and aim for the second man, Haley ran to the bathroom to throw up.
Ranger had gotten as close as he dared without the man seeing him. He’d dug into the sand with his rifle pointed at his target. The shock wave of a blast sent him flying. His head hit the ground and the edge of a small tree. He blacked out for an instant.
He came to hearing Jackson’s voice yelling into his earpiece. “What the fuck! Are you two all right?”
“I am,” Kijika reported. “Ranger hit the ground, and his head brushed the side of a tree. I think he’s coming around. A rocket took out the first man, and I got the second.”
“A rocket? What the hell?”
Kijika came to Ranger’s side and helped him sit up. “It came from the cabin.”
“I’ve already notified the reinforcements,” Jackson said. “They’re on the way and should be around the cabin in twenty minutes.”
After throwing up, Haley rushed back to the window to set up the next rocket although the second man had most likely fled. She looked in that direction and saw no one.
She sank down against the wall and took several deep breaths. Maybe that will keep them away. They don’t know for sure I’m alone. But if they’d been watching her for as long as she feared, it would have been easy to figure out she was on her own except for a Labrador puppy.
She loaded the second rocket, her shotgun and her rifle. She set them close to the rocket launcher.
The SEAL’s Surprise Mate - Rachel McNeely Page 7