Cy lifted a hand and ran it through his hair. “We have to stick to the trees and the back trails. Try and avoid any paths that are big enough for motorized vehicles, keep an eye on the ground, if there are people out here, avoid heavily traveled areas. Move fast, try and be as inconspicuous as possible. I’ll use the satellite phone to call Brynn and make sure she knows what’s going on so she can call the rangers and the sheriff and update them on the ambush. If you run across a uniform, point them in the direction of the grow field and let them know they have armed individuals in the area who aren’t afraid to shoot at will.”
“You might not want to do that.” That came from Grady and had Webb barking out his name in protest.
Grady shook his head at his injured friend and shifted his gaze to Cy. “The last official person who was up here looking for that drug field and the growers behind it ended up a missing person. He’s our friend we’re looking for. The guys who run operations like this aren’t innocent farmers or sharecroppers trying to make some extra cash. Most of them are on a cartel’s payroll. They won’t give a shit if a few tourists end up dead because they got too close.”
Sutton grunted and pointed out blandly. “Maybe not a missing person any longer. When I was in town, the sheriff’s office was trying to identify a body they pulled out of the river.”
An unsteady Webb leapt to his feet and then promptly pitched over as both Cy and Grady reached for him to keep him from biting the dust. “No . . . no . . . no.” He folded in on himself as the older man tried to keep him upright.
“Come on, Webb. We don’t know that it’s Wyatt.” I heard a noise and had to squint at the circle of men to realize it was the wounded man choking back sobs.
“Who else would it be, Grady? I told you when we came up with this plan that I know my brother. He would never go this long without checking in with his partner or his family. Motherfuckers!” The dirty word echoed off the surroundings and had all the Warner brothers sharing a look.
“We need to go. We don’t have time for this right now. Who knows why they stopped shooting when they did but I don’t want to be around if they decide to start up again.” Cy’s voice was curt and had his younger sibling jumping into action.
Grady gave Cy a hard look. “They stopped shooting because they weren’t ordered to kill us. If they had been we would all be dead. They want us off the mountain and away from their crop.”
Cy turned and headed toward the horses. “Well, we best be getting out of their way before their orders change. I have a first aid kit in one of my packs we can use to bandage up that shoulder but it isn’t going to work miracles. You’re in sorry shape, son.”
Deciding I couldn’t keep my head down or my mouth shut any longer, I moved around the tree on my hands and knees prepared to drop to my stomach if bullets started blazing over my head again. I crept and crawled my way over to where Cy was trying to calm the jittery horses and met his glare with one of my own when he caught sight of me.
“I told you to stay put.” He snarled the words at me looking extra fierce as smeared blood from his head wound dotted his forehead.
“I didn’t listen.” I reached out so I could stroke Boss’s neck. He was sweaty and I could feel how nervous the big animal was. “I don’t want to go with Sutton, Cy. I want to go with you.”
He sighed and continued to watch me over the top of the line of horses. “Sutton won’t let anything happen to you, Leo. My arm is dinged up, the kid has a hole through his shoulder, and has already lost too much blood. You need to be in capable hands and I need to be focused on the task at hand, not on you. This is the best plan. You have to trust me.”
I wrinkled my nose at his non-subtle reminder that he thought I was a distraction. “Someone needs to take care of you.” The words were quiet but I was sure he heard me loud and clear.
His granite colored gaze lightened and that smile that was becoming less and less elusive touched his lips briefly.
“I better see you again before I head home, Cyrus Warner.” And not just because I wanted the chance at a proper goodbye. I didn’t feel like I had enough of him to last me the rest of my life just yet.
“I’ll see you back at the ranch, Leo. I promise.” So far, the man had kept his word so I was inclined to believe him since that meant we would both be back together in one piece, if not a little worse for wear.
Leaving him to his task, I went and found Em who was shaking and looking shell shocked. Knowing it was my time to comfort her, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.
“Hey, it’s gonna be all right. Those boys are going to take care of everything.” I could hear her teeth rattle together and feel the tremor in her hands as she clutched at me.
“I’ve never had anyone shoot at me before. I thought we were going to die.” She blinked wide eyes at me as her lower lip quivered. “I don’t want to die, Leo.”
I hugged her even closer and patted her back. “No one is going to die.” Well, no one else. It sounded like the body Sutton had told us about may be tied to the two men and their secret agenda.
“You don’t know that. I came up here to go fishing and camping. I would never have made you come all the way here if I knew how dangerous it was going to be. This is awful.” I pulled back and seized her cheeks in my hands. I could tell she was on the verge of tears and it was slightly alarming how pale she was under her normally tawny complexion.
“You might not want to do that.” That came from Grady and had Webb barking out his name in protest.
Grady shook his head at his injured friend and shifted his gaze to Cy. “The last official person who was up here looking for that drug field and the growers behind it ended up a missing person. He’s our friend we’re looking for. The guys who run operations like this aren’t innocent farmers or sharecroppers trying to make some extra cash. Most of them are on a cartel’s payroll. They won’t give a shit if a few tourists end up dead because they got too close.”
Sutton grunted and pointed out blandly. “Maybe not a missing person any longer. When I was in town, the sheriff’s office was trying to identify a body they pulled out of the river.”
An unsteady Webb leapt to his feet and then promptly pitched over as both Cy and Grady reached for him to keep him from biting the dust. “No . . . no . . . no.” He folded in on himself as the older man tried to keep him upright.
“Come on, Webb. We don’t know that it’s Wyatt.” I heard a noise and had to squint at the circle of men to realize it was the wounded man choking back sobs.
“Who else would it be, Grady? I told you when we came up with this plan that I know my brother. He would never go this long without checking in with his partner or his family. Motherfuckers!” The dirty word echoed off the surroundings and had all the Warner brothers sharing a look.
“We need to go. We don’t have time for this right now. Who knows why they stopped shooting when they did but I don’t want to be around if they decide to start up again.” Cy’s voice was curt and had his younger sibling jumping into action.
Grady gave Cy a hard look. “They stopped shooting because they weren’t ordered to kill us. If they had been we would all be dead. They want us off the mountain and away from their crop.”
Cy turned and headed toward the horses. “Well, we best be getting out of their way before their orders change. I have a first aid kit in one of my packs we can use to bandage up that shoulder but it isn’t going to work miracles. You’re in sorry shape, son.”
Deciding I couldn’t keep my head down or my mouth shut any longer, I moved around the tree on my hands and knees prepared to drop to my stomach if bullets started blazing over my head again. I crept and crawled my way over to where Cy was trying to calm the jittery horses and met his glare with one of my own when he caught sight of me.
“I told you to stay put.” He snarled the words at me looking extra fierce as smeared blood from his head wound dotted his forehead.
“I didn’t listen.” I reached out so I could stroke Boss’s neck. He was sweaty and I could feel how nervous the big animal was. “I don’t want to go with Sutton, Cy. I want to go with you.”
He sighed and continued to watch me over the top of the line of horses. “Sutton won’t let anything happen to you, Leo. My arm is dinged up, the kid has a hole through his shoulder, and has already lost too much blood. You need to be in capable hands and I need to be focused on the task at hand, not on you. This is the best plan. You have to trust me.”
I wrinkled my nose at his non-subtle reminder that he thought I was a distraction. “Someone needs to take care of you.” The words were quiet but I was sure he heard me loud and clear.
His granite colored gaze lightened and that smile that was becoming less and less elusive touched his lips briefly.
“I better see you again before I head home, Cyrus Warner.” And not just because I wanted the chance at a proper goodbye. I didn’t feel like I had enough of him to last me the rest of my life just yet.
“I’ll see you back at the ranch, Leo. I promise.” So far, the man had kept his word so I was inclined to believe him since that meant we would both be back together in one piece, if not a little worse for wear.
Leaving him to his task, I went and found Em who was shaking and looking shell shocked. Knowing it was my time to comfort her, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.
“Hey, it’s gonna be all right. Those boys are going to take care of everything.” I could hear her teeth rattle together and feel the tremor in her hands as she clutched at me.
“I’ve never had anyone shoot at me before. I thought we were going to die.” She blinked wide eyes at me as her lower lip quivered. “I don’t want to die, Leo.”
I hugged her even closer and patted her back. “No one is going to die.” Well, no one else. It sounded like the body Sutton had told us about may be tied to the two men and their secret agenda.
“You don’t know that. I came up here to go fishing and camping. I would never have made you come all the way here if I knew how dangerous it was going to be. This is awful.” I pulled back and seized her cheeks in my hands. I could tell she was on the verge of tears and it was slightly alarming how pale she was under her normally tawny complexion.
