Dark Titan Journey: Wilderness Travel (27 page)

“One little shack, the rest are built into the hillside. We didn’t do that to hide from big brother, it was purely an insulation issue. Not being seen easily is an added bonus,” Nathan explained.

“I wish you would stay, we could use you here,” Dennis admitted.

“I gave my word,” Nathan said.

“Then I must say it has been an honor to meet you,” Dennis said. “What are you going to do when you get home?”

Nathan smiled. “Be a big pain in the ass.”

Dennis laughed. “I would lay my money on you ripping the ass off.”

“Thank you, I owe you now,” Nathan said, holding out his hand.

Dennis shook his head. “Let’s just consider us even.”

“You will be with your brothers tonight right?” Nathan asked.

Dennis nodded. “Yeah they told me you needed to talk to all of us so I’ll be there after supper.” Nathan watched Dennis walk back to the house then headed for the barn to start getting gear ready.

After supper the three brothers followed Nathan to the barn and he led them to the small room he had stored the supplies in. Nathan lit three lanterns, filling the room with light. “You trying to blind the old men?” Rodger asked.

“You are blind,” Bob said.

“This coming from the man who misses the first deer every year,” Rodger snapped.

“I have to let some live,” Bob said sincerely.

“Nathan, what did you want to talk to us about?” Dennis asked, knowing those two would keep going for hours.

“What I’m about to show and give you, I want two promises. The first is, if something happens and the kids have to return here, you give them a place to live. Next, you can’t tell anyone about this until I’m gone. I would really advise not telling anyone,” Nathan said, standing between two piles on the floor.

“I hope you know we would take care of them without the oath,” Rodger said, his brothers nodding.

“Call it peace of mind,” Nathan said.

“Well you have it,” Rodger said.

Nathan opened on of the boxes and grabbed two rolls of double eagles. He opened the containers and poured them on the table in the center of the room. The three men moved over looking at the gold pieces. “Now you see why I wouldn’t tell many. If you don’t think the person can keep their mouth shut I’d advise not telling them,” Nathan said as each one picked up a one-ounce coin.

Dennis looked at his brothers. “We tell no one unless the other two agree.”

“I have to tell my wife,” Rodger said to Dennis.

“Shit, Mindy and your wife keep secrets better than either of you,” Dennis told them.

“What about your wife?” Bob asked.

“I’m not telling her, no need,” Dennis replied. “Nathan how much are you giving us?”

“That pile there,” Nathan said, pointing at the big pile. He opened a suitcase. Inside were bank-banded stacks of money. The three looked at the money then at the stack of boxes and suitcases. Then they looked at the smaller stack. “That one’s mine,” Nathan told them.

“Ours is bigger?” Bob asked.

“I’m taking what I can carry,” Nathan replied.

“How much is in our pile?” Rodger asked.

“I have no idea. I would say over five hundred pounds of gold and about that in silver. Never even bothered to count the cash,” Nathan said.

Dennis pointed at the other suitcases. “Those are cash too?”

Nathan picked one up and opened it, showing the jewelry. “Nope.”

“We’re rich,” Bob said, looking at the money.

“Bob, don’t start,” Dennis barked. “You could’ve hid this and come back for it,” Dennis said to Nathan.

“Why? It’s more than I need. I’m taking some for those kids. When this ends I want them to have some shot at a future,” Nathan replied. “May I offer a suggestion?”

“Partner, you can do whatever the hell you want,” Bob said.

“Let Rodger use some of this to pay the deputies. Bob, you give them food. This way they see the help they are getting is coming from citizens and not the government. Rodger, keep tabs on what you spend so you can recoup it when this ends,” Nathan said.

“Who else knows about this?” Dennis asked.

“Jasmine, but she doesn’t know how much,” Nathan said.

“Howard doesn’t know?” Dennis asked.

Nathan shook his head. “Didn’t see why he would need to.”

Dennis let out a sigh. “Thank God, that boy can’t keep a secret to save his life, and this could cost it.”

Bob grabbed Rodger’s arm. “Did you hear that? Dennis said Howard wasn’t the best at something. It has to be a miracle.”

Narrowing his eyes, Dennis glared at Bob. “Never said my boy was perfect, his faults are only few. He likes sharing with others.”

“See you spoke to soon,” Rodger said, snickering.

“It’s not my fault my boy is the best of the batch,” Dennis said, picking up a stack of bills thumbing through them.

Bob threw the coins he was holding down on the table. “When did you sleep with Mindy?” he demanded.

“Never, Howard is just my clone,” Dennis said, smiling. Nathan laughed and was joined by the others.

“You guys are great!” Nathan declared. The brothers one by one hugged him. One part of Nathan’s mind thought they wanted to crush him and keep all the gold.

As Nathan gasped for air, Dennis slapped his back. “I hope you make it home. Get ready for the storm.” He held out an envelope. “It demands safe passage for you. I don’t think it will work, and if it does, not for long.”

“Damn, I wish I would’ve thought of that,” Nathan said, taking the envelope.

“Howard did,” Dennis said looking up at Bob. “When are you heading out?”

“Two or three days. I want to kids to get comfortable on the horses and using their weapons,” Nathan said swearing one of them broke one of his ribs.

Chapter 19

Day 26

Nathan stood at the front of the house with his group in the late afternoon. The horses were saddled and pack animals loaded. Everyone had come out to tell them goodbye. They had spent the last three days getting ready and Nathan did feel better about their chances but wished they would’ve stayed.

When he had asked it almost became a screaming match, well it did for Amanda and Casey. Finally calming everyone down, Nathan told them they didn’t have to stay and the discussion promptly dropped.

The group could at least shoot now, which made him feel good. But hitting paper targets that don’t shoot back is one thing. Since they had limited ammunition for the sniper rifle, only he and John had trained with it. Then Casey and Jasmine got in a fight after Nathan worked with them, teaching them pistols. Casey wore a pistol the next day. Jasmine said ten was too young to be carrying an M-4, much less a Glock pistol.

In the end, Nathan sided with Casey. As long as she showed that she was responsible, he’d be damned if she couldn’t protect herself.

Nathan watched as the kids mounted their horses. Emma would be swapped out riding with others but Nathan had a feeling she would be with him most of the time. Every time he turned around she was there. That alone could make him crazy, but then Amanda and Casey stayed close. Nathan would never tell them he had secretly dreamed of sneaking off.

Looking at the eight hoses and two mules, Nathan thought of the old pioneering days. “Everyone mount up!” Nathan yelled.

The group climbed onto their horses. Nathan had decided since they did so well traveling at night they would continue it, at least until they got to less populated areas. “Thank you,” Bob said, shaking Nathan’s hand. He had already crushed him in a hug. “We’ll be waiting for you broadcast saying you made it.”

“You guys stay safe. When this is over, let’s get drunk,” Nathan offered.

“That sounds like a plan, partner,” Bob said, patting Nathan’s leg.

Nathan gave Smoke a gentle kick and she started off down the driveway. When they reached the road, Nathan looked back to check everyone’s placement, with him in the front and John at the back no further than twenty yards behind. Those in the middle took turns leading the pack animals.

Everyone loved their horses but loved the donkeys also and soon learned that the things were smart. Ares and Athena didn’t care for them but the donkeys couldn’t have cared less about the dogs. Turning around Nathan scanned the road ahead.

His M-4 was across his chest and he had mounted one of the thermal scopes on it. The other went on the BA 110 sniper rifle. Everyone, except Emma, had on NVGs. When they reached the small blacktop, Nathan led them onto the shoulder so the horses’ hooves stayed in the dirt. This not only protected them but they couldn’t be heard a long way off.

With no clouds and a bright moon they really didn’t need their NVGs but Nathan still checked every so often. Leading the group west, he stayed off any main road and several times cut through fields and trees. At midnight he stopped them at a small stream so the horses could drink again and they could grab a quick bite to eat.

Very irritated, Jasmine carried a much awake Emma. “She’s riding with you!” Jasmine commanded.

“You do know I’m leading this group and I’m likely to be the first one shot,” Nathan snapped.

“No one would shoot a man carrying a kid,” Jasmine snapped handing Emma over.

“Well I’m happy to hear that,” Nathan said, taking Emma.

“Come on, who could shoot a child?” Jasmine said. She tried to cross her arms but her M-4 was in the way so she put her hands on her hips.

Nathan looked at her with a flat expression. “So no child has ever been murdered before?”

Some of the fire left Jasmine’s face. “Yes, some have. But those are sick people.”

“Then thank God they’re all dead and no one else is a sick person,” Nathan growled.

Jasmine stomped her foot. “Fine, I’ll take her!”

“No, she can ride with me. But you need to realize this is not a trail ride,” Nathan said, giving Emma some food.

“Believe me, I know. But she is driving me crazy. She won’t sit still and I have to always keep telling her to be quiet,” Jasmine barked.

Nathan looked down at Emma who was just ‘smiling’ with her curled lips at Jasmine. “Why didn’t you get one of the others to take her?” Nathan asked.

“She won’t ride with them,” Jasmine said finally calming down.

“Well we will have to keep her awake tomorrow,” Nathan said.

“Nathan, she was awake all day today while we slept. She’s been up longer than all of us,” Jasmine pointed out.

“Well she’s with me now so let’s get moving,” Nathan said, putting Emma up in his saddle. Climbing up, Nathan pulled her back to him and led the group back to the road.

No sooner than they hit the road, Emma started pointing at stuff and babbling. Giving up after ten minutes of telling her to be quiet, Nathan answered her. To his credit, he did get her to lower her voice when she babbled. Listening to her babble, Nathan was convinced she knew everything and was trying to tell him.

When Emma saw a shooting star streak across the sky she squealed and pointed at it. Nathan clamped a hand over her mouth, certain they heard that squeal in Idaho. “Emma, not loud. Monsters are around,” Nathan said again.

Emma blew a raspberry at him when Nathan took his hand away. “What the hell was that noise? Over,” John called over the radio.

“Emma spotted a shooting star, over,” Nathan called back.

“My hunter’s ear shut off then came back on, just wanted you to know, over,” John called back.

Nathan’s heart beat fast. “John, are you shitting me? Over.”

“Yes. I thought it was a bird, over,” John called back.

Hearing gravel crunch coming up behind him, Nathan turned to see Jasmine pulling in beside him. “Told you,” she said without looking at him.

“Hey, she’s just two! I bet you weren’t this good at two,” Nathan snapped.

Jasmine turned in her saddle, looking at him with a smirk. “I’m sure you’re right but you said we needed to be quiet. It almost sounded like she was your own child,” Jasmine said slowing her horse pulling in behind Nathan.

Looking down as Emma pointed at a sign, babbling in a low tone. “That’s a sign. It says ‘Ice on bridge when cold,’” Nathan told her and Emma babbled back at him then pointed at the stream under the bridge. “That’s a creek, water,” Nathan said.

“Wawa,” Emma said, then continued to babble.

Nathan sighed. “Yes Emma.” He was thankful she was at least keeping her voice down. They had been riding for over an hour when Nathan realized he hadn’t answered a question in a long time. Then it occurred to him he hadn’t heard babbling in a while. Glancing down he saw Emma was asleep with her head back and her mouth open. Nathan was holding her around the waist so she wouldn’t fall off.

Nathan pulled Smoke to a stop and Jasmine caught up to him. “Get a blanket,” Nathan told her.

“It’s burning up out here. You don’t need to cover her up,” Jasmine told Nathan like he was an idiot.

Grinding his teeth as he spoke, Nathan said, “Just get the blanket.” Jasmine mumbled and pulled one out of her saddle bags. She held it out to Nathan. “Jasmine, get off your horse and fold and cut the blanket like I tell you,” he sighed.

“Like I knew that,” Jasmine said under her breath.

It only took a few minutes and a lot of swearing under the breath for both of them and a baby sling was made. Two holes were cut so Emma’s legs could poke out, then Nathan tied the sling across his body so Emma’s head was by his left shoulder and her body ran across his, with her legs hanging off his right hip.

Very happy now, Nathan started them off again. “That was a good idea, where did you get it?” Jasmine asked, riding beside him.

“From an old cowboy movie,” Nathan said proudly.

Jasmine giggled. “See you can learn stuff from TV,” she said in a low tone, and pulled behind Nathan.

“Wish I would’ve learned more,” Nathan said after she was gone. “Shit, I studied so I could survive. Not care for kids and a woman.”

Jasmine wasn’t quite out of electronic earshot, but didn’t reply. Instead she only smiled. Nathan referred to her as a woman.

It was an hour before dawn when Nathan led them off the small road off into the tree line. They stopped at a barbed wire fence. Nathan called Tom forward to cut the fence, then led the others through. Tom used some wire to put the fence back up. Nathan had shown all of them how to cut fence and told them they would be doing a lot of it. Then he showed them how to put it back together. Everyone thought it was to be nice so the animals in the fence couldn’t get out. Nathan then told them it was so if anyone was looking for them it was covering their tracks.

John stayed and covered Tom till he finished. When Tom climbed back on his horse, they kicked their horses into a trot to catch up. The found the group crossing a grass field heading for a pond on the other side. Nathan led them around the pond to the trees ten yards behind it. Nathan pointed at an area and everyone climbed off.

Ares sat at Nathan’s feet. Nathan pulled Ares’s woobie from his saddle bag. “Here it is,” Nathan said, handing it over. Ares grabbed the woobie in his mouth as Nathan grabbed his own. When Nathan laid his out, Ares let his go. Picking it up, Nathan spread it out beside his.

Very carefully, Nathan pulled the ‘Emma sling’ off and laid her on his woobie. Then he removed his saddle. Hearing a grunt, Nathan turned to see Casey on the ground with her saddle on top of her. “Stupid thing,” Casey said rolling it off. When Casey started jumping to grab the bridle, Nathan walked over and eased it over the horse’s head. Nathan figured the horse wouldn’t like the bit ripped out of its mouth.

Wearing a big smile, Casey handed him the lead rope and Nathan put it on, leading the horse out to the grass. When Nathan stopped he looked down to see Casey putting the Velcro hobbles on. “Casey, you really don’t want to get under a horse,” he said, thinking of a thousand bad things happening.

“Pepper wouldn’t hurt me,” Casey said, smiling, as she started drying the horse off with a towel.

“I beg to differ,” Nathan said, walking back to his horse. After drying his horse off, Nathan helped the boys lift the pack saddles off. Nathan hung up a rope and everyone hung up their horse blankets to dry. Seeing Casey’s saddle laying where it fell, Nathan picked it up and carried over sitting it beside his. Daylight was spreading across the sky when everyone sat down.

Looking at his watch, Nathan realized it took them almost an hour to tend horses. Amanda crawled over to him. “Let me see the map, please,” she said, holding out her hand. Nathan did note she said please, but it sounded like it was just tacked on. Nathan handed over the map and ate a protein bar.

Amanda ran her fingers over the map then went over the trip in her head. “You passed our camp site rally point,” she said, looking up finally.

“Sure did. We have someplace to go,” Nathan said, lying back and using his saddle for a pillow. Reaching up, Nathan pulled his boonie hat over his face.

“We went over forty miles,” she pointed out.

“You complaining?” he asked.

Not liking the attitude, Amanda threw the paper down and took a deep breath, then looked at the sleeping Emma. “Nathan, we can make it in less than two months,” she said, wanting him to see what she was seeing.

Lifting his head up, Nathan tilted his hat back on his head. “Your point is?” he asked not knowing what the hell her point was.

“Naaathaaaaan,” she whined, dragging out his name. “We will be there before winter. We have almost enough food to last us the whole way. We don’t have to worry about the trip.”

Everyone just looked from Amanda to Nathan as he sat up. “Amanda, come here.” Nathan patted the blanket in front of him. When she sat down Nathan reached out and held her hands. “This trip is still going to be hard. We got a break but you can’t relax. Others can hurt us, we can get hurt, the weather could turn bad, or any of a thousand different things,” he said, wanting her to understand the danger.

Amanda sighed. “Those things could always happen,” she pointed out.

“True, but if we got hurt, we could go to a hospital. If bad weather came in, we could rent a hotel room. If someone stole our car, we could call the police and insurance company to get a rental. We have none of that Amanda. We can only count on what we have,” Nathan told her.

Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes. “I just didn’t want you to worry so much,” she said, and the dam broke with tears running down her face. Nathan pulled her over hugging her tightly. “You worry all the time about us hardly getting any sleep. You always check on us no matter where we are. I just wanted you to stop worrying so much,” she wept.

Feeling like an ass and not sure how that happened, Nathan looked around and noticed a few more tears. “Amanda, I don’t think I will ever stop worrying about you guys even when we get home. Not for a long time have I worried about someone other than me or a dog. Now I care about you guys and if any of you got hurt—” Nathan paused as ice gripped his heart. “I don’t know what I would do,” he admitted.

Dragging her sleeve across her nose, Amanda leaned back, looking up at him with tears running down her face. “I love you bunches,” she said, sniffling. Then she threw her head into his chest. Nathan rubbed her head and was hit from his right, feeling arms wrap around him.

Looking down, he saw Casey, crying, “I love you too.”

John ran at them with his arms open and tears on his face. “Oh shit,” Nathan said as John hit them, taking them all down. As he was on the ground, he felt more impacts and struggled, lifting his head up to see everyone piled on him.

“Ahh,” he heard beside him. Well, almost everyone. Then Emma jumped on his head.

“Guys, can’t breathe,” Nathan managed to get out. Slower than he liked, they all got off. “Guys, I love you too,” Nathan admitted more to himself than to them.