“You really had a special relationship with him.”
Grizz nodded. “My father and I never saw eye to eye on things. But spending time in this cabin was the highlight of every summer. If my grandfather were here, he’d tell us to stop and pray. To cast all our cares on the Lord. I can still hear him humming ‘Amazing Grace’ as he worked on those rocking chairs.”
The last time Grizz had prayed was when his grandfather had been dying of cancer. Prayers hadn’t changed the situation one bit.
The words flowed through his mind, and his shoulders relaxed.
Yes, when this flesh and heart may fail, and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
The first part of that had come true. But that meant Grandpa was gone. What joy and peace was Grizz supposed to find in that?
“Psst.” Dani passed him the binoculars. “Intruder on the fourth perimeter. He’s got a longbow like yours.”
Third, but he wasn’t going to correct her. He homed in on the location Dani had pointed out.
Not good. Why would this guy have a longbow?
Grizz’s stomach tightened. He and Dani were being hunted. The men from the compound were on a mission to eradicate any evidence of their operation in the woods. And Dani was the loose end they needed to tie up.
He scanned the area and saw another camouflaged man to his right. Now they had two tangos to contend with.
“Wait.” Dani grabbed the binoculars from Grizz and pointed them to the northern sky. “Do you hear that sound?”
Grizz listened and then heard the thumping of rotor blades. A helicopter.
His crew. Grizz knew the sound of the rescue helo, and he confirmed it through the scope of his rifle, just to make sure it wasn’t the commandos trying to bring in reinforcements.
The red-and-white chopper veered around the side of a mountain and came into view. His energy renewed. Help was on the horizon.
Grizz watched through his scope. The man lurking in the shadows retreated farther into the woods, away from the cabin.
Perfect. Grizz was counting on the helicopter forcing a retreat.
“And now we make a run for it.” He turned to Dani. “Go inside and pack up the backpacks with water and supplies. I’m going to watch to make sure our visitors back off so we can get away and meet the helicopter.”
Dani raced into the loft. Grizz watched for movement in the trees and spotted the same man, now heading away from his property.
“Perfect.” Their window of escape opened, and Grizz would save the battle for another day. These guys would return with reinforcements. This was probably a scouting operation.
Grizz dashed into the outhouse and down the stairs. Dani was waiting by the ATVs with the backpack on, ready to leave.
“Let’s go.” Grizz started the vehicle and opened the garage door with a remote. The well-oiled track muffled the sound, but it still would be loud enough for anyone close by to hear.
“The men look like they are retreating, but I know where the landing spot should be. It will take about ten minutes, and I’m hopeful we won’t cross paths with these mercenaries. They should be heading into the woods and toward their shelter, which will give us some breathing room.”
Dani jumped on the back of his four-wheeler and slipped her arms around his waist. “I trust you,” he heard her whisper over the rumbling motor.
Trust? When had they crossed over into that kind of relationship where they trusted each other? Did he trust Dani not to sell him out for a story? Could he open his heart up even a crack to let her in?
He focused on the mission ahead and pointed the four-wheeler toward the marked path that ran behind his property. Trees whipped by them while the cool headwind riffled through Dani’s hair, sending strands of blonde flying.
After a few minutes, the dirt trail ended, and a green field sprawled across an inlet.
“There. I see the helicopter.” Dani pointed over Grizz’s shoulder, and he relaxed a little. His eyes hadn’t stopped roaming every hill and tree they’d passed, looking for any signs of trouble.
A small river flowed through the relatively flat land. The rescue copter rested in the center of the field, waiting for their arrival.