Page 58 of Guarded By Them

Chapter Twenty

Ryan

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THE UNEVEN TERRAIN of a forest floor was not designed for someone with a prosthetic leg. Tree roots acted like low lying tripwires, as though deliberately trying to catch me out.

We’d already been walking for a good hour, but it felt like longer.

Taking a fall right now would not be a good thing. This was going to be challenging enough as it was—perhaps it would even be too much for my body to take—but I couldn’t see any other options. I wasn’t going to put the others at a disadvantage because of my disability. They’d already put up with me enough because of my PTSD. I didn’t want to always be the one they were making exceptions for.

I used the large stick I’d found to pick my way through the undergrowth. Dillon was also moving slowly and cautiously, something I knew I shouldn’t be pleased about, considering he was hurt, but I was, nevertheless. It meant I wasn’t the only one finding the going slow. We were still miles from the border, and I didn’t think we’d come across any border patrol guards any time soon. I knew we were all alert for any signs of other people, however. There would be hunters and rangers, and even other hikers out here. At first glance, we looked like we were regular hikers, but if someone took a closer look at us, it was clear that there was more to our story. The bandage wrapped around the gunshot wound on Dillon’s thigh. The faint blue and green bruises in the shape of fingerprints on Rue’s throat. The outline of a gun beneath Kodee’s untucked shirt.

Plus, all our gear was brand new, which was a huge red flag. Most people in the area would have equipment they’d used well and broken in and felt comfortable with.

We didn’t talk much as we walked, only saying what was necessary—watch out for that hole, or be careful of the poison ivy, or offering out drinks and snacks. Our voices could carry out here, and we didn’t want to alert anyone to our presence. Just the sound of us moving through the undergrowth, twigs cracking beneath foot, bushes rustling, the occasional cry of alarm when a hornet flew too close or someone lost their balance, felt as though we might as well have a flashing light and a car alarm signaling our position.

Gritting my teeth against the throbbing of my leg, I kept going, taking things slow and steady, and mostly in silence. It wasn’t only the stump that was causing me pain, though that was the part I was most worried about, getting sores and an infection where the stump met the prosthetic. Because I was over-compensating with my other leg, my hip and knee on the other side ached, too. I could tell from the concerned glances the others threw me that they were worried about how well I was coping, so I did my best to relax my features and return a smile or nod if I caught their eye. I didn’t want to give them a reason to stop and insist we go back. Our options were limited, and, as dangerous and difficult as it might be, this seemed to be our best hope for a fresh start without having to constantly look over our shoulders.

Through the treetops, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting everything with a low yellow light. Soon the light would be gone altogether, and then our journey would become even more treacherous. We had flashlights that we’d picked up at the store, but though we’d have no choice but to use them to see where we were going, they would also make us more noticeable. But I’d trekked through dangerous places before.

This took me back to when I’d been a solider, but instead of my lovers around me, I’d had my comrades. I’d trusted each of them to cover my back, to stand at my side should something go wrong, and they’d done the same for me. We’d known the enemy was out there, and that they wouldn’t hesitate to kill us. I trusted the three people around me now just as much as I’d trusted the men back then. But once I’d left the Army, and knowing I could never go back, never put myself in that position again, I’d also lost my bond with them. Even though when I’d been in the Army, I’d been shot at and seen unimaginable horrors, lost people I’d cared about, had been injured myself, it had been easier than being out of it. In the Army, I hadn’t needed to think about things. I’d been told where to be, what to wear, dished up the same meals as everyone else, day after day. But then I’d come out, and as well as dealing with a life-changing injury, I’d also discovered I’d needed to make all those little choices as well. They’d paralyzed me, overwhelmed me. The length of the day with nothing but rehabilitation to fill it had felt endless. I’d become a civilian, and with that had come an untethering, a loss of my place in the world.

But now I had it back, and I wasn’t going to let it go without a fight.

A snap came from behind us, a crack of movement that sent my heart racing. I spun around, lifting my weapon and aiming it into the dappled shadows of the trees. I stared into the shadows, forcing my eyes to discern one shape from another, half-hoping that whatever I’d heard moving would reveal itself, so at least I could put my imagination to rest.

“What is it?” Dillon kept his voice low.

I tightened my lips. “I thought I heard something.”

“A bear?” Rue was at my side, and she stared up at me, her eyes wide with fear.

I shook my head. “I’m not sure. Maybe it was just the forest falling back into place as we’ve walked through.”

We all stood, frozen in place, our ears straining for any other sounds. There was plenty of wildlife in these forests. I’d probably just heard the movement of a deer or another creature. But then why did my instincts tell me otherwise? My heart raced, my blood pounding through my ears. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood on end. I felt like the vulnerable prey being stalked by something in the forest, and I didn’t like it.

I was plunged back into memories of being in the Army. This was exactly what that felt like, sensing the enemy tailing us. But we were a long way from the enemy out here.

“Wait here,” Kodee said. “I’ll go back and check.”

Rue stepped forward, blocking his path. “No way. We’re not splitting up. Bad things happen to people when they split up.”

Dillon nodded in agreement. “She has a point.”

“Fine.” Kodee sucked air in over his teeth. “Let’s keep going, but listen out. The border patrol guards may be closer than we think.”

If someone was there, I was sure they’d have made themselves known by now. “Don’t worry, I’m sure it was nothing.”

We kept going. Dusk was almost upon us, and with it came clouds of insects, swarming around our faces, and landing on our arms, attracted by our salty sweat. I waved my arm in front of my face, slapping at tickles as bugs landed on my hairline at the back of my neck, and ducked to avoid the whine of incoming mosquitos beside my ear. It had definitely been a mistake not bringing the bug spray.

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