Page 58 of Operation: Unify

Ferd swallowed audibly. “Is this a common event here?”

“No. It’s only happened twice, and I hope it never happens again.” She grabbed a huge flashlight off a ledge where various tools waited for use and shoved it into her pocket.

“So, how do we know if the coast is clear?” Ferd peeked outside the large window.

“You can’t see up the driveway from that vantage. We’ll have to look out the hidden window. There’s a small, windowless nook right back here. It used to be a closet. Behind that is a secret office that has a window to that side of the house.” She led the way.

Beyond the door was where Erica worked while she and her son had been staying there as a riding camp. Erica would be another person who could do Lacy’s job but she, too, might have a conflict since her husband also worked for Connor. Through another door that required her master key, was a very old office. Dust covered every surface. Rose colored walls and lace doilies captured the time period the room was last used.

“This doesn’t look like any other room I’ve seen on this ranch.” Ferd lowered her voice.

“This was Connor’s mother’s office. Believe it or not, the wives of ranchers have a ton of work to do. She might not have worked the ranch, but all the bookkeeping and management was her domain, and this was where she did all of it. She wanted thisroom because she could see who came and who left from that window.” Lacy pointed to the large bright spot in the middle of the dark room.

“It’s sad.” Ferd touched the desk. “This has to have sat untouched for decades.”

“Yes. I wasn’t here then, obviously, but as far as I know, Teddy never came back into this room. The closet just outside of the office was where she kept all the records and that’s as far as he came. They locked it up and no one goes in here.”

“Why didn’t you ask to use it instead of having your office out in a cabin?” Ferd asked.

“I . . .” She hadn’t wanted to invade this space. It was practically sacred ground. Connor didn’t talk about his mom, so asking if she could paint or make changes had always felt too personal.

“You don’t have to answer that. Your answer is all over your face. It’s really great that you care about him so much. I hope he cares about you the same.”

That was the question of the century. Did Connor love her more than his elevated memories of his mother? Only time would tell. “The area looks clear. We should move now.”

She didn’t want to hang out long. If those men were walking up the driveway, she would have about ten minutes to get to the first row of cabins. All of those behind the front row would be easier. “Let’s move.”

Ferd pulled her hat from her jacket pocket and tugged it over her forehead, then followed Lacy. Cold air nipped at her nose, and she was happy for the darkness that covered everything. The security lights cast circles of light around the barn entrances and at each cabin where women were staying, a security light lit their front porch. She’d have them shut those off as they came with her.

Only six guests were outside in the cabins. The seventh was Rebecca and she was in the main lodge because of her wheelchair. The house was easier for her to maneuver around in. Lacy came to the first door with a light and knocked.

Moira answered and her son Adam stood behind her. “What’s wrong?”

Inside her cabin, she had a small Christmas tree in a corner and pictures of her son all around on the tables. It was cozy in there, probably more homelike than anything they’d had before. “We need to get moving. Viceroy is breathing down our necks. Grab your coats and come help me get the others. Turn off all your lights and lock your door.”

Moira didn’t hesitate. She ordered her son to put his coat on and follow Lacy, all while she rushed around the house turning off lights. The final one she turned off was the overhead light on the porch, plunging them into only the weak light of the nearest occupied cabin.

“Do you want us to split up? I can take these two somewhere while you continue,” Ferd asked.

“I’d like to stay together if possible. My plan, in case we get separated is to bring everyone to the barn. All those boards are thick with many layers of wood because of the stalls. While one or two might not stop bullets, near the back, we should be safe.”

“As long as they don’t come to the barn,” Moira said.

“We’ll figure that out if it happens. I’m hopeful the men will keep them from getting that close.”

She heard a shot in the distance and hurried as she gathered the remaining women. All the others were either safely in the lodge or over at the Homestead. She had them huddle near the last cabin closest to the barn. There was a long gap between the cabin and the barn. Even in the dark, they would be visible walking across the snow.

Another few gunshots came from the driveway.

“They must be close,” Ferd whispered.

“On three, we’ll all run,” Lacy pointed for the door.

Everyone nodded in agreement and Adam gripped his mother’s hand tightly. “I can do this, Mom.”

Lacy gripped his other hand in case he tripped so they could easily carry him together and keep moving. Everyone hung close and raced across the snow. Yelling broke out to their right, but Lacy refused to stop and listen to what was said. Hopefully, they hadn’t been seen. She’d know soon enough.

When everyone was inside the dark barn, she gathered them close. “Grab a hand. Make sure no one is left behind. We’ll slowly walk back to the other end in the dark. Keep quiet and be careful where you step. This is a barn, meaning sharp tools are around.” If she felt safe enough, she’d use the flashlight but with the yelling, she couldn’t give away their position.

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