Page 242 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“No, that’s when they take your ass,” laughed Finn.

“That too, but do they really think we stand there and contemplate the wrongness of our deeds?”

“John says beforehand, it’s to put me in the right frame of mind for a spanking. Afterwards to reinforce the lesson in dominance. All I know is that it makes me incredibly aroused.”

They all laughed and agreed. They’d ridden for a couple of hours, crossing the river several times to stay out of the glaring sun as it rose high in the sky.

Avery pulled up her horse, listening intently. “Does anyone else hear that?”

“What?” asked Finn.

“I don’t know,” said Mandy.

At the same time Willa cut in, “I do.”

Avery cocked her ear, trying to hear the subtle sounds over the watery burble of the river. “It’s a helicopter.”

“There’s no reason to be concerned about that,” said Willa, turning her horse back toward Phantom Ranch.

Avery shook her head. “You’re wrong. That’s not a private or sightseeing chopper. It’s military and sounds heavily armed.”

“How can you tell that?” asked Finn.

“The sound of the rotors and engines.” Avery shook her head again. “I don’t like this. That chopper is coming fast and low. Ladies, if the boys are right, that could be Fariq. We need to get to the canyon wall and if there’s an overhang or cave even better.”

“This way,” called Willa as she spurred her horse into a run.

The other four women fell in behind her, galloping in the opposite direction of the approaching aircraft. Willa reined her horse to a stop under a sparse tree coverage, and Avery and the others drew alongside her. It wasn’t until then that Avery realized her saddle was one of only two with a rifle in the scabbard. Both she and Willa looked at one another as they each withdrew their firearms to ensure there was a round in the chamber.

Slipping hers back into the scabbard, Willa said, “There are two cavern systems near here. One just north of here on the other side of the river, and one south of our position.”

Since Willa knew the Grand Canyon better even than most of the local tour guides, Avery didn’t argue. “Let’s split up. You take Mandy and Zara with you and go north. The chopper is coming from the southeast. Finn and I will get to cover and let them pass. If they look like they’re after you, we’ll come up behind them and you and I can catch them in a crossfire.”

“Aim for the rotor blades?” asked Willa, deferring to Avery’s expertise regarding helicopters.

Avery shook her head. “The rotor blades themselves would be difficult, but the hub where it attaches to either the tail or main body are vulnerable. You can also aim for the engines and fuel tank, which will be inside toward the back of the aircraft or the cockpit, specifically the pilot if you see him. Now ride!”

The five women split with Finn and Avery trying desperately to get out of sight before the chopper appeared so they could getbehind them. They were able to accomplish that by ducking into a large cavern created by a rock outcropping.

The helicopter flew past, bearing down on Willa’s position.

Turning to Finn, Avery said, “You stay here. If I don’t come back, hightail it out of here and get help.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, if I can’t get them stopped, someone needs to tell the guys what happened.”

Not waiting for an answer, Avery withdrew the rifle again and galloped out to chase down the chopper. She followed the river, winding with the red rock canyon walls, sticking as close to easy cover as she could until she found the chopper. Not only had they not exaggerated the situation, but the armed aircraft had Willa, Zara, and Mandy already pinned in the narrow mouth of a natural cave. It was firing, the bullets bouncing off the canyon walls because Willa had managed to get them behind enough rocks to be out of the line of fire. That didn’t mean they were out of danger, though. Especially not when the helicopter landed and two armed men stepped out.

Twin shots rang out from Willa’s position and both men fell, one snapping over backwards onto the rocky ground, the other grabbing his arm with a shout. Mac was right; Willa was an excellent shot. The men still in the chopper returned fire, giving Avery the only excuse she needed to make good on her threat to catch them in a crossfire. She slid her horse to a stop and dismounted in order to take better aim. She hit at least one, the man crumpling out of the aircraft onto the ground where his companions left him. The whir of the helicopter engine picking up speed betrayed their retreat a half second before the aircraft lifted off the ground.

Willa fired repeatedly, desperately trying to provide cover enough for Avery to get to safety, but the chopper was turning her way and its onboard rifle was already taking aim. Avery firedfirst directly into the fuel tanks. She wheeled away, barely taking cover behind the same rocks as her horse when it exploded. The sound was deafening, the heat of the resulting fireball scalding, even from this distance. Pieces of metal, men, and shattered electronics rained down everywhere, bouncing off the rocks and splashing into the river.

Her ears. She shook her head, the ringing every bit as deafening as the explosion had been.

“Avery!”

Leaning out from behind her rocky cover, she saw Willa, Zara, and Mandy dodging the wreckage and galloping back toward her. At least they all looked unharmed. Which could only help their case when it came time to explain this mess to the guys.

---