Page 60 of Evening Shadows

Since the Lacandón rainforest spilled across the Usumacinta River into Guatemala from where they stood in Chiapas—Mexico’s southernmost state—landing in Guatemala could be a possibility with poor navigation.

“You seem to be mixing me up with Franks.”

With a smile at Ken’s response, Doc presented the Glock from his waist and handed it to her. It became apparent he wouldn’t be joining them. Something else they’d briefed prior to the op. They planned for so many what-ifs it astounded her. Now she understood why.

“Point Delta has a bag for you. We’ll rendezvous with you before nightfall at Point Charlie. If we don’t make it, continue to the extraction point tomorrow. Old Man and Stone will be back by then with the bird. In the meantime, we’ll keep an eye on these assholes and keep them busy until you get to safety.”

Doc stiffened, and she figured he’d heard something from the other agents. “Go. A few are on the move and coming this way. I’ll take them out or lead them away from you so you’ve got time. More weapons are with your pack.”

Before either could say anything, he pointed. “Go.” Doc took off back to where they’d entered the jungle.

Without her assistance, Ken limped at a fast clip in the direction Doc had pointed. With the Glock in her hand, she followed. Routinely, she turned and her alert gaze swept the 180 degrees behind them in case someone slipped through or had already been in the jungle.

Where another small animal trail connected, they turned onto it, following the GPS with its programmed path to Point Delta.

She started when the gunshots moved from the compound into the jungle. Doc putting himself out there as bait didn’t sit well, but she’d have done the same for him. By him leading the hostiles astray, she and Ken had an increased chance of getting away.

Ken stopped and turned right into the jungle without a trail to follow. It didn’t appear to be thick at this point, although they’d have to weave through low-hanging vines.

Maybe Ken sensed her presence. Maybe he caught her in his peripheral. Maybe he knew she’d be there. Whatever the reason, he didn’t look at her before he led them through a place where she knew snakes existed and if one dropped on her shoulder, she’d unload the magazine she had on it. Protection be damned.

After turning to check their back trail, she almost bumped into Ken as he leaned into some big-leafed plant. Had they had more time to prep, they could’ve learned a bit about the flora and fauna of Mexico’s Lacandón rainforest.

When he pulled out an olive-green backpack, she almost wept with relief. And when he reached behind it and pulled out a rifle—not just any rifle but Jesse’s sniper rifle where he’d changed the barrel for their close-in situation—she almost gasped with relief. She hugged it to her chest, her confidence in their self-protection growing.

Instead of squatting down, Ken bent over to pick up and check things in their pack. Seeing his discomfort, she crouched before him and conducted an inventory of the bag. She spied an M4 for Ken, hidden against a tree. Jesse and Stone must’ve turned over their supplies. This group had the best support system she’d ever witnessed. Maybe if the men she’d worked with on SWAT would’ve accepted her like these agents had, she might’ve enjoyed the job more than she had.

In her inventory, she first saw a full water bladder with, she suspected, electrolytes, and thrust it at Ken, knowing he needed it first as he’d been the longest without something to hydrate. She wouldn’t tolerate his gentlemanly manners while they needed each other to survive.

Finding a SIG in a rear holster, she checked the ammo and handed it to Ken, who passed her the water back. With full hands they placed the holsters and sheathed knives on their backs and sides. The setup wasn’t ideal, but with a rifle that, for her at least, took two hands to hold when firing, her choice would be to keep it in the bag or where she could reach it in a flash.

Going back to the bag and seeing extra clips for their handguns and rifles, she distributed them and they filled their pockets. Handing back a sheathed knife to Ken, another KA-BAR in a sheath near the bottom caught her eye.

Briefly picking through the items, the sight of food bars made her mouth water. She handed Ken one and took one for herself. They needed one on the go and could wait for more. As she nearly guzzled the water, her gaze caught a blanket, and two NVGs, which would be handy tonight. Excitement grabbed her when she came across a night vision scope for her rifle. Shuffling around the other items, she spied one for the rifle they’d left Ken. There were more items they could use, but the small first-aid kit had her just as thankful as the weapons. No matter how much he fussed, tonight, she’d clean him up if they didn’t rendezvous with Doc. She wished they had time now, but getting them to safety took priority since he wasn’t bleeding out or anything that severe.

As she was about to close the bag, her gaze landed on the golden egg of equipment—next to their weapons, of course. An earpiece.Heavens be praised,she wanted to shout.

Jesse, I’m sorry I ever believed Bev. Giving us your gear may save our lives. Thanks, Stone, for also leaving your pack.

After handing Ken the components of their lifeline, she secured the bag, and without asking Ken his preference, she slung it over her shoulders. When he didn’t protest, her concern for his health mounted.

He looked pale and had begun to sweat when this would’ve been a cakewalk any other time.

Time to move forward to get them closer to home. “Where is Point Charlie?”

“Las Golondrinas waterfall.”

Quickly searching her memory of the map they’d studied, she grimaced. “That’s a good clip.”

“Not as far as the evac point. Don’t worry, we’ll make it,” he assured her, although he’d done nothing of the sort.

“All right.” She hadn’t noticed him breathing so heavily, but it made her realize she needed to pay better attention.

“Look,” she said before he took off, “you need to get used to having a woman rescue you instead of the other way around. Sure, you can take care of yourself, but you’re injured and not at normal capabilities. Lean on me and we’ll get through this.”

He chuckled and folded his arm over his ribs. Her heart cried out in pain for him. “You just make me love you more each day.”

Flustered, she just stared. He freely kept admitting his love for her. She needed to survive this to know what she truly felt. Too much was wrapped up in their situation and it shouldn’t be a consideration for something so life-changing. No, not changing. Life-defining.

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