Page 61 of Evening Shadows

Before she could go down that road, he said, “If I remember correctly, we’ll follow hiker and game trails unless we need to divert against threats. There’s a small village, so we’ll skirt that.”

She nodded then held out her hand as if to motion forward. “Lead on, old wise one,” she jested.

Ken rolled his eyes at her. It brought a giggle she immediately stifled. They needed to focus on getting home.

Leading them back to the trail, Ken kept them at a faster pace then she’d have expected him to carry with his injuries. As before, she constantly checked their six for trouble and wished they had a machete in case they had to go into the thick jungle to cut a way through the foliage and snakes.

Ken swept his gaze back and forth. Without any other support, this was the best they could do.

“Think the boys will make it tonight?” she whispered as she turned back forward.

“I don’t know. It depends on if they can keep the hostiles off our trail and not get themselves captured. They’ve taken out the guard towers, but as we’ve seen, they’ll get replaced. Keeping as many as possible inside the fence around Alejandro’s home is what we need.”

Frustrated they left the agents to fend for themselves, she swallowed hard. She had to remember everyone could take care of himself and more, but that need to protect rose in her. Right now, she needed to protect Ken.

Ken continued, “When we first left, four tangos cleared the field before Franks and Cowboy took out the guard towers. Those are the ones Doc led astray.” He glanced at her then looked forward, his eyes roaming the area and the ground below for threats.

“The team’ll stay as long as they think a threat will come to us. Then they’ll hoof it to Point Charlie or Bravo, depending on time.”

“You’ve heard all that since we left? That sounds like a bit too much chatter.” She couldn’t imagine Ken allowing all that.

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s from our plan, what I heard, and what I know Franks will do.”

In the future at an op brief, she planned to remember everything from not only the normal but from the victim’s view. She’d never expected to be the one needing to be rescued.

They’d only stepped off the path they’d traveled when they heard rustling in the bushes ahead. Ready to protect themselves, they prepared for anything. Except the little boy dressed in next to nothing who’d darted away holding—none other than—a snake. Although she hated them, having a child bitten by a venomous one sent shivers crawling up her spine. When she made to move out of hiding, Ken grabbed her arm, leaned close, and told her, “Safe snake.”

The child scampered off, taking no notice of them or doing a good job of avoiding them, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“We must be close to a village,” Ken told her as they stepped back into the open.

They stopped briefly for, what she suspected, Ken to catch his breath and take more painkillers that had been in the first aid kit. Although mild, they would help with his pain without him losing his edge. Doc would’ve ensured that to be the case.

On a break at about midday, they checked in with the team, stopped and split a meal bar while rehydrating. A trek through the jungle taxed a body. If Bev really had to do this, why couldn’t she have chosen the beach? Admittedly, running in the sand in her combat boots would tire her out quickly, but at least she could have taken a swim afterward. The best part would have been no slithery things.

This not happening at all would be Sam’s preference. What would’ve happened to Cody if they hadn’t arrived? Thankfully Alejandro had not abused him, but what had he been silently dealing with when his mother slipped off the deep end?

She’d fooled Sam. While she’d known her friend was losing it, she had no idea it’d gone this far. Even though it’d become obvious Bev was a great actress, Sam missed the clues to this change.

Moving again, every so often, they halted and listened to ensure they hadn’t been pursued, which made the day even longer.

Satisfied for the moment at their progress, Ken continued to lead her on a small trail and through the jungle where it appeared paths were partially formed.

His limp became more pronounced. She didn’t even ask. She put her arm under his to aid him. He didn’t hesitate to put his arm around her shoulder and shift his weight awkwardly as she took the brunt of the weight off his bad leg. It made for tougher and slower going, but together they’d make it.

Keeping their rifles in their free hands, Sam praised the fact HIS made them all practice with their non-dominant hand. Always be ready for the unexpected.

She struggled under his weight but refused to admit it because he’d try to walk on his own again and his crumpling to the ground was possible.

No matter how far away from the compound they traveled, their vigilance couldn’t slip, but she couldn’t turn and check their six. If Doc had eluded the men, he’d arrive soon to cover them. She’d rest much easier when that happened.

Until Doc or the boys arrived, she’d drop Ken in that small cave—also known as Point Charlie—and stand guard.

A sense of relief filled her when the roar of the Las Golondrinas waterfall reached them. Then getting him down the slope they’d need to travel set off red flags. Trying to remember their terrain maps, it occurred to her that their path was about to get very steep.

“Approaching Point Charlie.”

She almost missed Ken’s low voice, immediately realizing he was updating the Franks and the team.

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