Page 83 of Pigeon

“Can’t talk. He’s close.”

I push my bike to speeds I’ve never attempted before and barely slow in time to make the turn into the driveway. Rear tire sliding dangerously, I right my bike and gun it again. Sliding sideways to a stop, I drop my bike and run for my truck. Spinning it in a circle, I see my club brothers jumping off their bikes.

“Take Ivy’s truck and the other side by side! She’s somewhere south of here in one of the pastures! She said Ted’s close to where she’s at, so watch for the side by side!” I shout out the window as Cash and Pooh vault into the bed of my truck. Not waiting for the others, I drive down the small road that leads south through the ranch.

Reaching down, I open the console and remove a handgun. Checking to make sure it’s loaded, I set it on the seat beside me. I have one in the waistband of my jeans. I’m sure Cash and Pooh are also armed, but having more firepower is always a good thing.

I drive the truck off the road and up a slope that should give me a good view of a lot of land. Stopping, I scan the dark, hoping to see headlights.

“Can’t see anything. Keep driving,” Cash hollers, and I realize that him standing in the bed of the truck gives him a better view than I have.

When I finally see lights, I drive toward them, but it turns out to be Petey, Trigger, and Reeves in Ivy’s truck. They haven’t seen anything yet either. Listening carefully, I can hear another engine in the distance, but when it comes into view and drives our way, I know it’s the wrong side by side. Toes and Freddy pull up and shut down the engine.

“Axel’s on his way with Rex, James, and Livi. Called him. Told him what’s up. Rex is working on a location using Ivy’s phone GPS. We’ll stay in touch with them,” Freddy says before they drive off.

“Fan out,” I order as I put the truck in drive.

Before taking my foot off the brake, I text Ivy.

Me: We’re spread out in the southern pastures. Keep your phone on but muted. Rex is tracking it. Is Ted still close?

Ivy: Yes. I’m on the other side of a small herd of cattle. Trying to keep them between us.

Me: You stay safe. We’ll find you.

I then shoot off a group text telling the others to watch for a herd of cattle because Ivy’s close to one.

I drive for what seems like endless hours, but, in reality, was about one and a half when I spot Axel’s truck coming my way. Stopping, he pulls up so our windows are next to each other.

“She’s close, Pigeon. According to her phone, she’s within about a quarter of a mile radius of us right now,” Rex states while watching his laptop.

“Livi! Get in the truck with Pigeon,” Cash orders, and she complies.

Shutting her door, Livi reaches over and grips my forearm.

“We’ll find her, Pigeon. She’s smart, and he’s not.”

I nod, feeling gutted but hopeful with her words.

“And when we do, if one of you don’t kill him, I’m going to,” Livi states calmly while checking her handgun before lowering it to lay on her thigh.

“Fuck me,” Cash mutters but is clearly heard by everyone.

We get back to searching again, and it’s not long before Trigger calls to say they’ve spotted a small herd of cattle in a gully. No sign of a side by side, but it’s dark, and the gully is casting shadows. I whip my truck around and head their direction, forgetting that I have two men standing in the back. Livi looks over her shoulder then gives me a thumbs-up letting me know I haven’t lost my passengers.

Killing my lights, I stop near Ivy’s truck. Petey, Trigger, and Reeves are all belly-down along the edge of the gully. We join them, and I pull my phone out when it vibrates.

Ivy: I’m on the other side, behind the cattle, near the bank. Ted’s somewhere below you on your side. Please tell me you’re here too.

Me: Just got here. Stay down.

I tell the others what Ivy said, and all eyes peer down, trying to locate Ted in the darkness. It’s black as hell on this side of the gully with the cattle barely outlined in the center with what available light there is shining on them. We put some distance between each of us as we move along the rim, hoping one of us gains an angle that shows his position. Ted must know it’s no longer him hunting Ivy but us hunting him. With the arrival of Axel’s truck and the side by side, he’s far outnumbered, and his time of being free is coming to an end.

When the cattle start moving restlessly, I grow concerned that he’s making his way to Ivy’s side of the gully. Cash must too because he lets me know he’s moving around the end of the gully. I pass it on and then follow him. We stay low but move quickly. Rounding the end where there’s a path leading up and out, I realize this must be how the cattle got down inside the gully. The further around it we get, the better I feel knowing I’m closer to Ivy’s position.

When a shot rings out, I freeze. Not able to determine the direction it came from because of the acoustics of the high slope on each side, I wait. My blood runs cold when I hear Ted’s words shouted into the darkness.

“Let me leave, and I’ll let her live.”

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