Page 23 of Chinook Winds

Duncan sat beside his wife and stared into space. A defeated man. He’d taken a gamble and lost all because of greed, and because of it, people had died. The country and the world would never be the same.

Up ahead, the truck’s brake lights flashed. Tom stopped, jumped out, and raced to the van.

Danny rolled the window down. “What’s going on?”

“There’s a tree down in the path. It’s the only way through at this point. I have a chainsaw in the back of the truck, but it will take me a minute to get the tree out of the way.”

“I’ll help.” Danny climbed out along with Cole.

Kinsley glanced behind them. So far, there was no sign of the people coming after them. Had they reached the house yet? While Tom removed a chainsaw and moved to the front of the truck, doing nothing wasn’t something Kinsley was accustomed to. She leaned forward toward Kaid. “Why don’t we do a quick search around and see if we can locate where those vehicles are. With the noise of the chainsaw, it will draw attention if they’re close.”

Kaid nodded and got out along with Sidney. Before Kinsley could follow, Victor grabbed her arm. She turned to him. Knew what he was going to say.

“I’m coming with you.”

As much as she wanted to refuse—tell him he was too important to the country to lose—it would be pointless. Above all else, Victor was a soldier.

“All right,” she said, and they slipped away from the area, retracing the path the van had traveled.

It didn’t take long before the noise of vehicles approaching could be heard above the chainsaw. Kinsley peered through the binoculars she’d brought. Through the trees she was able to make out the cabin.

“Three vehicles so far.” She handed the binoculars to Victor.

“They’re getting out.” He watched for a second longer. “Wait, I know that guy.”

“What guy?” Kinsley took the binoculars he handed her and zoomed in on the cabin.

“The one in the blue cap. I know him from somewhere.”

She focused on the man in the cap. “I recognize him, too. That’s one of the men who took us.” The man in the cap had been in charge and someone close to Collins.

Taking out her phone, Kinsley snapped a photo. “I’ll see if James can identify him for us. Let’s get out of here. With all the noise from the chainsaw, they’ll be on our tracks before long.”

The tree was free of the path when they returned to the van. Tom climbed inside the truck and they were on their way again.

Kinsley kept a careful watch behind them. There was no doubt in her mind the men would come after them.

Danny’s cell phone rang, and he answered it. “It’s Tom.” He put the phone on speaker. “Is everything okay up there?”

“So far. We’re almost to the road, but I’m afraid they may have it blocked off. Stay on alert.”

The road came into view in front of them. Tom eased onto it and turned right. Danny followed.

There was no traffic on the road as far as Kinsley could see. So far, so good. “Where does this road take us?” she asked Danny.

“If we keep going, it will take us into Glasgow, which is the closest town. We’ll cross the James River before that, but we need to get off this road quickly. Those men behind us will follow. When they realize the direction we’ve taken, they’ll radio for backup.”

Kinsley sat back in her seat. Did her best to relax, but it was impossible. Legion’s men were extremely dangerous, and their backs were against the wall. They had everything to lose.

“Uh oh. We have a problem.” Danny’s words drew her attention to the road ahead. Heading straight for them. A virtual army of vehicles.

Tom jerked the truck across the road and into the woods. Even though going cross-country would be rough, it was better than facing down Legion’s men.

Danny whipped in behind Tom.

Everyone in the van grabbed hold of whatever they could to remain upright.

“Eventually these woods will dead-end at the James River.” Danny gripped the wheel tight with both hands to keep from flipping the van.

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