Page 52 of Scent of Peril

“We need breakfast,” she told her brother. “Teddy too.”

“We told Wayne to meet us at the Hitching Post,” Logan added.

“I’m game.” Doug glanced at his watch. “I’ll see if the feds want to join us.”

She reached for her pack, but Shane grabbed it from her fingers. The four of them and the two dogs headed to the Post.

The rest of the law enforcement contingent met up with them within fifteen minutes. They were early enough that they couldpull together three tables to accommodate everyone. While they’d waited, she and Shane had fed their respective dogs. And they’d give them a chance to get busy when they were finished eating.

“I’d like to say grace,” Doug said, once their meals had been served.

The federal agents and the cops glanced at each other curiously but didn’t protest. Jess bowed her head and clasped Logan’s hand beneath the table. He gently squeezed it. She was glad Doug had taken the lead on the prayer.

“Dear Lord, we ask You to bless this food. We also ask for Your strength and guidance as we set out to find and arrest those who would break the law to harm others. Please offer us safe passage on our journey ahead. Amen.”

“Amen,” she said. Logan and Shane quickly echoed her sentiment. The rest of the officers didn’t say the word but nodded solemnly.

“We’ll take all the help we can get,” Griff said as he reached for the salt and pepper.

“And then some,” Wayne added.

As they ate, they discussed strategy. Which basically consisted of breaking into teams to broaden their search. Logan provided detailed coordinates related to where they’d found the plane debris. Two game wardens would be joining their search team as well, meeting up with them at the Cabin Creek Campsite.

“The game wardens, Kevin Tinley and Eddie Marsh, are bringing horses,” Doug informed them. “They’re going to try to provide an extra layer of coverage for the rest of us who will be on foot.”

“We should have brought our horses,” Shane muttered.

“I considered it,” Doug agreed. “But we’re counting on Bryce and Teddy doing the work. It would be harder for us to follow the dogs on horseback.”

“I’m fine with hiking.” Jess shot Shane an exasperated glance. “We’ve done this zillions of times before.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Shane sighed. “I’m game.”

It was a full hour later by the time they’d finished eating and were heading up to the campground. She and Logan rode with Doug, who had taken the lead on this endeavor. Shane drove the SUV behind them, with the feds and the others trailing behind.

She glanced at Logan who had insisted on going along with her and Teddy. She had a feeling he planned to stick close to her side.

Two green game warden trucks and a horse trailer were waiting in the parking lot by the time they arrived. Jess let Teddy out of the back of Doug’s SUV and instructed him to get busy.

He obliged. She cleaned up his mess, then joined Logan and Doug. Shane was taking care of Bryce too. While they waited, they geared up, strapping on their vests under their jackets. Doug gave her a handgun that he’d gotten from the ranch. She double-checked the weapon and the ammo before putting it in her pocket. Lastly, she added the new earpiece radios that Doug had brought along. She wasn’t used to wearing the electronic device but was grateful to have a way to connect with the others if needed.

Doubts crept in as the rest of the law enforcement officers showed up. There were so many of them that she was afraid the bad guys would see them coming from miles away. Even if they split up, they’d be in contact with each other via radio where the sound of their voices could easily be heard.

“I’m not sure about this,” she whispered to Logan. “It’s going to be impossible to sneak up on these guys.”

“Hopefully, they won’t know we’re coming.” Logan glanced at her, then shrugged when she gave him a skeptical look. “Okay, I see your point. The problem is that they’re armed and dangerous.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I just hope this trip isn’t in vain.”

He nodded in agreement, then they stepped forward to hear Doug’s instructions. The two game wardens stood near their horses as Doug spread a topographical map of the area over the hood of his SUV.

“This is our target area.” He tapped the coordinates Logan had provided. “But we believe the actual location is a little north and east of here. We’ll be in three groups, two with K9s. The game wardens will help cover us from either side.”

“I’m going with Logan, Jessica, and Teddy,” Doug said. “Griff, I’d like you and Jack Rubio to stick with Shane and Bryce.” He turned to the local cops. “Wayne, you take Burt and Jeff to this area here. Any questions?”

“Nope.” Eddie Marsh, the older of the two game wardens, grabbed his horse’s reins and vaulted into the saddle. Kevin Tinley mirrored his movements.

Jess looked through her pack, making sure she had water and enough first aid supplies for Teddy if he should need it. Then she was ready go to.

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