Page 45 of A Mile of Ocean

At Birk’s urging, he put the two former Navy Seals together on the rooftop of the main house, stationed behind two brick fireplace columns where they could see for miles.

“Thanks to all of you showing up today, we have seven teams instead of five to cover more ground. With Brock laid up for at least a week, I hope you guys know how much we appreciate your help,” Trent told the crew.

He held up a chart so that everyone could note the changes. “As you can see, the best marksmen are now stationed inside the perimeter. That’s because we believe he wants something inside the house, something he didn’t have time to get the first time he entered the night he took out Slade.”

“In case you missed it, that makes Dolly and Brock sitting ducks or bait,” Beckett added. “Either way you look at it, we won’t let this guy breach the house again. Remember, you’re the first line of defense. If he gets past you, we’re taking him out by the time he gets to the house.”

“And I thought things were bad before,” Monty grumbled. “With the storm moving in, it’s difficult to see in a downpour.”

“That’s why Birk will hand out waterproof NVGs or night vision goggles to give us an advantage,” Trent explained. “The forecast calls for a fast-moving storm with high winds, dropping a lot of moisture within a span of hours. That means a messy, chilly night.”

“We could all huddle inside the main house with Dolly and Brock in front of the fire,” Toby cracked.

Woody rolled his eyes. “Good thing we’re ranchers and undaunted by the weather. This means Brock will have time to recover as he should, and Dolly will keep fixing us meals we can eat on the go without building a fire. I didn’t see you get shot by an assault weapon last night. If you have any complaints about their setup, see me afterward. Otherwise, shut your piehole.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Toby grumbled. “I’m just glad Brock’s out of the hospital.”

Before tempers could flare more, Trent looked out over the sea of faces, dressed for a wet night on horseback. “Any more questions or comments? Now’s the time to get anything you’ve been holding back off your chest.”

“Who’s manning the monitor?” Brogan wanted to know.

“Tonight, it’s Eastlyn. Colt and Theo are set up a mile down the road. Anything else?”

Savannah raised her hand. “Why is it this guy strikes at night? It seems to be a pattern. Dusk to dawn, he’s creating havoc, killing people. Does he have a job during the daytime or what?”

“He’s likely a loner,” Trent answered. “He uses darkness to camouflage himself. Better to strike hot and fast at night than to fear getting caught in the middle of the day. Any other questions? If not, one more night of saddle sores and Dolly’s cold chicken salad sandwiches. Be careful. Stay alert. And don’t hesitate to call for backup.”

His mind was a whirl of strategies and worries as the crew dispersed, each team heading to their designated areas, the weight of the impending storm and uncertainty pressing upon them. He knew they were resilient, experienced, and prepared to face whatever danger lay ahead. He trusted their abilities. That went for Savannah, too. He looked across the room to see her bundled up in a slicker she’d borrowed from Brock, her backpack slung on one shoulder, her smile radiating confidence,her silvery gray eyes shimmering in wonder at the adventure ahead. The sight of her went a long way to boost his morale.

“You’re looking exceptionally prepared for a hike in the wilderness on a cold, rainy night,” Trent teased. “No sleeping in a tent tonight, I’m afraid.”

“If only sleeping in a tent was the least of our worries,” she fired back.

“Not a tent person?”

“Not in weather like this. We’re talking nightmares as a kid at camp when the wind blew my tent into the bushes. I had to run after it into the unknown. I don’t even want to talk about peeing in the bushes.”

That cracked Trent up. “I swear there will be no tent tonight. You’ll be lucky to stay warm enough to complain.”

“You really know how to sweeten the pot, don’t you?”

“So I shouldn’t mention that bathroom breaks are generally behind the nearest bush. I hope you packed toilet paper.”

“Of course I did. And they’re known as bush wees,” Savannah joked. “Tate took me aside and explained the rudimentary act of making sure you pick the right bush.”

They laughed together as they stepped out into the air, thick with the smell of rain, mingled with the scent of earth and grass.

The first drops of rain spit out of the sky around them.

He pulled the collar up on her slicker and adjusted the hood over her head so she could still see. “Seriously, if you get cold—”

“Stop. I’m not a delicate flower. I’m not a kid and still afraid of the dark. I’ve ridden in the rain before. I won’t melt.”

He grinned. “I don’t see you melting in any situation.”

“We’ll see about that,” she muttered as they headed for the stables.

Chapter Thirteen

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