Page 53 of Recurve Ridge

“Could be a hiker,” Alan said through a mouthful of stew.

“Group of,” Will corrected from the balcony. “I don’t think so. They walked in a straight line, and some of the impressions crossed over, but not all. Like they were?—”

“Hiding their numbers. So Gideon did a recce after you kicked his ass verbally. What’s new?” Alan’s mouth twisted. “Fuck. I’m usually better at reading Gideon’s bullshit.”

Jon glanced across at me and held my gaze. “We’re getting distracted. She wants to go home.”

I ground my teeth. “Will, Miller. Up for a nighttime incursion?”

Both boys nodded without speaking.

“Robe—” Jon cleared his throat.

“And I need a little intel from town, Alan.”

“You got it,” the bartender said.

I waited another minute for their objections, but Jon didn’t interrupt me a second time, burrowing his attention into his food. “Good. Tomorrow, Will can take Mari into the forest. South side, well away from the house. It’s important she’s kept safe and out of this,” I added in a gentler tone.

Will nodded, his hands flexing around his plate. “What do you want me to do with her?”

“Don’t make her cry, for a start,” I snapped, then closed my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“This is bullshit.” Jon scraped his plate clean in record time and stalked out the door.

“Jon—” Alan began.

I held up a hand. “Let him go.” Besides, that fuckup was mine to fix.

“I’ll figure something out,” Will mumbled.

“Good.” I swallowed my pride. “He’s moving, and I don’t want to miss an opportunity to make sure that move isn’t aimed in our direction.”

“It’s not like there’s anyone else up here much.” Alan rested his forearms on the bar, his bright blue eyes fixed on me.

“Finish eating. You’re heading out tonight. I need to know what’s happening in New York.” My chest ached at the thought of sending my boys out when I couldn’t enter the city without earning myself prime real estate on death row.

“I’m out.” Alan pushed the rest of his plate away. His apron floated to the bar top as he grabbed a prepacked backpack from beneath the bench and shot out the door.

“See you in a few days.”

“Check in whenever you can.” I might not like how tonight turned out, but of all my boys, Alan was the one I most trusted to be able to make the choice between emotions and duty.

He winked and flipped me the bird.

He’d be gone as long as it took for the job to be done. That didn’t put my mind at ease. It did mean I’d be in shit with the rest for sending him out alone when we all needed to focus on the enemy who’d stepped foot on the other side of our invisible barrier, even if by proxy. Not that I blamed him.

Miller had erased a handful of his men while we were engaged in neighborly chitchat, after all.

“Get your asses onto Gideon’s land. Have a scout around and report back. Nothing else. Hear me? We’ll decide what to do when you come home.”

“You got it.” Miller threw his plate in the sink and jerked his head at Will. “Let’s go.”

In a matter of seconds, the mass exodus left the cabin empty except for me—and Mari.

Her presence in my room burned me as I washed every plate, stacking each into a neat pile and tidying the room. Once every surface gleamed spotlessly, I folded my arms and glared at the door. I’d given her enough time to eat and shower. She’d likely be asleep on the other side.

I clenched my teeth, calling myself a coward a hundred times over before I pushed through my frozen state and marched to the door.

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