Page 4 of Ranch's Resolve

A loud noise draws my attention upward, where I see a helicopter coming in for a landing nearby. A man and a woman exit the aircraft and rush over. The man kneels next to me and places a bag on the ground. From it, he removes several medical items.

“I’m Dr. Chambers. Let me take a look at her,” the man says. I shift to move out of the way.

Ranch reaches down and helps me up before he encircles his arm around my waist. I gasp when a wall of men in leather kuttes encircles us.

CHAPTER THREE: RANCH

When the men let Athena pass without interference, I let my eyes flick over to see what caught her attention. As I take in the situation, I reach into my pocket and send out an SOS to my club. It will take them some time to get to me, but they’ll come, and that’s all that matters.

While I wait, I translate for Athena as she struggles to help the woman lying on the ground. It’s obvious the prone woman had just given birth and is now fighting to stay alive. Once I’ve helped Athena cut the umbilical cord, I turn my attention back to the armed men.

“Who are you?” I ask in Spanish.

“Manuel Rodriguez,” one man responds in English while holding out his hand. He lets the hand drop when I don’t take him up on his offer. “I’m sorry about crossing over onto your property. We were attacked and had no safe place to hide. Then Angelica went into labor.”

I glance at the men and see no signs of injuries. Only Angelica seems hurt, but the blood on her clothes likely came from the baby’s birth. She’ll need medical attention soon. “I’m calling for a doctor to come help her,” I tell the men.

The four men raise their shotguns, but Manuel gestures for them to stop. “You’re calling border control or ICE?”

I shake my head. “No, I know someone who is a citizen of both the US and Mexico. She helps people who need it. Her name is Angela Westbrook.”

The men murmur in awe and nod their heads as they watch me. “You know Ms. Westbrook?” Manuel asks.

“Yes, she’s the mother of my club President. Do you know her?”

“Everyone knows of Angela Westbrook. She is an angel to my people.”

I take out my cell phone and place the call. After giving her a rundown on the situation, she jumps into action. “Maia will have Dr. Chambers to you in a few minutes. We’ll bring the mother and child here. You’ll need to transport the remaining men and women to my ranch. Can you handle that?”

“Of course. Dante and the others are on their way.” Angela ends the call, and I explain the situation in Spanish so everyone can understand what’s happening.

“Gracias for not calling the feds,” Manuel says. “Many in your place would have turned us over without a second thought.”

“I don’t have a problem with immigrants. Neither does my club. Immigrants built this country. Angela will help you. But why did you cross onto my land?”

“I’m sorry we took refuge here. My partners and I have been following the same route for years, and we have never had a problem before. Three men ambushed us a few hundred yards that way.” He points in a direction that is southwest of us. “My partners stayed back to distract the men who attacked us. I’d like to go back and look for them.”

“Hold on. My club is on its way. We can help you search.” The rumble of motorcycles announces the arrival of my club, but another sound drowns them out. Looking up, I see a helicopterhovering above us just before it lands nearby. In the pilot’s chair is Maia, Angela’s bodyguard and personal pilot. She has a passenger, but I don’t know who until he hops out of the copter: Dr. Vance Chambers, Tally’s father and Dante’s father-in-law.

When he drops down next to Athena and introduces himself before taking over the treatment, I help Athena to her feet. She looks around in shock to discover us surrounded by my club members. The other men and women look scared until Dante speaks to them in Spanish.

“They know of Angela Westbrook,” I tell Dante.

He nods and tells the group that he is Angela’s son. The group relaxes at his proclamation.

“What’s going on?” Athena asks.

“Dante’s assuring them that they’re safe. Dr. Chambers will take care of Angelica and the baby. You were terrific, jumping in like that. Although you scared the hell out of me.”

She grins at me. “Sorry, but when I saw her in distress, I couldn’t stop myself. I think she stopped bleeding, but I’m glad Dr. Chambers arrived to help. She needs a hospital.”

“He’ll make sure she gets the treatment she needs,” I assure her. Taking the woman to a hospital will put her and her child at risk of being deported. She’s better off at Angela’s house and under Dr. Chambers’ care.

Athena glances down at her clothes and grimaces. “I need to change.” Since she’s covered in dirt and blood, I nod in agreement.

“Wait here for a minute, and I’ll get you back to the house,” I tell her before joining Dante and explaining the situation.

“Okay, head back. I want to take some men and go with Manuel to see if we can find his partners. I want to know who the fuck attacked them. There’s a chance this group was their target, but I don’t like it. From what Manuel said, the ambush happened too fucking close to one of our tunnels.”

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