Page 112 of Solid as Steele
“Hello,” Ryan said.
“Owen Greer here.” He explained what was going on and asked for Ryan’s location.
“We’re approaching the store.”
“Head downstream to the Wallowa River Bridge in Wallowa. Leach will probably get out there and try to hitch a ride.”
“Roger that.”
“We’ll continue downstream as fast as we can and see you in Wallowa. Keep me updated at this number if anything changes, and I’ll do the same.” Owen stowed the phone back in the dry bag then shoved it into a pocket of his tactical pants and zipped it closed.
He counted in his head, each second like an hour, as he waited for Mackenzie to return. He finally heard footsteps crunching on the stones behind him and glanced over his shoulder.
Mackenzie headed his way, dwarfed by his rainsuit. She’d draped a blanket over her head and one over her shoulders, was carrying the dry bag with one hand, and was holding up the oversized pants with the other.
She seemed to be shivering less, but that could be wishful thinking.
She smiled at him. “I’m ready to go after Leach.”
“The Maddox brothers will try to intercept Leach in Wallowa. We have a few hours ride till then. Will you be okay?”
“Might have cold feet but otherwise the blankets and your suit will keep me warm.”
He tried to remain where he was, focusing on anchoring his feet on the soil, but he couldn’t stand there and do nothing. He could’ve lost her. Like he’d lost Cassie. He was seeing how fleeting life was and God was telling Owen to grasp every good thing he could before it was gone.
Mackenzie was a good thing. A very good thing.
He swept her into a hug. He was likely smothering her with his tight hold, but he had to do it. To reassure himself that she was alive and okay.
“Don’t take a risk like that again, okay?” he whispered against the blanket on her head. “I can’t lose you. You’re already too important to me.”
She leaned back and looked at him, a smile on her face. “I’m glad you finally told me that. You’re important to me too, and I don’t want to lose you either.”
He returned her smile. “I don’t know where that leaves us. But right now, we have to get on the river, go after Leach, and put him behind bars. Then we’ll be free to figure this”—he wagged a finger between the two of them—“out.”
Mackenzie tied the oversized waist of her pants with a rope from the supplies Grainger provided and shivered under the pair of blankets. She worked hard to stop her body from shaking so Owen wouldn’t see her discomfort. He would feel bad about her being dunked in the water when it wasn’t his fault. She’d reached too far. Sure, she believed she could do it, but it was still her fault.
That was a problem she faced in her life. A big one. Always trying to reach beyond what was safe or comfortable. Except when she’d been a deputy. Then caution reigned, and she’d suffocated under that. Until she not only left the force to help in the family business, but also to regain that freedom she’d had to put aside to make sure she stayed alive and that she protected innocent lives at all costs. If she planned to be in a relationship with Owen, she might need to quench her thirst for adventure. But wouldn’t that be suffocating again? Wouldn’t she have to let go of who she was to be with him?
They approached another set of rapids and water sprayed over the bow as the boat plunged through the uneven water. She might want to dwell on Owen’s declaration of how important she was to him. Maybe meaning love? Like? Whatever she called it, she needed her complete concentration as navigator to keep them safe on the water.
She directed Owen through the rapids to calmer water. She lifted her binoculars and scanned ahead. She didn’t expect to see Leach’s beached kayak. He was likely planning to make a run for it. Maybe gaining access at the Wallowa as Owen thought. Or even going further down to where the Grande Ronde ran into the Snake River and Class IV rapids would challenge them in their chase.
This river was accessible by road in only a few spots, restricting the places he could get off the river. And it was their job to have Ryan and his brothers concealed at each stop in advance of Leach’s arrival.
But soon it would be dark, and if Leach didn’t get off the river in Wallowa, they would be forced to camp for the night.
Please let him ditch his kayak at Wallowa. Please!
The wind kicked up, and she huddled deeper into her blanket, feeling guilty for taking Owen’s rainsuit which could be cutting the wind for him. He had to be cold, but she suspected his single-minded determination to catch Leach was keeping his mind occupied, and he might not even notice the cold.
She rested her elbows on her knees and lifted the binoculars, scanning the area ahead.
The SAT phone rang from behind her. She spun on the seat to look at Owen.
He was digging it from his pocket. He handed the bag to her, and her cold fingers fumbled to answer. Thankfully, it continued to ring.
She tapped the button. “Ryan?”
