Page 22 of Solid as Steele
“Worry? Not really. But I like to be cautious.”
Owen lowered his aching body to the ground. “Then I’d like a gun for my shift.”
Ryan shared a look with Mackenzie. She nodded.
“Fine. You’ll get the gun.” Ryan squatted next to the fire ring. “Let me get some water boiling so we can fix the MREs. On the menu tonight is beef stroganoff.”
“Is it any good?” Mackenzie tucked her legs under her.
“I’ve tried most all the brands out there and this one seems to be the best. As a bonus, it requires less water and time to cook.” Ryan struck a match and the kindling and dried brush he’d put under the wood teepee caught and flamed into life.
“The last thing I need right now is heat from the fire.” Mackenzie laughed and fanned her face.
Suddenly hyper-alert, Ryan cocked his head. Owen soon heard the sound taking Ryan’s attention. A sound coming from the west. A rumble. Like an off-road vehicle.
Owen met Ryan’s gaze. “We have company.”
Ryan drew his weapon.
“I want to arm myself too.” Owen’s calm voice surprised him when his heart was racing.
“Gun’s in my backpack in the tent.” Ryan didn’t shift his gaze but got to his feet.
Owen jumped up, his whole body groaning in pain, to follow Ryan. Owen wanted to not only be protected but do the protecting of Mackenzie if needed.
Ryan shoved the Glock into Owen’s hands then dug back into his pack.
Owen checked the ammo clip.
Nearly full.
He clipped the empty holster on his belt and looked up in time to see headlights coming their way.
Ryan drew out a pair of binoculars. “Night vision.”
“Perfect.” Owen turned to check on Mackenzie.
She’d taken cover on the far side of the thick trunk of the juniper tree. Ryan dropped behind a boulder, and Owen joined Mackenzie. The headlights cut through the inky night. Two sharp beams. Aiming their way.
“Why would someone be out here on private property at this time of night?” Owen asked.
“You think someone tracked us here?” Her tone was breathless, but he couldn’t see her expression.
“I don’t think so. Not when they’re coming from the north, but who knows.” He stepped behind Mackenzie and leaned close. For his own safety, yeah, but mostly to protect her from an attack from behind. Her body trembled, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her until she let go of the fear and stopped shaking.
The vehicle came into view. Too dark to make out many details, but it looked like it carried one helmeted rider. No way to ID the driver, but the size said male.
Owen’s brain flashed with a memory. The sun setting. A red Polaris Utility Terrain Vehicle racing toward him. One man in the UTV wearing a sleek black half-helmet that left his face uncovered. Leaping out. Calmly swaggering toward Owen, helmet still in place. Not saying a word. Owen trying to introduce himself and ask what the guy was doing there.
The rider tossed a fist to Owen’s face, catching him off guard and spinning him. The guy got behind Owen and pummeled his back. When Owen turned, the rider landed a fist to Owen’s gut. Another. And another, before Owen got a punch in of his own to the man’s gut.
Owen didn’t get another chance. The rider shoved Owen. He plummeted backward. Head striking the rock. Then nothing but blackness until he woke up in the dark. Alone. Left for dead. His vehicle gone.
The roar of the engine rocketing toward them snapped Owen back to the present. Back to the potential threat. Back to protecting Mackenzie.
The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, the vehicle fishtailing to a stop. He stood. Surveyed the area. Sat and turned the vehicle, racing back in the direction he’d come from.
Owen wasn’t ready to back off on protecting Mackenzie yet. Not until he couldn’t hear the sound of the vehicle as rifles had good range out here in the flatlands. Not that he believed that they were dealing with a shooter. There had been zero evidence of that, but caution was the word.
