Page 61 of Bridles and Bribery

Eloise straightened and sniffed the air. Then she scrambled to her feet and moved to stand beneath the only air vent in the room. It was on the upper east wall. The otherside of it was an exterior wall cloaking the ductwork with a layer of concrete and stone.

Jillian’s mind raced over the possibilities. The only way she could fathom smoke getting into the ductwork was if…

Horror tightened her throat as she met Eloise’s gaze. “The house must be on fire.”

Her mother-in-law didn’t answer. She lurched into motion, shoving one of the leather recliners up to the wall. Grabbing the package of wet wipes, she stood on the recliner and started stuffing the damp wipes into the open lines of the vent shaft.

Despite how fast she worked, smoke swirled into the room around her fingers. “Get low and pull a blanket over you and Bo,” she barked.

Two Lonestar Securityguards sped Dave and Gil’s way on four-wheelers. They reached them and skidded to a stop in front of them in a cloud of dirt and gravel. Jordan ignored the men on ATVs and continued his pursuit of his horse.

“You guys all right?” The first rider pulled his black helmet off, revealing the scowling features of Army Ranger Gage Hefner. Though he was retired from the military, he continued to wear his brown hair in the traditional “high and tight” cut so many soldiers favored —shaved on the sides and short on top. Dave had only spoken to him a few times so far. The fact that they were both new hires at Lonestar, though, had given them an instant sense of camaraderie. Gage was still finishing up on the new employee training and orientation that Dave was just getting started on. Though Gage was fifteen years younger, Dave had unashamedly gone to him with afew questions about what was required from new employees.

The second rider wasn’t one Dave recognized when he tugged off his helmet. Not a surprise. Living in a bunker below the headquarters building hadn’t exactly been conducive to getting out and socializing with the rest of the staff.

“We’ve been better. What about you guys?” Gil’s Stetson was missing. Like Dave, his face was drenched in sweat, soot, and an occasional burn blister. His shirt and jeans were singed in several places.

“We’re good. We weren’t anywhere near the explosion when it went off. Already called the fire department,” Gage informed them grimly. “It’s all about containment at this point. There’s nothing left to save back there.” He shook his head at the rubble behind Dave and Gil.

Dave swung around to survey the damage. The only thing left standing was the cabin’s stone fireplace. The rest of the home was a pile of jagged, flaming timber. Rivulets of fire ran between the cabin and barn, which was also up in flames. A loud creaking sound met their ears as the barn roof gave out and collapsed in on itself.

Ever the sheriff, Gil quickly took charge of their huddle. “I think we should split up. Two of us should stick around to help Jordan flag down his horse. Two of us should head back to Dave’s house and help out there.”

Dave pulled off his Stetson to swipe his shirtsleeve over his face. “As much as I hate to say this, I think I should hang back with my client.” His father was dead, his mother was on the run, and the entire court case might very well be resting on his shoulders now. Dave couldn’t abandon him, not when they were so close to getting the answers he’d been seeking.

And missing by a long shot.

Dave glanced toward Jordan’s disappearing shoulders in the distance, hating just how badly he’d let his old friend down.

“Here.” Gage tossed him his helmet. “Take my wheels.”

“I’ve got Dave’s back.” Gil reached for the other guy’s helmet. “You two head on to the lake and give them a hand there. I suspect that’s where the party is heading.” He dug out the keys to his Rezvani Tank and tossed them to Gage.

“Until they figure out Jordan is still alive.” Dave rotated his aching shoulders before mashing on the helmet and climbing on the four-wheeler. They needed to catch up with Jordan and get him and his horse to a new secure location as soon as possible.

Gage slapped a hand against the leather saddlebag bolted behind the seat of the ATV Gil was slinging his leg over. “Plenty of water and emergency supplies on both four-wheelers.” He handed over his patrol walkie talkie to Gil. “You guys hang on to one of these. We’ll keep the other one with us.”

Gil strapped it on. “We’ll keep you posted about where we end up.” He didn’t say what he had in mind, but he’d grown up hunting in these woods. Dave suspected he knew the property like the back of his hand. If there was a nook or a cranny big enough for three men and a horse to hunker down in, he’d know where it was.

I hope.

Dave’s gut was telling him that the dangers they’d been facing were far from over. He slapped his face guard in place, nodding goodbye to Gage and his companion.

Gage gave them a two-fingered salute.

Dave and Gil took off across the pasture,gunning their motors and leaning into the wind as they pursued Jordan and Western Storm. They caught up to Jordan first.

Dave slowed his speed and idled along beside him long enough for Jordan to hop on the back of his four-wheeler. Then they took off again. He and Gil used hand signals as they drew nearer to the frightened stallion.

Gil fanned a wide right, indicating he intended to circle back in and head the horse away from the looming foothills.

Jordan fisted one hand in the back of Dave’s shirt, pointing around Dave’s shoulder with the other hand. “Get me closer to Western Storm,” he shouted. His hand tightened on Dave’s shirt and his other hand came down on Dave’s shoulder as he rose into a crouch with his knees straddling Dave’s ribcage.

Good grief!It looked and sounded like Jordan was going to attempt to leap off the back of the four-wheeler onto his horse in mid gallop. Was such a thing even possible? Outside of the circus, that is?

As if sensing his doubts, Jordan rocked closer to his ear, shouting, “Trust me for once!”

Alright, my friend. You win.Clenching his jaw, Dave gunned his motor again and gradually gained on the horse’s right flank. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gil closing in.

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