Page 63 of Joshua's Mistake
Joshua turned to the old woman. “You’ll have to make your way to the house. It’s too hot in here for you to stay. We’ll cover you, Adianca.”
The woman didn’t argue. On her belly, she crept to the right side of the entry and waited for the three of them to exit before her.
Tessa’s body rejected the idea of getting to her feet, but she ignored the pain and took the automatic weapon Joshua handed her. The daylight blinded her momentarily, but soon she could see the battle raging in the desert.
She assumed the handful of Native Americans pinned down behind an outcropping of rocks were on their side. Will and a young woman were defending the sweat lodge.
Gunfire rained down on them from the ridge. Tessa, Joshua and Kane created a wall to cover Adianca and get her safely inside the log cabin. As soon as she was inside all three ran for the cover of a small outbuilding.
A man dropped to the left of her. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his outstretched arm, yanking him to safety. The wound in his leg was bad but not fatal. Tessa quickly tore his jeans from where the bullet had left the cotton ragged. She made a tight tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
“I’m glad to see you’re better,” the man said. His teeth gritted in pain.
“Do you know me?”
“I’m Jon. I was here when you were in the other place.”
She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t even know how long she had been in Nevada. She muttered a thank you and Jon gave a quick nod.
He turned, staying behind the outbuilding’s wall and continued to fire.
Tessa turned toward Joshua and Kane. “We are going to get these people killed. We need to lead Banta away from here.”
Kane said, “We’re pinned down. This is no good.”
Joshua said, “I’ll make my way around and try to get in behind them.”
“You’ll never make it. It’s too open.” Tessa gripped his arm tightly for emphasis. She’d just gotten back to him. She’d be damned if she was going to let him commit suicide.
The sound of helicopters filled the valley.
“They’re bringing in more troops,” Kane said.
Joshua looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, beautiful. I didn’t mean to bring you back only to get you killed.”
“I’d rather die here with you than be left in that nightmare.” It surprised her, she really meant her words. Her only regret was if they died in the desert Banta would live.
One helicopter landed far in the distance behind the enemy. Banta’s men turned and began to fire on the approaching assault copter.
As soon as Joshua saw them turn on the incoming troops he moved forward with Kane and Tessa following close behind. If the enemy was shooting at the helicopter it meant whoever they were, they were allies.
A second helicopter landed behind the log cabin and a minute later the psi contingent from Florida was rounding the house in full assault gear.
Banta’s men became confused. Some of them threw down their weapons and put their arms in the air.
Tessa saw Banta clearly at the center of the ridge. It might have been her imagination, but she thought she saw a moment of panic on his face. It was impossible she could have seen it at that distance. Still, he stood looking down at them for a long moment, ignoring the bullets peppering his general direction.
Tessa fired toward him and still he didn’t flinch. Bullets bounced off his psi barrier as if they were pinballs in a machine.
The assault team members on the ridge collected weapons from the surrendering troops. Even at a distance Tessa could see the FBI in white on the black BDUs.
Banta ran for his helicopter with only a handful of his men and took off toward the north.
Tessa fired pointlessly at the aircraft. The knot of rage in her chest tightened and she kept firing until her clip was empty. Even then she pointed her weapon at the ever-shrinking helicopter until Joshua gently pulled the gun from her grasp.
“He’s getting away,” she said. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Joshua tossed the weapons aside and took her face in his hands. With his thumbs, he wiped away her tears. Those stark blue eyes captured her full attention. “We will find him.”
