Holding Their Own XI: Hearts and Minds (9 page)

Bishop wanted to swat the sand dragon, or mega-deer fly, or flying tarantula, or whatever the damn pesky insect was that kept buzzing his face. It was a big bastard and notably aggressive. Despite the harassment, the tracker didn’t dare move quickly. Motion drew the human eye, and right at that moment, he was slightly exposed on a ridge. Attracting the attention of a competent shooter with a large-caliber rifle could ruin one’s day.

Again, the winged pest buzzed his nose, but the Texan didn’t move. At least not quickly.

“You’re letting that little bug distract you,” Grim whispered from nearby.

“Little?” Bishop hissed back. “That son of a bitch is wearing biker boots and sporting prison tattoos.”

Grim grunted, “Maybe he thinks you’re cute?”

Gradually working the cross hairs along the canyon wall, Bishop studied a dark indentation, keen to detect any sort of movement or shape that didn’t belong there. Nothing.

Another slow sweep through the 24x magnification brought a large pile of boulders into view. There were 100 hides in that formation alone. He began studying each. He was scanning the elevated ground ahead and growing bored with the entire affair. Scouting in an environment with multiple elevations and a billion perfect concealments was proving to be monotonous work.

Bishop was surrounded by walls of the brightest crimson rock he’d ever seen. Over the last few days, the Texan had noted that the sunlight changed the stones’ hues like a prism. The scenery was breathtaking, ranging from formations that looked like they belonged in a classic Western movie, to oddly rounded hoodoos sprouting from the canyon’s floor.

He estimated the walls were about six miles apart at their current location. The river seemed to prefer the southern rim through this stretch, often hugging the steep cliffs so tightly that his team had to backtrack in order to find a good crossing and continue upstream. No one was in the mood for a swim.

So far, they hadn’t found a single clue or indication that humans occupied the massive stone and sand formations. Not a footprint, whiff of campfire smoke, or telltale dark green of growing cannabis. For the hundredth time, Bishop wondered if the good sheriff had his facts straight.

Watts was a competent man tasked with an impossible job. Being a lawman before the collapse was tough enough. Trying to establish law and order after an apocalypse could make even the strongest character shiver.
No
, Bishop thought,
those guys are in this canyon somewhere
.
How on earth we find them is another matter. But they’re here.

About the only advantages Bishop had were knowledge and experience. He knew most sentries and lookouts would be posted on the high ground. It only made sense to allow the guards the longest possible viewing angles and thus give the maximum amount of warning.

It would have been impossible to visually search every nook and cranny of the canyon’s walls and formations. There were so many places where a man could hide and shoot… and kill the unsuspecting intruder. So he narrowed each sweep to the higher elevations. Places where he’d post an accurate shooter with a big optic.

There was nothing.

For four days, they’d been repeating the same process, working their way along the river at an extremely slow pace, stalking, and keeping to cover. All of Grim’s bravado aside, Bishop understood why law enforcement had given up searching for the banditos. It was like trying to prospect for gold in Indian country; you could never stop watching for hostiles long enough to properly hunt for the treasure.

In a way, the people they sought were a more difficult problem than any war parties faced by a 49’ner. The dope growers didn’t want to be found, and that added a level of complexity.

People involved in illegal acts, like harvesting an outlaw cash crop, probably developed certain skills. They’d been hiding from the authorities for years. Just because society had gone to hell around them didn’t mean they’d get careless or abandon what worked.

Palo Dura was gorgeous, a wonderful place to camp with the family, hike, maybe even do a little climbing. It was hell on earth to search for a relatively small group of men. The perfect place to grow weed if you didn’t want to be found.

The insect chose that moment to bite Bishop behind the ear, the sharp pain drawing an unthinking slap from the frustrated Texan.

The swift movement and noise drew a harsh look from Grim, but even the grizzled old contractor was too tired to comment. For a moment, neither of them moved, both waiting for the sniper’s bullet to slam into their flesh.

No lead arrived.

Bishop waved his man back, the two retreating down into a shallow ravine that afforded some cover.

“That’s it,” Bishop spat. “I’m so tired, I’m making stupid mistakes. I’m going to get us all killed. We’re done with this.”

“What about the sheriff and his crooks?”

“There’s got to be a better way,” Bishop declared. “We could have a thousand men on horseback and still never find these guys. We’re out here risking our asses for a hopeless cause. I’ve got better things to do with my life.”

Grim shook his head, “Now what can possibly be better than humping a 60-pound pack up and down these rocks in 90-degree heat, brother? This is the high life. That last rabbit we snared was excellent fare, and the filtered river water is like wine.”

Bishop grunted but didn’t reply. He just didn’t have the juice.

Grim noted his boss’s lack of comeback and got serious, “I can’t say I disagree with throwing in the towel. We’re covering less than five miles a day, but it seems like 50 on my knees and back. We could sure use some aircraft to help narrow down the search.”

Bishop scanned the cliffs surrounding them, something tickling his mind. A large hawk was soaring above them, the Texan jealous of the bird’s effortless hunting technique. It reminded him of something….

“I’ve got it! That guy in New Mexico… the toymaker dude. We need some of his drones.”

Grim liked the idea. “Think they might loan us a couple of those flying observation posts? They sure gave us hell, and that U.S. Special Forces Team didn’t fare so well either.”

Bishop’s mind returned to the current mission. Their lack of success didn’t sit well, the Texan finding it difficult to accept failure. Yet, they were out of food, low on morale, and completely lacking confidence. Watts would be disappointed, no doubt about it.

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you
, Bishop thought.

“Let’s get out of here. If I never see a red rock again in my life, that’ll be fine with me. I’ll ask Terri to contact our new friends in the Land of Enchantment and see if they can loan us one of those drones,” Bishop announced.

It was still early, and the team could make good speed over the ground they’d already cleared. Two hours later, a sole SUV rolled down the rim road, a sheriff’s emblem on the door.

The deputy spied the orange cross and reached for the radio as Watts had ordered. Before he could push the mic’s button, three dirty, exhausted-looking men appeared beside the lane. “Don’t bother,” Bishop shouted. “We don’t need the cavalry; we just need a ride out of this shithole.”  

Terri was glad she’d decided to stay in Alpha. Nick was being uncooperative, wanting desperately to be back at work… or out of bed… or to fix his own grub. In a way, she’d didn’t blame the big guy. He wasn’t the sort to quietly suffer weeks in the hospital and the restricted movements that accompanied recuperation. Diana needed all the help she could get.

Then there was Bishop out gallivanting around some remote canyon up in the panhandle. No one knew for sure when his team would be returning. Nick thought it would be any day now. While the recovery and associated law and order made her feel safer at the ranch, it still wasn’t the place for a lone mother and small child. She missed home, but could wait a few more days until her husband returned.

Finally, there was the new ambassador from Washington. Diana had asked Terri to attend the emissary’s welcoming reception, a casual affair to be held at the courthouse.

Diana had been upfront with her best friend, “I want your opinion on this guy. You read people better than anyone else I know.”

The Alliance’s leader had also dropped numerous hints that she would like for Terri to be the diplomat’s liaison.  “I need someone like you who can keep him out of our hair and cool his jets if a problem does come up. Besides, it will give us a chance to work together again.”

To be honest, the job didn’t sound all that intriguing. Hunter was going to be walking any time now, her son crawling like a little beach crab and constantly getting into anything he could reach. He was also talking up a storm when it suited a need.

Hunter needed his mother and father, and Terri knew that Bishop’s return to government service was going to result in travel and danger. He might be away for days, even weeks at a time.

The thought of having to spend her time with some stuffy, old blowhard wasn’t very appealing.

Terri buttoned a conservative, dark blue skirt that broadcasted, “No nonsense, professional woman,” checked her hair, and then strapped Hunter into a borrowed stroller. The kid looked good in his best outfit.

It was only a few blocks to the courthouse, mother and son enjoying the cool breeze that signaled that autumn might finally break what had been a punishing blister of a summer.

She could see several vehicles parked in the council members’ reserved spots, the need for such marked spaces another sign of the ongoing recovery. As she pushed the baby buggy to the front steps, she spied Pete sauntering down the sidewalk.

“Terri!” the councilman shouted. “Good to see you’re back from New Mexico!”

After a quick round of hugs, checking on Hunter’s progress, and a few pleasantries, Pete helped her maneuver the wheeled carrier up the steps.

Terri nodded to a security man outside, recognizing him as one of her escorts from the Land of Enchantment. With a motion of her hand and a wink, she zipped her lips and threw away the key.

Pete saw it. “What was that?” the councilman asked after they had passed through the main entrance.

“Nothing,” she grinned. “I don’t know why, but sometimes people just feel the need to share secrets with me.”

Knowing he wasn’t going to get a real answer… and not really caring, Pete let it go. The trio continued toward the main council chambers where a background of voices signaled the reception was well underway.

Terri decided to keep Hunter with her rather than utilize the daycare room. The child would provide an excellent excuse for her to skip out on the festivities early. Maybe Bishop would be home tonight.

Everyone was there, the elected council members, General Owens, and a lot of folks Terri had never met. Someone had provided a case of wine, Pete’s brewery no doubt the source of more potent libations. A bartender in the corner, complete with Western string tie, was busy filling glasses and mugs.

With Hunter on her hip, Terri made for the center of the room. Diana was there, alongside a stronger-looking Nick. They were holding court with a stranger who had his back to the door.

Terri began sizing up the delegate from the United States immediately. Almost as tall as Nick, no one could miss him, especially since he was the only man wearing a suit jacket. Even so, he seemed to exude a sense of confidence and familiarity. She was struck by the relaxed laughter drifting from the trio, as if the visitor had been well received by her comrades.

As Terri approached, Diana said, “Oh, there she is now,” to the stranger, who turned to face Terri. The young mother almost dropped Hunter.

“Chase? Chase McGuire?”

“Terri? I’m…. oh, my God… I had no idea Miss Brown was talking about
that
Terri,” he stammered.

Diana exchanged puzzled glances with Nick and then responded. “You two know each other?”

“Oh… ummm, as a matter of fact, yes,” Terri answered, now embarrassed by her reaction. “We were students at A&M at the same time.”

Chase appeared to have heard none of her words, his eyes glued onto Terri as if he was hypnotized. “You haven’t changed a single bit,” he finally mumbled. “Still as stunning as ever. What a small world.”

“Yes,” Nick repeated, clearly intrigued. “What a small world.”

The man appeared completely enthralled with Terri’s presence, his eyes refusing to look elsewhere. The attention was obviously making her uncomfortable. Diana tried to come to the rescue, “I didn’t know you graduated from A&M,” she said.

“I didn’t,” Terri responded with a smile, thankful someone had finally said
something
. “My mom got sick, and I had to move back to Houston. I finished my last year at the University of Houston.”

The question also seemed to snap Chase out of his spell. “Terri was the one who got away,” he explained to Nick. “We were so young then. I didn’t know what was important in life.”

Then to recover, the U.S. Ambassador redirected the party’s attention to Hunter. “And this strong-looking young man… this is your son?”

As he was prone to do, the child decided to be shy at that moment, squirming away and hiding his face in his mother’s hair. “Yes, this is Hunter,” Terri said, kissing the babe’s head. “He’s going to be walking soon.”