The two old ranchers shared a good chuckle over the jest, and then Ward got right down to business.
"Yet again, the world has changed on us, Sam," the triple-8 honcho began. "I couldnt believe what I found in Alpha."
"You dont say? Has the anarchy and bedlam spread, or is everyone dead and gone?"
"No, quite the opposite. Theres a recovery in process, and I like the look of it."
Ward went on to recount his visit, informing his old friend of the Alliance, businesses being reopened and electrical power prevalently in use. Culpepper was initially stunned, but as their conversation wore on, he realized he shouldnt have been surprised.
"You know, Ive got some visitors staying out at my place. Theyve made a few comments that struck me as odd, and they seem to be in one big d.a.m.ned hurry to get back to Meraton. Now that Ive heard your story, I can understand why."
"I met with the lady who runs the show in Alpha. Her name is Diana Brown. I told her what was going on with the Salt War and the battle you are waging. She informed me you need to get in touch with another gal, the big boss of the whole outfit. She claims that this female honcho is in charge of the military and what law enforcement theyve managed to sc.r.a.pe together. Went on to brag about how this Terri woman was a skillful diplomat and negotiator."
The light of realization flashed through Culpeppers brain, Terris outburst about tanks and soldiers resurfacing again. "Did you say her name was Terri?"
Ward nodded, "Sure did. I tried to hook up with her while I was in town, but she is supposed to be on the road with her husband and child. They expect them to be back in Alpha any day now."
Culpepper didnt respond for a moment, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind. Finally, "Did you happen to catch the husbands name by any chance?"
"Burt... no Bishop. That was it, Bishop. According to rumor, hes not a man to be trifled with, but a fair-minded individual nonetheless."
"Well, Ill be horn-swagged and dipped in chocolate. It all makes sense now."
"What? Whats wrong, Sam?"
"Bishop and Terri are at my ranch right now, my old friend. Their truck got shot out from underneath them by the Tejanos, and they found their way to my place."
Ward grunted, "You dont say. Now theres a good turn of events for you Sam. Its not every day dignitaries and powerful people drop in from the sky. What are you doing sitting out here, swapping words with an old fool like me? You should be back there kissing their a.s.ses and making nice."
Sam had a good laugh at his friend"s perspective. "Yeah, I suppose youre right."
"I brought you back 100 pounds of flour, two bottles of some near-deadly moonshine whiskey, and as much ammo as I could sc.r.a.pe up. Ill send you the bill for all that and the horses, too."
Again the two men shook hands. "Ward, youre a good friend. I wont forget this."
"Before you go, I cant help but give you a word of advice. Things are getting back to the way they were. End this d.a.m.n war youre fighting, Sam. Lifes too short - the trail too rough. Get out of the business of killing and put things back where you can come over and spend a little time playing chess. Ive not had the pleasure of kicking your a.s.s in years, and it tasks me."
Culpepper stared down at the ground and then smiled at his neighbor. "Sage advice, Im sure, Ward. But we both know its not that simple."
"Yes, I know. Things are rarely clear cut. But you know me, Sam. Ive never been shy about telling another man how he should run his affairs. Still, by my way of thinking, Im right more than I am wrong. Mull my words over, old friend. I think youll land on the exact same spot that Im preaching from."
Bishop thought it best that they rest more during the day while it was hot. While shade wasnt an amenity, it seemed to help Terri and Hunter to take a break from riding every hour or so, consuming as much water as possible and stretching their legs. Hunter was happy being free of the papoose.
While it slowed their progress significantly, the Texan decided it was a much easier schedule for his family to tolerate.
During one of their "walk abouts," Terri returned the conversation to her favorite topic as of late, how to deal with the Salt War.
"So if you had to pick one side or the other for the Alliance to support, which would it be?" she queried.
"I would go with the Tejanos," he replied instantly. "The vast majority of people in the villages are simple, honest souls who only want to improve their life. Since the collapse, the border means nothing anymore. Why not add more self-reliant individuals to our fold?"
Terri laughed, enjoying the conversation with her favorite man in the world. "I would choose Culpepper," she countered. "His folks are a textbook example of the American spirit, tough men making the best on a harsh and often unforgiving land. Everything about the Culpepper operation screams free enterprise and determination. Those are the type of people that will make the Alliance stronger in the long run."
"Why not make both of them allies? Why does it have to be one or the other?"
Tilting her head as if contemplating his suggestion for the first time, Terri responded, "I thought about that, but then what would keep them from escalating their conflict? Working with the Alliance would make both wealthier and more powerful, and that could lead to a hotter war and spill over into our interests."
Bishop understood, but he wasnt ready to give up on brokering peace. "If I were in your shoes, Id make the two leaders sit in a tent and lay it out to them. Either behave and play well with others, or the Alliance will isolate you and let you wither in the fires of war. At least give them a chance to stop this incessant bickering."
Terri didnt comment at first, Bishops watch indicating it was time for them to mount up and ride for an hour. After she was back in the saddle, she said, "Thats not a bad idea, Bishop. Let me mull that around for a while. After all, there isnt much else to do right now."
"I cant believe this!" Mr. Culpepper screamed at his men. "I go away for a few hours, and when I come back, youve let them go. What on G.o.ds green earth is wrong with you people?"
Reed and Whitey had seen the bosss temper before, both men knowing that Mr. Culpepper really didnt want anyone to answer the rhetorical question.
After stomping around for a bit, the honcho sternly peered at Reed and demanded, "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I didnt know, sir. No one told me Bishop and Terri were prohibited from leaving. He came in, said they wanted to leave, and asked for two horses. Hed stated that was his plan while we were riding back from the Tejanos village. It seemed righteous enough."
Mr. Culpepper didnt like the answer but knew it was honest.
The old rancher paced some more, grumbling and cursing under his breath. His next orders shocked both of the men standing before him. "Get 25 men ready; were going after them."
"What? Sir?" Whitey spoke up. "Are you sure its a good idea to split our forces when the Tejanos have been so active lately?"
But Samuel Culpepper wasnt in the mood to debate the issue. "Do what I said, Whitey, and make sure theyve got plenty of ammo."
"Yes, sir."
The boss started to turn away, but then stopped. "Oh, and Whitey, Im going with you. Ill need a fresh horse."
The two stunned cowhands stood and watched their boss amble off. "What the h.e.l.l is going on?" Reed muttered, puzzled by the strange behavior.
"Beats me," the second in command replied. "That Terri-woman we brought in had messed with the bosss mind somehow. Hes not been the same since she landed on our doorstep."
"Her husband seemed like a fair enough man. Do you think theyre trying to hurt the outfit in some way?"
"No way of telling. What I do know is that weve got to put together a war party. Are you feeling up to a ride?"
Reed nodded eagerly. "Get me out of that d.a.m.n bunkhouse, Mr. Foreman. Ill go loco from boredom if I have to stay in there much longer. Besides, Id like a chance at mending fences with Mr. Culpepper."
"Get your saddlebags packed. Ill put you on the list."
Bishop noticed the dust cloud behind them an hour before dusk. Trying to remain optimistic, hed pined for the disturbance to be nothing more than a dirt devil or robust current of air lifting sand from the desert floor. But those justifications faded quickly - this problem wasnt going away.
He waited several minutes before pointing the development out to Terri. She wasnt handling the cross-country trip all that well, unaccustomed to life in the field and sore from riding so many hours. He had to admit; his legs and backside werent exactly in rodeo condition either.
Hunter was probably having the worst of it, the lads discomfort within the confinement of the papoose making him fussy and grouchy. Of course, when the baby isnt happy, the mother follows suit.
But they had plodded along, eating up the miles slowly, their mood elevated at the prospect of reaching the safety and comfort of Meraton.
Now, the following cloud was the center of his wifes attention.
"What do you think it is?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Its a group of riders on our trail," he answered calmly. "My guess is that Mr. Culpepper is unhappy that we absconded with his horses and violated his wishes."
"Really? You think hed be that p.i.s.sed?"
"Hes like a lot of ranchers in these parts, tough as iron spikes and almost as bull-headed as his livestock. Besides, I think he was beginning to realize you were much more than just some random, stranded traveler. Between both of us opening our big mouths and dropping clues, he had to be putting the pieces together. Hes not stupid, you know."
Terri chanced at glance back at the haze again. "So what if he did? I cant do anything to help him if Im isolated at his ranch. Why chase us down with a big posse of men?"
Bishop shook his head, proud of his wifes faith in the virtuous nature of mankind, never understanding her innocence of the evil that lurked in mens hearts. "You would command a fine ransom from the Alliance," he replied evenly. "That, or he could try to force us to come down on his side of the war. Either way, I dont think we would like his plans."
"Thats silly," she replied. "What makes him think I would go along with such a scheme? I think hes underestimating me."
"Really?" Bishop challenged. "Think about that little bundle of joy riding along with you."
Terri glanced over her shoulder at Hunter, the realization of her husbands meaning causing her face to distort in a grimace. "No! You cant be serious. Hed threaten Hunter to leverage me? I dont believe that, Bishop, not for a second. I was around the man for two days while you were off flirting with the senoritas across the border. No way hes not that kind of man."
The Texan pulled up on the reins, turning to face his wife. "Terri, you are the love of my life and one of the most brilliant people Ive ever met... but... you have got to develop some apocalyptic street smarts, young lady. Culpepper is locked into a deadly war that he believes is lost. It might not seem like much to us, given all weve been through and endured. But to him, its a life and death struggle and the only thing that matters is his survival. If he could hold Hunters wellbeing over your head to survive, I bet hed do it without hesitating one second. I know the man leading the Tejanos would do the same without feeling a thimble full of remorse or guilt."
Terri stuck out her lower lip, the exaggerated pout intended to express her displeasure with the scolding, as well as an attempt to lighten the mood. Bishop didnt go along.
"All the electricity, food, manufacturing, and rebuilding doesnt mean squat out here," he continued with a voice firm with resolve. "You need to start thinking like the desperate, downtrodden people that still occupy this land, or youre going to be in for an extremely rude surprise."
"Im not that naive," she protested. "While I havent seen some of the things you have, Ive been through a lot, and just cant see a man like Sam Culpepper kidnapping babies."
Bishop sighed; Terris stubbornness and strong will made him love her, and yet those attributes could be a royal pain in the a.s.s at the same time. Nodding toward the following riders, he quipped, "Do you want to wait here and test their goodwill? Im not a tracker, but I would guess there are 20 to 30 men behind us. If they catch us out in open ground like this, youd better be right."
Terris gaze returned to the cloud and then back to Hunter. "I guess youre right. Better to be safe than sorry, no matter what."
He leaned across and kissed her cheek, taking a moment to pat Hunters head. "Lets keep moving. I think we need to pick up the pace. Maybe we can lose them."
Despite increasing their speed, the men behind them continued to close the gap. Darkness was falling when Bishop made his second unpleasant announcement of the day. "We cant stop to eat. If they come upon us in the night, we wont have a s...o...b..a.l.l.s chance in h.e.l.l."
"I understand," Terri said. "Can you help me get Hunter around to my front? I can at least put the last of the goats milk in his tummy and get him out of that prison for a few minutes. I wonder if the pioneer women learned to change a diaper while riding on horseback."
They both laughed at the concept. "We can stop long enough for that. I dont want the boy to grow up with a complex against horses or the trail."
"I think its too late," she chuckled.
They continued on, Terri pa.s.sing Hunter to Bishop, letting dad take a turn after shed performed a change on the move.
Bishop judged the terrain flat enough to let the boy ride behind the saddle horn. Hunter seemed to like the change, his father humming various tunes helping to calm the little mans mood.
Two hours after it was dark, the trio crested a hill and paused. Bishop needed to study the landscape and make a decision on the easiest route.
Handing his son back over, he pulled the night vision optic from his vest and began studying their surroundings.
Something looked familiar to the Texan; the dark shape of the distant mountains combined with the pattern of the foothills ahead caused him to search his memory cache to satisfy that flicker of recognition. Hed been here before.
With excitement in his voice, he turned to Terri and announced, "Were on the ranchs southwestern corner... the ranch I grew up on!"
"Really? Does that mean were close to Meraton?"
"Yes, but more importantly, were not that far away from our ranch. We could hole up in our canyon tonight, sleep in the camper. If the people on our trail happen to find us, we will have the bat cave for defense."
The thought of being somewhere familiar brightened Terris outlook. "Hunter and I could take a bath in the spring and sleep on a mattress. Lets go."
Bishop plotted a course, trying to remember a land that he hadnt visited for years. He then glanced over his shoulder, troubled by not being able to gauge how much distance still existed between them and the pursuit. The dust cloud simply wasnt visible in the night.
Having no choice but to continue, they started down off the hill, heading into the valley that held Bishops land. As far as the Texan was concerned, they couldnt arrive too soon.
The lights of Alpha served to lift Nicks spirits even higher. The pickups cab had been mostly quiet during the return trip from Cartersville, each mans mind occupied with what he wanted to do during the teams upcoming downtime.
For his part, Nick had been mulling over his own future. For once, hed had the opportunity to think about personal things, his mind free of the daunting, monumental problems facing the Alliance on what seemed like a daily basis.
Diana was at the core of his thoughts, his longing to see her while away on the mission cementing emotions hed ignored for too long. Glancing over at his son, Nick asked what he hoped was a very carefully worded question. "So what do you think of Diana?"
Kevins reaction was completely unantic.i.p.ated. "I think shes a perfect match for you, Dad. When are you going to ask her to get married?"
It took all of his training and willpower, all the discipline honed across the battlefields of the world to keep Nicks jaw from dropping at his sons response. "Umm... well... umm... I dont know. I wonder if she would say "Yes," he pondered aloud. "What do you think?" he quickly added, internally cursing himself for the stumbling, undignified reply, and then looking away, not daring to meet Kevins knowing gaze.
"Well, of course she would, Dad. Cant you see that she loves you?"
When did this kid next to me grow up? Nick wanted to shout. Who is this man riding in the pa.s.senger seat?
"I dont know, son. Sometimes things like that arent obvious to a man."
Kevin chuckled, shaking his head at his fathers words. "You can spot a sniper in the woods at 500 meters. Ive seen you take out a hostile at 550 using iron sights on an AR15. You can antic.i.p.ate which arm a man is going to use for the next punch, but you cant see that Diana is deeply in love with you? Come on, Dad, do what you always tell me to do open your eyes."
Nick almost let the truck veer off the road, completely taken aback by his sons comment. "Dont get uppity with me, young man. You did a great job on this mission, but thats no cause to get too full of yourself. I can still put you on your a.s.s in the blink of an eye."
Grims laughter from the back seat prompted Nick to remember they werent alone. "What hes trying to say, Kevin, is that you just put your old man in his place, and he doesnt like it."
An irritated, "who asked you" pair of eyes bore down on Grim from the rearview mirror, but the ex-contractor ignored the threat. "Seriously, Nick, why havent you made her an honest woman? You two are like peas in a pod... everybody can see it. If I were your commander, Id order you to get off your lazy, frightened a.s.s, and get it done, soldier."
The big mans first instinct was to pull the truck over, extract both of the smart-a.s.s pa.s.sengers from the vehicle, and issue both of them a first cla.s.s, militarily-efficient sh.e.l.lacking right there alongside the road. He was trying to determine how many bones he could break without permanently disabling Bishops team when Kevin came to his fathers defense.
"Hes not scared, Grim. Hes just cautious. I know hes not afraid of women because he married my mom."
"Hes going to caution himself right out of a good woman," Grim mumbled. "Hes not the only single man in Alpha, you know."
That did it! Nick hit the brakes, the veins popping out on his neck.
"Dad! Chill out," Kevin said, reaching across to put a calming hand on his fathers arm. "Were just giving you a hard time. Why are you taking this all so seriously?"