Ninety Degrees Out

“Randy, my man, you’ll come home with us.” Aaron’s statement made Sara shudder. Could she allow a rough mountain man into her house?

“I’m not sure,” he turned to study Sara’s worried eyes and she shrank back from his steady assessment. “I’m not the one who attacked you.” His voiced was gentle, almost a whisper.

“How did you know?” Sara croaked.

“I expected it. When the stars streaked across the sky and the moon danced a jig that night, I knew evil would become the common enemy.”

His statement sounded strangely poetic coming from his shaggy bearded face. His eyes focused inward, he spoke once more.

“I knew it would come to us against them. I’ve been hiding up in the Alaska hills for almost two decades. I’ll protect this community. Hakan and his family have kept an eye out for me since the day I wandered up the creek down the road up there.” He pointed pasted the end of the green runway strip.

Sara remained silent. She studied Randy and glanced toward Aaron where he sat beside him. The two of them were peas in a pod. Long dark hair with streaks of grey, Aaron wore his in a ponytail pulled together at the back of his neck. Randy’s was loose in tangled waves over his shoulders. Their beards reached well down onto their chests.

“Give him a chance, sweetheart.” Aaron reached across, squeezing her cold fingers.

“Besides, Aaron and I are a team. He’s the guy who lines up the long shots for me. I’m going to set up camp on your roof and we’re the early warning system.” Randy’s eyes never left Sara’s.

He never flinched. Even when she turned her livid burn scar toward him. Instead he opened his buckskin jacket and pulled his tee shirt up. The scars were faded, but the thickened reddish skin puckered and stretched as he moved.

“You too?” Tears of sympathy welled up unbidden in Sara’s eyes.

“And you know about Aaron’s scars, I would think.”

She nodded. “Come home with us. I’m warning you I have screaming nightmares. I’ll flinch back for no good reason. I’m always looking over my shoulder for the guy who threw me into the burning water.”

“She’s been through hell, man.” Aaron touched his buddy on the shoulder.

“So, have we all. I have my own issues. I can live with yours if you will give me a chance.” Randy’s eyes still stayed steady on hers.

“Let’s go then. We’re walking back. It’s about three miles up Twig Creek canyon. We left the horses up there.” Sara stood and added, “I’m just going to have a word with Erik and let him know.”

“You’re damn lucky,” Randy said.

“Don’t I know it. Sara is one hell of a woman.”

Sara smiled as she heard their comments. She might have trouble with the way she thought of her looks, but she knew they were right. She’d go one better.

“Mac!” Her clear voice caught the man’s attention.

“Randy and I have made our peace, I’m ready to take you on too.”

“No need, ma’am.” Mac’s bald head was tanned dark brown.

Sara raised an eyebrow as she approached Erik where he stood with Catherine and Jett and the other sniper.

“We’re going to stay with him. He’s got a high hill up behind his place, and Randy’s cabin is across the valley from there. We’re going to establish a look out up there,” Jett explained.

“Erik, we’re heading back. We’re going to walk up to our place as we hiked down. We’ll be back to pick up a horse for Randy in a couple of days,” Sara said.

“Might have to be a while longer. We’re pretty short on mounts right now, and I want our parameter patrols riding.” Erik said.

“We’ll share the two we have them. I’ve got a radio, we need a spotting scope for Aaron, and maybe another handheld if we can scrounge one.” Sara felt better as she thought out loud.

“No problem. Captain Whipper is getting a requisitions list together. They’ll be delivered in a couple of days.” Erik drew her aside, and asked, “How are you doing? The truth. You’re still my friend, no matter what.”

“I’m good. And I mean that. I’m not just giving you what you want to hear. Randy is a survivor, Aaron too. We’ve got a lot in common. My gut says he’s a good guy. And I’m getting to the point where I can trust my gut again. Do you have any idea what I mean?”

“I think so. I’m happy for you Sara. And I’m hoping you’ll give Meg a chance. She’s going to need a friend when she gets a little stronger.” Erik pointed to where the ex biker moll sat.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“That’s all I can ask. Aaron looks like he’s ready to go. I’ll be by to see what you set up in a few days.”

“See you then.” Sara turned toward the two men waiting for her and knew she turned a corner. With all the threats coming their way, she had found another friend.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“But Mommy!” Arimina’s shout brought Chay out to the stable. He couldn’t think of his garage any other way anymore.

“You don’t need to take your rifle everywhere with you. It’s fine staying up in your room.” Alicia’s firm voice brought another protest.

“But Erik and Uncle Hakan said we need to take them with us all the time.”

Chay went down the steps in one leap, coming up behind Alicia and wrapping an arm around her stiff shoulders.

“I know you hate it when Ari takes her rifle with her. It’s an awful reminder of how much things have changed.” He felt his wife-to-be relax a fraction against his ribs.

Glancing down, he saw Arimina spread her legs and brace herself. Her beloved battered rifle hung over her shoulder, almost as long as she was tall. The butt banged against the back of her calf, and the barrel extended a couple of inches over the top of her black ringlets.

“Ari, the biggest reason to leave your rifle in your room, is we don’t have a source of twenty two ammo right now. The rounds in the box up there are the last of them. I want you to be able to defend yourself in here if anything happens. You need to conserve your bullets.”

“Well maybe, then.” Ari looked up at him suspiciously.

“Ask Erik and ask your Aunt Killika. She’s been loading ammo down on the ranch. Twenty two short casings are not reusable,” Chay kept his voice reasonable.

“Okay, but Daddy, promise you will have a gun with you, and you too Mommy?” Ari sounded worried.

Chay wondered if he would ever tire of hearing her call him Daddy.

“Whenever we’re outside, sweetie. And Aaron’s buddy Randy will be watching out for us from the roof at your old place.” Alicia squatted to meet Arimina’s eyes.

“Can I go see them? I want to see.”

“We can go visit tomorrow.” Chay hoped it would help settle Ari’s nerves. She never said she was afraid, but her questions made it clear.

“Definitely, Ari,” Alice agreed.

“Okay, I’ll go put my gun away.” She leaned forward to hug her mother, and the barrel smacked Alicia on her cheek.

“Ouch!” Alicia’s startled cry prodded Chay into action.

“I’ll take that, Ari. We’ll go up and make sure it’s safe in your closet. You can take it out to put beside your bed when you go to sleep.”

“Thanks Daddy.”

“Thanks, Chay.” Alicia’s smile promised further discussion. He agreed, Ari’s fears needed to be addressed.