Ninety Degrees Out

“Asshole. He left the damn gate down!” Hakan rode his horse through as Armaruq dismounted from where he dropped his reins ahead of him.

“I’ll get it. Doesn’t look like any cattle got through. No tracks to show it in any case.” His best friend hauled the post up and pulled it into place. Slipping the wire loop over the top he secured the simple fastener in the groove worn into the wood.

“He’s wearing some sort of hiking boot. Doesn’t look like he was a big guy though. The prints aren’t that deep.” Hakan pointed to the tracks they’d been following from well inside their property line. “Who ever made them must have followed Catherine back to the gate when they saw her leave the barn.”

“We’re going to have to back track him to find out where he came over the property line. Must have been from the Markham gate.”

“For now, let’s keep following these. He’s headed toward the path along the top of the canyon. You’re probably right. He was staying somewhere close by. Was he a loner? Or was he just entertaining himself, and part of a gang?”

“I don’t care. If we catch up with him, I’ll take him out myself.”

Hakan scanned his companion’s face. Armaruq almost never lost his temper. It was why he dealt with the kids when Kanti was flying.

“What got into you?”

“You didn’t see Catherine’s face. She’s shattered and he did a number on her. It wasn’t just her arm he broke. There’s bruises on her jaw and she’s got a black eye. Whoever did this is an animal. A rabid wolf isn’t as bad.”

“Alicia’s mom had her most of the way to the runway by the time you found me. I knew it was bad, but wow. What gets into a man to make him like that?”

“I don’t know, but I’m putting an end to it when I find him.”

Hakan wondered if he could talk his Inuit friend out of making things worse. But then again, maybe he had a point. Courts were closed with no signs of ever reopening. Justice was raw now. Even the troopers were shooting to kill with looters and gangs running rampant in the cities. He had no idea how places like New York City and Los Angeles were coping with the chaos.

They kept their horses at a slow walk, noting Ursa’s tracks and her cubs’ smaller paw prints where they crossed the ones they were following. The bear tracks were fresher, and it looked like the mother bear was recovering well from her gunshot wound. Her tracks were even with no sign of a limp. The hiking boots showed a bit of an uneven gait which was getting worse the further from the ranch they got. This guy wasn’t used to walking any distance.

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Alicia watched as Killika and the kids mounted up to head back to the lodge. It was still a haunting sensation to watch her baby leave in the company of people she’d only know for a couple of weeks, but if felt so right to be part of a caring community.

Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “Are we going to take this horse and head down to my old place?”

“Yes.” Chay’s response was curt as he adjusted the stirrups and pulled the cinch tight with a quick knee against the gelding’s stomach.

“Are you wondering if that gang of motorcycles we’ve been hearing, is staying there?”

“Yeah, and I don’t want my brother and Armaruq to walk into a trap.”

Alicia tucked her tongue in her cheek and teased, “So, we’re going to find them and walk into the same trap?”

“Nope, we’re going to head down the ditch along the road and come into the place from the front. We’ll know right away if they’re in there.” Chay swung into the saddle and reached down to give her a hand mounting. “Are you going to be okay bareback? I’ll switch with you if you want.”

“I’m good. I’ve got you to hang on to. Let’s get there.”

Chay kicked his heels into his horse’s side and felt Alicia tighten her grip around his waist, pressing the side of her face between his shoulder blades. The gelding was fast and sure footed as they thundered around the side of his house and onto the gravel road leading to the Markham house.

“Do you remember this guy’s name?” Chay shouted over his shoulder.

“Bingo,” Alicia stretched to say it in his ear.

The horse’s ears twitched as he heard his name, and Chay sat up straighter in the saddle, leaning back a bit to give his mount the hint to slow down.

“Let’s give him a break. We haven’t go much further to go.” Chay enjoyed the sensation of Alicia’s full breasts pressing int his back. Riding double was more fun the he remembered from his childhood.

“Take him down into the ditch. The ground is softer. and he won’t make as much noise.”

“Come on, Bingo,” Chay nudged his right knee and heel against Bingo’s side and the Appaloosa picked his way down into the ditch. Deep grass swayed in the breeze as they walked the horse the last half mile to Alicia’s old driveway.

“Do you want to walk in the rest of the way?” Alicia asked.

“Do you have your handgun on you?” Chay asked.

“Yeah, tucked into my waistband at my back. Where’s yours?”

“I didn’t bring it. How many shots in your mag?”

“I’m giving it to you. I’ve go an extra mag in my back pocket. I’m glad I went with my instincts and brought it with me.” Alicia swung her leg over Bingo’s spotted back, sliding down toward the ground.

Chay caught her by the waist and eased her into the deep grass, grabbing the reins, he dropped them onto the ground, letting the horse know to stay where he was but leaving him free to feed on the rich fodder all around them.

“Here, you take the gun,” Alicia checked the safety and handed it to Chay.

Checking the chamber, Chay confirmed the pistol was loaded and kept it in his right hand. Alicia stayed behind him as the crept up the concrete pad toward the open garage door.

“Good God, what the hell went on in here?”

Alicia’s shocked whisper had Chay shrugging his shoulders. It looked like a bomb had gone off in the garage. The door into the house was hanging akimbo off the lower hinge, blocking the stairs leading into the kitchen hallway. The floor was covered in skid marks and tire tracks where motorcycles left their marks as their riders accelerated out.

“Let’s go around back. We can get in under the tarps. It’s awfully quiet in there, and I don’t think they’re here anymore.” Chay backed out of the destroyed two-car garage.

“There’s a gate back there,” Alicia pointed to the right around the corner.

The concrete path where they’d swung Arimina was covered in mud, with several different boot prints running in both directions.

“I swear those idiots are a bunch of pigs.” Alicia hissed as they worked their way onto the back deck.

The blue tarps were down in a heap. Flies buzzed in and out as Chay peeked around the corner, carefully placing his feet to avoid the worst of the broken glass.

“God what a stench!”

He could hear Alicia’s stomach protesting, and his own wasn’t doing very well.

“They trashed this place.”

“No kidding.”

“I hear horses,” Alicia kept her voice low.

“I don’t like this. It smells like the moose Ursa left rotting across Twig Creek Canyon.” Chay said.

“Let’s see if that’s Hakan and Armaruq.” Alicia tugged on his belt, to get his attention.

By the time they turned around, the two horsemen were swinging down onto the grass.

“I figured you would be here,” Hakan said.

“Yeah, the bikers are gone, but they trashed the place. It smells worse than an overflowing outhouse in there.” Chay told his brother.

“Who wants to do the honors? Someone has to go in and make sure it’s really empty.” Armaruq growled.

“We tracked who ever attacked Catherine right back into the yard back there,’ Hakan added.

“So, he’s part of the bike gang?” Alicia asked.

“Probably,” Chay agreed. “I’ve got a handgun. Armaruq you have a rifle, so we’ll go in and do the check.”

“I’m good with that, what about you Hakan?” Alicia waited for his confirmation.

Hakan nodded.

“I hope that stink isn’t bad news.”

Armaruq’s statement hung in the air as Chay followed him into the great room.