Page 14 of Gone (Gray Wolf Security #23)

When the sun rose, Wilson, Cruz, Alec, and Tailor gathered the boys together and began making their way back toward the campsite.

It would be slow with the kids already exhausted.

At least they were dry. The temperatures had dropped nearly twenty degrees overnight, and everyone was regretting their clothing choice.

“Zeke and Trak went to find their trail. We’re going to move in that direction. You guys take the kids and the five agents with you.”

“They agreed to that?” Alec asked his oldest brother.

“Let’s just say they figured out that wingtips and wool suits aren’t appropriate for trail hiking. They’re happy to go back with you. Although they do want the two we’re chasing brought back alive.”

“We’ll handle the kids. You guys get those men,” said Alec. “Oh, and Gaspar? Come home.”

Gaspar started to laugh, then noticed that his youngest brother, all six-feet-eight of him, was frowning with a serious expression.

“Alec, I have no plans of doing anything except returning home. We’ll be fine. All of us against two men.”

“Two men who have extreme motivation, mon frére. Money.”

“I know,” he nodded, gripping his brother’s neck and pulling his head toward his own. They touched foreheads, and he playfully slapped the back of his neck and head. “Tell Alexandra I’ll be home soon.”

“You better be, or I’m gonna send Mama after you.”

Alec watched as his brothers and the rest of the men walked in the direction that Zeke and Trak had gone earlier.

“Hey, mister, are you a giant like that man over there?” asked the little boy, pointing to Tailor.

“We’re not giants,” he chuckled. “But we like to eat. Lots of things.”

“Don’t say vegetables, or I can’t be your friend.” Alec just laughed, shaking his head.

“Vegetables are awesome. Just put a little cheese on them or butter, and they’ll taste better.”

“Even broccoli?”

“Are you kidding me? Cheese on broccoli is delicious!” Alec lifted the little boy, settling him on his shoulders. Some of the other small boys were riding on Cruz, Wilson, and Tailor’s shoulders.

The swell of the river was down somewhat, making it more passable this morning, but the water was cold, causing the boys to now be at risk for hypothermia.

“Code? Sly? Can you read me yet?” asked Wilson.

“We have you! Finally. Is everyone okay?”

Wilson gave them the short version of what occurred, then asked that a few of the men come toward them with blankets for the boys.

“We can do one better,” said Code. “Evie dropped a crate this morning with five ATVs. The boys are headed your way. Stay put.”

“Shit, I love you guys right now,” said Wilson, stopping. He looked back at the others. “We can stop here and make a fire for the boys. They’re coming to us with ATVs.”

Less than an hour later, Angel, Gabe, Luc, and Baptiste showed up with the large ATVs. Each one could seat six large men, so they easily loaded the boys.

“Hey, mister. Is that your twin?” asked a boy, pointing to Gabe. “Or is that one? Or – hey, what’s going on here?”

Luc just laughed, shaking his head.

“We’re brothers,” said Luc. “You might not have noticed our other brothers last night. There are nine of us.”

“You got eight brothers!”

“Yep. And six sisters,” smirked Luc.

“They’re the worst! I have two sisters, and they drive me crazy. They take forever in the bathroom,” he said in an exaggerated way. All of the men just laughed, nodding at the boy.

“Well, it only gets worse with a girlfriend or wife,” said Baptiste.

“That’s why I’m getting a dog.”

“You’re in luck, kid,” laughed Angel. “We have three of the biggest dogs you’ve ever seen back at camp.”

It didn’t surprise any of them that the boys fell asleep on the ride back. The ATVs were heated and covered, offering them protection from the changing temperatures. The minute the vehicles stopped, the boys spotted the dogs and were off and running.

“Boys and dogs,” smirked Wilson. “It works every time. Let’s get them fed, and then we can have the rangers get them to the hospital.”

While Mama Irene, Ruby, and the others fed the boys, the park rangers called for buses to take the boys to the hospital, where they would meet their parents. No one was injured beyond a few scratches and some mild hypothermia.

It was the best possible outcome.

“Should we head back to the others?” asked Nash.

“No,” said Tailor. “They’ll let us know if they need us, but too many of us out there could be problematic. We’ll stay here and keep an eye on camp.”

“And the girls?” smirked Nash.

“Don’t say that too loud, or we’re all in trouble.”

“Sir?” called Peter to Tailor. He just shook his head, not willing to tell the man not to call him sir.

“Tailor is my name,” he smiled.

“Yes, sir. Saul and I will stay here with all of you. The two other rangers and the agents who were out with your team will take the kids to the hospital.”

“Why don’t they want to stay here?” asked Tailor.

“Honestly, I think the agents got a bit of hypothermia and serious blisters on their feet. None of them brought the right clothes. The rangers have to file the reports since it happened within the national park.” Tailor only rolled his eyes, nodding at the young man.

“You and Saul are welcome to stay with our team.”

With the children loaded up once again, the men took all of them to the buses, along with the five agents who were leaving. Wilson lifted the last boy onto the bus and waved at him.

“Hey, mister? Thank you for trying to save that man. He was a nice man.”

“You’re welcome,” nodded Wilson. As the bus drove away, Cruz looked at his friend.

“I hope those kids never know how close they came to dying. Just another twenty minutes and they all would have drowned or crashed against the rocks. Either way, they wouldn’t have made it.

The water was moving so quickly, no one would have survived that.

James definitely did his part to ensure they got home. I sure hope they remember that.”

“I think they know, and they’ll remember an experience like that.

Or at least that little one knows and will remember.

Rusty James could have deserted those kids and run for his life.

Instead, he gave his life for them. That tells me he wasn’t born a criminal, or if he was, somewhere along the way he learned how to be a good man. I’d say he’s paid his debt to society.”

“Now, we just need to find those other two, and I’d damn sure like to be a fly on the cave wall when they do.”