“Would you like me to lead both groups?” asked John jokingly.
“That’s a great idea,” replied Samuel, “as soon as I take my last breath!”
“Here’s to many more years of separate groups and crossovers,” said John, smiling and raising his glass.
Samuel gave each of the Chefs a ride back to their kitchens for the dinner shifts.
Rico whispered to Patty that he would be in contact soon.
* * * *
Mac learned all he could from Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald.
It started a couple of days ago when they opened their front door to find a woman and her little girl begging for help.
As the MacDonalds took them inside, several men hiding around the side of the house rushed the door. They were forcefully tied up, and the house was ransacked for food, alcohol, and anything else of value.
Soon the dwelling was full of men, women and children, all talking about the man leading them “home.” The promised one was sent straight down from the heavens soon after the lights went out. His earthly name is Ralph, and he was shot by nonbelievers, they said.
“That was him.” said Cory. “They carried him all the way up the mountain.”
How much in the way of food, water, and anything else did you have up there?”
“Not much in the house—only a month or two of supplies. But if they find the cellar, they could stay up there for months, or longer, and they will be armed to the teeth,” replied Mr. MacDonald.
“Where’s the cellar?” asked Mac.
“Off of the property a ways. The exact location is one I’m not exactly comfortable sharing, if you get my drift.”
“I do,” replied Mac. “How many people are up there?” he asked and was quickly answered by Cory and Drake.
“About fifty, we believe.”
“So, you’ve got 50 people who take over a house up in the mountains with only enough supplies to get through a few days for that many people. How long do you think it’s going to take them to find your hidden stash?”
“I’m guessing sometime in the next three days.”
“We are not going to take anything from you; you’ve got my word on that,” said Mac. “But we also won’t stand idly by and watch them find weapons they will likely use against us. It’s just like how we, as a country, would treat hostile countries like Iran and North Korea. We did everything we could to keep them from getting nuclear weapons. It almost worked.
“Now we have to stop these people, or at least keep them moving down the road, so we’re not looking over our shoulders every minute. Draw me a map, Mr. MacDonald,” handing him a pen and paper.
The map was drawn to scale of the entire 10-acre property, leaving nothing to the imagination.
“Ma’am,” said Cory. “We will need to borrow your husband for the next few days, until we can get this sorted out.”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Nineteen
Saddle Ranch
Loveland, Colorado
Samuel returned with Patty to a bustling community. Sarah came running up to meet their truck.
“Father!” she said out of breath. “I tried you on the radio but couldn’t reach you.”
“What is it, Sarah? What’s gone wrong?”
She paused for just a moment, looking at Patty. “Some men have taken Joshua.”
“No, no, no!” screamed Patty. “No, it’s not true! He’s been home all day, and I’ve checked on him.”
“I radioed Mac just now,” Sarah continued, as Samuel looked down to find his radio turned off.
“Tell me everything you know,” he commanded.
She relayed the story as she had heard it from one of his friends. Four of them had been riding bikes in the forbidden perimeter of the property when they were stopped by three men with rifles.
“They said they were hunting and must have gotten lost. They told us their names and asked us for ours. Joshua was last to speak up, and they asked who his father was. When he answered them, they grabbed him before we could help and pointed their guns at us. They said to ride away and not tell what we saw or they would be back to get us too.”
“I told him he did the right thing in telling us what happened,” said Sarah.
Patty was breathing heavy into a paper bag from the cab of the truck. “He’s going to hurt him! He will hurt my boy. I know it!” she sobbed, as Sarah comforted her.
* * * *
Mac and Cory headed back to John’s to speak with him and Bill, as did Samuel. This time they were met with most of the council, who only learned of the MacDonald affair fifteen minutes ago.
“Please fill us in. Mac and Cory, I hear you observed the intruders,” said John.
“I’ll start with what we know for sure,” said Mac, relaying the information he had been given by Cory, Mr. MacDonald, and Sarah.
He asked Cory to add in any missing details as he remembered them.
John asked Mac and Cory for a few minutes of privacy as he and Bill discussed options moving forward with the council.
* * * *
“It’s almost dark,” remarked Cory. “They have the advantage tonight for sure.”
“Wait a minute,” replied Mac, trying his radio. “Drake, it’s Mac. Do you copy? Drake…do you copy?”
“Yes, sir, I’m here,” answered Drake.
“Are you still up nights?”
“Always, Mac. Just like I done told you before.”
“Okay. I’ve got a very important job for you, starting right now.”
Mac relayed the information as best he could and asked for surveillance of the MacDonald home until tomorrow morning when a suitable plan could be made.
“I can help Drake out with a few of our guys,” said Cory.
“I appreciate that,” Mac replied,
