I’m surprised when Chase pretty much hits the nail on the head as Andy comes into view no more than twenty minutes later, his head scanning the tree line as he nears. Chase makes a bird noise in the back of his throat, and Andy’s steps falter. He searches behind and in front of him before cautiously turning in our direction. When he’s no more than twenty yards from where we crouch, Chase crab walks in his direction and I follow.
Seeing us, Andy lets out a brief sigh, and then squats down with his back to Chase and I. I’m guessing it’s so he can keep a constant eye on the compound and any possible threats. No reason we can’t talk to his back.
Once each of us are situated, Andy speaks first. “What’s up, cuz?”
Chase lets out a low snort before taking on a more serious expression and getting straight to it. “We’re getting close.”
Andy doesn’t move a muscle as he asks, “What do you need from me?”
Before Chase can respond, a noise sounds to our right as we collectively freeze. I don’t even want to breathe or turn my head to see what it might have been. Everything inside me says we are about to get caught. That any minute, David is going to appear from behind a tree, and Chase and I both will be back within his clutches. Knowing how much that man hates me, I have no doubt the horrible things he would do to me. Probably far worse than what he did to Ash, given he’s the new Vater and there’s no one to stop him now.
When a squirrel scurries along a branch to my right, making the noise again, we each finally take a breath. We need to hurry this along because next time it might not be an animal catching us out here.
It seems Chase is thinking the same thing as he immediately picks up where they left off. “I know you’re putting yourself at great risk, but we need something big from you. Real big.” He pauses, as Andy looks over his shoulder at him, nodding for him to explain. “We need you to seek out anyone and everyone you can, tell them David stabbed the Vater and left him for dead. Don’t tell them he’s alive though. We’ll save that for later. You need to get the rumor going, and then people you think believe it, let them know, well…”
He pauses almost unsure what to say next, but I know what to say. “We need two things to happen, Andy. One, when we attack, they need to stay in their rooms. We need them not to fight us, and as hectic as things may be, if they are running around in the open, that’ll make it hard for us to know who’s with us and who’s against us.” It’s fairly dark out here under the cover of the trees, but I can still make out his nod of understanding as well as Chase’s agreement, so I continue. “Two, they can help us get in. We need a diversion, Andy. If we have to spend too much time trying to get through the gate, well, that could significantly decrease our numbers. We need all our men and women alive and uninjured when we make it inside.”
“I can do that. I mean, we can do that. I’ll just need to know when, once you know.” From his position squatting on the ground, he turns and adds, “Anything else?”
I open my mouth to speak, but Chase cuts me off. “Yes. If there is any way for us to come in, kill David, and arrest the elders without any real fighting, then that’s our goal. After we’ve done that, we’ll reveal Vater Henry, and fill everyone in on what the church has done, is doing. Make sure people know that’s our goal, minus the Vater Henry part, not to kill a bunch of people, but to shut this down with as few deaths as possible. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” And with Andy’s confirmation there isn’t anything else to say.
Andy leans over giving Chase one of those bro hugs, and then standing he walks away. Chase and I wait only a few minutes before we begin our trek back to the horse, staying low and as quiet as possible.
Less than an hour later, we are back on Chase’s horse, headed back to Bonham with the knowledge and the hope that this could actually work. Especially knowing we didn’t tell Andy everything, and we have a few tricks up our sleeves.
***
DAVID
There is no doubt in my mind they’re close to another attack on the compound, and while I’ve done everything I can to prepare us for that reality, I’m starting to doubt my preparations. I’m starting to doubt if those preparations are going to be enough. I’m starting to doubt us getting the win, when just weeks ago I was so certain we would slaughter them.
I still have two men undercover in Bonham, and the report they sent back this morning indicated their forces have grown. The report stated another gang showed up, pledging their allegiance to the cause. The Osage, although my man referred to them as a northern tribe, not a gang. It doesn’t matter, it’s still another hundred men. Another hundred men to their three-hundred they already had camped out near town.
As of this morning, I have three hundred and twenty-five men ready to fight. Well, as ready as they can be with only a couple weeks training under their belts, and for some less than that. Let’s face it, most of them will die.
This morning, I’ve been seriously considering holding a service, telling every man, woman, and child they need to be prepared to fight when they attack, but if I do that it will only play into the rumors circulating.
The rumors. It’s become glaringly obvious we have a traitor inside the compound, but I can’t seem to figure out who it is.
