“You didn’t do anything?” asked Mike.
“No. There were dozens of men with guns, plus the Baker guy. I don’t even think he’s a real Colonel, but he was watching the massacre from atop his Military-style SUV and I think he paid the man who took my father’s life. My mom passed on several years back, thank God, but I did nothing. They shot twice from a distance while I was holding my father. Both shots barely missed me, and I laid down, playing dead on the side of the road until they left. I’m a coward through and through.”
“You came upon a scene and evaluated it accurately, it sounds like,” replied Mike. “You can’t take them all on,” he added. “If you did, we would not be talking now, and I would surely be dead. Revenge is slow-cooked, like a European meal with all seven courses. So, you now have courage?”
“I don’t know, but I have nothing to lose. Maybe that’s the same thing.”
“It’s close, that’s for sure, Max. So, what’s your plan?” Mike continued, knowing he may have taken the questions too far.
“My plans are to ki... What are yours?” he said, stopping himself from saying too much.
“My plans are complicated,” said Mike, holding back for now. “Do you have a weapon, Max?”
“No. I did, but these guys took it when I got here.”
“Okay. Bring your things over and sleep by me. If they try anything, I’ll get up the strength to do something, I’m sure of it. I don’t think they are that stupid, though, to mess with us now.”
Mike awoke in the middle of the night to Max’s yells. “Don’t hurt him, you bastards! Don’t hurt my father!” And another time, later on: “I’ll kill you if it’s the last thing...”
Only Mike heard this—only him and the eight-fingered man.
* * * *
Both men were left alone during the night. The next morning, they were offered only water.
“I hope they come to get us,” said Max, “or we will starve for sure.”
“They are keeping us alive as instructed,” replied Mike—“no more and no less. Tell me more about your plans.”
“Okay, but I need to know I can trust you. How do I do that?”
“Have you ever looked a man in the eye and knew his word was true, whatever he said next?” Mike asked.
“Yes, I guess I know what you’re saying. I saw it in my father and grandfather, and I see it in you, but somehow it’s different,” replied Max.
“How so?” asked Mike, feeling he was getting somewhere with his questions.
“Well, they were peaceful men—hunters and fishermen—but never violent towards another person. You are different. I can see it in your eyes. I heard you defeated three men in a pit fight to the death, and you don’t even bring it up. I think you have a much more sordid past than that, and I’m hoping you will remember I saved your life out here in this outlaw of a camp.”
Mike laughed, holding his side but not showing pain on his face.
“I do, and I know what you need.”
“You do?”
“Yes. You need revenge for your father. You need to kill the man who authorized the murder. Am I right?”
Max paused, still not sure how to proceed… “You may be close… How many people, do you think?”
“How many people what?” asked Mike, having an idea of where this was heading.
“How many men and women have you killed?”
“I never have and never will take the life of a woman or a child, before you ask,” replied Mike.
“As far as men go, well the three in the pit, I guess?” asked Max.
“Nope, only one of those,” replied Mike.
“Maybe two or three more?”
“I don’t know; I lost count. How many girlfriends have you had in your life?”
“Three. Just three,” replied Max.
“Are you sure you’re telling me the truth?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I know. I can see it in your eyes. Now look in mine. I have had many. Most didn’t last more than a month or two, and I only cared about two—Kelly and Sheila. Do you believe me?”
“Yeah, Mike. I do.”
“Baker is a bad guy, and together we can take him out,” said Mike.
“Okay,” said Max, breathing heavily. “But nobody else can know about this.”
“My family and friends’ very lives depend on it,” Mike replied. “I’m glad you were in the Military,” he added, “because I think they will interrogate us both.”
With as much trust as each man could come up with, they made a plan of sorts. Both agreed that going into a group that large would likely see them separated from the start. Max came clean about his plan to take out Baker but didn’t have any plans after that, assuming he could survive the response. Mike told him of his group and thought Saddle Ranch might be happy to add a Medic, if it came to that.
“I mean, who would want another medical professional,” Mike told him as a statement. “But?”
“But what?”
“They don’t call it the ‘Great Battle’ for nothing. Did you hear him say the helicopters aren’t ready yet?” asked Mike. “How long until they are—weeks or maybe days? You may want to steer clear of Saddle Ranch, if you make it that long.”
“If I have a chance at peace when this deed is done, I’ll fight for it without regret. Besides, like I said before, I’ve got nothing to lose now.”
With the hot sun fully overhead, they were thrown scraps of bread and a gallon of water to split.
“Are we going to try and get these guys a ride?” asked Max.
“Nope,” replied Mike. “They are probably the exact lot Baker would look to add into the group, but I’m not interested in spending any more time with them.”
* * * *
Their ride showed up just before dark. Four men and a pickup truck, the kind with an extended bed, drove into
