Tom laughed and then said, “We can talk about Kate and me later. I need all four of us to become proficient in using the night vision scope on the crossbows. I want to be able to eliminate threats at night, silently and efficiently. We’ll scavenge some more crossbows and maybe find some suppressors for the rifles. We’ll become the black ops squad for the ranch. Now, to a more important topic. I filled Kate in on our spy situation, and I want us to brainstorm the perfect trap to catch the asshat.”
Rick asked, “Can anyone hear or see us right now?”
“They could see us, but I placed the microphone on a timer to cut off for three hours. We still have a few minutes,” Tom replied.
Kate had a worried look. “Are we going after this Carlos creep?”
“I’m going after him, but will need some of you to back me up. No rushing because I want to eliminate the spy before I kill the bastard.”
Rick had another question. “How do you know that someone or even the ranch doesn’t have a bug or GPS tracker?”
Jackie said, “Because Grandpa was a stickler for security, and we have used our electronics to sweep the place. That’s why we think whoever it is meets their contact face to face.”
“Carlos threatened me before killing Sam, and I think he meant it. I think we have to find a way to dangle me as bait without actually exposing me to harm,” said Tom.
Kate and Jackie both responded with, “I don’t like that.”
Kate added her two cents. “I know you’re a brave man and wouldn’t do anything stupid, but are you freaking nuts?”
Tom placed his arms around Kate from the back and rubbed his face in her short hair. “Trust me. I intend to make Carlos believe I’m an available target without being the target. Perhaps we let it slip to the group that Rick and I’ll be going into Ashland to rescue a friend who lives at a specific place. We watch the place and see if Carlos’s men show up.”
Kate listened to the plan and then spoke up. “If that plan will work, why didn’t Carlos’s men try to capture you the other day when you went to Ashland?”
“Because we only told Granny B and you that we were going to Ashland. I told the others we were heading south to Emigrant Lake. I have made it a goal to never tell anyone other than family and you where we’re going.”
Kate laughed. “I should have thought of that. How about a betting pool on who the spy turns out to be? I’ll place twenty bucks on James.”
Jackie was surprised. “James is a friend. Why him?”
“Because he’s too darned quiet for my liking.”
Jackie said, “Whoa! I think it’s Greta.”
Rick pinched his fiancée. “Ouch! That hurt!” Jackie exclaimed.
Rick said, “Pussy. That’s my niece.”
Tom whistled. “We only have a few minutes before we have to stop talking. First, I think it’s Bill or Betty, only because the others are friends. Second, we have to come up with something better to bet because … where are we going to spend the money?”
Kate laughed and then pulled Tom’s arms tighter around her. “Good catch. How about pulling the other’s guard duty for two days each?”
They all agreed to the stakes and left the area before the microphone was live.
Granny B liked the plan, but had an urgent task for Tom. “The hydro-electric generator has stopped working, and the dad-blamed warning beeper is driving me crazy.”
Tom had heard the beeping and wondered what was wrong when he and Kate entered the room. “You do know there’s a button to stop the beeper, don’t you?”
Tom went to the operations panel and pushed a button. The beeping stopped, but the red light kept flashing. Granny B said, “Did that fix the problem?”
“No, the light indicates the dynamo stopped turning the generator. I’d guess a limb or something got through the guard and jammed the wheel. I’ll hike up to the pond and see what happened. I hope it’s not a burned-out bearing. That would be a day’s work for three people. I’ll take a walkie-talkie with Kate and me, and we’ll check it out.”
North of the Clark ranch by the pond.
The sun was low, and it was a bit chilly as they hiked up the hill arm in arm. They talked about everything and nothing as they walked, stopping to see squirrels, a deer, and a raccoon. The air was clean and crisp, with only the smell of pine in the air. Tom took a deep breath about a hundred yards from the pond and stopped dead in his tracks. He dropped down to one knee and pulled Kate down with him.
Tom drew his pistol and inhaled deeply. “I smell smoke, and the wind is in our face. It’s coming from an area where no one should be. Let’s slow down and see who’s up there.”
Kate began low crawling with her pistol in her hand. Tom had his rifle slung on his back, and Kate had her crossbow. They never went outside without their weapons and backpacks. Tom rigidly enforced his always be prepared rules, thanks to many years of hearing his grandpa do the same for Jackie and him.
The smell of something cooking became more robust as they continued. Then Kate stopped and tapped Tom. “I hear someone talking.”
He listened for a few minutes. “Let’s move closer. I can’t make out what’s being said.”
Tom stopped when he could see movement through the tree limbs and brush. There was only silence, and then a woman spoke. “Jacob, go over to the pond and wash your hands for supper. Take the soap!”
“Awe, Mom.”
“Go!”
“Doris, he’s
