“If you’re decided, David, we can’t talk you out of it,” Wyatt said. “I know I’m an outsider here, but you can’t make a man stay back if he’s determined to come. Maybe just stick to the back though? You can cover us.”
David nodded and his breathing seemed to have eased. Ruth forced a bottle of water into his hands, and he drank from it greedily.
“Either way, we need to get a move on,” Wyatt said. “As David pointed out, the timing of this is critical and if we wait too long, Max might be a dead man before we get to him. Do you have any idea when Max left?”
Kathleen shook her head. “He couldn’t have more than a thirty-minute head start. Plus, he’s wounded and won’t be walking very fast. You can probably beat him to the gas station, if you hurry.”
“Perfect,” Wyatt said. “Let’s head out. We don’t want the whole thing to be over before the cavalry arrives.”
28
“We’ll need everything we can carry,” Matthew said as he loaded his pockets with ammunition.
“You got it, boss,” Wyatt said with a smile as he slung his own sniper rifle over his shoulder. A handgun was strapped to a holster around his waist, and Matthew couldn’t help but grin back.
As much as he hated to admit it, he was starting to like Wyatt. Hopefully, they could expand on the trade agreement David had promised when he’d first gone to the Carpenter Country Gun Club. Wyatt’s knowledge of the local area astounded Matthew and he grudgingly admitted to himself that he had made a mistake in not trusting his father’s instincts to connect with them earlier. The Marine had come to their aid and would be saving their bacon in more than one way. When they’d arrived at the club asking for help, Matthew had been first shocked, and then impressed, at the way Wyatt had acted. The Marine had thoughtfully listened to their predicament without interruption and then grabbed his own guns, already deciding to join their cause. His humility and kindness had been a stark contrast to the interactions Matthew had experienced since the EMP disaster, and it heartened him to know that there were still good people out there.
“Not sure he’s the boss,” Jade cut in, keeping her eyes focused on her own weapons.
For a moment, Matthew wondered if Jade said such a thing in a spirit of meanness, but he pushed down the instinct to lash out. Jade had proven herself invaluable on this trip, and Matthew realized he hadn’t been giving her the chance she deserved. Like Wyatt, she had also come to the Rileys’ aid, even when she could have left them for anywhere else. She’d put aside their differences to help Patton. Thus, Matthew was resolute that he would do his best to make her feel welcome. Even if she decided to leave in the end, at least he could try to make amends for the things he had said and done to her.
Matthew nudged David and said, “She’s right, you know. Pretty sure Jade is the boss.”
David looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected Matthew to go along with the teasing.
Wyatt clapped Jade on the shoulder. “I don’t doubt it,” he said as he checked all of his pockets, as if to reassure himself that he had everything within easy reach. “All right, team. I’m ready to go.”
“Me too,” Jade said.
“Count me in,” David said.
“Let’s go,” Matthew said. He held his tongue about asking David once more to reconsider his role in this mission. Ruth had done her best to convince David to stay behind, insisting that his heart wasn’t strong enough, but David had refused to listen to her reasoning. In a way, Matthew understood, but he wasn’t sure what he would do if David’s heart started to fail him.
He had to keep his son in the forefront of his mind. David was a grown man, who’d made this decision to come along. Patton was a young boy and still in need of a father’s protection.
Together, they made their way out the front door. Matthew paused at the threshold when he saw Kathleen standing on the steps as if waiting for them. She turned around to face them with a stern look.
“I hate that I’m not going with you,” she said.
Matthew swallowed hard. He couldn’t help but feel relieved that she would be out of the fray. If for some reason Matthew didn’t come home, then his children would still have one parent to raise them.
He stepped close to Kathleen and took her hand in his. “I know, but it will be better that you, Allison, and my mom stay at the hotel. You’ll be needed here if any of us turn up with injuries, or something happens and Patton needs a safe place to run to. We’ll be okay, I promise.”
“Not just okay,” Kathleen said, a line forming between her brows. “You’ll all come back in tip-top condition. All of you. And you’ll have our son with you.”
“He’ll be safe,” Jade said softly. “I promise.”
Kathleen studied Jade for a moment before swiftly embracing the young woman. Jade looked over Kathleen’s shoulder at Matthew with wide eyes before Kathleen released her and turned to give Wyatt a similar hug. “I don’t know you very well, but believe me, I will have to thank you a hundred times over for what you’re doing for me and my family,” she said.
“We’ll get your son back,” Wyatt said. “If you see anyone that you don’t know coming up to the hotel, book it to the gun club. My people know you might be coming their way and will be ready to lend a hand if things go south. We don’t
