CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

______________________

 

 

 

 

 

Rainhorse used Google Maps to locate the dirt road which would lead him to within a mile of the rear of the house where the poker game would be held.  He turned east onto the road. Weeds and shrubs had grown over the dirt trail, evidence that the path had not seen travelers in a long while.  He drove one and a half miles in and stopped. He navigated the Jeep and parked it in the direction he would be headed to get away.

He used his compass to determine a north by northwest direction, slipped into his back pack and set out on foot. The back of the house was exactly where Lindsay said it would be. He looked at his watch. It had taken him nine minutes to walk from the Jeep to the house. Perfect.

“Thank you, Lindsay,” he whispered to himself.

From a distance the large log cabin home looked empty.  He circled the cabin, maintaining a distance of at least fifty yards. He saw the front porch where he assumed the players would smoke their cigars at break. He saw the drive where the cars would arrive. The driveway itself was gravel. It twisted more than a hundred yards from the freeway to the house.

In the back of the house, he saw a large supply of firewood stacked on a wooden pallet. There was a tractor parked under an old rusted canopy. There was also a barn and a shed. The secret hiding place where the twins would meet Rose Rattling Thunder had to be in one of those two places.

He quietly slipped around the barn and peeked in the shed. It was cramped and filled with tools. Not a very likely spot for three people to meet.  Next, he quietly entered the barn. There were three horses stabled inside.

He walked the length of the outbuilding as quietly as possible. At the far end, in the last stall furthest from the house, is where he saw it.  He smiled.  The last stall had three bales of hay positioned on the floor in a tight semi-circle. Empty beer cans had collected in the corner. There were ash trays near the hay bales, partially filled with cigarette butts. An ancient battery-powered FM radio leaned against the side of the stall.  Two kerosene lanterns hung from the ceiling. He had found it. This had to be the place where Rose, Chumani and Chapa sat drinking and smoking during the break. 

The stall also had a window. When he looked out, he could see the path he had just taken from the Jeep to the house. The stall was far enough away from the house, it was unlikely that voices spoken at normal tones could be heard, but he still needed to make sure none of the women screamed. He still hadn’t completely figured that one out.

He would unlatch the window and the rear entrance of the barn to assure easy access later. For a moment, he considered just finding a good hiding spot inside the barn but decided against it. He needed to be able to see the house. He needed to see if bodyguards patrolled the rear or if there was any other activity.

 

*****

 

Thirty-four miles away, Ellie, Lindsay and Neha had found a place to eat lunch. They had been walking the farmer’s market area for over three hours.

“I feel bad,” Lindsay said. “We're sitting here all safe and sound, while Jackson is probably laying in a cold, muddy ditch somewhere just waiting.”

“He's gone through worse, dear, much worse,” Ellie said. “That man suffered in ways you cannot imagine when he served as a Ranger in covert operations.”

“You've known him throughout his career in the Rangers, is that right?” Lindsay asked.

“And throughout his time as a paid assassin as well, yes,” Ellie said. “I’ve patched him up on a few occasions, though nothing like what he went through for you.”

“His body is so scarred and riddled with the remains of old bullet holes,” Neha said. “I was shocked to see it. It broke my heart to see him like that.”

“I'm afraid I'm responsible for most of that,” Lindsay said. “He got hurt real bad saving me two years ago.”

“Lindsay, I hope you are not carrying guilt over that,” Ellie said. “It was not your fault. You never asked to be kidnapped.”

“I know, but . . . I’m sure . . . deep down . . . he blamed me.”

“Nonsense,” Ellie interrupted. “I nursed the man back to health. It took over two months. He watched television constantly, listening for news about you, searching the web for you . . . anything that might reassure him that you were all right.”

“Really?”

“Lindsay, you were the only person that kept that man going,” Ellie continued. “The only time I ever saw the man smile was when he was telling me some story about what you had done or said. I’ve known the man all his life and I’ve never seen him this way over anyone before.”

Ellie realized what she had said and glanced nervously at Neha, “Sorry, no offense.”

Neha tried to smile. It was awkward.

“None taken,” she said.

“And besides, Rainhorse had been shot and cut long before he met you,” Ellie continued.

“As a Ranger?” Lindsay asked. 

Ellie nodded, “On some of his operations he was left in the bush for weeks on end, no clean water, no food. The man resorted to eating tree bark and the carcasses of dead animals, things you would find disgusting. He developed trench foot that nearly cost him his entire left foot. He almost died of dysentery not once, but twice.  It hardened him, though. He loved the Rangers. He loved serving his country.”

“What happened after he left the service?” Lindsay asked.

Ellie paused, exchanging glances with Neha. She nodded, “Please tell her all of it. She has come a long way. She is loyal to him. She deserves to know.”

“After he was discharged he came home to be with Neha, but . . .”

“I had no idea he was near death, or on covert missions,” Neha exclaimed. “He never wrote me, never called. . . “

“I'm sorry Neha, I'm not blaming you,” Ellie said. “Neither did Rainhorse. We’ve had this conversation many times. He never blamed you for moving on. He only blamed himself.”

“That’s true,” Lindsay affirmed. “He told me some of the story. He only blamed himself—never you.”

“Still, it's a guilt I have carried with me ever since,” Neha said. “He just disappeared. He never even allowed me to get closure.”

“He knows that, too,” Ellie replied. “He does so many things well but is unable to resolve matters of the heart. He thought you'd be better off never seeing him again.”

“But you were my friend, Ellie,” Neha replied. “You should have told me . . .”

“I am also Rainhorse's friend. For a long time, his only friend,” she said. “After leaving the service, the man was a physical and emotional wreck. He could not hold a job and finding work was difficult. I was not going to inflict further emotional damage on the man by forcing him to contact you.  You had Lona already. You had moved on. You had a life, and besides . . .”

“Besides what?” Neha asked.

“The Rainhorse you knew disappeared for a long time,” Ellie said. “I thought that man might be gone forever. He was a mess. I am forever grateful you have gotten to see him again for what he is, and not what he had become.”

“Is that when he became an assassin?” Lindsay asked.

“He became an assassin for his country while he was in the service,” Ellie said. “Rainhorse was sent on many clandestine missions to kill high-ranking officers of the enemy or civilian weapons warlords, who supported the enemy through illegal gun sales. Rainhorse was used to clean up all manner of illicit activities. Much of it was illegal weapons trading but those people were often involved in child abuse—prostitution and sex slavery. He grew to hate the men who kidnapped children and forced them into that life.”

“Men like Apollo and Hank Rattling Thunder?” she asked.

“Yes, men like them,” Ellie said.

“Oh my god, that sounds horrible,” Lindsay exclaimed.

Ellie touched Lindsay's hand, “Your friend, Jackson dealt with the lowest of the low, the most depraved, despicable people on earth. He did it for his country, and he did it well—too well, perhaps, but it did not come without consequences. He had hardened. The things he had been through, the things he had done . . . you would not have recognized him.  After he left the service, he could not hold a normal job. He turned back to the only thing he knew—killing the evilest people of the world. Barnabas Quince was the man who offered him that opportunity.”

“But Barnabas was bad himself,” Lindsay noted.

“That’s true, dear,” Ellie said. “Rainhorse would be the first to tell you he was no saint himself. He knew Barnabas was dealing in a lot of illegal activities, but then men Barnabas wanted dead were all his competitors, drug warlords, sex traders, illegal weapons sellers. Rainhorse rationalized what he was doing for many years as being paid to kill some of the most contemptable men on the planet.”

“What finally changed him?” Neha asked.

Ellie smiled and turned to Lindsay, “Not what, but who. As it turns out, the Rainhorse who Neha knew from before had not disappeared. He was buried deeply underneath a hardened, bitter layer. When he met Lindsay, all that changed for him—forever.”

“So, asking him to hurt Lindsay was the ultimate turning point?” Neha asked. “He was finally asked to cross a line he could never step over.”

“All true,” Ellie said. “When Barnabas needed money, he concocted this plan to kidnap Lindsay, daughter of a billionaire. Ironically, the original plan did not involve Rainhorse because he knew that he might take issue with it. He did talk Rainhorse into kidnapping Lindsay but only under the promise that she would not be hurt. Barnabas made two big mistakes. He allowed Rainhorse to watch over Lindsay, where he got to know her as a person.  His next big mistake was giving Rainhorse a partner who was a pedophile. That man made a very bad mistake trying to assault Lindsay. It brought Rainhorse’s protective instincts to the surface.”

“I reminded him of his daughter.” Lindsay said.

“What was the second big mistake?” Neha asked.

“The plan changed and he ordered Jackson to kill me,” Lindsay stated.

“That's right,” Ellie agreed. “Rainhorse had never killed anyone who wasn't a scumbag who preyed on others who were too weak to protect themselves. So, he tendered his resignation to Barnabas in a very violent manner and got Lindsay out of there.”

“I know the rest of this story,” Lindsay said. “Fortunately, it has a happy ending.”

“Thank you for sharing your perspective,” Neha said. “It makes things so much clearer to me.”

“I'm glad,” Ellie said, “but unfortunately, I have to go. I have a client waiting on me. I'll meet you back at the cabin later tonight. I want to be there in case Rainhorse or Rose are hurt.”

Ellie left.

Neha and Lindsay remained at the table, “I think we have all the intel we need on the farmer's market. Do you want to go?”

“In a minute,” Neha responded, “I have a question for you, first.”

“Ok, sure,” she said.

“When I came into the kitchen this morning, you and Rainy were talking,” Neha said, “I was not trying to pry, but I overheard you say that you didn't have a boyfriend and hadn't dated anyone since the kidnapping ordeal had ended.”

The smile disappeared from Lindsay's face. She fell silent.

“I was just wondering,” Neha continued. “Do you have some lingering effects from that emotional trauma?”

Lindsay looked away and bit her lip, trying to force the tears back. She sighed, “Yes, but not in the way you think.”

“Tell me sweetheart,” Neha urged. “Maybe I can help.”

“I doubt it,” she replied. “When Jackson and I went through this experience I learned about real love, not in the physical sense, but in the emotional sense. It wasn't just that he saved me, though that was certainly part of it. It was the way he treated me, talked to me, protected me . . . loved me. It was pure and unconditional. Then there was the whole trust thing . . .”

“What do you mean?”

Lindsay let out a breath, “I was only sixteen, but even by then I had rarely ever met a boy or man who didn’t look at me with lust in his eyes or some agenda.”

“Agenda?”

She nodded, “My mother is rich.”

Neha nodded, “But Rainhorse had no agenda other than your well-being.”

 Lindsay smiled reflectively, “When Jackson looked at me I felt safe and truly cared for. And then there was his sacrifice. That man could now be sitting on a beach on Costa Rica with beautiful women fanning him and peeling his grapes.  But he gave it all up . . . without hesitation, without expectations and with no questions asked. He wanted nothing other than my safe return. In the end he almost died for me.”

“That does sound like the Rainhorse I knew,” Neha said. “He did that so you could live a happy, full life, Lindsay. He wanted you to move on.”

“Yes, but now, every man I meet . . . I compare them to him,” she said.

Neha let out a breath and nodded knowingly, “I can see the problem. He sets the bar pretty high, doesn't he?”

“No one has come close,” she said. “I doubt anyone ever will, and I want love like that, Neha, I want that.  Now that I’ve experienced it, I don’t think I could ever settle for less.”

“I understand,” she said. “It must have been unsettling for you to see he and I together.”

“Last night, I saw you two interacting, and I was so conflicted,” Lindsay admitted. “On one hand, I was so happy, because there is nothing I want more in life than to see Jackson happy, in love and living a full life, away from all the ugliness he's faced. And you . . . you're so . . . perfect for him.”

“But?” Neha asked.

“On the other hand, I wanted to scratch your eyes out. I was so jealous, I couldn't stand it,” she admitted. “I cried for an hour after I went to bed. The envy I was feeling was so . . . horrible. I must be a sick chick with daddy issues.”

Neha chuckled, “No you're not. I understand completely. Really, I do. It's the same way any daughter would feel if she had a single father all to herself and then he began seeing a woman who was strange to her. I only hope I can earn your trust and respect, and eventually, your love.”

“My. . . love?”

“Yes, it's obvious Rainhorse will want you in his life, someway, somehow, always,” Neha said. “I doubt I stand much of a chance with him, unless you are supportive.”

“No, he would choose you,” Lindsay insisted.

Neha chuckled, “Trust me, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I’ve seen the love in his eyes. I’ve seen his chest swell with pride when he talks about you. If push came to shove, it would not end well for me. Let’s hope it never comes to that.”

“So, this must mean, you want him in your life, too?”

She nodded, “If he'll have me.”

Lindsay nodded, “He will, trust me on this.”

She nodded, “I do.  I think you know him better than anyone, certainly better than me or his daughter or his nephew.”

“Jackson has a nephew?”

“You didn’t know that?”

“No.”

“Rainhorse had a younger brother who died many years ago. His brother had a son. Outside of his daughter, his only remaining family is his nephew. He’d be somewhere around thirty or so by now, I guess.”

“Tell me about him,” Lindsay said.

“I don’t know much about him,” Neha replied. “I know he is in the military—Navy. He is a Navy SEAL.”

“I wonder why Jackson never mentioned him,” Lindsay pondered.

“He has a lot of things on his mind,” Neha said. “I’m sorry I mentioned it. Right now we need to focus on helping him live through all this.”

“Right, let's get back to the house and start putting all this information together.”