Chapter Fourteen
As far as fishing cabins went, it was nice. Two small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a large combination living room and kitchen. There were two old rocking chairs on the front porch and a cord of wood stacked up on the side of the house. As Jared had predicted it was empty, no smoke curling from the chimney. His friend that owned it was currently in Chicago at a forensics convention.
The cabin was nestled by a lake at the back and a long winding driveway from the main road. It was a compromise for the next twenty-four hours. Close enough to civilization that they weren’t completely cut off but far enough away that no innocent bystander was going to be mowed down by a hail of gunfire. Once Griffin and Jason arrived, they would be headed into even more remote areas, and as this was a state with more cattle than people that was pretty fucking remote.
Logan had some sort of plan brewing in his head but Reed wasn’t sure exactly what it was. Getting his old nemesis away from everybody and everything seemed to be step number one. Step two? Reed wasn’t sure, but he trusted his friend not to do anything completely crazy. Logan listened to his gut and so far it hadn’t been wrong, but that didn’t mean it was always going to be right. There were many lives on the line here and not just the people at this camp.
The men had already decided that the women and children would sleep inside the cabin and they’d stay in the tents surrounding the area. The women, however, weren’t all that appreciative of their chivalry. The twins even less so.
“I want to sleep outside in a tent,” Colt whined. At this moment he looked so much like his father. “Why do I have to sleep inside the cabin? That’s for girls.”
“I want to camp outside too, and I’m a girl,” Brianna said, her lips pressed together. She was a tiny Ava. Reed’s heart squeezed tightly in his chest. He and Kaylee weren’t going to experience this. Ever. Most of the time he was fine with it but every now and then it would catch him unawares. “Why can’t we, Mom?”
“It’s already been decided,” Ava said in her best mom-tone. “Now let’s get your backpacks inside.”
“But we want to camp,” Colt replied, clearly perplexed at the issue. “We’ve been camping before. Why can’t we now?”
“Don’t give your mother a hard time,” Logan said in a sharp tone. “Remember how we talked about being helpful?”
“But–”
Ava placed her hands on her son’s shoulders and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. “Colten Andrew, do not argue with your father.”
A kid always knew when the shit had hit the fan and that’s when mom or dad used their full name. Colt rolled his eyes but he’d given in and let it go. For now. Reed had a feeling this discussion wasn’t over.
“Please take your backpacks inside the cabin,” Ava commanded and the children scrambled to do her bidding. “Thank you.”
Kaylee reached for the paper sacks in the back of the vehicle, but Reed shooed her away. “We’ve got that, honey. Why don’t you and Ava get settled in the cabin?”
“Me? Why would I stay in the cabin?”
To Reed’s amusement, Logan threw up his hands up in the air in frustration. “Doesn’t anyone want to stay in the cabin? Shit.”
Kaylee grinned and elbowed Reed. “Sorry, Logan. I just assumed I’d be sleeping out here with my husband.”
Reed couldn’t think of anything he’d like better, but he’d thought she’d be more comfortable in the house. The nights were cold up here in the mountains.
“Wherever you want is fine,” Reed assured her. “Why don’t you talk it over with Ava?”
“Men,” Ava sighed, linking her arm with Kaylee’s. “Let’s go inside before my two lovely children have toys scattered all over. I need to freshen up as well.”
“Mike, why don’t you go with them?” Amy said, tapping on her phone. “Keep an eye out.”
Mike headed for the weathered front door. “Will do.”
It rubbed Reed the wrong way how Amy ordered Mike around and generally let him do most of the crap work. The poor guy was living like a vampire, constantly working all night on watch duty. He’d said a few words to Jared and Logan about it but they didn’t want to intervene between the two marshals unless they had to. As it was, they were all walking a fine line and trying not to upset the powers-that-be in the government. Right now, everyone was friendly and cooperating and they needed it to stay that way.
Colt, Brianna, Ava, and Kaylee trailed after the marshal, leaving the men to unload the vehicles before the ice cream melted.
Amy tucked her phone in her pocket. “I sent Mike inside because I wanted to talk with you.”
Chocolate mint was going to be soup very soon so this better be important.
Logan leaned a hip against the SUV. “What about?”
Amy stood up straight, her chin lifted as if she expected an argument. Depending on what she had to say, she might get one.
“I think that we need to be in a high traffic area. Lots of people. I think we should head for Salt Lake City.”
Before Reed could speak Logan had abandoned his casual stance, his entire body on guard.
“Whoa, here. Salt Lake City? What makes you think we’ll be safe there?”
“I second that question,” Reed said. “What makes you think Salt Lake is safe? Why not stay closer to home?”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Amy cleared her throat. “A major metropolitan area is not a place that Bryson will want to be. Too many people can recognize him.”
Logan snorted derisively. “Or more people for him to hurt or kill. He’s not working on logic here.”
“Do you want to take the chance?” Amy challenged. “We know he’s watching us. He would never expect us to pick up and head for Utah.”
Logan shook his head. “I don’t want to be on the road that long. We’re too exposed.”
He was obviously thinking about when they’d all helped Evan Davis transport a prisoner headed for Florence. That hadn’t gone well and had resulted in a career-ending injury for Evan.
“I think you’re wrong.”
They were at a stalemate. Amy completely sure and the rest of them not sure at all.
“I’ll talk to my team,” Logan finally conceded. “See what they have to say. In the meantime, it’s business as usual. Let’s get everything unloaded and set up camp.”
Whirling on the heel of her boot, Amy stomped into the cabin, apparently not happy that she hadn’t been listened to.
“She’s honked off,” Logan observed when the front door slammed. “I don’t envy Ava and Kaylee right now.”
“Or Mike,” Jared replied. “Seriously, what do you think about what she said?”
Not answering for a long moment, Logan finally shrugged. “Fuck, I don’t know. Personally, I think that she’s being a pain in the ass. What about you guys?”
Logan already knew Reed’s feelings on the subject. “I am in favor of a more populated area, but I don’t think we need to go as far as Salt Lake to find it. That drive sounds risky.”
Jared’s brows rose and he flicked a glance toward the cabin. “You know, I think she was trying to impress you, Reed. Show you what a great agent she is.”
“I’m really not paying any attention. My mind is on other far more important matters.”
Like Logan’s issue. Like his marriage. Those two items took up all of his time.
“That’s what we need to concentrate on,” Logan said. “Keep our eye on the ball and not let all of these distractions get in the way.”
Because Wade wouldn’t let any distractions get in the way of his goals.