Ninety Degrees Out

“Well, what did you find out?”Rico demanded as Jax slipped back into the main storage area.

“You’re going to have to be careful about placing those bombs.I’d suggest you let me do it.I’ll take one of your guys with me, and we’ll place them on different nights.The moon is new right now, so best done right away.”

Jax face Rico square on.The girl was watching with feral eyes.With what Chay explained, he was doubly wary of her.She was the wild card here.

“Where’s Bran, and the other guys?”

“Sent them out with my three to do some hunting.Maybe you guys will have better luck.Seems like the game in this area has been harvested.Might grab a cow or two off the ranch instead.”

Rico was pacing restlessly.He kept edging toward Angel.Jax shook his head.Of all the names.This one was the exact antithesis of hers.

“How about you let me know where they went, and I’ll take a shot at helping them?” Jax asked.

“Nah, just take a gun from over there, and go out to sit in the shade by the loading docks.Need someone to keep a watch out.Angel here is right.We didn’t kill off the rest of the cops when we blew the station.I’ve heard them.There’s at least Sarge left and he’s a pesky asshole.Never gives up on catching the troublemakers.Always need to keep our guard up.Learned the hard way down Canada way.”

Jax turned his back and moved toward the guns stashed in the corner.

“Any ammo in this one?”

He picked up a thirty thirty Winchester rifle.

“Not much.I think it’s the only one loaded.We’re scrounging now.Wish I knew where the hell they’re getting it down on the Ranch.Going to step into a gold mine there.Looks like they’ve got everything they need.”

“Probably working pretty hard for it too.What are you going to do when you use it all up?”

Rico shrugged.“Hit the road again.Won’t be for a long while.Once we get rid of the bunch living there, we’ll only have the nine of us to feed.”

Jax checked the chamber, found a round in it and flipped on the safety.

“I’ll be outside.”

He kept a half eye on Rico as he made his way to Angel.She was stripping as he opened the access door.He’d better check the van while he was out there.The guns and ammo under the rear seats needed to disappear.Rico seemed to more worried about getting his pipes cleaned than anything else.The little bitch had him under her spell.

Was there somewhere in the forest that would work?And did Bran have time to scout earlier.Pete and Jimbo would be enough to send out on a hunting party.

He slid the side door on the van open.At least it wasn’t still backed into the dock.The door on the other side opened, and he raised the rifle he carried to his waist.Who was on the other side?

>>>>>>>>>>>

Alicia turned onto the fork in the path leading down to Sara’s house.The mournful tones of a flute playing an old hymn floated in the air, the forest still like it was listening intently.What was going on.She kept her footsteps quiet, not want to disturb anyone.This seemed like a private moment.Was she intruding when she wasn’t wanted?

Stopping behind the last giant spruce, she peered into the yard of raised garden beds.Produce flourished.In front of a new raised garden, Randy knelt on one side of Sara, and Aaron on the other.In the garden a simple cross with carved lettering stood surrounded by various flowering herbs.

This was new.And who suffered a death?No one she knew in their community, or maybe she missed the news?Randy and Aaron each wrapped an arm around Sara’s back kissing her on her cheeks.

Something had changed here.Big time.

Alicia cleared her throat, not want to sit there spying and not really wanting to disturb them either.

“Sorry to intrude, but I have news.I need to talk to you.”Alicia winced as she spoke.

Randy shook himself like he was waking from a dream, reached into the grass in front of him and picked up a wooden flute.

“Just saying goodbye to an old love.”

He stood, reaching his other hand out to Sara, and helped her up.

Aaron eased back into a squat kissed his fingers and pressed them to the cross before he turned to face Alicia.

“A piece of our past was revealed to me, and we laid a love to rest.” Aaron’s words were melancholy.

Sara turned to hug him, and Randy wrapped his arms around both of them.

“I won’t ask any explanation.I’m sorry for your loss.”Alicia felt more and more like an awkward teenager who stumbled into something better left alone.

“It’s okay,” Sara said, “Things have changed a bit since the last time you were over.”

The three of them turned like a unit, the men had her between them, like she was precious to both of them.

“The past has a way of catching up with you,” Aaron said.“You should know, we’re a unit now.Randy and I have asked Sara to marry us.She said yes.”

Alicia shrugged her shoulders.Nothing new about a three way marriage in this community.

“Congratulations!”She walked over to give Sara a hug.“Are you sure about this?”

“Couldn’t be happier.My boys deserve some happiness after the way life has treated them.”

Sara’s hug spoke of love and trust.It was the first time she didn’t stiffen with close contact.It always took Sara a moment to relax into a hug before.

“But what’s the news?”Aaron led the way over to their deck.

“I’ll get some iced tea,” Sara pulled the door open.The log wall where the great room windows used to be had three new glass panes in it with window boxes filled with chives and onions growing in them.The third one has short shoots of some other vegetable showing in it.

“You guys have been busy.”Alicia commented.“I like this.” She gestured toward their handiwork.

“Need light in there.Randy heard there were some salvaged windows in Anchorage.Captain Whipper had them delivered a few days ago.They’re just finished, and Sara transplanted stuff for the boxes.Garlic is in the last box.She found a way to get some cloves to sprout.”

Aaron sounded a bit smug, but she couldn’t blame him.Fresh garlic was going to make the cooks at the lodge very happy.

Randy joined her on the bench, after holding the door for Sara as she came out with a tray.She set it on a low table and poured four glasses of tea.

“We found a beehive back in the forest.Looked like Ursa found it too, so we took a couple of combs of honey home as well.I’ve got bee’s wax to make candles with.”Sara settled against Aaron’s side.

Alicia asked, “At least I know why you missed the arrival of the gang coming up from Canada.And I don’t blame you.Whatever you were dealing with on a personal level was far more important and no harm came from it.”

“Shit!”

Randy’s single word spoke volumes.

“Like I said, no harm, so don’t beat yourselves up.”Alicia made sure she caught everyone’s eyes and waited for them to nod.

“So, what’s your news?”Aaron brought them back to the reason for her visit.

Alicia told them about Jax and the RCMP special investigators who arrived the day before.Conversation continued for another hour as plans were shared.The men told Alicia about their past.

“There’s no reason to hide what we are anymore.And Pamela, wherever she is, has been honored a laid to rest here.I’m not sure she got a proper funeral, before.”Randy pointed at his flute, laying on the top of the railing.“I haven’t picked it up since I found about about her, but Sara convinced me to gift her with music today.It feels good to play again.”

“He couldn’t leave it behind either,” Sara said.“I’m glad he didn’t.”

“Do you want to join the wedding ceremony?” Alicia asked.

“Of course,” Aaron answered for all three.

“That makes three marriages taking place so far,” Alicia replied.

“Let me guess,” Sara said.“You and Chay, which was obvious from the first time we met, and your brother Jett and Catherine.I’m so happy for them.I wonder if there will be more before the day happens?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”Aaron said with a wink.

“Spill!” Sara slapped his chest.

“Not happening.Lips sealed.You’ll just have to wait like everyone else.”Aaron laughed at Sara’s frustrated growl.