Ninety Degrees Out

Hakan looked up to peer out of the small window in the radio shack. Hoof beats coming down the runway caught his attention as he struggled to identify the riders. He noticed bedrolls on the back of the saddles, so they must have come some distance. No messages from his father, so what was this all about.

That was Harry on the pinto. Magnificent horse. How was he riding the stallion already? And the other man was short. A white beard and a beat up cowboy hat was all he could identify.

The radios were quiet for once and he pushed up out of his chair to stretch.

As the pair came closer, he was astounded to see Harry riding bareback except for a blanket tied loosely under the mustang’s belly. More questions. He pushed the door open, and Harry swerved from his path toward the barn and came straight to him.

“Hakan!” His shout was clear. The kid must have something important for him.

The horses slid to a stop half rearing on their hind legs before their riders dismounted.

“Hakan, meet John. He’s got some important info for you. Couldn’t risk using the radios. Rico might be listening.” The teen-aged boy’s hair was tousled from the wind.

“Where’s your hat?” Hakan asked.

“I took it sir.” John said. “They didn’t have another one to spare and figured I was more prone to heat issues than the kid was.”

Hakan nodded. “What’s the scoop? And come inside. Harry can you take care of the horses?”

“Sure thing. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done. Just listen to what John has to say. It’s really important.” Harry grabbed the reigns from both horses and turned toward the barn.

Hakan held the door open and pointed toward the second chair.

“Man, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this many radios in one place.” John scanned the equipment as he settled on the stool.

“It’s the nerve center now. No more computers and cell phones to do the job. We’re lucky, my brother hacked the cell tower up the hill and it give us local coverage now, but nothing further.” Hakan waited for John to put his thoughts together.

“Rico has one handheld radio and a charger. That’s it. It’s a UHF radio. He’s been listening to all your chatter. He knew exactly when things were happening like the big meetings and what the Coast Guard was up to.”

“Shit, we only have three or four VHF handhelds.” Hakan groaned. This explained why Rico and his gang were sneaking up on them so easily.

“Yep, and here.” John reached into his pocket for a piece of folded paper. “These are the frequencies Rico is using. He only had one unit, but there are more guys coming up, I mean west, from the lower states. Damn this new direction stuff is confusing.” He paused to laugh at himself and said, “Give an old guy a break okay?”

“I get it. I’m still using the old way, too. It’s hard to change it up.” Hakan glanced down at the paper he unfolded. A long drawn out whistle escaped him as he began to understand the scope of the information John handed him.

“You are going to let the Coast Guard know? I mean about the gangs coming up through Canada?” John’s worried question reflected his own feelings.

“This is gold. Pure gold. I’ll get in touch with the last of the troopers up here. He’s got connections to the border guys in Canada. We can probably get them held there. The fact that these guys have been in touch with a known criminal up here, is enough to get them stopped these days,” Hakan said.

We’ll pass the word face to face about the UHF problem. We’re going to use that to our advantage. Let Rico think the situation is normal and we haven’t got a clue. The real planning will go on over other frequencies, including the safety net on HR. I doubt he has anything that can hear down that low in the frequencies.”

He caught John’s nods as he thought out loud.

“You’re right. He’s got only the one radio. His right hand man is Grange. He killed his brother back when we had to leave the place up the hill. I stayed with them when they went down the pan handle, but when Angel joined us? That was it for me.” John shook his head in disgust. “How can Rico let an out of control fifteen-year-old brat call the shots? She’s worse than he is. And he’s screwing her too.”

“We have a Grange working with us too. He’s up at the homestead.”

“I know. Met him. Great guy. Knows his horses. You got room for one more on the ranch?” John’s tone changed to uncertain when he asked.

“Always. You know horses too?” Hakan asked.

“Damn rights. Worked on a ranch in the Rockies when I was younger. That kid, Harry? A natural if I ever saw one. I’d like to teach him. He’s got that paint eating out of his hand.”

“I’m sending the two of you back to the homestead tomorrow. I want the kid safe up there, and your talents are what we need to break the wild horses,” Hakan said as he started to switch on radios.

The hum of amplifiers and fans had him raising his voice when he continued. “I’ll let Sargent Stan know in Anchorage, he’ll let Border Services know what you’ve got written down here.” He pointed to the sheet of paper on the desk.

“I’d be a happy old man up there. Great place Dasan has,” John said.

“You’re not that old,” Hakan said as he studied John’s bearded face. “You might be a bit grey, maybe white in the beard, but that’s it.”

“Hah, you better look closer boy, I’m seventy. And I’ve got another birthday coming soon.”

John grinned and he noticed a couple of missing teeth.

Hakan turned and extended his right hand. “Welcome aboard. We can use a good horseman who can teach. We’re flying blind up there in a lot of ways.”

“Doing a damn fine job if you ask me. Harry’s going to be the one to watch though. A horse knows when they’re safe. After that it’s all a matter of patience.”

John grasped his hand in a strong shake. “I’m real glad Edward and Harry found me.”