Retribution Road, Jon Coon [top business books of all time .txt] 📗

to be vigilant and careful. Don’t put yourselves in vulnerable situations.” He was looking at Carol and Emily. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

They both nodded.

“Now, let’s talk security. I’ve hired some extra hands, and a while back we built an underground bunker, like a bomb shelter, underneath that old bunkhouse by the lake. It’s got everything you would need if the wolf comes knocking. There are cameras and motion detectors, generators for emergency power, an armory, and room for all of you. The cameras are monitored 24/7, and the security staff are first rate.”

“Dad, what are you expecting? World War III?”

“When I took this job, I knew there would be risks and I just wanted to be ready. These are powerful people we’re up against, and they don’t play nice. So I’ve tried to even the odds. We just have to make sure we stay ahead of them. Preparation and prevention, that’s what will keep us all safe.”

Chapter 14

GABE STRIPPED TO HIS SHORTS and was headed for the shower when there was a knock on his bedroom door. Carol came in wearing flannel pajama bottoms and a tee shirt.

She closed the door quietly behind her and sat on the bed waiting. Gabe pulled his jeans off the back of the door and pulled on his shirt from the day before.

“I’m a nurse, remember? And when I was your nurse, I saw you in less than that,” she teased.

“Yeah, but I was covered in blood and river mud. This is different. What’s up?”

“Emily is worried about us. She says enough time has passed and we should be together. Also, she says if that’s not going to happen we should move back here to the ranch.”

“Emily says?”

“She does.”

“And what do you say?”

“Pretty much what I said the last time. I’m worried my dad is in way over his head here. He’s building bomb shelters and talking about a war with some cartel. Now he’s hauling you off to Mexico and God only knows what’s going to happen down there. I’m praying for Paul, but I have a bad feeling about this. And the most infuriating thing is, we don’t need this, Gabe. This doesn’t have to be part of our lives. My mother talked about leaving him and now I understand why. This is no way for civilized people to live. None of this had to happen. It’s the Wild West all over again. And I don’t even like Western movies. I don’t want any part of it. Let’s just get our horses and go home. We can worry about Paul from there just as well as from here.” She pounded a pillow. “Will you teach me how to split logs? I just hate the way I’m feeling.”

Gabe tried to hold her, comfort her, but she pulled away. He let her have her space and gently said, “I admire your dad. Not many guys are standing up for America and would be willing to take the risks he’s taking to bring those little girls back. And then there’s Paul. If we don’t go after him, no one will. Your dad knows that. We have to go.”

“I wonder if anyone can save him? I’d honestly have to say the odds aren’t too good.” There was a gritty resolve in her voice, and as she wiped away a tear, she sighed softly, dejectedly, and asked, “So what am I going to tell Emily?”

“Tell her I love her and love you too. But I know who I am and who I need to be. Carol, I’d walk though fire for you. I thought I’d proved that already. What you’re asking me to do, give up police work … you might as well ask me to stop breathing. It’s who I am. It’s who I’m supposed to be. It’s my gift. Or my curse. Whatever. And as much as I love you, and I truly do, I’d be wasted skin if I abandoned what I believe is God’s purpose for my life.”

“I’ll tell her you love her,” Carol said and got up from the bed. She kissed him on the cheek and was gone.

He lay back on the bed staring at the slats in the ceiling and repeated his dive prayer. “Lord, I’m in your hands. Please have mercy.”

Out of the shower and dressed, he came down the grand stair to the smell of rancho de huevos and found Consuela busy in the kitchen preparing enough food to sustain men on a cattle drive. “Come sit down. Señor Tom has already eaten and said for you to take your time and then meet him in the hangar when you’re ready.”

“Have the girls come down?”

“I don’t believe.”

“This looks wonderful. Thank you.”

“I’m happy to see Señora looking so well. I think you are good for her. I hope you will come often.”

“Thank you,” he said, but wondered.

After eating, he grabbed a second cup of coffee and headed out to the motor pool. Several trucks and ATVs, tractors and mowers, all well maintained, were lined up in proper military fashion. He found the key locker, took the keys for an ATV, and headed down the gravel road to the hangars. Tom was upside down in a flame-red Beech Bonanza. The V-tailed beauty with the low-set wings of a fighter.

“Morning,” Tom called from his inverted position in the cockpit.

“Morning. That looks like fun.”

“I’m too old for this. Would you mind handing me that three-sixteenth nut driver and a Phillips head?”

Gabe found the tools in the box sitting on the wing and passed them in. “Can I help?”

“No room and I’ll be done in a minute. There. I think that’s got it. Just putting in some new Garmin nav gear. Something I’ve been wanting to try for a while now.”

Tom handed the tools out and then awkwardly crawled backwards out of the plane.

“She’s a beauty,” Gabe said.

“Wait till you see what she can do in the air. Pure magic. Help me for a minute, will