Bucking Bronc Lodge 04(40)
He cursed and released her arm so viciously she stumbled again. “Stop talking and get them moving. Now.”
“Untie me first so they don’t freak out when they see me.”
He studied her for a long minute, then gave a clipped nod. “But remember. If you try anything, I’ll shoot one of them.”
Jordan gave him a short nod, then made her way to the two counselors first. She gently nudged Justin awake, then kept her voice low. “Justin, we have a problem. That man Miles was worried about is here and he has a gun.” Justin looked up at her in a sleepy haze, but worry creased his forehead as her words registered.
“He—”
“Yes, he’s armed,” she said quietly. “But I don’t want to frighten the boys. So help me wake them.” She took his hand and helped him stand, carefully planting herself between him and Dugan in case Dugan decided to fire. “Just tell the boys that a storm is coming, to grab their sleeping bags, and we’ll walk to the barn and spend the night there.”
Maybe it would be better if they were contained. Then Brody and Miles could find them and...then what? Surround the barn? Try to talk Dugan down?
Offer him a way out?
She didn’t understand the man’s behavior now, but she couldn’t chance setting him off by making him mad either. She had to play along until she could delve deeper and figure out a way to convince him to release the children.
Justin cut a frightened look toward Dugan, then stepped over to wake Carlos. The moment Carlos realized what was happening, he glanced at Dugan as if he wanted to kill him.
Carlos had anger issues himself. God, the possibilities of this situation exploding had worsened.
Dugan eased up and pressed the gun to her back again. “Stop wasting time.”
“I’m not, but I don’t want to upset the kids,” she said evenly. Carlos gave her a questioning look, but she forced calm into her voice that belied the fear seeping through her.
“Please help us, Carlos.”
His eyes veered across the area toward the woods as if he wanted to run for help but she shot him a warning look. “Just stay calm and do what I say.”
He finally nodded, then he and Justin woke the boys one by one. Slowly they roused, all sleepy and confused, but Jordan explained that a storm was brewing so they were going to take shelter in the nearest barn. A couple of the guys protested, but she assured them they would still be camping out.
Then Timmy stirred and saw Dugan, and terror seized his little face.
Jordan stooped to pull him into her arms. “It’s okay, Timmy, I’m here.”
A guttural sound tore from his throat, and Jordan realized that he recognized Dugan.
* * *
MILES REMOVED HIS GUN and checked his pocket for extra ammunition, then circled the front of the Jeep to the driver’s side.
Mason folded his arms. “What are you going to do?”
“Kill that SOB.”
Mason stepped in front of him, blocking him from getting in the SUV. “Just hold on a damn minute and let’s think this through,” Mason said. “We have a hostage situation. We should call for backup, at least alert the local sheriff of the situation.”
“There’s no time.”
“What about the other kids on the ranch? If things go bad or if Dugan’s accomplice is here, they’re in danger, too.”
Panic swam in Miles’s mind, images of Timmy and Jordan being murdered tormenting him. But Mason was right; there were other kids with Jordan.
Plus all the other campers on the BBL.
Brody raced up in his truck and screeched to a stop. When he climbed out, he looked harried. “I got here as fast as I could. Any more news?”
“We were just discussing a strategy,” Mason said.
Brody pulled at his chin. “I called the sheriff and informed him that we have trouble.”
Miles threw his hands up in the air. “Dammit, if cops swarm, Dugan may panic and start shooting.”
“I’ll handle the sheriff,” Brody said. “But we need men here to clear the other campers while we deal with the hostage situation.”
“We should call in a negotiator,” Mason suggested.
“Let me deal with him,” Miles said. “I’m the one he wants.”
Mason and Brody exchanged worried looks. “I called Wes Lee,” Brody said, “but he’s not answering his phone. I’m afraid we may have lost him, too.”
Miles chewed the inside of his cheek. “I say we ride out to the camp and find out.”
Mason quirked his mouth to the side. “We’ll need to go in quietly.”
Miles nodded. “Let’s saddle some horses and ride to the creek on the other side of the campsite. Then we’ll move in on foot.”