Chapter 43
“Ijust don’t understand why it always has to be you going off on these missions,” Bella growled. “Every single time someone is in danger, you are the one out there risking your neck. Why can’t you send someone else? Why can’t Colton or one of the police officers go?”
“Sweetheart, I know this is hard for you. I promise everything is going to be okay?—”
“That’s what you said last time, and you almost died! We need you here to protect the farm and keep it safe. I don’t understand what is so terrible about this place that you have to go,” Bella snapped.
“There is nothing wrong with this place. As a matter of fact, I really like it and would like it to remain standing. You don’t know what Markwood is like.
He will not hesitate to hurt you and burn this place to the ground.
I can’t let him do that. I can’t let him get close enough to even think about it,” Veronica said.
Bella shook her head. “I just really don’t like it is all.”
“I know, honey. I promise it is almost all over.”
Veronica pulled the young girl into her arms, despite Bella protesting at first. She was angry with Veronica for leaving her once again, but it had to be done.
Veronica, along with a handful of others, was going to infiltrate the city and try to bring down Markwood and his men on their own.
If they could get to them without anyone else getting hurt, it would be a huge victory.
They had to liberate the city dwellers and protect their own homes at the same time.
It was well past dark, and Bella was finishing up making dinner along with Mauve.
Veronica didn’t have the heart to tell her she wouldn’t be there to enjoy the meal.
If they were going to get a jump on Markwood and his men, they needed to head out and get there before daylight.
The small group of expert marksmen they were taking with them consisted of eight people, plus her older brother.
Luka had tried to join them, but his wife had quickly shot down the idea.
Veronica was incredibly grateful to her mother for that.
It was going to be hard enough to watch her brother and boyfriend go into battle.
She didn’t want to put her father’s life on the line as well.
Her cheeks blushed at the thought of Darrell being her boyfriend, but they had established their relationship days before.
Now that things were official and they had professed their feelings for each other, she felt an additional weight to keep him safe.
She didn’t want to lose him so soon after finding a man who truly cared about her and Bella.
Darrell understood from the very beginning they were a package deal, and he treated Bella the same as he did Bryson, with love, respect, and a protective nature that warmed Veronica’s soul.
She never wanted to lose the man. After pulling away from the embrace, Veronica made her way back out of the house and into the stable, where Darrell was waiting on her with the horses saddled.
She could see the bags on the side were bulging with ammunition and other supplies that might come in handy.
There was no doubt in her mind he had at least a few fire starters in there as well.
Still, Veronica prayed they would not lose anyone in the battle.
She had never seen herself as a leader among the people but would take on the role and the guilt if a single person were injured.
It was a burden she never had expected, but she was happy to endure it if it took the weight off someone else’s shoulders.
She hated to think of her brother or Darrell grappling with the same guilt that weighed heavily on her at all times.
No matter how she fought, she always carried that agony.
It was a darkness she wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.
“Are you sure you are ready for this?” Veronica asked her partner.
Darrell nodded. “You better believe it. Plus, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let you go off and have all the fun?”
Veronica chuckled. “I don’t know how much fun this is going to be. I will just be happy if we all make it out alive. I don’t know how I feel about putting other people in danger. It’s different when it’s just myself.”
“You can’t be thinking like that, especially not now that you have Bella. That girl needs you. She loves you with all her heart. It’s my job to make sure you come back to her just the same as it is your job to make sure I come back to Kevin.”
“You really are amazing, you know? I needed that pep talk,” Veronica said. “I want this to be as fast and as clean as possible. Let’s make sure we get all of our people back in one piece by breakfast.”
Nodding to her companion, the pair climbed onto their horses and set out for the road that would take them to Dodger Run.
When they reached the outskirts of town, she was happy to see several pairs of eyes watching them from the forest as well as the back entrance to the community.
They had tripled their security in the area, making Veronica feel a little better.
Knowing the villagers were taking the threat seriously and working to preserve their way of life lifted some weight off her shoulders.
Still, they would be no match for Markwood and his men if they made it to the mountain.
They reached the front of the village as a large gate came into view.
It was a new addition at Nick’s request. Though there was only one road in and out of town, the gate would at least slow down anyone trying to get in.
Every few minutes of warning that the villagers had counted.
When they saw her approaching with Darrel, the men in charge of the gate started to open it.
On the other side, there was a group of men gathered who would be traveling to Starver City with them.
She had selected them not only for their skills but for their ability to find and ride horses.
If something did go wrong, Veronica wanted to make sure they would be able to get back to Dodger Run as quickly as possible.
Before they started on the dangerous trek that would lead them to Markwood, knowing they might not all return, Veronica turned to address the group.
In the distance, she could see the other townspeople gathering around the fencing to hear what she had to say.
Instantly, her cheeks blushed at the thought of grandstanding.
Still, it felt right to be giving the group one final bit of motivation before they were consumed by the silence of the forest and the hunt.
“If you had told me six weeks ago that I would be leading a group of men and women into battle against a tyrant, I would have asked you what you were smoking. Now, though, looking back over the circumstances that brought me here, I know I am exactly where I’m supposed to be, just as the rest of you are.
We have fought for our freedom, we have struggled to get to a comfortable place, and now there is a man threatening to take all of that away from us.
He has raped, pillaged, and murdered innocent bystanders for his own satisfaction.
We cannot call ourselves Americans any longer if we continue to let this injustice go on.
“So tonight, we are going into battle, one that I never dreamed would be real. We go to stop a man who would destroy our homes, our families, and our way of life. There will be no more cowering and fleeing in fear. Tonight, it all ends. Because of you folks willing to stand here and fight alongside me, our friends and families can rest their heads, knowing they are safe. Let’s go show this prick what we are made of and show him he picked the wrong part of Colorado to call home. ”
As cheers of approval erupted all around her, Veronica gave Darrel a smile before turning and trotting down the sloping road that would lead to their destiny. She could hear the other animals moving behind her own steed and silently prayed she wasn’t leading them all to their deaths.
No matter what, at least she could say she went down fighting.
Markwood and his men wouldn’t be taking her hostage again.
She would kill as many as possible before going down if that was her only option.
They were going to end it once and for all, no matter whose side won.
By the time the sun came up in the morning, only one of the leaders would be left standing.