Twelve
Nina didn’t want to leave Creed to face off with two gunmen, but Jackson had pulled her toward the canoe. It looked smaller than she anticipated, but she had gamely scrambled inside, grabbing the edge when the boat rocked back and forth precariously.
When Jackson shoved the boat into the water and then handed her a paddle she dimly realized he expected her to use it to propel them forward.
She didn’t have a clue!
The boat continued to rock from side to side as Jackson plopped down on the seat behind her.
“Paddle, Nina.” When she turned to look at him, he dipped his paddle into the water. “Like this. Drag the fat end of the paddle in through the water.”
With a jerky nod she did so. To her surprise, the canoe glided forward. Not very fast, though, which made her anxious to repeat the paddling motion.
“Good job,” Jackson whispered. “Keep going.”
Determined to do her part in this, she continued to paddle. A light rain continued to fall, making her worry the canoe might fill with water.
What if they capsized? She wasn’t a strong swimmer. Swallowing past the lump of fear in her throat, she paddled with all her strength.
The canoe glided soundlessly across the water. Just when she thought this would work, that they would escape unscathed, she heard a muffled shout.
Followed by several more rounds of gunfire.
When she turned to look back toward the rental house, fearing for Creed’s safety, Jackson shook his head. “Don’t, Nina. We can’t go back. Creed can handle himself. Keep paddling.”
Her arms were already growing tired, but she did her best to ignore her aching muscles. Thankfully, Jackson’s paddling was strong enough to continue propelling them forward, even as her strokes slowed.
The chill in the night air combined with her wet clothing from the rain made her shiver. She couldn’t imagine what they’d do once they reached the opposite shore. What if the bad guys got back into a car and drove around to meet them on the other side?
“Paddle on the other side,” Jackson whispered. “We need to hug the shoreline.”
She shifted to do as he asked. Using her less dominant hand felt good for a minute or two, but then her arm muscles began to protest.
She was too out of shape! Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to dig her paddle through the water, putting her entire body into each stroke. She could do this. She had to do this.
Yet there was no denying that without Jackson’s help, she’d be sunk. Literally.
The lake seemed bigger now that they were in the canoe. This probably wasn’t the right time to let Jackson know she wasn’t a good swimmer. Hopefully they would be able to keep the boat afloat. And she took some comfort in the fact that Jackson was keeping them close to the shoreline.
She could dog-paddle that far. Or so she hoped.
Jackson didn’t say anything as he continued to take them along the shoreline. There were lots of foliage around, which should help them be less noticeable.
Yet it was difficult to ignore the very real possibility that the bad guys had overpowered Creed and were right now out there looking for them.
Waiting for an opportunity to fire at them.
“Okay, stop paddling for a minute,” Jackson whispered.
She rested the paddle across her knees, glancing back at him. “Are we getting off the lake?”
“Soon.” He cocked his head as if listening. She frowned, not knowing what had caught his attention.
Then she heard it, too. The faint wail of sirens. The police? Had someone reported the gunfire?
She glanced up at the cloudy sky, praying that Creed was alive and unhurt.
Not for the first time, she realized Jackson and all the other rangers faced danger like this on a regular basis. How they kept calm and cool under pressure, she had no idea.
She’d always loved her job of supporting them while they were in the field. Yet she was only the voice on the other end of the line.
Now she had a new appreciation for what they were exposed to in their line of duty.
“That’s a good sign,” Jackson said, breaking into her thoughts. “Creed must have been able to call for backup.”
“I hope so.” She tried to smile. “Does that mean we’re safe?”
“Not exactly.” He jutted his chin toward the shore. “See that tree with the branches stretched out over the water? That’s our landing point. We’ll use those branches to get ashore.”
“I see it.” Just knowing their trip across the lake was nearly over gave her the renewed strength to paddle. They were about halfway to the overhanging branches, when she heard a branch snap.
An animal?
The canoe abruptly tipped sideways, dumping her into the frigid water. Flailing her arms, she kicked her feet in a desperate attempt to reach the surface. Choking on the murky lake water she’d swallowed, she swiped the water from her eyes and glanced frantically around. Where was Jackson?
The canoe was floating away! Was Jackson hurt? Or worse, dead?
She opened her mouth to cry out in alarm when a crack of gunfire rang out. The canoe jerked beneath the force of a bullet. Her eyes widened in horror when she realized someone had just shot the canoe.
The gunmen had found them!
A strong arm clamped around her waist. Jackson’s voice was low in her ear. “Stay down. Don’t let the shooter see us.”
Striving to remain calm, she slowed her kicking beneath the water. Yet she didn’t see how this could work. It wouldn’t take long for the gunmen to realize they were in the water.
“Easy,” Jackson murmured. He slowly propelled them closer to the shore. Within a few seconds they were close to the low tree branches reaching out like gnarled arms over the water. “Grab the branch.”
She did so, trying not to pull down on it, giving their position away. Shivering, she numbly realized the cold water was sapping her strength.
Thankfully, Jackson stayed close to her side. She wanted to throw her arms around him, soaking in his warmth, but forced herself to stay where she was. Jackson used one hand to hold the tree branch, but the other grasped his weapon. How he hadn’t lost it in the water, she wasn’t sure.
For long moments there was nothing but silence. Her curly wet hair hung in her eyes, but she didn’t brush it away. Partially because she was afraid to let go of the tree branch.
Glancing back at the lake behind her, she was horrified to realize the canoe was now completely under water. A lone paddle floated beside it.
Another sound cut through the silence. Not gunfire, but a low rumbling sound. An engine? She frowned, straining to listen. A car? Or a boat?
She fearfully looked up at Jackson. He slowly shook his head, a silent warning not to call out.
The boat engine grew louder. Then she understood Jackson was afraid the boat wasn’t there to rescue them.
But to finish the job of killing them.
Her arms trembled with cold and exertion. She felt exposed, despite the foliage around them. She couldn’t imagine the gunmen on the boat wouldn’t see them.
She mentally braced for the sound of gunfire. Instead, the boat engine slowed. Through the leaves she could see a small fishing boat heading toward the canoe paddle.
Holding her breath, she watched the boat idle. A man stood, and she caught the glimpse of a gun pointing down at the water. She could hardly believe he was waiting for one or both of them to surface.
Nothing happened for long moments. The man sat and the boat engine sped up, as the vessel abruptly swung around and took off.
“Wh-what hap-pened?” Her teeth were chattering hard, her muscles trembling to the point she imagined the entire tree was shaking, too.
“The police are on the way. Hear it?” Jackson held her gaze.
He was right. The faint wail of sirens she’d heard earlier gained volume. Soon, swirling red-and-blue lights lit up the sky. The police were getting close to their hiding spot.
And when she looked back out at the lake, she realized the fishing boat was gone. Almost as if she’d imagined it, along with the man pointing his gun at the water.
Jackson stayed where he was, showing no signs of getting out of the lake. She wanted to ask why, when she heard a familiar voice.
“Jackson? Nina? Are you out there?”
Creed was alive. She closed her eyes in a moment of gratitude that leaving him behind at the rental house hadn’t cost him his life.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for keeping us all safe in Your care!
* * *
“We’re here,” Jackson called in a low voice. He had felt certain Creed could hold his own, but hearing his buddy call their names was a welcome relief. “Give us a minute to climb out of the water.”
Tucking his weapon in his waistband, Jackson used his now free hand to hold on to Nina. “Go slowly now. Try to get closer to the shore, okay?”
“Ok-ay.” He supported her trembling body, guiding her closer to the bank.
There wasn’t a rocky shore area here, just a steep hill covered in brush.
Yet he was proud that Nina didn’t let that stop her.
She collapsed on the bank, then went up on her hands and knees, crawling toward the swirling police lights.
Now that Nina was safe, he swung himself out of the water. Scrambling up the slope behind her, he sighed when he spotted Creed helping Nina to her feet.
“Are you okay?” Creed asked.
“I—I will—be…” Nina crossed her arms over her chest in a pathetic attempt to warm herself. “J-just need to g-get warm.”
“I have a blanket in the back of the car.” One of the responding officers hurried to open his trunk. A moment later, the guy had wrapped a blanket around Nina’s shaking shoulders.
“Thanks.” Jackson turned toward Creed. “Glad you made it.”
“I hit one of the shooters.” Creed grimaced. “He didn’t make it, so questioning him isn’t an option. I couldn’t find any ID on him either. I was able to get a picture of his face with my phone. Hopefully facial recognition will give us more intel on who he’s working for.”
“I’m sorry you had to take him out, but I’m glad to hear we may learn something.” Taking bad guys down was part of the job description, but Jackson knew it was never easy. Not even when being forced to return fire in self-defense.