Chapter 11 #2
Taylor stayed quiet, waiting for him to make an excuse for his family, but none came.
She continued, wanting him to know and needing someone else to help her carry the burden.
"Because we weren't married and I wasn't in your will, the military wouldn't give me any answers.
I tried everything. Reaching out to every one of the people I knew, but every time I was stonewalled.
I joined the FBI to gain clearance so I could be read in on what happened, but still nothing.
" She winced. "I may have had to get Davin to sweet talk a general out of a restraining order against me. "
Kam chuckled. "That sounds like my girl. Not willing to take no for an answer."
They drove into a thicket of spruce trees, the only ones that she had seen since they were in town. The trees broke into a wide open space with a sprawling homestead nestled at the base of the mountain. Two children dashed from a greenhouse towards the log cabin. "We're here," Ted announced.
A woman with jeans, work boots, and a flannel shirt came out of the small barn. She placed her hand over her eyes and a smile graced her face. As they came to a stop and she noticed Kam and Taylor in the backseat, her joy dimmed.
"Ted, you didn't tell us you had a family." Taylor sat up and leaned towards the front. "We can't put them in danger."
Ted faced her. "Amelia was an Army Ranger when she saved my men and me after we were captured by drug runners in El Salvador. She'll be able to hold her own."
Ted got out of the car and greeted his wife. Taylor watched as Amelia shifted from concerned spouse and mother into trained soldier. She called for the children and went into the house. Ted walked over to the car and opened the back door. "Welcome to Miklat. A refuge for those seeking help."
Kam and Taylor followed Ted to the porch of the cabin. The railings and chairs looked as though they were hand-hewn from young logs. Taylor ran her hand over the surprisingly smooth surface.
"Amelia isn't only good at saving lost soldiers, she's excelled at homesteading, too." Ted reached for the door as it flung open.
A girl with golden-brown hair bounced out. "Hi. My name's Juliette. Everyone calls me Jules. Mom says we're going to grandma's!"
Taylor crouched to the girl's height. "My name is Taylor. Maybe when you get back we could go explore."
Jules looked at her father, who nodded, then back to Taylor. "I'll show you my favorite hiding spot." She leaned closer and whispered, "But you can't tell Clint."
"I promise." Taylor winked at the little girl. When she looked at Ted, he was failing to hide his amusement. Maybe she should give him a chance. Not only did he keep Kam's identity safe, he also brought their turmoil to his family.
Amelia came out the door with a much less enthusiastic Clint. Kam shifted beside her. "Ehrhart?"
"I see you still have a penchant for trouble." A half smirk played on her face.
Kam return her grin. "Some things never change."
"And some times everything does." She pressed her lips into a thin line.
Kam shifted on his feet, leaning more on Taylor. "I'm sorry I couldn't come to the funeral."
Amelia patted her son's shoulder. "Why don't you go help your sister get the bags in the truck?"
They all watched the children walk away, "He looks so much like him," Amelia mused.
"He takes after his father." Ted put his hand on the small of her back.
Kam's eyes widened and Taylor wanted to know what piece she was missing. "That's Music Man's son?" Taylor looked back towards the boy, who was helping his sister lift her pink bag onto the bed of the truck.
"We were going to get married," Amelia admitted.
"Then the mission went south and my whole life fell apart.
" Taylor understood how that felt all too well.
Amelia turned to look Taylor straight in the eye, "God worked it out for the better.
Clint and I were both so hotheaded and strong-willed.
" She took Ted's hand. "Ted grounds me and makes me a better person.
I would love to know how this one cheated death,"—Amelia nodded towards Kam— "but whatever happens, know that God has a plan for you better than you could have imagined. "
She gave Ted a kiss on the cheek and headed toward the truck, then drove away down the same rutted road they had just came.
"She'll take them to her mother's place in town. They'll be safe there." Ted opened the door for them again. "Let's get you settled, then you can make whatever plans you need to."
Taylor touched his arm. "Thank you, Ted. For everything."
She felt herself relax a fraction as they settled Kam on the couch despite his grumbling that he was fine.
She could see the exhaustion pulling at his eyes.
Ted signaled for her to step outside with him.
Taylor looked over at Kam once more before closing the door and facing Ted, who stood with his hands on the railing staring out over his homestead.
"There's a hidden compartment to hide behind the bookshelf in the living room. The spare gun is secured in a false drawer underneath the kitchen sink and the ammo is stashed in the Honey O's cereal box. There is also a SAT phone in the nightstand by our bed."
"Ted, I'm sorry for not trusting you. I…"
"I get it. Don't tell me why you're in trouble. I need plausible deniability." Ted paused then faced her. "When Amelia gets back, you need to do as she says. She knows what she's doing. Not listening could get you or Kam killed."
Is that how Clint died? Taylor didn't give voice to that thought. "I'll watch her back, too."
Ted's eyes flexed, then resolve settled back on his face. "I've got to get back to work. May the Lord guide your feet and bring you safely home."
The blessing threatened to break the well a second time today. This was not her. She was strong and courageous. She was a federal agent. Amelia's words echoed in her mind. “God worked it out for the better.”
Taylor let out a long sigh. It might be time to admit that she couldn’t do this on her own, especially now that Kam was injured and needed rest. Her freedom, and even her life, depended on figuring out a way to take Dasha down.
She was going to have to call in a favor or possibly all of them if they were going to get out of this. Taylor knew exactly who to start with.