High Desert Barbecue by J. D. Tuccille Page B

to face back the way they’d come, and flopped into a sitting position with his back against a tree. His hat slid back on his head and a spray of graying hair escaped to form an off-color halo around his head. He gasped for breath.
    “ Can’t-Can’t-Can’t-“
    H e held the mini-rifle pointed straight ahead.
    S cott dropped his own pack and drew his pistol, releasing the thumb safety as he palmed the gun.
    “ What the fuck was that?” he said when he’d caught his breath. He tried to listen for the sound of runners or vehicles in pursuit, but the way the three were breathing a helicopter could have flown overhead and escaped detection.
    “ Maybe they’re really pissed about the truck,” Rollo wheezed. He managed a chuckle that dissolved into a cough to let them know he was joking.
    “ They shot at you,” Lani finally said. She turned to face Rollo. “And then you shot back.”
    R ollo rolled his eyes.
    “ They just fired a warning shot, Lani.”
    S cott nodded.
    “ And Rollo just got them to keep their heads down. Nobody actually got hit.”
    L ani just stared, and patted absently at Champ, who leaned against her leg.
    “ So it was all in good fun?” Her face flushed bright red beneath her suntan.
    S cott smiled.
    “ Well, maybe not ‘fun.’”
    H e turned his attention to Rollo.
    “ Is that your Erector-set rifle?”
    R ollo grinned.
    “ I always carry this in my pack. It’s my good luck charm.”
    R ollo unscrewed a nut at the base of the rifle’s pistol grip, which was a molded extrusion of the black, plastic stock, and then he separated the receiver from the stock. “The barrel comes off, too, and everything stashes inside the stock. It’s one of my favorite toys.”
    “ I like it. But why didn’t you grab my pistol instead of putting together your little MacGyver gadget?”
    “ Hell, Scott. I’ve never shot your pistol. I figured it’d be faster to put this thing together than to figure out that IQ test you call a gun.”
    L ani pressed the heels of her hands to her forehead and let out a sigh.
    “ Guys, I’m so happy you’re having a bonding moment, but what do we do next?”
    T here was a long moment of silence.
    “ I mean, bizarre as it is, Rollo was apparently right about rangers setting the forest on fire. And now they’re after—” Her voice broke.
    A fter a moment, she spoke, her voice once again clear and strong.
    “ Basically, we’re fucked.”
    S cott reached around the slim blonde, and then dramatically twirled her into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips.
    “ But baby, this is your opportunity to see me in action. You can witness my grace under fire—”
    “ Witness you run your ass off under fire, more like,” Rollo offered.
    S cott ignored him.
    “ This is a chance for genuine heroics, honey.”
    “ Oh shit. I hope you’re not serious.”
    S cott gently returned Lani to her feet.
    “ Not completely. But I thought it might cheer you up. Anyway, if I’m not gonna look dashing now, I’ll never have a chance.”
    H e shot his girlfriend what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Then he looked ahead along the rutted track through the forest.
    “ Hey, where do you think this road goes?”
     

Chapter 20
     
     
    W ith smoke wreathed around his head, Jason barely suppressed a dry cough. He shot a glance down the road toward the spot where they’d seen the stranger—and been shot at by somebody . Fire was spreading at that site, the smoke was getting thicker and he and his friends were very obviously not the only people roaming the woods with guns.
    H e wanted to go home.
    B ut Van Kamp had other ideas.
    “ Get that son of a bitch,” the diminutive uber-ranger had ordered him via two-way radio. It was an impressive device—larger than usual and, importantly, supposedly secure from eavesdropping. Jason could visualize the little man standing on his chair and leaning over his desk with spittle flying from between his gnashing teeth. He shuddered.
    “ Get that