Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure by Kyle Pratt

to my place the more
nervous I’m getting.”
    Hoover
smiled. “From what you’ve told me about Maria and what I know about your dad,
they’d be fools to go near your place. Besides, they would call if anything
happened.”
    Caden
knew that was true. Still he thought about the Westmore farmhouse. It was off
the main road, at the end of a long dirt driveway, trees blocked the view from
many angles. However, it was on a hill and visible from numerous locations, not
as secluded and surrounded by trees as the homes they had been checking. Still,
he was concerned. What if they see it and
decide that is where they want to hide out?
    “Your
turn Mr. Military.”
    “What?”
    “To
check out the place. A retired couple live here. The driveway is about a
quarter of a mile long. You can’t even see the house from here.”
    As
the others set up a perimeter at the road edge, Caden walked toward the home.
Approaching the dwelling was a problem. He didn’t want to look like a criminal
casing the place, but he didn’t want to expose himself either. It seemed best
to approach a residence unseen and check it out. Look for an illuminated room
with curtains pulled back, observe, then knock and talk for final confirmation
that all was well. However, this house was completely dark. Probably no one is home. But what is open
this late at night that an old….
    Booms
and flashes tore from the house.
    Caden
dove into the snow.
    In
the darkness he heard movement and shots zinging past. He crawled with all his
might for the nearby trees as headlights lit the driveway and the roar of
engines filled the night air.
    As
the cars sped by, Caden shouted into his radio. “They’re coming your way!”
    The
gunfire became continuous.
    Staying
low, Caden hurried through the trees as shots blasted back and forth along the
driveway. The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass came from up ahead.
He quickened his pace, but could only go so fast in the near total darkness of
the forest. Approaching the road, Caden stopped. The van was not in sight, but
the lowrider had hit a tree. Behind the vehicle were two people, one man was
shooting at the soldiers and Hoover, the other was limp on the ground.
    Taking
careful aim at the torso, Caden fired a three round burst. The man dropped in a
heap.
    Within
seconds the shooting died down.
    “Hold
your fire! It’s me, Caden.” He waved as he came out of the woods.
    “Glad
to see you’re still with us,” the sheriff said.
    Caden
trotted across the road to the lowrider and checked the first body. Three shots
were in a tight group to the chest. The next man had been hit in both the head
and chest. His mother couldn’t have identified him.
    Standing
in the middle of the road Hoover asked, “Are they dead?”
    “Yes.”
    “Come
on then, we’ve got to follow that van.” Hoover left the deputy at the house and
called over the radio for backup at that location.
    Caden
was certain that the deputies would find all the gang members gone and no one
alive in the house.
    Hoover
spun the tires of the squad car in the snow and then with a jolt regained
traction. Caden called over his radio for third squad to come in their
direction as they gathered speed and pursued the van.      
    *                *                *
    A
gunshot boomed nearby. Startled, Zach dropped his knife on the counter.
Abandoning the last fish he had to fillet he tentatively stepped to the window
and pulled the curtain back an inch or two.
    More
shots and muzzle flashes came from the road down the hill. That’s the direction of DeLynn’s house.
    Zach
looked at his mother asleep in the chair with a half-full glass of booze still
in her hand.
    Bo
tried to stand, but fell awkwardly back in the chair. “Get away from the window
boy, it’s dangerous. Best to stay here with your mom and me.”
    Vicki
never agreed with Bo, but this time she nodded with a worried look.
    With
a shake of the head the young man strode