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“No, I mean I miss… whoopin’ your tails!” she said with a little more twang than enthusiasm. “And maybe I missed my brothers. Just a little bit anyway.”
“Girl, you just wait until you’re out of that brace and off the doctor’s schedule,” Wit warned. “Gloves are comin’ off, Rainy Jo… you just guaranteed that. Man, sassy as ever.”
Hen went to her and leaned down to hug her and left a kiss on top of her head. “I love ya, sis. Not so much our brother, but definitely you.”
“Ah, here we go. The two of you gangin’ up on me.” Wit rolled his eyes. “Get out of here, Hen. Go load up your fake sister in her rig with the stuff on that cart. It’s time we roll.”
“You got it.” Hen and Rainy laughed, and Hen was sure to share a brotherly hug followed by their own special handshake as he left. “See y’all on the other side. Killion, take care of her.”
“Of course,” Killion said, serious as could be, then he offered a bit of humor of his own. “There’s three of you backwoods cowboys now, wouldn’t think of crossing the likes of you.”
They each looked at one another and broke into laughter.
“Well, well, well…” Wit snickered. “Needs some work, but you got a little funny in ya, O’Reilly.”
Killion remained stone faced as Hen wheeled the cart out and Wit began to follow.
“Keep your comms live,” Wit said over his shoulder. “We’re gettin’ started, and I got your six, Killion.”
Killion nodded, and Wit was gone. It was just Killion and Rainy and deafening silence.
“This is going to be weird, isn’t it?” Rainy questioned.
“I’m sure it’s weird to see someone who looks and acts like you, but a decoy is important. We don’t know if your location has been compromised and didn’t have but a few hours to do recon.”
“No, I mean this. Being out of here. Surrounded by everyone at once.” She paused. “You and me.”
Killion whipped his head her way with a furrowed brow, “You and me?”
“C’mon. These past few months have been –– routine.” She shrugged, waiting for him to catch on to the bigger issue.
“Routines are good. Especially for the babies.”
“Killion, I mean between you and me. Us. You know?” When he didn’t seem to catch what she was saying, she continued. “You bring our babies here, help me feed them, care for them, then leave and go home. Alone. With them.”
“It’ll be the same thing at Watermark,” he fired back, clearly not picking up on the cues she was providing. “I’ll be there to help you with them while you continue to get your strength back.”
“That’s… what I mean.” She stalled, seemed frustrated by his continued blank stare, and let out a defeated sigh, “Never mind. Should we go now too?”
“Not yet. They’re driving the decoy out to draw any unwanted attention with them,” Killion said. He touched his earpiece and said, “Copy that.”
It was clear he was now communicating with the team as much as he was her, so Rainy refrained from any conversation other than necessary. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours of nothing.
“If that big convoy has drove away, how am I…” Rainy halted at the familiar chopping sound above that grew closer by the second and awareness came over her. She pointed up. “Oh.”
“Chopper,” Killion confirmed. “I have drones patrolling along the flight path to Watermark, and they’ll escort us there as well. This way is faster, more efficient, and safer.”
“I see.”
Killion seemed startled by her reaction. “You’re not afraid of heights, are you? Or flying?”
“No. It’s fine. Just surprised.”
Relief washed over him, and his shoulders relaxed as much as someone in his shoes could relax. He placed his finger over his earpiece and nodded as if silently responding to someone.
“They’re ready for us,” he said, reaching for a nearby wheelchair.
Her expression dimmed at the sight of it, and she quickly reached out and grabbed Killion’s arm to stop him. “Can I… walk?”
