Chapter 43

When we got completely inside, I saw the Chief's stuff neatly stacked just inside the door. Sarah was ahead of me and her squeals of delight were like a soothing balm to me as she oohed and ahhed over everything inside. I showed her what was to be her room and she squealed and jumped on the bottom bunk, stretched out, and pretended she was sleeping. I laughed out loud and tickled her as she lay on the bottom bunk. Her laughter and squeals of indignation seemed to make the house feel like a home.

"This place is great, Pops! I hope we can move in soon; I love it here."

"Well, remember it may be awhile before we settle in. Meanwhile, why don't you put your things in the drawer and I will make some coffee for the Chief and me? I have cold sodas in the little fridge in the kitchen when you get thirsty."

I left her grinning at me and got the coffee brewing. I moved the grenades to a more secure place in case Sarah started looking through the cupboard. I finished brewing the coffee and poured two large cups, then headed back outside. I looked in Sarah's room and was surprised to see she was out like a light with a big smile on her face. I just shook my head in wonder and went outside. I sat the cups on the small table and unslung the AK, leaning it beside the cabin in easy reach and sat down.

"Ok, Chief, this better be good 'cause I am not happy with your actions so far."

"Yeah, I can imagine. But, in my own defense, I hadn't planned on getting caught in the middle of taking a shower. I figured I would be in and out and just wait till you showed up."

"Well, when you quit feeling sorry for yourself, you can signal for the rest of your team to come in. I imagine they are getting pretty hot with all that gear on."

He just looked at me in total shock then raised his arm and made a circling motion. I watched as five men moved in towards where we were. The sixth man came from behind the cabin. Hmm, I thought, a seven man patrol. Now this was definitely interesting since they had to have hid their buggies somewhere outside the walls. I knew they hadn't walked all the way here from the fort. They settled in a circle around us, dropping the heavy packs they were all carrying on their backs. None of them said a word, just looked at us as they sat down. Damn, I thought. They could have taken me and Sarah out the moment I opened fire on the Chief, and I wondered why they hadn't. All of them were probably in their mid twenties and watching them I realized they were not newbie's, but seasoned vets doing a job.