Big Horn Storm. Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Deadly Exodus - CHAPTER ONE

  Deadly Exodus - CHAPTER TWO

  Deadly Exodus - CHAPTER THREE

  THANK YOU

  Big Storm Horn

  Kim McMahill

  Copyright 2012 Kim McMahill

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are the product of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  ebook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share ebook versions with another person, please purchase an additional copies for each recipient. If you’re reading an ebook version of this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Published by Prism Book Group

  Paperback ISBN 9780615679204 First Edition, 2012

  Published in the United States of America

  Contact info: [email protected]

  http://www.prismbookgroup.com

  Dedication

  To my wonderful husband, Jim, and my super supportive mom.

  Thanks for always believing in my work.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Once again negotiations between the U.S. and the newly formed Coalition of Communist and Islamic States, known as the CCIS, have broken down. Representatives for the Coalition have stated that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Special Forces, led by Colonel Nadari, will not pull out of the Canadian Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Known for his brutal and unconventional fighting tactics, Colonel Nadari is also the nephew to the country’s President and closely tied to senior members of the Supreme Leader’s governing council, making his presence on the border an issue of grave concern for the United States and its allies,” the young reporter stated as a photo of a dangerous-looking man flashed across the screen.

  Groans resounded throughout the Colorado Creative Designs’ break room. The staff edged closer to the television, craving news of a peaceful resolution to a situation which had been escalating ever since Russia returned to communist rule and formed a pact with countries looking for allies in their constant fighting with the Western powers.

  “The stock market has closed at a new record low amidst plummeting housing prices, disrupted trade corridors and low consumer confidence. The continued political instability caused by growing tensions has sent the U.S. and European economies into an unprecedented freefall,” the reporter continued.

  Niki Garat cringed at the gloomy report coming over the television and at the cold, sinister expression on the man’s face dominating the screen behind the reporter. She shook off the chills brought on by the military leader’s stare and looked around at her colleagues. Three advertising campaign designers had already been laid off from the graphic design firm, making her and the remaining associates increasingly nervous. The job, the city and the majority of her coworkers meant little to her, but it was her life and the thought of losing this small bit of stability made her uncomfortable. While she didn’t feel particularly settled in her career or at home in Denver, at the moment it was all she had. The sense of not fitting in was nothing new, and didn’t bother her since she could look forward to an annual escape which always made everything else in life bearable—spending time with her grandfather in the mountains.

  “I can’t believe you’re heading to Wyoming to camp out with your grandfather with all that’s going on,” Kate whispered into her friend’s ear.

  “Actually, I can’t think of a better time to leave the city and hide out in the mountains for a while with Papa,” Niki replied. “No TV, newspapers, internet or telephones sounds like Heaven right now.”

  “Shh,” the group hissed while glaring at Kate and Niki.

  “Tensions at the White House are high as officials struggle to find a diplomatic solution to the volatile situation. European allies are concerned about the methodical invasion of Canada by the IRGC Special Forces and are encouraging the U.S. to lead a multi-national force into Canada to regain control of the provinces whose governments have been ousted and sent into exile in the United States. With Iranian troops amassing along the Canadian-U.S. border, Russian troops staged in Cuba and a large Chinese contingent protecting its oil drilling operations in Venezuela, President McCray is hesitant to authorize military force in Canada, concerned any U.S. military intervention will incite Iran’s allies stationed nearby.”

  “We should have kicked Russia out of Cuba when we had a chance and tried a little harder to make nice with Venezuela,” Kate complained.

  “Shh.”

  “National Guard troops have been sent to reinforce the Border Patrol at entry points from Washington State to the Eastern seaboard, but the most imminent threat is the recent movement of Iranian forces along the—”

  The television went blank and the group swung around, looking for the holder of the remote control, ready to go to battle. All eyes rested on the CEO and their postures straightened as expressions of guilt spread over their tense faces. Their boss was a woman who didn’t approve of extra mid-day breaks, even to get an update on a pending international crisis, and seldom let world events shake her steely foundation or interrupt work.

  “Go home. Take a long weekend, be with your families and try not to worry about all this since there’s nothing we can do about it. Most of our clients have requested a hold on projects until this situation is resolved, so there isn’t much work anyway.” With that, she turned and strode out of the room.

  One by one the group filed out of the break room and hurried for their workstations. Stunned and excited by the uncharacteristic early release, smiles returned to the earlier somber faces. Less enthusiastically than the rest, Kate followed Niki into her cubicle.

  “I’m going to miss you,” Kate said as she slid her rear onto the corner of Niki’s desk. “What will I do when you’re gone? Who’ll listen to me complain about my landlord and these idiots around the office?”

  “I doubt you’ll even notice I’m gone, but thanks. You can just vent to my answering machine, order delivery pizza or Chinese takeout, and veg out in front of the TV. And I’m sure you’ll be back in the office by Monday morning. Hopefully this current situation will be resolved quickly.”

  “You make my life sound so dull and pathetic and I guess it will be without you, since no one else around here speaks to me, being the lowly receptionist that I am.”

/>   The statement hit home with Niki and she felt sympathy for Kate. She did find life in the city to be dull, but at least she had her annual summer getaway to anticipate. When Niki first moved to Denver the restaurants, shopping, sporting events and endless entertainment had seemed exciting, but those activities now felt like merely passing time until she escaped to the mountains and could breathe the clean air and stare for miles without seeing another face.

  “That’s ridiculous. Your life is not pathetic and your position in this company has nothing to do with the unfriendly environment around here. I may as well be invisible for all the love and camaraderie I receive from our coworkers.”

  Kate snorted her disagreement and picked up the hinged double photo frame on the corner of her friend’s desk. “So I take it this little old man standing next to you and sitting atop the big white horse is your grandfather?”

  “Little? Give me that.” Niki ripped the photo out of Kate’s hand and studied both pictures for several moments, each photo bringing back happy memories, making her more anxious than ever to leave the city, and not just for a vacation.

  “I guess Papa isn’t very big, but he’s tough. When I was a little girl I thought he was invincible and would have sworn he was ten feet tall. The way he handled the stock at the ranch made me think he could talk to the animals, like Dr. Doolittle. I hate seeing him look so old. This picture was taken over a year ago, so I’m a little apprehensive to see how much more he’s aged.”

  Niki handed the frame back to Kate and went about changing the outgoing message on her voicemail and organizing her desk as she always did before going on vacation. She checked her e-mail for the last time and began the process of powering down her computer, oblivious to Kate’s continued scrutiny.

  “You just don’t make sense,” Kate mumbled.

  “What do you mean?’

  “Here you look like Calamity Jane, but at work you’re always so polished and professional, dressed in some classy business attire with your hair pulled into a proper and stylish do. It’s like you live a double life and the one away from the office looks much more exciting.”

  Niki laughed and shook her head. She didn’t think she was such an enigma, but the thought amused her.

  “What’s the deal with this one?” Kate asked. “He’s such a handsome young man with a killer smile.”

  “That was taken at the Sheridan County Fair when I was twelve and I think Deuce was fourteen or fifteen. His dad made him enter the rescue race with me—that’s where one rider speeds down the arena, picks up a second rider and they run back to the finish line riding double. We always won since I was so small back then that he’d just grab my arm and pull me onto the horse without even stopping. Anyway, he doesn’t smile like that anymore. In fact, he barely speaks to me at all.”

  “Too bad. I bet he grew into one fine-looking man—and the name...what a name. It makes me want to be a cowgirl,” Kate replied with a devilish grin.

  “I suppose so, but I really miss the boy and the smile.”

  Kate put the photo back on Niki’s desk and stood to give her friend a hug. “Have fun and be careful.”

  “Sure you don’t want to come with me? The Bighorn National Forest is over a million acres of wide-open space and breathtaking scenery, so there’s plenty of room for all. I can promise it won’t be dull. You might even see bears, deer, elk...handsome wranglers. And you know, some people actually pay big bucks to go play cowboy. You can come with me and do it for free.”

  “As tempting as not showering for weeks, sleeping out in the freezing cold with wild animals, peeing in the bushes and killing innocent fish for sustenance sounds, I think I’ll do like the rest of the urban dwellers and plant my butt in front of the TV and watch our latest international fiasco unfold while eating ice cream straight out of the carton.”

  Niki laughed at the vision Kate outlined as she watched her friend leave her office. If she stayed in the city, the scenario would be fairly accurate for her as well. What’s becoming of my life? I don’t belong here, but where do I belong?

  She would miss Kate’s friendship and sense of humor, but the thought of seeing her grandfather had Niki hurrying to leave of the office. Ever since she was ten, the highlight of her summers had been the time she spent with her grandfather herding sheep in the stunningly beautiful and rugged Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. She vowed this year would be no different. Once she was out of range of cell phones, newspapers, television and radio she would be able to pretend everything in the country and world was normal and enjoy the companionship of her last surviving family member.

  “Nichole?”

  The sound of her boss’s stern voice startled her out of her daydreams. She dropped the heavy stapler in her hand. It crashed against the corner of her desk on the way to the floor, taking a large chunk of the dreary gray composite with it.

  “Sorry,” Niki said with a grimace.

  “I just stopped by to tell you to take a couple of extra weeks if you want. I know you have the time built up. I have a feeling our clients are going to be a little low on confidence for a while and it’ll take some time for our workload to return to where it was.”

  Niki locked eyes with her boss. The woman was made of ice and stone, so for her to be unsure about the future and generous with vacation time made Niki worry she had taken the international incident too lightly. It seemed as if the U.S. was always getting into a conflict with some country, but so far very little, except for a few isolated, but devastating, terrorist attacks, had come to American soil. But Canada and Cuba were too close for comfort, and if war broke out, America’s enemies were geographically closer than they had ever been before.

  “Thanks. I’ll do that. I hope the media has blown this situation out of proportion as usual, but if not, there’s no better place to be than with my grandfather on his turf.”

  Her boss nodded and left the office without further discussion. Niki jotted a quick note to Kate letting her know she would be gone longer than originally planned. It was cowardly not to call, but she didn’t feel up to Kate’s grumbling about her being away for even longer. Besides, she was anxious to get going and didn’t want any more delays.

  Niki had packed her vehicle the night before, hoping to already be on the road by now. She glanced at her watch and hurried out the door. She wouldn’t arrive in Sheridan until well after dark, but if she didn’t make it at least that far tonight there would be little hope of reaching the ranch on time in the morning and avoiding an unwanted conflict.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Niki’s palms dampened with sweat as she gripped the steering wheel of her small SUV and crept down the rough dirt and gravel road toward the ranch. Despite her slow speed, dust billowed in her vehicle’s wake, announcing to anyone who might be watching that she had arrived.

  She pulled in next to the horse trailers, tractors and flatbeds lined up neatly behind the barn, knowing there her vehicle would be out of everyone’s way while she was in the mountains with her grandfather for the next month. Glancing at the digital clock on her dash, she saw she was thirty minutes late. Normally that wouldn’t bother her, but she knew Deuce would be angry.

  Niki wasn’t sure why he always seemed to be in such a foul mood around her. When she was young they had a lot of fun when she came to his family’s ranch to visit her grandfather, but the older she grew, the more he changed, and by the time she was twenty-one, they could hardly be in the same room together without arguing. And, if they weren’t arguing it meant he wasn’t speaking to her at all—she couldn’t decide which was more heartbreaking.

  She stared at her cell phone for a moment, trying to decide whether or not to take it into the mountains. Part of what she loved about spending time at the sheep camp was the lack of technology. Reception was virtually non-existent and with no way to recharge her battery, there seemed to be little point in carrying the phone, and there was the possibility she might lose or break it anyway. She killed the power and tossed it in the glove bo
x, happy to be rid of the nuisance.

  Outside the vehicle, Niki paused, stretched and inhaled the scent of the mountains. When she was away from the ranch, she missed the smell of pine, hay and grass, and even the odor coming from the corrals. She sighed and grabbed her saddlebags from the floor of the backseat, took another deep breath and headed for the barn, prepared for Deuce’s anger.

  The ranch seemed unnaturally quiet for late summer. There were no shouts from wranglers, no hum of machinery and no dogs barking. After being in the city for so long the silence was a little unnerving, but the beauty of the mountains cradling the ranch and the familiarity of everything around her swept Niki away from the present and made her feel ten again.

  “It’s too damn hot for the horses to stand around saddled up all day waiting on you.”

  Niki couldn’t see Robert Mitchell Blackburn II, known to friends and family as Deuce, but his deep voice gave away his location. No doubt his tall muscular frame stood just inside the barn door, concealed in the shadows. Even though he was hidden from view, she could describe every detail of his unruly hair peeking out from under his beat-up and sweat-stained straw cowboy hat, the scrutinizing look in his hazel eyes, his tanned complexion, and the scuffs on the heels of his boots where his spurs had worn on the leather. Dark stubble would shadow his chin and above his lip, and his sleeves would be rolled up on his denim shirt. She hated the fact that not only could she see him clearly in her mind now, but she could picture him just as clearly nearly every day of her life no matter how hard she tried to keep him out of her head.

  She suspected he had been ready to ride with her into the sheep camp for at least a half an hour, but she didn’t feel all that guilty. When Niki called the ranch to let Bob and Deuce know when to expect her, she had insisted she didn’t need an escort, especially if none other than Deuce was available. Niki would have enjoyed catching up with Bob or one of the wranglers on the long ride into her grandfather’s camp, but the tension between her and Deuce just made her sad, and occasionally a bit angry. Niki had no idea what she had done to deserve the distance he had placed between the two of them and was too stubborn to ask.