Chapter 13: I Spy

The drive back was quiet and somber. I wished that I had brought Travis along just so that he could be there to do what he did best. I wanted desperately to reach out and take her pain from her, knowing it was impossible. Nor could I find any words of comfort so I remained silent.

We pulled over at the Rest Area to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. I stood facing the Eastern sky as it brightened in a colorful pre-dawn painting. I felt her come up behind me and put her arms around my waist.

“Thank you,” she said softly and I felt her kiss my shoulder before moving beside me to watch as the brightening horizon turned an impossible green hue. I touched her hand where it rested on my hip just as the sun rose up, announcing the birth of a new day. She kissed my shoulder once more then turned and walked quietly back to the truck.

We stopped in town for lunch and some quick shopping before continuing on. There was a parcel waiting for me at the FedEx store. We arrived at the dwelling just before noon and collapsed—both of us exhausted and emotionally spent. I napped on the couch for a few hours before rising and checking my messages.

The only pressing thing was a confirmation of my order for the 3^rd (unmodified) ISO container which would be shipped within the week. It would become the entrance to my mine tunnel when I began digging into the face of the canyon between my dwelling and Gil’s. I had submitted my request for a limited demolition permit just after dealing with the trafficking ring, but I expected it to take several weeks for a response.

I heard the bathroom door open and then the shower start, so I crept past and into the kitchen to give her some privacy. For a late lunch, I decided on salmon and risotto with salads. I planned on inviting Gil to join us so I took out extra. Several minutes later Bianca joined me looking fresh and pretty, though still reserved and quiet.

Travis rose sluggishly from his spot by the vent and went to greet her excitedly, causing a smile to grace her lovely face.

Just then my phone dinged, alerting me that my perimeter alarm was tripped at the entrance to the property. I opened the flashing icon and the hidden camera showed a white two-door coupe pull onto my road and disappear down the hill.

“What is it?” Bianca asked, studying the concern on my face.

“Visitors,” I replied. I turned to her and touched her arm. “I want you to stay inside here and out of sight until I tell you it’s all clear, okay?”

She nodded but I could see the anxiety in her eyes.

“Don’t worry about it,” I assured her, “I think I know who this is and what they are about. Just stay inside and it will be fine.”

Suddenly I wished I had those walkie-talkies so that I could tell Gil to get his double-barreled cannon ready. I grabbed my coat, gloves, and keys and went outside. I looked over to his cabin and saw him sitting on his porch as before, whittling away at his stick. I pinched my tongue and omitted a shrill whistle that echoed through the ravine. I saw him rise to his feet and look back at me. I lifted my arm and waved it in circles over my head. He nodded and stepped into his cabin.

I climbed into my truck and started it up. As the engine warmed, I went about raising and lowering the giant plow attached to the front. With the control box attached to my dash, I could articulate it to scoop left or right or even shape it into a V to collect snow in a straight path. Or I could reverse the V and plow the snow to either side like a wedge. After I had it set to my liking, I made a show of casually removing the overnight accumulation from the clearing, slowly making my way towards the road leading out.

Glancing at the camera feeds on my phone, I spotted the car parked near the head of the hot springs trail. A slightly overweight man wearing a heavy coat and a fur-lined, Russian-style ushanka cap stepped out briefly to deploy the drone, before getting back in. I raised the blade of my plow and made swiftly for the road.

Luck was not on my side however, because as soon as I made the first switch-back after crossing the bridge, I encountered a boulder lying squarely in the center of the track, blocking my passage. With a snarl and curse, I lowered the blade and tried to push it to the side quickly. It was frozen to the ground and sunk deeper than expected so I risked damaging my plow by repeatedly trying to push the thing this way and that. 20 minutes seemed like an eternity before I finally dislodged it from its hole and pushed it over the bank. By the time I reached the branch, the coupe was gone. Cursing some more, I drove quickly to the Canyon rim and raced down the dirt road until I came to the County Road. There was no trace of the car, other than its tracks heading for the interstate.

When I got back to the clearing, I found Gil waiting for me on his porch. I drove straight over and climbed out of my truck angrily. “I hope you had better luck than I did,” I grumbled.

He nodded and shared his toothy grin before holding up a small piece of plastic. It looked like a propellor blade. “My first shot missed by a hair,” he stated—once more sans drawl, “but I prepared a staggered powder load in the other barrel and blew it to pieces.” He pointed across the bank that led down to the creek. “Ah ‘spect most of it went in tha drink.”

I nodded and slapped him on the shoulder. “Nice work Gil, unfortunately, I had to move a damn boulder off the road before I could get to the fucker spying on us. He was long gone.”

“Ain’t no nevamind,” Gil drawled, “Ah doubt he’ll be back.”

“I agree,” I grunted, “would’ve been nice to have a few words with him though.”

The ISO shop was modified from a standard 8-foot by 40-foot container which made it much easier for Randy to position it, next to the form I had prepared. It was also delivered empty of most of the machinery that would eventually be installed to make it functional as a workshop. The huge 600-amp Lincoln welder/generator sat off to the side awaiting installation, once the shop was in place.

It took us all morning to carefully slide the container off the trailer and onto its foundation. With another generous tip, I sent Randy on his way and spent the remainder of the day securing it and preparing the wiring and electrical connections. I also pieced together the forms for the concrete ramp that I needed to pour for the main entrance.

Bianca spent the day familiarizing herself with the immediate area, and her new phone. She was hitting it off well with Sam, and I became more than a little curious about what they discussed.

During a break, I took her across the ravine to the hot springs where she promptly doffed her clothes and climbed in. I was stunned as she pulled her tight shirt over her head causing her C-cup breasts to bounce free. Her dark areolas and firm nipples became harder in the cool air as she bent to remove her leggings. I turned beet red and turned around only to have her laugh at me. I glanced back and caught my breath at the sight of her incredible ass.

“Oh my God!” She purred as she stepped into the steaming pool, “Carter this is wonderful! Come join me!”

I stammered and studied the tree line, noting the hidden cameras that recorded our every movement. “Um, I am really dirty from the shop, and uh...” Travis was no help at all. He decided to wander further down into the ravine to explore Gil’s camp.

“Oh God!” she cried out exasperated, “You are such an American! So prudish and proud!” Her tone was mocking as she lay back and splashed the hot water up to her neck. “Now stop being such a Ninny and get your clothes off!” she demanded.

There was absolutely no way in hell I was going to strip down and get in that pool with her. I found myself confounded by emotions as I wrestled with the notion of playing around naked with Hondo’s granddaughter. My swelling dick had a mind of its own which only furthered my resolve to...

“Carter!” she nearly screamed, her thick accent tainted by her anguish, “look at me!”

I reluctantly turned to her and was somewhat relieved that her body was mostly submerged. What wasn’t was sufficiently obscured by the steam wafting over the pool.

“Stop being stupid and take your clothes off!” she demanded, “here, I will turn around for you.”

Fine! I muttered under my breath and pulled my filthy hoody over my head. The grease and mud-stained Carhartts soon followed once I had stepped out of my BoonDockers. Shedding my boxers, I tentatively stepped into the hot water while keeping myself turned away from her. I had barely sat down before she turned back and moved next to me. Yeah. Nothing awkward about this!