Kit said, “Well, today you are. We’re putting you on a plane in a few minutes, and you’re going to be the one who makes the others mind. You got that?”
Kelly nodded.
Kit walked to Anita and pulled her from the group. “This is the special one.”
Paul bent to look at her face, “I can see why.”
“The boss says you can’t lose this one. Understand?”
Paul nodded, “Sure.”
“Okay. How about we go have a couple drinks to celebrate before you take off?”
Paul nodded, “Let’s do it.”
They left the children and closed the door to keep them inside the barn. Kelly thought about the plane, and she knew she didn’t want to get on it. She looked at the other frightened faces, seeing the fear in their eyes.
She felt so scared, and not knowing what came next had her almost in tears. Consuela said, “Anita’s afraid, too.”
Kelly looked at the six-year old and said, “It’s okay, Anita. We’re going to be okay.” She looked at the others staring at her, all of them desperately wanting to believe what she said. She felt terrified, too, but pushed her feelings aside, as she had while taking care of her mother after…tears formed in her eyes as thoughts of her father’s casket coming off the plane and the soldiers standing at attention and saluting it. But she couldn’t think of that now. I have to keep us alive.
“Let’s get closer and talk about what we can do.”
The others formed a ring around her and Consuela, and Anita moved to the middle of them to be close to Kelly. She leaned against the older girl’s leg, shivering as if cold.
Ten minutes later, the barn door opened and Kit and the others entered. Kelly glanced beyond them to the outside, watching the fat man in the Hawaiian shirt go to the plane and climb the steps.
Kit said, “You’re going on a trip, and I don’t want any trouble from any of you.” She pointed at the other adults entering the barn, “They’re going to guard you while you walk to the plane. You run, they shoot you. Now, get in two lines close together. Hurry up.”
Kelly saw the rifles, and knew Kit meant it when she said these people would shoot. All she could do was hope for a chance.
The big man with the high voice nudged her and said, “When we land, I’m gonna have some fun with you. So, get ready.” He leaned over to grab her buttocks with his big hand, but she jumped to the side, knocking the other girls off balance. He leered at her. Kelly felt embarrassed and shocked, and the other girls who saw what happened edged as far from him as they could get.
Kelly’s face felt hot, but the group had to keep walking. They stepped into the sun and moved toward the plane. She thought about running for it, but knew she couldn’t outrun a bullet or Kit’s knife. God, please help me, she thought.
Chapter 9
Ike handed Hunter the keys and cut his prisoner’s flexcuffs, then he and Paco went next. Paco glanced across the road and saw one of the women from Acuña, Sofia, standing beside a black Suburban with dark tinted windows. She was the scout for anyone following. They did it every trip to the ranch. She looked at him and laid her index finger along the side of her nose. He smiled, but not where Ike could see.
Paco’s eyes watered when he finally relieved himself, even though Ike was in the stall with him. Ike waited until Paco finished, then he urinated while holding the rear of Paco’s belt.
Two oil field hands stared at them when both men exited the bathroom stall together. Ike said, “He’s autistic, can’t open his fly by himself.” Both men nodded and one said, “You’re a good man for helping him.”
When they returned to the pickup, Hunter sat behind the wheel. Ike opened the Ford’s rear door for Paco, while Hunter reached over the seat and handed him another flexcuff to put on their prisoner.
Paco said, “I will not run, you do not have to use this.”
Ike looked at Hunter. She said, “If we don’t use the cuffs, and you run, we will shoot you.”
Paco saw she meant it. “I will not run.”
They left off the flexcuffs, and Paco settled back in the seat as Hunter handed him some peanuts and a bottle of water. As he ate, he began to plan for an escape, and, if it left time, to kill the man, Ike. That would be a worthy satisfaction. As for the woman, this Kincaid, maybe kill her as well, but only after he had his fun with her. That thought pleased him. Until then he would continue to pretend to be the cowed one and keep them unsuspecting of his intentions, and that they would now be followed by the black Suburban.
Hunter pulled out on the road and said, “I’m driving the highway from here to San Angelo. If we have any chance to catch them, it will be on that stretch. If we don’t see them, then we go to the place Paco shows us and figure out plan B.”
Ike said, “Let’s go.”
Hunter pulled out and turned left, going under the Interstate 10 overpass and continuing north on 277. Paco leaned his head to the side, putting his temple