Ninety Degrees Out
Chapter 20

“Holy hell! What went down here?” Erik let out a long-drawn-out whistle as they trotted out onto the road where Alicia had parked her Jeep.

“Dammit! Dammit. How am I supposed to get this fixed?” Alicia continued to swear under her breath.

She swung her leg over the withers of Chay’s horse and slid to the ground racing over to inspect the damage. Every window was smashed, her cooler with water and snacks was gone. The radio she had installed with Chay’s help had been torn out, along with the magnet mounted antenna that used to be on the roof.

“Thank God we had all your camera stuff with us, or that would be gone too.” Alicia kicked the flattened tires. “Might as well have set it on fire too.”

“I think they tried. Look!” Erik pointed into the back cargo area. The remains of a Molotov cocktail sloshed in a rag stuffed bottle. It didn’t break when it was tossed inside.

“There’s motorcycle tracks all over the road here. You can see where they spun their tires. It looks like there were at least a half dozen.” Armaruq squatted to take a closer look at the black rubber they left behind.

“There’s more tracks in the ditch here,” Erik pointed down at the moist soil, where someone had torn up the grass cover.

“Bet it’s the bike gang you were telling us about,” Chayton said.

“No doubt. I was hoping they kept right on going down the highway.” Erik said.

“I wonder where they’re hanging their helmets?” Amaruq’s sarcastic comment sizzled with worry.

“My guess? The Markham place. Nothing’s secure there with the tarp over the great room windows. We walked right in to recover Arimina’s books.” Alicia commented.

“Do we want to check?” Chay looked at others with a speculative smirk on his face.

“Not on a bet. They’re probably armed, remember Ursa.” Alicia kicked another tire, opened her driver’s door, and reached in with the key. She brushed most of the broken class out and slid in to start it. The motor ran for about thirty seconds and sputtered.

“They drained the tank. I’m on empty and I had the best part of a full tank. I filled her in Anchorage. Can you take pictures, Jett?”

“Yeah, Erik, you call the troopers and let them know what went down. I’m sure my sister’s right about Markham’s being where they are squatting.” Jett pulled his camera up to his eye and snapped pictures as he walked around the wrecked Grand Cherokee.

“I’m going to get a couple close ups of the slashes in the tires and the bottle in the back. We’re lucky it was just snacks and a cooler. It could have been the tranq gun and medicated darts as well. Last thing a gang of assholes like these needs.” Jett muttered.

“The dispatcher is sending a unit out to look at your Jeep, Alicia. They asked us to head back to the ranch and keep a watch out for the motorcycles.”

“Let’s go get Arimina,” Chay said reaching down to help Alicia back up behind him. “Give her a boost Erik, and we’ll get moving.”

“I want to get back to your place. We can’t leave it empty with them around. They’ll clean out your freezer and anything else they think they can pawn off,” Alicia agreed.

“We’ll stop by my place on the way, it’s a shorter ride down to the ranch through the forest behind my house anyway.” Chay decided. He guided his horse into the ditch for easier footing and kicked him into a canter. The rest of their group followed on his heels.

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“Mommy, you’re back!” Arimina threw herself into her mother’s arms.

“Baby, I’m okay.” Alicia knelt to catch her and hugged her daughter tight.

“Is Ursa okay?”

“I fixed her up and we weighed her cubs. They’re all growing and okay too.” Alicia reassured her daughter with quiet words in her ear.

“Uncle Hakan told us Ursa was hurt and there are some bad men hanging around.”

“He’s right, baby.” She hugged her daughter once more.

“Can the police get them?”

“The troopers are going to try, but we might have to take care of them ourselves.”

“Are you going to teach me to shoot too?”

Alicia’s heart broke as she considered the necessity of Arimina’s question. When their eyes met, she nodded slowly.

“I think so, baby.”

“Guns scare me a bit. I don’t know anything about them.” Arimina said.

“I guess you’ll have to look them up on your tablet. Ask about gun safety first and the rules you need to follow.”

“Okay. Are we going back to Chay’s house?”

“Yes, but I have to talk to Hakan and Kanti before we go. Can you get your stuff, and meet us by Chay’s truck?”

Arimina stared at her mother, holding contact with her eyes.

“Mommy. I’m scared.” Arimina’s voice trembled.

“I know, I am too. But we have to be brave, and we can defend ourselves. We’ll be protecting Ursa too.”

“I wish bad people would stay away.”

“Me too, baby, me too.” Alicia sighed as she stood up. “Go get your stuff and we’ll go home.”

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“Hakan, do you have a rifle we can teach Arimina to use?” Alicia asked.

“Hmmm, I think I still have the twenty two my father gave me when I turned six. I was going to give it to Kallik.”

“Shit, I don’t want to take your memories.”

“He’s not interested in shooting or tracking. He loves the horses and training them, but it’s going to Alasie who gets into hunting. She’s just not big enough yet. So, you use the gun for now. We’ve got enough people around here to keep a watch out for that gang, you need to have it more than I do.”

Hakan explained.

“How does Killika feel about that?”

“She’s fine with it. She’s pretty damn good with a rifle herself. She harvests for leather all the time. The buckskin she uses for her beaded garments is all from animals she takes down for meat.”

“She never mentioned it when we talked. I’ll ask next time I see her.”

“Let me go check the gun safe. I’ll give it to you and some ammo to go with it. I’ll even teach her for you if you bring her down here tomorrow.” Hakan went into the tack room in the barn and keyed in the combination. He pulled the door open and reached inside.

The gun was old, with a scarred maple stock. The barrel gleamed in the late afternoon sun streaming through the single window. Hakan cleared the chamber and checked the magazine.

“It’s a good gun, and in good shape, even though the stock is beat up. It’s Arimina’s now. When she gets good with it and a little bit bigger, you can see about replaceing something more powerful for her. On second thought, I’ll keep this rifle here. I’ll clean it again, a prep it for tomorrow. Bring your little one back after lunch.”

“Hakan, you’re a sweetheart. Thank you!” Alicia wondered how she stumbled into such a generous family. All of them had welcomed her with open arms.

Hakan shrugged his shoulders. “You’re the first woman who’s made my brother happy. No one has ever stuck to him for more than a one night stand. You’re family now.”

“We’re heading up to Chay’s in a few minutes. I’ll make sure Arimina gets down here tomorrow. She’s determined to learn how to handle a gun. I’ll have her learning about the safety rules and basic mechanics online tonight.”

“I’ll get the rest into her head tomorrow. She’s smart and I already know when she’s decided to do something, she works hard at being the best she can at it. It shows in her riding already.”

“You’ve had her up on a horse? She didn’t tell me.”

“She wanted to surprise you. Don’t let her know I blew it with you.”

“I won’t let on. We’ll see you tomorrow. I need to get some riding in too. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a saddle.”

“Let Erick know. He’ll make sure you get a good mount.”

“Thanks again.”

“It’s nothing. I’m happy to help.” Hakan put the gun back into the safe and closed the door. “See you later.”

Alicia hurried out of the barn and down the path to the main lodge. Ducking around the side of the building she found Arimina, Jazz and Chay waiting for her.

“You’re all set, baby. Hakan will teach you.”

“Yay!”

“Let’s go home.” Chay opened the passenger for Arimina, and Jazz jumped in ahead of the little girl.