Free Bare Back by N Kuhn Page B

him. Finding my gun in my pants, I pull it out, pressing the barrel against the back of his head, his whimpers instantly shut off.
“Where is she? What’s he doing to her?”
“I’m not telling you shit man. You’re dead anyways.”
“Really? I’m dead huh? Doesn’t look like it. From here, it looks like you’re the one in trouble, now talk,” I shout at him, pressing my gun into his shoulder.
    “You won’t shoot me like this, you’re an officer of the law and to you, rules are important. You got them morals and all,” Ricky laughs into the dirt. My anger reaching boiling point, I pull the trigger, and listen with glee as Ricky screams and cries into the ground.
    “Now, where the fuck is your brother taking Kelli? Or do I need to move lower this time?” Sliding the barrel of my gun down behind me, I place it on his ass.
“Okay, okay,” he cries out, “My father wanted to see her. He’s hoping that she may know where the money is, seeing as how Billy Joe is dead and can’t tell us. He sent reinforcement and they are going to take her to my dad’s cabin near Victoria. That’s where they’re taking her. Please, come on Mitchell, don’t kill me. I promise nothing will happen to her.” Setting my gun down, I press my knee into his lower back and keep a grip on his wrist.
“Don’t kill you? Isn’t that what you were planning to do with me? I highly doubt that you can guarantee her safety from here ol’ Ricky boy. But, maybe your dad gives a small shit about you and we can work out a trade.” Patting him down, I pull his gun from one pocket and a rope from the other. Using the rope, I tie both arms behind his back, then pull him to his feet. He sounds like he’s still crying, though I can’t really tell in the darkness. The smell of urine grows strong as he stands.
“Hah, gotta go potty Ricky?”
“Fuck you,” he mumbles. The man must have pissed himself when I shot him. That brightens my mood a little bit.
“Great, let’s get moving. We have a long hike ahead of us.” I push him back towards the cave so I can gather whatever supplies are left. I also am going to need the canvas bag I had found at the campsite. It’s definitely going to come in handy now. Hopefully his father thinks he’s important enough to give me Kelli back for him. But who knows with this family.
     
    Hours later, as the sun rises in the sky, I hitch the bag back up onto my shoulder. Sweat pours down my neck and back, making the damn strap slip every few feet. Pain courses through my arm. Ricky isn’t handling the hike that much better. In fact, he looks worse for the wear. His face is beet red and his breathing is labored. His rumpled, dirt covered suit, dried mud sticking to his pants from pissing himself, and blood soaking his shirt make the man look like a zombie. Glancing at the map in my hands, we’re close to the edge of the forest. There’s a Park Ranger station a few miles away. A thudding noise draws my attention and I pull on Ricky’s arm to still him. Over his gasping for air, I hear the stomping again. Hoping it’s not a bear, I put my finger to my lips, signaling him to stay quiet. Drawing my gun, I silently make my way through the brush, towards a small clearing. There stands two of the most gorgeous horses I’ve ever seen. They have reins but no saddles. They have to be the horses the Smith’s lost. Slowly walking up to the animals, they remind me of Kelli. She always had a weakness for Mustangs. I know this one is hers. Holding my hand out so the horse can sniff at me, I reach around, grabbing the reins. Leading them back to where I left a trussed up Ricky, his eyes widen.
“Where the hell did you get horses from? I thought you dropped in on that chopper we blew up?” Ignoring him, I drop my pack to the ground, stilling the horses.
“Come on man. I don’t need you dying of a heart attack walking.” I lace my fingers together so he can step up on the horse.
 
    “What? How am I