Read Online Around-the-Clock Protector by Jan Hambright - Free Book Online Page B

and felt the Hummer jolt backward on the launch tracks.
    Terror sliced through her as he lunged toward the moving vehicle, fighting the air currents swirling around him.
    He rounded the front bumper and dragged himself along the side of the vehicle.
    “Hurry!” Ava yelled, glancing in the side mirror at the clear blue sky five feet behind the rolling Humvee.
    If he didn’t get inside before the rear wheels left the platform, he’d be sucked out of the aircraft.
    Ava’s heart hammered in her chest.
    Carson jumped onto the step rail.
    Thump . The rear wheels dropped off the back of the cargo gate.
    She closed her eyes and waited for the nightmare to end. Carson Nash was as good as dead.

Chapter Six
    With all the strength he could muster, Carson dived through the open window of the Hummer, grabbed the seat belt and wrapped it around his hand.
    In slow motion the vehicle dropped out of the belly of the airplane.
    Carson held his breath, feeling the Humvee rock back and go vertical.
    The auto deployment cord hissed in the wind.
    He braced for the jolt, hanging on for dear life.
    The parachutes snapped, filling with air.
    Bobbing like a yo-yo at the end of its string, the Hummer jerked.
    Carson’s teeth rattled in his head.
    Free fall ceased, and they settled into a swaying glide to earth.
    He pulled himself the rest of the way through the window, and up into the driver’s seat, where he buckled in.
    Only then did he look over at Ava.
    Her eyes were closed, her skin ashen.
    Reaching out, he touched her.
    She opened her eyes, staring at him in disbelief, before poking him with her finger.
    “Made it.”
    She nodded, a wry smile spreading on her lips. “I wasn’t sure.”
    “I wondered, too.” He rolled up the window, cutting down on the noise level inside the Hummer as it dropped slowly to earth, buoyed by three massive parachutes.
    “In half an hour, they’ll discover we decided to take another flight.” Carson stared out the front windshield at the C-130 cargo plane growing smaller and smaller on the horizon.
    “They’ll radio Belvoir’s control tower, where they’ll dispatch an MP unit to scour the drop zone for us.”
    “What?” Ava asked, an edge of fear in her voice.
    “That’s why we have to drive this rig.” He searched the ground, trying to pinpoint the location they’d most likely land. He spotted an open area with a road through the middle of it. There were trees within half a mile in both directions. “If we can make it to the trees, we’ll change into civilian clothes. From there, we’ll pick up the road and hope to hell we can get a ride. Otherwise we’re going to have to lie low until nightfall.”
    Looking down at the circumference of the drop zone, he searched for the equipment recovery team, but the landscape was clear. With any luck they’d be able to make the dash undetected.
    He guessed their drop time was less than two minutes out. “When we hit dirt, we might bounce. Lean forward and put your arms and hands over your head, brace until we come to a complete stop. Do you understand?” He looked over at her.
    She nodded.
    “Good.” Reaching into the back of the Hummer, he pulled his pack up into the seat next to him. “Can you run on your ankle?”
    “I’m sure going to try.”
    He looked at the tree line some three hundred yards from the drop zone. Staring hard, he gauged the wind direction. The tops of the trees were blowing due east.
    Reaching down, he released the emergency brake and wobbled the gearshift to make sure the rig was in neutral.
    He put the wind speed at approximately ten mph. Not great, but if his plan worked, they’d pick up half the distance.
    In his peripheral vision he caught a flash of movement on the ground. Straining to look over his shoulder, he spotted a dust trail. Following to the source, he saw a single vehicle approximately three miles from the drop zone.
    “You have to get out of your seat belt the instant we touch the