Read Online Texas Wildcat by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lindsay McKenna
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camouflaged? It looks military.”
He rested his hands on his hips, his face becoming grimmer. “It’s a Saudi government plane. And the gas well is owned by the Saudi government, too. Where we’re going, it’s a free-fire zone. Those pilots you see over there are under contract with the Saudis.”
Kelly looked closely at the crew. “Americans?”
“Mercenaries,” he ground out. “Men looking for another war to fight.” He turned abruptly, leaving her standing alone on the ramp.
It took several hours to load the two Athey wagons, two integrated piperack units and piperack skids. Two of everything were taken so that in case one unit failed, they would have a backup.
Finally Coots waived Kelly over to join him. “You might as well get aboard, Kelly. They’re gonna wind this bird up in about ten minutes.” His brown eyes grew worried. “You sure you want to come? Boots ain’t so sure that—”
“I’m very sure, Coots. I’ll stay out of the way. I know about H2S gas. I won’t be a burden to you. I promise.” Over the past few hours, Kelly had felt the grim tension in the men, and it frightened her, as did the military nature of the operation. On the other hand, Sam’s desire to leave her home, where it was safe, roused her fighting spirit.
Coots took the cap off his head and scratched his brown hair for a moment. “The government has assured us the area’s secure from the terrorist faction that blew up the gas well. I don’t know…”
“Have you gone into unsafe areas before?”
“We’ve gone into hostile environments when the government we’re working for can guarantee our security. If they can’t guarantee it, we don’t go. Hell, that’s why those wells over in Iran and Iraq are still burning. Ain’t no one in their right mind gonna try to cap ’em in the middle of that situation.”
“But this is different?”
Coots threw the cap back on his head. “They say it is. But I don’t believe ’em.” He put his arm around her shoulder, walking her toward the gargantuan cargo plane. “I was a tail-gunner aboard B-17’s during World War II. I got shot at plenty.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen enough killing to last me ten lifetimes. My gut says the place isn’t that secure. I dunno…”
Worriedly, Kelly looked up at him. Coots was a large man with broad shoulders, much like Sam. The fact that he hugged her as they walked made her feel like she suddenly had a second father. There was a protective quality about Coots Matthews that made her feel safe. Almost as safe as when Sam held her.
The three American mercenaries watched Kelly’s progress as she climbed up the long ramp at the rear of the plane. She was acutely conscious of their stares. Everywhere she looked, huge skids of firefighting equipment were anchored to the floor of the C-130. Rope cargo netting and nylon webbing hung against the walls of the plane.
“Kelly…”
It was Sam’s voice—less authoritative, more coaxing. She raised her head and caught sight of him standing by the starboard bulkhead near a row of seats. They weren’t passenger plane seats by any means, but she went to him and tried to make herself comfortable against the nylon webbing that provided the only back support. Her pulse was pounding unevenly. Was it because of Sam’s closeness? Her fear of starting this journey? Or a combination of both?
“Strap in. They’ll be revving up for takeoff.” He instantly regretted the coldness in his tone. She looked like a scared little girl. He reached out, making contact with her hand. “I’m sorry I was rough on you earlier,” he said gruffly, and then he released her cool fingers.
Kelly felt as if she were in an alien world. The entire rear ramp yawned closed, the groaning of the hydraulics reverberating throughout the bottom of the aircraft. Huge, shadowed equipment loomed above them, with very little space left for anyone to move. The voices of the men competed with the screeching,
He rested his hands on his hips, his face becoming grimmer. “It’s a Saudi government plane. And the gas well is owned by the Saudi government, too. Where we’re going, it’s a free-fire zone. Those pilots you see over there are under contract with the Saudis.”
Kelly looked closely at the crew. “Americans?”
“Mercenaries,” he ground out. “Men looking for another war to fight.” He turned abruptly, leaving her standing alone on the ramp.
It took several hours to load the two Athey wagons, two integrated piperack units and piperack skids. Two of everything were taken so that in case one unit failed, they would have a backup.
Finally Coots waived Kelly over to join him. “You might as well get aboard, Kelly. They’re gonna wind this bird up in about ten minutes.” His brown eyes grew worried. “You sure you want to come? Boots ain’t so sure that—”
“I’m very sure, Coots. I’ll stay out of the way. I know about H2S gas. I won’t be a burden to you. I promise.” Over the past few hours, Kelly had felt the grim tension in the men, and it frightened her, as did the military nature of the operation. On the other hand, Sam’s desire to leave her home, where it was safe, roused her fighting spirit.
Coots took the cap off his head and scratched his brown hair for a moment. “The government has assured us the area’s secure from the terrorist faction that blew up the gas well. I don’t know…”
“Have you gone into unsafe areas before?”
“We’ve gone into hostile environments when the government we’re working for can guarantee our security. If they can’t guarantee it, we don’t go. Hell, that’s why those wells over in Iran and Iraq are still burning. Ain’t no one in their right mind gonna try to cap ’em in the middle of that situation.”
“But this is different?”
Coots threw the cap back on his head. “They say it is. But I don’t believe ’em.” He put his arm around her shoulder, walking her toward the gargantuan cargo plane. “I was a tail-gunner aboard B-17’s during World War II. I got shot at plenty.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen enough killing to last me ten lifetimes. My gut says the place isn’t that secure. I dunno…”
Worriedly, Kelly looked up at him. Coots was a large man with broad shoulders, much like Sam. The fact that he hugged her as they walked made her feel like she suddenly had a second father. There was a protective quality about Coots Matthews that made her feel safe. Almost as safe as when Sam held her.
The three American mercenaries watched Kelly’s progress as she climbed up the long ramp at the rear of the plane. She was acutely conscious of their stares. Everywhere she looked, huge skids of firefighting equipment were anchored to the floor of the C-130. Rope cargo netting and nylon webbing hung against the walls of the plane.
“Kelly…”
It was Sam’s voice—less authoritative, more coaxing. She raised her head and caught sight of him standing by the starboard bulkhead near a row of seats. They weren’t passenger plane seats by any means, but she went to him and tried to make herself comfortable against the nylon webbing that provided the only back support. Her pulse was pounding unevenly. Was it because of Sam’s closeness? Her fear of starting this journey? Or a combination of both?
“Strap in. They’ll be revving up for takeoff.” He instantly regretted the coldness in his tone. She looked like a scared little girl. He reached out, making contact with her hand. “I’m sorry I was rough on you earlier,” he said gruffly, and then he released her cool fingers.
Kelly felt as if she were in an alien world. The entire rear ramp yawned closed, the groaning of the hydraulics reverberating throughout the bottom of the aircraft. Huge, shadowed equipment loomed above them, with very little space left for anyone to move. The voices of the men competed with the screeching,
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