Thunder Horse Heritage

This was only the second time in Tuck’s life he’d been scared of anything. The first being less than two months ago during a raid. He, his brother Pierce and Tuck’s best friend and fellow FBI agent Mason Carmichael had been assisting the ATF. Tuck had let Mason down, allowing his buddy to walk into a trap by entering the building they suspected contained a militia group’s cache of drugs and weapons.

The ensuing explosion had thrown Tuck and Pierce back several yards, knocking the breath out of them and giving them both mild concussions, but keeping them away from the worst of the flames. The ATF team and Mason had died along with the members of the militia inside.

He’d watched as Mason died in Pierce’s arms, knowing he could have stopped him from going into that warehouse. His worst fear now was that he would fail Julia and Lily.

He couldn’t let that happen.

“There!” Julia pointed to the shore a quarter mile ahead. “What’s that?”

As they moved steadily closer, Tuck made out the outline of a playground set complete with swings, slides and teeter-totters. Behind it were neat rows of travel trailers, RVs and tents. A yellow light glowed over a shower building at the center.

He eased the steering wheel to the right, bringing the boat closer to the shore.

Other boats were grounded on the water’s edge or anchored a few feet out. Tuck passed the campground.

“Aren’t we going to stop and find a car?” Julia asked, her head swiveling, looking behind them.

“Yeah, but we can’t pull in too close, or someone will see us.” Tuck drove the boat straight for the shore north of the campground.

Julia touched his arm. “Aren’t you going to stop? We’re going to run aground.”

“That’s the idea.” The bottom of the boat skimmed across sand and gravel, coming to a stop in two feet of water. “You two get out and wait on the shore for me.”

Julia shed her vest, gathered her backpack, untied the baby from her life vest and carried her to the front of the boat. When she was ready, she sat on the edge. “What are you going to do?”

“We can’t leave the boat here. If the guys chasing us recognize it, they’ll know this is where we stopped.” He held out his arms for Lily. “Want me to go first and help you two down?”

“No, it’s better if I go first, while you hold Lily.”

Julia handed the baby girl to Tuck and turned, sliding over the edge into the icy water. As her feet hit bottom, she lost her footing for a second and staggered, arms flailing.

“Careful,” Tuck called out, frustrated that he couldn’t help, the baby firmly tucked into the crook of his arm.

Julia tipped and fell on her back in the water. She struggled to get her feet under her, the backpack and her shawl weighing her down. Finally, she managed to stand straight, water dripping from every part of her body, her hair hanging like limp ropes in her face.

“Thank goodness you had Lily.” Her teeth chattered. “The water is icy cold.” She moved closer to the boat, easing her way along the sandy bottom. When she was abreast of the bow, she reached up for Lily.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Tuck held the baby out of her reach.

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