As he reached a point on the wall several feet from the door, he pressed his back against it and listened for any sounds from within the house. He heard nothing. He wanted to rush in and search for Frank, but instead he waited for his brother.
He watched as Geram drifted like a ghost towards him. Jake was amazed at how he moved within the shadows. At times he would catch a glimpse, only for Geram to disappear. Knowing his rear was covered, Jake rolled to face the door, and any trouble that may be coming their way.
Jake stared at the three bodies that lay at his feet. Someone, most likely Frank, had done quite well. He hoped against hope that Frank was still inside somewhere, perhaps tending to a superficial wound. He knew the odds were against his old friend, but he refused to entertain any other thoughts. He noted the military-style weaponry the men had carried and thought of the old lever gun that Frank had likely used. He was amazed at the damage the old man had managed to inflict.
Jake was momentarily startled by the tap on his left shoulder before realizing it was his brother. Geram leaned in close and whispered softly, “Swing right, whenever you’re ready.”
Jake crouched low. He felt Geram lean in and steady his pistol over Jake’s left shoulder. Geram had slung his rifle across his back. The scope would be useless in the confined space of the house. Jake counted to three, rolled around the door frame, into the living room. He panned to the right, searching for threats. Geram swung left immediately behind him. They moved through the doorway as if they were but one.
Jake stayed low as they moved through the living room, past the large stone fireplace and towards the kitchen. Geram followed closely behind as he fixed his pistol on the hallway to their right. They stopped for a moment along the interior wall that separated the living room and kitchen. Jake noted the bullet holes that riddled the wall around them. He tilted his head back and mouthed, “Frank”, and then motioned with his head towards the kitchen.
Geram nodded and considered the situation. If they called out and revealed themselves, they would be compromised. If they did not, and Frank was in the kitchen, either he or they could be shot. Neither scenario was desirable. Geram looked down at Jake and shook his head no. They had to take their chances with the kitchen.
As they swept into the room, Jake’s heart sunk. He saw Frank’s body surrounded by a crimson pool. He dropped to one knee and placed his hand on Frank’s shoulder. Jake knew from the head wound that Frank had died immediately. Geram grabbed Jake by the collar and pulled him back to his feet. He shook his head no again and pointed to the rest of the house. They had to ensure their own safety. It was no time for mourning, not yet.
Once they were back in the living room, they prepared to perform the same clearing maneuver into the hallway. As they readied themselves for the motion, they heard a low growl coming from the hall. It grew louder as the beast bounded towards them. They could hear the echo of its claws scratching against the wood flooring. Jake held up his fist to Geram as if to say, ‘Hold!. He hoped it was indeed Sasha. They slowly backed away from the threshold to give themselves some standoff room. Jake crouched low.
As Sasha emerged from the hall, her fierce growl was replaced with a high-pitched whine. She sprung at Jake and knocked him off balance. He landed on his back with a gentle thud. As she licked his face and neck, Jake forgot about Frank for a brief moment and smiled with relief.
Geram walked over and dropped to one knee to rub her head. He whispered to Jake, “If she was in that hall, I doubt there’s anyone left in this house. We should still be careful, though. Can you make her stay here?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, let’s finish this.”
Jake whispered a command in Czech to Sasha and she plopped down on her haunches and stared at the front door, waiting patiently for her next order. The men stood up and once again prepared to clear the remainder of the house. In one fluid motion they cleared the hall. They continued to each room, until they were at the final door. They noticed Sasha had clawed deep into the bottom of the door.
Jake grasped the knob as quietly as possible and turned it slowly. He held it in position until they were ready to rush the room. He shouldered into the door and pushed it open. Again, he swung right and Geram left. Immediately he saw her body. His heart broke as his worst fears were realized. He gently laid her body out on the floor and covered it with the quilt.
Geram dropped down to one knee and whispered, “Bro, I’m so sorry for all of this; Frank and Mrs. Thames. I can’t imagine the loss you’re feeling, but whoever did this is still alive. Look at the window.”
He pointed his pistol at the window. The flashlight illuminated the broken glass and streaks of blood. Jake shouted another command in Czech and Sasha bounded into the room. He spoke again and she bolted to the window and inhaled the scent. She turned, rushed out of the room and down the hall. The men readied their weapons and chased after her.
As the three burst out of the house, they were met by Levi and Eli Richardson on horseback. The twins had been nervously waiting in the heavy rain for Jake and Geram. Levi called out to the brothers, “How bad is it?”
Jake order Sasha to stop and then responded, “They’re both gone, Levi.”
“God help us. What about the men that did this?”
“We think at least one of them is still alive, maybe more. They went out the back window. We’re going after them.”
“We’re right behind you, lead the way.”
Jake once again called out to Sasha, and she continued around to the back of the house. As she reached the shattered back window, she planted her nose in the mud and blood where the intruder had fallen. She growled menacingly and followed the trail towards the northern woods line.
Levi and Eli dismounted at the first barbed wire fence, leaving their horses to search for shelter from the storm as the men continued onward. Sasha was nearly twenty feet ahead of the men, her pace quickening as the blood became more abundant. At the second fence, the men found a snub-nosed revolver lying in the mud. Eli knelt and grabbed the small handgun, before burying it in the oversized pocket of his raincoat. Levi stepped on the middle, barbed-wire strand with his boot and pushed down hard. He grabbed the top strand and lifted up, allowing the other men to duck through the fence.
The rain was falling at a sharp angle as the winds swirled around the men. Lightning struck somewhere behind them and the boom of thunder followed immediately after. They could hear the horses’ nervous whinnies somewhere in the night. The few trees in the field, leafless and bare, looked like gnarled claws in the flashes of lightning.
The men’s boots sloshed against the saturated ground. Their hair was matted to their foreheads and their clothing clung to their drenched bodies. Suddenly, up ahead, Sasha stopped abruptly. Her growl intensified as she circled a heap in the field just beyond. Geram crouched and peered through the lens of the night-vision scope. After a moment, he motioned the others ahead.
Jake made it to Sasha first. He rubbed her head and whispered, “Good girl. Good girl,” before stepping past her and standing over the man’s body.
Eli was right behind Jake. He dropped down in the mud and checked the man’s pulse. “He’s still alive,” he croaked.
“Good.” Jake struck the man’s ribs with his boot with all of the strength he could muster. The man groaned and coughed as he curled up to protect himself from a second blow.
“Jake! You can’t do that!”
“Why not? Isn’t this the least that he deserves?” Jake struck the man as hard as he could again.
“Jake! Enough!” Levi wrapped his thick bicep around Jake’s throat and dragged him away from the man, “That’s not how we do it, Jake. You know that. We’re not like him.”