It pleased him that Kenn seemed to feel it too, repeating himself to make sure his boss knew. "If any opportunity comes up to do damage, we'll take it. I'll take it."
Adrian clapped him on the back, satisfied the wide-shouldered Marine meant it. They had been falling behind, and would arrive later than expected. That made the mission more dangerous, putting the Eagles and the Slavers near Cheyenne at about the same time.
"Watch your six. We need you."
"Semper Fi."
"Oorah!"
A deep frown planted itself across Adrian's forehead as Kenn and the Eagles left camp. He hated it that their first encounter with these dangerous men would happen without him there to judge the threat. Adrian hit the button on the tape player in his pocket, listening intently. Was he missing anything?
"SOS, Safe Haven! This is Cheyenne! SOS!"
"Go ahead, Overloaded."
"They've hit Wellington! We can see the smoke and people are coming here, and I can't care for them! We need help now!"
Adrian hit stop, the desperation making him consider changing places with Kenn, but shook his head. He couldn't. The Marine wasn't ready for leadership of an entire camp yet. For this mission though, he was perfect. Kyle and his team were good, making steady progress every day, and though only ten men were getting into the armored vehicles, they would still be a force to be reckoned with.
Fighting a migraine, Adrian headed for his tent. Another forty souls would bring their number to a hundred and seventy seven. They were only a week from Cheyenne, but there was no way the whole camp could go and get out without being seen. Kenn and Kyle would make it in two days, and he would worry the whole time.
2
"All those jeeps worry me," Kyle stated quietly, lowering the binoculars.
"We'll have to draw them out," Kenn replied, sharp eyes watching the heavily-armed Mexican men patrol the top and four sides of the large brick school house where the refugees were hiding. Two on top, one each on the sides and rear, and two more on the front doors - maybe four inside, but judging from all the jeeps parked wildly along the exits, probably more like six or ten.
They were outnumbered, but not by much, and Kenn frowned in concentration as the thick clouds rolled overhead, colored lightning flashing in the distance. He sent his sharp eyes over it again, seeing holiday lights torn down and Christmas pictures that had been used for target practice, but underneath, he was evaluating how best to kill them all.