The Defiant: An Unbeaten Path by John W. Vance Read Free Book Online

firing.
    Their volley was matched by whoever was ambushing them with the difference being those attacking were hitting their targets squarely. One by one, Cam’s men were getting fatally hit and dropping. Those who remained returned fire, but it didn’t stop the relentless hail of fire from those hidden.
    Nicholas and Proctor curled up against the large tree and took cover as bullets ripped past them. Nicholas was tempted to run, but they were caught in a crossfire. If they were to stand, they would most surely be hit.
    Bark and splinters of wood exploded off the tree they were using for cover as bullets from both sides hit it.
    Nicholas felt a sharp pain in his lower right side, just below the ribs he had either bruised or broken. He then felt something warm and wet running down his side. He placed his hand there and pulled it back to see it was covered with blood. “Argh,” he grunted in pain and frustration.
    Suddenly, the gunfire stopped and silence returned to the forest.
    Although he was in tremendous pain, he knew this was the opportunity to make a run for it. “This is our chance,” Nicholas said and grabbed Proctor, but he didn’t move. He looked over his shoulder and saw he was motionless. He rolled him over and saw a bloody hole in his chest. Ignoring his own pain, he knelt over his friend and ripped open his shirt only to discover an errant bullet had struck Proctor, and by its location, it looked like it went through the heart. “Ah, no,” he cried out as he jammed two fingers on Proctor’s throat to check his carotid artery for a pulse. He found nothing.
    Nicholas blinked heavily to focus his sight, which had become blurry. His head began to spin, nausea twisted his stomach, and a cold sweat clung to his forehead. He tried to think, but his thoughts were muddled. Frustrated, in pain and losing blood, he tried to calm himself. Again he blinked heavily, but it did no good. Soon he’d be face down. Lost in a fog, he didn’t hear the footsteps behind him.
    “Is your friend hurt?” a voice asked.
    Nicholas slowly turned around to find two men in ghillie suits. He opened his mouth but only mumbled something unintelligible. He went to get up, but the vertigo finally took over and he passed out.

    U.S. Highway 91, six miles southwest of Wellsville, Utah

    The gunshots reverberated off the hills and caused a panic with the group.
    Becky bolted from the Suburban and ran over to Colin. “That has to be them.”
    “Hard to know, but we do have to assume it is,” Colin replied, his eyes glued on the tree line.
    Bryn took up a defensive position behind the old Dodge.
    Katherine, Abigail, Marjorie and Frank all huddled together just outside the trailer.
    Rob followed Bryn’s example and, with a bolt-action rifle, stood in front of the Suburban, covering the road ahead of them.
    The gunfire stopped as suddenly as it had happened. The silence of the group and their surroundings was intense.
    Becky whispered, “What should we do?”
    “Sssh,” Colin snapped. He leaned his head forward and listened.
    Nervously she did as he asked and just stood next to him.
    The crackle of a radio handset came from a grouping of large shrubs below them and caught his ear. He whispered to Becky, “Get behind me.”
    Becky did as he asked without question.
    He raised his rifle to his face and looked through his optics in the direction of the sound.
    The deafening crack of a rifle jolted Colin and Becky.
    A towering figure stepped from within the trees and stopped several feet from the incline. He wavered and dropped to his knees.
    Colin swung the rifle towards the man and settled his crosshairs on his chest to see blood pouring from a wound.
    “Fucking die!” Bryn said as she squeezed off another round.
    The bullet ripped through the man’s chest. The force of the 5.56mm round caused his limp body to fall backwards.
    Frank, Marjoy, Sophie and Abigail all look shocked and began to chatter amongst themselves.
    Colin continued