By the time Gunny came back, I'd moved to soda. Besides the fact that the beer just wasn't that good, I knew I'd never forgive myself if something happened to either Ajag or Sy because I was drinking. It also wasn't a good idea to ride my motorcycle if I'd had more than one beer.
I liked to live dangerously, not stupidly.
After paying the bill, I walked with Gunny to the back of the bar and climbed onto my motorcycle. It didn't take us more than a few minutes to reach the motel. I followed Gunny into the driveway, immediately spotting the black Jeep I'd bought for Ajag, and then followed him to the very end of the parking lot.
I was actually kind of impressed by the place Gunny had chosen. Our room was across the parking lot from where the jeepwas parked and once we were parked, our bikes were hidden by a moving truck.
Gunny pointed to the building directly across from us. "Ajag and Sy are in that room there above the blue car, second floor."
I glanced up, seeing a light in the window of the room Gunny had indicated. I wanted to go up there and personally check on them, but I knew I couldn't. Ajag needed to believe that he was not being followed.
I didn't plan to change that belief until I had to.
I grabbed my saddlebag and carried it into the room, setting it on the floor close to the door before grabbing a chair and dragging it over to the window.
"Why don't you get some rest?" I suggested. "I'll wake you in four hours."
Gunny nodded before heading to the bathroom.
I settled myself in the chair and parted the curtains just enough to be able to see Ajag's room. I felt some measure of relief when the light went out, hoping Ajag and Sy were getting a good night's sleep.
They both probably needed it.
I glanced at Gunny when he came out of the bathroom and then watched him climb into one of the queen sized beds. He wiggled around for a moment and then went still.
I turned to watch out the window again knowing I had a long night ahead of me. It was going to be boring as hell just watching, but I didn't want to get distracted by anything.
I couldn't take that chance.
I was lucky in the fact that the night went relatively easy. A few cars pulled in here and there, people unloading their luggage before going to their rooms, but nothing that stuck out to me. While I still carefully watched each person that came to the motel, I didn't sense any danger from any of them.
By the time four hours had passed and I woke Gunny up for his shift, I was more than ready for bed. We'd been on the road for several hours and then I'd been on watch. My eyes ached. My head ached. My back ached. My butt ached.
Hell, my everything ached.
Pretty sure I passed out about three seconds after my head hit the pillow. I knew for a fact that I hadn't gotten enough sleep by the time Gunny shook me awake.
"Time to wake up, man. Ajag and Sy are loading up the Jeep."
I snapped out of bed and hurried to the window so I could get a glimpse of Ajag. My breath grew ragged as I stared out through the slit in the curtains.
I could see the stress in his pinched eyes, but he still looked good. There was a small smile on his face as he lifted Sy and placed him in the car seat.
I watched until Ajag climbed into the Jeep and they drove away. Once they disappeared from sight, I headed to the bathroom to start my day. I figured I had about fifteen minutes before I needed to be on the road and following Ajag.
A quick scrub down in the shower, a new change of clothes, and we were on the road again. I would have liked to stop for some caffeine, but I didn't want to put too much distance between us and Ajag.
It was kind of rinse and repeat for the next few days. We'd follow behind Ajag and Sy until they stopped for the day, wait until they rented a motel room and then get one for ourselves, take turns watching them through the night, and then head out the next morning.
Nothing really changed except the scenery until we reached Colorado and Ze'ev called.
"Yeah, man, what's up?" I asked as I connected the call. Luckily, we'd already stopped for the night.
"I need you to send Gunny back this way and then make sure Ajag and Sy do not head back to the ranch, not unless I call you and give you the all clear."
I still. "What? What's going on?"
"A bunch of idiots in camo gear showed up at the ranch a couple of hours ago. They tried to force their way inside to search the place. Lu and I were able to fight them off and injure enough of them that they retreated, but I worry that they might come back."
