Page 86 of North

“Yeah, it’s right there.”

“Mm-hmm.” She took it out.

“What are you doing?” Selah asked.

“Aw, shoot. What I should have done the minute we got into the RV,” said North, his gut tightening. Stupid, stupid!

“Me too. Wow.” RJ hung her hand behind her neck.

“What are you guys talking about?”

“Selah”—North turned to her—“was there any opportunity for Martin to put your SIM card back into your phone when you got to RJ’s house?”

“Um. I…yeah. He didn’t get out of the RV right away. I mean, that’s why RJ was able to get me into the house and shut the door. What are you saying?”

“He removed your SIM card after the call from North. Probably so North couldn’t track you,” Scarlett said. “And then at RJ’s house, he put it back…so he could.”

She set the SIM card on the picnic table.

Knox took out his Swiss Army knife and stabbed it.

They all stared at the card.

“You think he’ll come after the canister?”

“I think he’ll come after RJ,” Ford said. “And, of course, the canister.”

“Have you heard from York?” This from Scarlett.

“No.” RJ wrapped her arms around herself. “I just…”

Reuben reached out and pulled her against himself, a big-brother kind of hug. “We got you, sis.”

She hesitated for a moment, then leaned into him.

“Ford,” Scarlett said quietly. “How long will it take for you to set up security?”

“We still have the cameras on the barn and the house. We just need to fire them up,” Knox said.

Ford was nodding.

“I’ve kept Dad’s guns cleaned and oiled,” Reuben said.

“How many here can shoot?” North asked.

Silence as they looked at him.

“Dude,” said Knox. “This is a ranch. We’re cowboys. What do you think?”

Ford had crossed his arms and now grinned, looked away.

“Okay. Listen. I have a lot of experience setting up perimeters. I’ll work with Ford, and we’ll figure out how to lock down the house. Knox, I think you need to take your mother and all the grandkids and get them into your house. Keep them safe.”

A beat.

“Um, who put you in charge?” Ford said.

“Me. The guy whose emotions aren’t in this place,” North said. “The guy who can see the big picture and who doesn’t have a family to protect.” He glanced at Selah. “I mean, kids.”