The Protectors. Forest of Enemies

By David and Linda Broughton

Ex-Navy Seal turned Forest Service worker Frank Adamic is having a great summer, until a visit by two men in suits. He's drafted into the service of the President, to help protect an unknown woman, for the reason and enemy he may face are also unknown. For a while, everything's fine... until early one morning... not only does he have to fight, he and his protectees must run... for their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David and Linda Broughton
• Release date: Nov 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9781458042934

David and Linda Broughton

The love of my life, Linda, is deceased. There will be a few more books by us, since more are written, they are not edited yet. In her honor I will try to get them edited and out to the public, but it's not easy for me. I have a new writing partner now, as well as a partner in life. No it will never be the same, nor should it. To those that review my books. I would greatly appreciate it if you actually READ the entire book before you write the review. Skimming it and posting a review just minutes after you buy it doesn't give a full understanding of the work. One person did this with "Grumpy Old Spy" and totally missed the entire story, and got what they did catch all wrong. I don't appreciate that. If you're not going to do an honest assessment after reading the entire book, don't bother to review it at all. In fact, if that person would contact me, I'll give them their money back for the book, providing they pull the cheap shot review.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The mountain peaks off in the distance appear blue in the bright sunshine. They're pristine white where they are still snowcapped. The creek that starts in the meadow is running a bit higher than usual. It's singing its bubbly song extra brightly today. Butterflies flit around, bees buzz from flower to flower. The meadow grass is tall, waving gently in the light breeze.

A gray rabbit hops through the meadow, not disturbing the horses a bit. They munch on the tall grass, drink from their spring fed water trough, then bounce around the meadow at a trot.. They haven't been put to work much this season, so they're fat and sassy. Frequent rains have kept the forest fires at bay. Only once were they called upon, that time to help find a couple of lost hikers. That little excursion only lasted a day.

Frank Adamic is observing the scene with the amazement he always finds in nature's beauty. In the summer, he has the perfect job for him. He works for the National Forest Service. This summer is particularly nice for him. He's been staying here at this meadow for nearly half the Colorado summer already. He stays in a trailer provided by the service. He's been mending fence, then spending his time rehabbing an old farmhouse on the property. The barn was redone last summer.

He has help, when they aren't needed elsewhere. A bunch of college kids, with some high school kids too, on summer jobs programs. The work has progressed ahead of schedule. He purposely sent them to the camp near the lake to work today. He really doesn't want to finish here too soon. The lake camp is a year round, modern set up. It houses only a few in the winter. The kids all bunk there during the summer. It's not too far away by four-wheel drive truck.

Today, Frank is busying himself with finishing the electrical work on the farmhouse. The service brought in power lines. He has only to finish wiring the main electrical box, in the back of the house. He's also wiring in the back up generator as he does so. He's often wondered why they bothered to go ahead and fix the old house up. The house was well built, but over a hundred years ago. The updates they are putting in, including modern heat, lights, and other such conveniences are nice, but what for? Nobody ever comes around here except to pick up the horses when needed, or to move them to their winter home at a much lower elevation. If I knew the truth, I'm probably fixing it up for some government mucky muck to use as a summer home. Nobody in their right mind would want to be here in the winter. This high in the mountains, once it snows, it stays until spring. They'd need some kind of snow-cat to get in or out. then, it would be a risky proposition at best.

Oh, well, it's been a good gig for me this summer. I'll be sorry for it to end. I'll go back to teaching high school language and chemistry classes in the fall, as usual. Frank often wishes he could do something else. He also has a master's in chemistry. He worked in labs for a time, but couldn't stand it full time, so he came back to working for the Forest Service in the summers, as he did when in college. Teaching takes care of the rest of the year. The radio in his truck is beeping at him. It only does that when there is a call specifically for him.

Frank trots over to the truck to answer the call. FS twenty-seven here.

Frank, get your butt to the lake camp as soon as you can get here.

It's his immediate supervisor, Joe Brady. Sure thing Joe, what's up?

I can't tell you over the radio, get here as soon as you can.

I'm on my way, Joe. It usually takes about an hour and a half.

Okay, Frank, push it as much as you can, will ya? See you then, FS ten, out.

FS twenty-seven, out.

This is very odd. There's nothing we couldn't talk about over the radio, this is the Forest Service, not the Secret Service. Frank fires up the truck. He roars down the rough trail sometimes called a road as fast as he can, which isn't all that fast. After forty minutes, he's to the main highway. because he's never got to do it before, he turns on the lights and siren, then flies up the road. Normally, the lights and siren are only used to respond to fires.

When he gets to the camp he marches right into Joe's office. Two guys in black suits with mirrored shades still on their faces are waiting in the office with Joe. Joe nods toward the suits, Frank, this is Mr. Smith, and Mr. Jones. All I can tell you is they are very high up in the government. They want to speak with you. Joe leaves the office. The one calling himself Mr. Smith pats down Frank, obviously looking for recorders or transmitting devices, since he ignores the sheathed knife on Frank's belt.

Mr. Jones speaks clearly, I understand you are working at restoring an old ranch house in the mountains, Mr. Adamic.

Yes, we're nearly finished. I was tying in the power when I got the call. That and some paint work, then we'll be done.

We've been informed you speak several languages, French, and Spanish mainly.

Yes, I do. I teach them at the high school level. I wouldn't be mistaken for a native speaker, but I'm all right.

Here's what we need you to do. Get everything you might need to finish up at the ranch house. Take a forest service trailer into a larger town, stock up on groceries for three people for two months. Bring any personal items you may want. Once we bring a person in with a trained bodyguard, you will not leave the ranch area again until you are told different. Is that understood?

I suppose so, but since I don't take my orders from you, I'll have to hear it from someone in my chain of command.

No, you won't. You won't speak of this to anyone. Not your bosses, not your family, nobody. You are going away on Forest Service business, that's all anyone has to know. If you need authority, here you go. Mr. Jones takes out a paper with a fancy seal on it. He hands it to Frank to read. He's heard of these, but never before seen one. It's a Presidential Warrant. It basically drafts him into the service of the President. He now knows who these guys are. They are special agents of the President. Their powers exceed anyone else's. If they want to, they can shoot him right here in the office, leave his body behind, yet nothing will come of it. Frank takes a big gulp of air.

Okay, what am I supposed to use for cash for these supplies? Can I put them on my government credit card?

No, use this one. Mr. Jones hands him a black card. All it has on it is numbers embossed in a gold color. No signature required, only this confirmation number. Jones hands him a paper card with the letter and number combination on it. If they ask for ID, use this. Jones hands him a badge case. The ID has his picture, the name is John Brown. It's with a Presidential special agent badge too. If I were you, to be safe, I'd stock up on weapons and ammo. Be sure to get plenty of supplies. Enough to winter out if need be. We don't know how long it will be until we can safely get you out of there. Hopefully only about three weeks, but one never knows about things like this.

Okay, will do. You have everything set up with Joe, I take it.

Yes, he will get you anything you need, except maybe for this. Jones takes a satellite phone with a charger out of his briefcase. He hands it to Frank. That's only for extreme emergencies. Your code name is Falcon six, got that?"

Sure, but what do I dial?

"Use the preprogrammed number on the speed dial. Understand, you best not be using it to call home. tell whoever answers that you are Falcon six, then what the trouble is. Only, I repeat only in extreme, life threatening emergencies."

Okay, you got it. I don't really like it, but I'll do what's required. Why me though, why not someone used to this kind of thing?

We knew you would go along. There are only twenty agents that work directly for the President. We will be very busy. We could only get one trained agent for this job. You are a good candidate, with your language skills plus your known proficiency with firearms. The site and your knowledge of the area clinched it. Good day … oh make sure you have a good supply of ladies hygiene products laid in. Your companions will be female.

Oh, now wait a minute. I don't know if I can put up with a couple of broads for who knows how long.

"That's the job, and you will do it. Otherwise you go to prison for violating the Presidential warrant. You won't get a trial."

Whatever, jeesh PMSing broads, I'll probably wind up getting killed by one of them.

That might be, the agent we are sending with the 'guest' is skilled in all methods of killing.

Oh shit, now you tell me.

Jones cracks a slight smile. Good day to you. I suggest you get busy. You only have about 48 hours to get the place stocked up and the power system finished. Anything else, you can do while you wait to hear from us. Good day.

Jones and Smith leave the office. Frank is standing here attempting to gather his thoughts in his now addled brain when Joe walks in. I suggest you get your butt headed toward Canon City, Frank. You might have to go to Pueblo or Colorado Springs to stock up.

Damn, Joe, what the hell am I getting into?

"Hell if I know, Frank. Apparently, it's all on a need to know basis, I don't need to know. Hell, the way it looks, I don't want to know. If I was in your shoes, I would take the truck and trailer over to Fort Carson and get yourself some heavy weapons."

I wonder if they would let me have a tank?

Joe chuckles, I doubt that Frank, ask when you're there though, hell they might. The PX there might be a good place to stock up on the other things too.

Yeah, it might at that. I'll need a trailer, a long one.

I had the long horse trailer hooked up to your truck while you were chatting with those gentlemen. On your way now. Be careful Frank.

Yeah, I will be. I'm more worried about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a couple of broads than any threat from the outside. You know I don't do well with women, especially since my divorce.

Yeah, I don't think I was supposed to know that. I didn't know it was women, now get the hell out of here before you say something else you're not supposed to.

Frank gives Joe a look, but says nothing further. He goes outside, checks the trailer hook-up, then drives towards the Springs, taking the cut off instead of going back through Canon City. He'll stop through there on his way back. It's a long drive towing a trailer, since he can't make much speed on the curvy road. After about four hours of steady driving, he reaches the outskirts of Colorado Springs. He stops for gas. Here, he uses his normal Forest Service card, since it is a Forest Service vehicle. He doesn't want to garner any extra attention.

He considers his options again. No, the PX won't be a good place for the type and quantity of supplies he needs. Buying in that amount at the PX would send up alarms. He'll go to the base for what arms he can get. Everything else he will pick up somewhere else, though he's not sure where at the moment. He drives onto the base. He asks the guard at the gate to direct him to the armory. He still has the Presidential Warrant. They should let him have nearly anything he wants. From his time in the Seals, he has an idea of what he needs and wants. He hasn't kept up with what's available these days, they may have some new things that might be handy to have.

He finds the armory without too much trouble, he shows the ID and warrant to the sergeant on duty. Wow, with that, and that badge, I can let you have anything you want. What will it be?

Start me off with those new lightweight fifty caliber sniper rifles I've heard about, two of them. Maybe I best have a full size Barrett too. I'll need three Browning machine guns, three sub-machineguns of some kind, three of the Glocks in forty-five caliber, lets see now … Frank thinks for a minute. Add in a dozen cases of frag grenades, two cases of Willy Pete grenades, two cases of flash bangs, two dozen of the practice mines with flares, a couple of cases of Claymores, plus many mags and boxes of ammo for each weapon, that ought to do it.

I don't suppose you can tell me what you need it for, I may be able to suggest some other things too.

Well, let's say I might need to defend a position.

Okay, I'll get you a bunch of sensors, some wireless cameras, with both day and night vision capability, some night vision gear for you and two others I take it. What kind of sub-machinegun did you want?

What's available?

I have lots to choose from, all the versions of MP-5s, some really wild newer stuff, plus a couple of dozen of the deluxe model Thompsons.

Make it three of the Thompsons. With the large drum mags if you would be so kind. Plenty of extra mags and ammo for those too. I might need to practice with them a bit, it's been a while. Add in three AR-15s with night vision scopes too. Oh, yeah some C-4, timers, detonators, det cord and several large rolls of wire. Put them in that trailer I borrowed from the Forest Service outside. Make sure there are plenty of spare mags and ammo. I don't have any idea how long I may have to hold out.

Sure thing, Mr. Brown.

All of this gear fills the trailer and truck bed. There's nothing else to do but drive it on up to the ranch house to unload it, so that's what Frank does. He'll stay the night, since it'll be too late to do anything once he gets unloaded and drives the four hours back to the Springs.

When Frank gets to the ranch, he unloads all the gear into the barn. He finishes the day by finishing the electrical work. Now he has power to the house and the barn, plus the generator for backup. He'll load up on fuel tomorrow, but he can get that much closer.

Frank spends the evening in his trailer. He fixes himself a meal of beans and burgers, then goes to bed. He sets the alarm for four am. Contrary to what he thought would happen, he falls to sleep quickly.

Chapter 2

Frank wakes to the alarm clock. He puts on water on the stove to heat, so he can make coffee using his French press. After he's had a couple of cups, he thinks of using the small bathroom for a wet-down style shower. It suddenly occurs to him that now that there is power to the house, there will be plenty of hot water there. He pulls on sweatpants, a T-shirt and slips into his cowboy boots. He takes his clothes, jeans, underwear, socks and a western shirt, into the house with him. He takes a nice long hot shower. It beats the heck out of the quick wet downs in the trailer.

Frank dresses for the day, then ambles back out to the trailer. He tosses the sweats and T-shirt on the bed. I'll have to get used to sleeping in them with ladies around. Besides, somebody may come looking for them. I won't want to be naked if that happens.

It's five-fifteen by the time he gets on the road. The extra long shower held him up a bit, but was worth it. Frank drives to Colorado Springs as before. This time he drives to the closest Sam's club. After he purchases a membership, he stocks up on canned and dried foods, by the case. Toilet paper and several kinds of women's hygiene supplies come next. While he's thinking of that, he picks up a large supply of chocolate, and cases of wine. That's the only thing he knows of that will calm the savage beasts they call women with PMS.

Frank gets some beer for himself. He gets a good selection of foodstuffs, all the basic supplies, plus many of the ready to make, sit-on-the-shelf, complete meals. There isn't a lot of freezer space, so he doesn't buy too many frozen items. For the most part, he buys cured or canned meats, lots of rice, dried beans, anything he can think of that won't cause too much of a storage problem. The so-called ranch house is really more like a farmhouse. It's two stories, with plenty of room to store dry or canned goods. He can always hunt for fresh meat if need be. He adds in a number of restaurant size containers of various spices. He doesn't know if either of these ladies can or will cook, but if he has to do it, he wants plenty of things to work with, so he can change the taste of things if need be. If they wind up stuck there all winter, anything might get boring. All of this fills the long trailer three quarters full.

Frank's next stop is at a sporting goods store. He buys a number of sets of woodlands cammo for himself and some smaller sizes for these ladies. He buys a ready-made sniper's ghillie suit too.

Frank gets cold weather gear for all of them, including snowshoes, in case. He also stocks up on ammo for his personal weapons he will get on his way back. Combat knives, fishing line, and a few other miscellaneous items to finish his purchases here.

One last stop at a home center nets him a supply of ball bearings, several rolls of concertina wire, stakes, and propane cylinders for the trailer. He gets a few other miscellaneous items too. He remembers to get the paint and supplies to finish the house. He thinks he will stay in the trailer, away from the ladies as much as possible.

With that in mind, he stops at a bookstore to load up on reading material. It may be a long stay with no action at all. He'll need something to keep himself occupied if they are there after the snow sets in. He picks up some books he thinks the ladies might like too. With no TV or radio available in the area, it might be very boring indeed. Of course, boring could well beat the alternative all to hell.

Frank starts back, taking Hwy 115 to Canon City this time. He stops at his small house on the outskirts of town to pick up more clothes. He's mostly interested in picking up his personal weapons. He checks his weapons as he puts them in a duffle bag. First is his personal AR-15, folding stock model, from his days as a Seal. He had claimed it as lost and paid the amount it cost, so that he could keep it. He's had it tricked out so that it suits him perfectly. He also takes his Remington model 700 in thirty-ought-six, his old trusty thirty-thirty Winchester handed down from his father, his Colt forty-five automatic, accurized by the finest gunsmith in the navy. When that's all in the duffle, he pulls out his big guns, a matched set of long barreled 454 Calsuls made by Freedom Arms Inc. These don't have scopes like most use. He's never been a fan of scopes on handguns. Long guns, sure, handguns, no way, though these can shoot accurately at distances many rifles never see. He packs these on the front passenger seat of his truck. Satisfied he's gotten all the gear he can possibly use, he heads back to the ranch. Technically, it's not a ranch anymore, but it was one, and still could be, but the short summers and harsh winters in the area would make for a money-losing proposition.

Frank makes all the speed he can. He's back at the ranch by five pm.