His Loyal Rebel - Debra Kayn Page 0,79

pick somewhere to meet up if we go in different directions and lose each other."

"Montana," said Two-crow.

"Why there?" asked Will.

"Because no one will know us. None of us came from that state when we were kidnapped. Nobody will be looking for us. We can finally be free. The Bitterroot Mountains are there. We can hide and live off the land." Two-crow undid the knot at the bottom of his braid.

Anders studied the others, wondering if their destination was the right one or if the Louis L'Amour book that Two-crow had in his back pocket when he was taken had to do with picking Montana. "If we get split up, we'll meet there."

"The mountains are huge. Aren't they?" asked Quint.

"Don't worry, we'll find each other," said Anders.

He hadn't set foot inside a school since he was fifteen years old and was removed from the boys' home for orphans because of behavioral problems. The wilderness therapy program he was assigned to was his last chance before going to juvenile detention hall until he turned eighteen years old.

Instead of being thrown in the woods to survive and learn coping skills, he was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to where he was ordered to train dogs to fight inside a ring to their death. Lately, the men in charge forced him and the other boys to stay in the ring and defend themselves against the dogs when they turned on them.

He ran his hand over his chest. When the dogs got a whiff of blood, they could no longer see the difference between human and canine, and he had the scars to prove it.

"What if we're really in a different country?" whispered Quint.

More than likely, they were in Mexico or some Spanish villa in the south. Going anywhere but here was the only thing Anders cared about.

"Just remember, go to Montana if we lose track of each other. I don't care how many weeks or months it takes, we all need to get there." Anders shook his hand, making the blood go to his fingers, making him stronger.

"Sh." Two-crow held up his hand and stepped closer to the door. After several seconds, he looked back at the group of boys and nodded.

Anders raised his fists, ready to attack. They'd talked over their plan for almost a year. The only way they'd gain their freedom and stay alive was if they fought their way out. They had to do it during one of the days they each were taken separately to the dogfights.

The men who usually watched the outside of the building would be occupied inside the barn.

The lock on the other side of the door rattled.

Anders whispered, "Make sure Joney knows where we're going before we run."

The door crashed open. Quint and Will jumped on Mateo, the escort. Unable to take the three-hundred-pound man down, Anders attacked, punching the large man in his face, over and over.

Freedom spurred him on. Fear put the power behind each hit.

The others pinned Mateo down, keeping the man from swinging back. Anders used the only opportunity he had to escape and used all his anger and distress over the last two years to beat one of the men holding them hostage.

Every punch released the rage consuming him. The loud grunts as he pushed his muscles to work harder than ever shouted his pain. Blind to the act, he let his humiliation and fear out, hitting Mateo, spreading the contamination in his life.

Mark fell into Anders, pushing him to the ground on top of Mateo. He continued to swing. Left, right, left, right. Sweat rolled into his eyes, but he no longer looked for a face to beat. He continued his attack until Quint grabbed his arm and Will pushed him off their capture.

Breathing hard, he blinked, focusing on the man in front of him.

"He's dead," whispered Mark.

Quint pulled Anders to his feet. "Let's go."

"Where's Joney?" Anders slapped out, trying to stop them from leaving. "We need to get him."

"There's no time. They'll kill us if they see us around the pens." Will pulled him toward the door. "Let's get the hell out of here."

"No, we need Joney." Anders looked around frantically. "We promised.

Two-crow crouched to run. "How do we get him?"

"I'll go to the back of the barn and look for him. You guys go ahead." Anders shook his hands free of the ropes.

"Okay. Let's go," said Mark, looking over his shoulder as he ran forward.

Anders ran with them until they reached the corner of the barn where the