Alex told Jonathan to mount one of the saddled horses and lifted Matthew in front of him. Carmen mounted the other saddled horse. Alex could obviously ride bare-back better than most people could ride with a saddle. Alex lifted Natalie so that she rode in front of Carmen and put Destiny behind her.
Carmen frowned at Alex. "Why don't you let Matthew ride with you?"
He placed his hand on her knee. "Because I'm going the other way."
Carmen stared down at him, her throat constricting so that the words sounded harsh. "Don't try to be a hero, Alex. The law will catch the rest of them."
His expression was indignant. "I'm not trying to be a hero, Carmen. I'm going to keep them busy while you get across that mountain."
Carmen straightened in the saddle. "I'm not leaving without you."
His eyes flashed and his voice was stern. "You're going to do what I say this time. Now get out of here."
He didn't have to tell her that if she had listened to him in the first place this wouldn't have happened. Still, he wasn't simply going to keep them busy.
She met his gaze. "You want revenge for the way they treated your family."
For a moment he looked startled. "Not revenge; Justice. I have to do this, Carmen."
"If it's because of what happened…that you think you froze…"
"I did freeze, and that has nothing to do with it. I can't sit back and say this is someone else's problem. I didn't ask to be involved in this, but I am."
"But it isn't your job."
He sighed. "Carmen, these people are out here because no one wants to get involved. Everyone wants to leave it to the authorities. They made a drug deal in plain sight because they felt safe to do so. They wanted to kill us because they knew no one would question them when our bodies were found out there in the desert." He shook his head. "Not my job? It's everyone's job. As long as each of us permits this, it will continue to happen. In fact, they will get bolder." His gaze softened and he laid a hand on her knee. "Carmen, I'm depending on you to be where I need you." He glanced at Jonathan. "I'm depending on all of you," he amended. "I don't know if Dad heard anything or even if the call went through. We have to assume we have no help." He patted her leg. "If I can, I'll meet you up in that notch." He indicated a saddle between two peaks. "When you get to that town, call Dad. He'll know who to contact. Don't go to the sheriff. He may be in on this…whatever it is."