Operation chosen wayside.., p.1
Operation: Chosen (Wayside Ranch Book 3), page 1
Operation: Chosen
Wayside Ranch
Book 3
Kari Trumbo
Contents
An important note from the author
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Afterword
Chapter One
Also by Kari Trumbo
About the Author
Operation: Chosen
Copyright © 2023 by Kari Trumbo
Published by Inked in Faith Publications LLC
PO Box 223
Grove City, MN
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction, names, dates, places, and situations are all products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is unintended and accidental.
Bible Verses taken from the KJV version
Cover design by Evelyne Labelle at Carpe Librum Book Design
www.carpelibrumbookdesign.com
An important note from the author
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Wayside Ranch. While each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, they are better when read in order. If you missed the first book, Operation: Restoration, you may want to go back and start with that one. The relationships between the men (since there are quite a few of them) will be clearer that way. There are also spoilers for book one in this book.
I hope you enjoy this continuation of the Wayside series and I hope you’ll consider leaving a review when you’re finished. Be sure to follow me at www.karitrumbo.com for more information. You can join my mailing list from there.
Kari
Prologue
An argument with Lacy was coming. Connor knew it as innately as he knew the sun would come up in the east. Lacy believed in the Wayside Ranch mission. Possibly even more firmly than he did, and she would see his judgement as poor. But he’d had to make the call.
While Connor was giving his men—his friends—a chance to heal from their pasts, he couldn’t risk the safety and mental health of the victims who looked to him for a place of refuge. Wayside couldn’t offer that if strangers came to stay on the ranch as visitors. Connor had originally thought having the visitors around would actually help the human trafficking victims move closer to a normal life by interacting with people outside of those on the ranch. Unfortunately, having them around also introduced security issues.
Connor’s phone rang—his landline which had been silent for a week after they’d found placements for their last two guests. “Hello,” he said simply. He wasn’t one for chatting, and the call felt like an interruption to his preparation for talking to Lacy.
“Connor, this is Micha Roberts with the California Board of Corrections. I heard about your situation from one of my associates. I know your ranch is currently empty, and I may have a way to keep your funding going while you’re renovating. I’ve been given a grant and an opportunity to test a treatment method. Are you interested in helping me?”
“Renovation” had been the reason they’d given the government for Wayside’s lack of space to house their usual guests. No one had wanted to invite the government onto Wayside to help with security.
Lacy stopped in his doorway. Her gaze locked on to the phone in his hand, and she immediately headed for the seat on the opposite side of his desk. Talking on that phone usually meant a new guest would be coming, and his conscience pricked. He wanted her to be happy here. If she wasn’t, she might leave. If she left, he’d lose a piece of himself. At least if she were at his side, helping him with the ranch, he could act like things were normal.
“I’m listening,” he answered Micha.
“Good. I have three boys here who were all recently arrested for gang activity. These were non-violent crimes. We know that gang activity usually escalates. We hope to test if taking them out of this environment, getting them somewhere far away, completely different from what and who they know, will help them move in another direction before it’s too late. I know you normally deal with victims, not criminals. In a way though, these boys are both.”
Connor stared across his desk, thankful for the opportunity to give Lacy something that she could pour herself into. She was a vessel, needing someone to heal. She would’ve made an amazing mother if he hadn’t lost his mind and his heart and pushed her away. After all he’d been through, he didn’t want her light anywhere near his darkness. His wounds would smother her. Ten years ago, his father had had other ideas and convinced her to stay, even after their divorce. Connor was thankful now, but at the time he’d thought his father was choosing Lacy over him.
Which was why he couldn’t take on the same challenge he’d given to his men.
He turned his focus back to the phone. While he wanted to give Lacy what she hoped for, there were red flags with a few things Micha had said. Even if the crimes were nonviolent, rarely did gang-related crime stay that way. These boys could be dangerous.
“You’re hoping to send these boys here to see what life has to offer outside the city?” Connor replied. “What sort of protections do we have? Will their parents be aware of where they are? Do we have to increase some of our security to make sure parents can come in but no one else can? We have fences, but this isn’t a prison and was never meant to be.” These weren’t precautions they had to take under normal circumstances since Wayside rarely took children as clients.
“Yes, you’ll have to find a way to allow their parents, but you’ll need to be careful. We don’t know all the members of these gangs, and we certainly don’t know what kind of resources they have. At least one of these boys was a prime recruit. That makes things potentially dangerous for you.”
Connor didn’t know the first thing about gangs, but he knew about crime. Could gangs be similar in form to how trafficking syndicates operated? If so, by inviting these boys to stay, even for a short time, he could be putting everyone in a lot of danger.
“I have friends on the police force right now. At least we could have help quickly if we need it,” Connor said.
Silence from the other end ate at Connor’s gut. It dragged on a few seconds too long. “I’m really sorry. We have to cover our own butts,” Micha said. “This is an off-the-book exchange. If these boys act out in any dangerous way and you have to call in the police, the test would be done. They’d have to come back home and serve out the remainder of their sentences. Zero tolerance. This isn’t a vacation, it’s their last chance to see if they can choose to take advantage of the right offering.”
Connor glanced at Lacy. Though she couldn’t know what he was talking about nor whom he was talking to, she gave him a slight nod of encouragement. He had to choose between either having an empty ranch until his men all had their month to heal their pasts…or he could help three boys in desperate need of their only chance.
“You’ve got my email. I’ll be interested in hearing all the details before I agree to anything,” Connor said. “When could they come if I approve this?”
Micha laughed. “I could have them there in three days. The bus is already ready.”
He finished the call with Micha, then waited for Lacy to speak. He loved her intuition and drive. She was made for a ranch like this, which was why his dad had insisted she stay. “I suppose you want to know what’s going on?”
She shrugged one slender shoulder, then smirked at him. “You’re going to tell me anyway. Might as well get it out of the way.”
True. She knew him.
“I know you were the only person who didn’t agree that we should stop taking guests while the guys are performing their second chance missions,” Connor said. After all, she didn’t understand how important this kind of thing was to the guys. She probably hadn’t ever had anyone who’d gotten away. She and Connor still had each other, even if they weren’t married anymore and she’d told him, plain as day, that she would never be romantic with him again.
Case closed.
“Wayside is a place for healing. I think there has to be a way to do what we’re called to do, safely. God doesn’t call us to do what’s easy.” She crossed her arms and waited for him to continue.
He held up his hands to let her know he wasn’t denying what she said. “I know you’re right, but I have to listen to my guys and my gut. We need to stay under the radar for a while. I still want to catch Viceroy and stop him and his cartel, but the safety of my ranch must come first. There’s no safety
Lacy glanced away, her jaw hard with determination. “I know you’re right, but it feels like giving up. I don’t give up.”
Except when forced to. He’d forced her to give up on him. “What if we used this time to help three boys escape the grip of a gang?”
She raised one arched brow. “And how is that anything like helping victims?”
He waited a moment before he answered, letting her think he wasn’t invested yet. “According to the man I just spoke to, they are victims. Their families have been targets of violence for years. Sometimes for generations. We might be able to stop the cycle. What if we could help some families by showing three boys there are other ways?”
Lacy tilted her head and stared at him for a moment, her soft brown eyes drilling into him. “Those are nice words. Too bad they aren’t yours. There’s no heart behind them. You’re doing this for some reason other than a heart motive, which means it’s not led by God. I’m sorry, Connor. But this will fail, and I hope it doesn’t lead to pain for you or your men.”
Chapter One
Eric glanced at his phone and breathed a sigh of relief. The text came from Connor, and, coming from him, that meant it was work. Not Ali. Connor had said she was coming soon. Too soon. Or maybe not soon enough. If Eric had looked her back up years ago and told her exactly how he felt, he wouldn’t be in this situation now. If he had, he’d have no regrets and there would be no need for her to come.
With his gut in a knot, hoping she’d changed her mind and wasn’t on her way out to Wayside, he looked at Connor’s text again.
Eric didn’t want to see Ali. Ever. After the way they’d parted, just setting eyes on her would tear his heart open. Even years later, he could still hear her voice in his head—that sweet, low voice she’d practiced to perfection.
She had cut him to shreds like she’d practiced ahead of time. You aren’t what I’m looking for. You’ll never be what I need. I need someone looking for rank, not a grunt looking to save the world…
And she’d hit the mark with deadly accuracy. His entire reason for joining the military had been to try to do something right. Help people. Be something. The main reason he loved working at Wayside was that he got to do exactly what he’d set out to do. Even if the one woman he’d ever loved would look down on him for it.
He wasn’t a commander. He wasn’t wealthy or in charge of anything but his own happiness. His truck wasn’t even particularly new, but it didn’t have to be. It was reliable and hauled horse trailers just fine.
He scanned the text for the third time and narrowed his eyes, unsure of what he’d read. “Three boys…?” Did Connor mean men, or was this way outside of what they usually did?
“Hey, Eric?” Sam Elsner, the dog trainer, sauntered over and leaned against the railing of the horse training ring.
“Yeah?” Eric gave a low whistle, and Mable, one of the ranch horses, came trotting toward him like a dog looking for a treat.
“Did you just get a text from Connor about three boys?” Sam looked just as confused as Eric felt.
So, he had read it right. Maybe this meant Ali wasn’t coming? Why give him work if his main objective was to fix his one regret and try for a second chance? Eric held in a laugh. That was never happening. “Looks like we got the same text. Wonder what it means.”
Sam adjusted the brim of his hat. “Looks like Junior was included too, but I’m not sure. We all agreed to wait to bring in more guests until Connor gets word that Viceroy isn’t an issue. Think he got word? Maybe that’s why we’re getting guests?”
Eric snorted. “No. And even if he did, it would take a while to go through applications. Plus, the only time we’ve had more than one guest come at one time is when a young child is involved and Connor asks one of the parents to stay here. I don’t see anything about parents.” He took hold of Mable’s bridle and led her back toward her stall.
Junior came in from the back and waved. “You all get that text too?”
Eric nodded as he took off Mable’s bridle, then led her toward the back where Junior waited, holding the gate open. “This whole situation is strange. How many men are needed for three boys if this isn’t a normal situation? Are these boys like Pete, here to have a camp for the summer?”
Junior chuckled. “I don’t know. And just what does Connor mean by ‘boys’? Are these little kids like Pete, or older?”
Pete was off with his mother, Erica, and his father, Cole, but having young people around who were suffering might be hard on the boy if they were going to be here once Pete returned. “I don’t know. I got the same text as you, and it had almost no information. Should we go find out?” Eric asked.
Sam led the way, holding the barn door open for Eric and Junior. As was his routine, Eric scanned the front yard. Usually, there would’ve been guests sitting in the central fire pit area furnished with patio furniture. Today, all the chairs were neatly in a circle, empty. Someone had recently power washed them, and they looked lonely sitting in perfect order instead of scattered around the fire pit. Eric wanted to go move one just so the place looked lived-in.
Connor came out the front door of the main house leading three boys with droopy shoulders, scowling faces, and narrowed eyes. They all looked older than sixteen, but younger than adults. Although, judging the age of children had become harder the further Eric got from his twenties.
“Junior, Sam, Eric, I’d like you to meet our three guests. They just arrived this morning, and I finished their orientation a few minutes ago. I only learned they were coming just before they arrived. That’s why I didn’t send their files to you. I didn’t realize they’d be here this quickly.”
Delinquents. That could be the only reason they’d shown up without notice and looking like they wanted to run. Eric couldn’t help the thought that speared through his brain to his chest. These boys looked like trouble. What was he supposed to do for them? How could he possibly help them?
Connor continued, “This is Big E, Jayzon, and Terrell. They are here from California. All three were arrested after a theft from a gas station.”
Yup, delinquents. What in the world were they supposed to do to help these kids?
“I don’t want to assign any one guest to one wrangler. I’d like all of you to work together except when the boys are with Brendon. You can work all as one or take shifts. Their caseworker felt that counseling was a lost cause, but I told him that’s how we do things here.”
One of the boys rolled his eyes. He was the biggest of the three in both stature and girth. Eric didn’t want to assume anything, but if he had to guess, he’d assume that one was Big E.
“Can we get to our rooms already? Do you have Wi-Fi?” The biggest boy took the lead and turned slightly to look at Connor.
Connor gritted his teeth. He hated to be interrupted, and Eric took that as his cue to speak up and give Connor a break. “There’s only Wi-Fi when you finish chores. Let’s go find your bunkhouse.” He eyed Connor. “I’m assuming with their age that they are all bunking in the same cabin and one of the guys will have to be in there with them?”
Connor gripped the railing of the porch, and Eric didn’t miss his white knuckles. “Their caseworker didn’t feel that was appropriate, not even for safety reasons. So, in the evening after they are done for the day, they have to wear the same monitoring ankle bracelets they had to wear in the yard back at the juvenile detention center, their door is to be locked, and no one is allowed in with them after curfew.”
All three boys grumbled loudly and glanced back and forth at each other.
