Page 44 of Maggie’s Match

“That’s the easy part,” Maggie said with a chuckle.

They were about to turn into the long driveway of the ranch when a large white van pulled in front of them quickly, and Rick had to slam on his brakes.

“Shit,” Bridget said. “Not again.”

“I.C.E.” Becca groaned.

“I’m sorry about what’s about to go down,” Bridget added just as their truck was swarmed with agents holding guns at them.

So many instructions were yelled at them in the next few seconds, Maggie didn’t know which ones to follow. She put her hands up, then on her head, and froze. She knew her eyes were huge, like she was a deer caught in someone’s headlights.

Becca was pulled from the truck while Bridget, Rick, and Maggie were left sitting there.

Bridget started yelling at the young agent who yanked her daughter from the truck and half carried, half pulled her towards the white van.

There were so many guns pointed at Becca, as if she were a dangerous criminal, able to materialize a weapon and kill the six agents surrounding them in the space of a few heartbeats.

“She has her ID in her purse. She’s a United States citizen. She’s my daughter,” Bridget kept yelling at them. “She was born in Austin, Texas,” she screamed as they put zip ties on Becca’s wrists and she was shoved in the back of the van.

None of the agents talked to them or even acknowledged them. Most of them wore black masks over their faces and dark glasses.

Maggie watched as the van’s doors were shut. Tears rolled down her face at the thought of never seeing her cousin again. Of what Becca must be thinking and feeling. Maggie was afraid, but none of the agents were looking in her direction.

Thankfully, after the doors were shut, things seemed to calm down. They were told to lower their hands and, finally, someone listened to her aunt. They dumped the contents of Becca’s bag onto the dirt and rifled through her belongings, looking for weapons and her driver’s license.

Almost ten minutes after Becca was put into the back of the van, they opened the doors, cut off the zip ties, and let her go.

Becca climbed into the back of the truck, her chin raised and her eyes dry. When Bridget tried to hug her, she shook her head.

“Are you okay?” Rick asked as started to drive the rest of the way to the house.

“Yes,” Becca said quietly. “Just… get me inside.”

Rick nodded and drove down the driveway a little faster.

Bent and Bryson were standing on the front porch when they parked.

Everyone got out, and the family waited to hold onto one anther until they were in the privacy of their own home.

“This is the third time they’ve done that in two months. It’s the same damn agents each time,” Bryson said. “They goddamn know who the hell we are by now,” he growled out. “I’m sick of it.” He turned to Rick. “Do you think your uncle can do anything about this harassment?”

“I’ll find out.” Rick pulled out his phone and called his uncle.

Chapter Sixteen

The day ended on a more somber note than it had begun. While the family, including Maggie, gathered in the living room, comforting one another, he went on a ride alone to dissipate his anger while he waited for his uncle to return his phone call.

It was after dark when he finally returned to the barn. He spent almost a half hour cooling off the gelding and putting him away, making sure the horse had plenty of feed and water.

When he turned around to head inside, Maggie was leaning against the barn door, watching him.

“Feel better?” she asked, moving towards him.

“Yes,” he admitted as he glanced over her shoulder at the dark house. “How’s the family?”

“Exhausted. They’ve all gone up to bed.”

“No family dinner?”