by Kit Morgan
She hoped.
C.J. followed Clyde’s squawks and clucks for a minute, then stopped to study their surroundings again. They looked familiar. Good. The tunnel wasn’t so wide they’d miss another passage if one branched off, but it wasn’t so narrow to make one obvious. He still couldn’t get over that there were mine shafts running through this hill. Obviously the Cookes didn’t know about them or they’d have mentioned them at some point.
Rufi must have thought the same thing. “I’m surprised no one told us about these. If we don’t get back soon, will the others think to look here?”
“Not if they don’t know about them. The only reason we found the entrance was by crawling under all those bushes.”
She squeezed his hand again. “I heard Duncan talking to Mr. Brody back at the hotel about caves. But from the sounds of their conversation, they were closer to the tree line along the base of the mountains.”
“These aren’t them, that’s for sure.” He stopped again and they both listened.
Squawwwk!
C.J. sighed. “I’m not following that chicken any further into this maze.” He held the torch higher.
“What are you doing?”
“Seeing if there’s air moving through the tunnel.” He lowered the torch. “Unfortunately, there isn’t.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re deeper into the cave than I thought. Correction – caves, plural.”
She gasped.
“It’s all right, Rufi, we’ll get out of here,” he said gently. “Don’t be scared.”
“I’m … not,” she stammered and swallowed hard.
C.J.’s arm was around her before he could think, his lips on hers. It was a gentle kiss, meant to comfort, and he hoped it did the trick. When he broke it he looked into her eyes. “Like I said, don’t be scared.”
She stared up at him and shook her head. “I’m not.”
He rubbed his nose against hers. “Good.” He kept his arm around her and continued on. A moment later, Clyde ran into the torchlight and clucked a few times. “There you are, you little beast!”
“I think he’s just as lost as we are,” Rufi commented.
“Don’t count on it.” He stared at Clyde. “I bet you know how to get out of here, don’t you?”
Clyde clucked and scratched at the dirt a few times.
“Is that a yes?” Rufi asked.
C.J. smiled as he turned to her. “I hope so. But I’m not sure I want to wait to find out.”
She smiled back, then bent to the bird’s level. “You’re a pretty thing.”
Clyde came a few steps closer.
“I think he likes you,” C.J. said. “Maybe you should try to …”
Clyde darted away before he could finish. Rufi smiled up at him. “I think he knows what you’re saying.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a bird.” He helped her up and they continued down the passage.
“Are we going deeper?” she asked quietly.
C.J. stopped. “I don’t believe so. Are you frightened?”
“No.” She smiled shyly. “Not with you here.”
C.J.’s chest warmed. The trust in her eyes was hard to miss. “Then I’m glad I’m here.”
“Me too,” she said, her cheeks pink in the torchlight.
C.J. fought the urge to kiss her again. “We’d better keep moving. The entrance can’t be far.”
“But are we in a different tunnel? I’m all turned around.”
“No, I think this is the one we first entered.” He turned a full circle. With only the torch it was difficult to figure out where they were. “Have you seen anything else we can burn for more light?”
“Earlier I thought … no, I must have been seeing things.”
“What?”
“When we were chasing Clyde earlier, I thought we passed some wood or lumber. But maybe it was just the shadows.”
“Where?”
“We haven’t passed it yet. I think up there somewhere.” She pointed at the darkness ahead.
“Good. Maybe we can make another torch.”
They continued, Clyde trailing beside them. It figured - now the bird decided to not run away. But C.J. was more concerned with getting Rufi to safety than chasing Clyde. Let Melvale worry about his bird.
“There,” she said. “See where the cave wall juts out?”
“Yes. So beyond that?”
She picked up her pace. “I thought I saw something leaning against the cave wall.” She rounded the rock and squealed in delight. “I did!”
C.J. held the torch up to illuminate the area. There were some old pieces of wood, as if they’d been part of an old shack and nearby several piles of roofing shingles. “Thank the Lord. How did I not see this?”
“We were too intent on chasing a chicken.” She grinned. “I barely caught sight of this myself.”
He put an arm around her. “Barely was enough in this case. Now let’s see what we can do.” He dug through the woodpile, found one piece suitable for a torch, then eyed the petticoat in her hands. “Do you really need that?”
She clutched it to her chest. “This was a birthday gift from Benjamin and Charity last year.”
“I’ll buy you another, I promise.”
She looked at the cloth and sighed. “All right. But you’re getting me a nice one.”
C.J. winked at her. “Don’t worry, I will.” He tore the petticoat into strips, wrapped them around one end of the wood, tied and secured them, then pulled a small tin of matches out of his pocket. “I only have a few left. I hope this works.”
“I hope so too, or you’ve ruined my petticoat for nothing.”
He lit the cloth and it caught on the first try. “There, that’s better.” He handed it to Rufi, gathered some of the loose shingles and tucked them under one arm. “In case we need a fire,” he explained and looked at the torches. Their smoke was going straight up. “Still no breeze from the outside. But the entrance has to be around here somewhere.”
“Yes, but where?”
Even Clyde looked around as if lost. He clucked a few times, then stared up at them.
“Look, friend, you got us into this mess,” C.J. replied. “By rights you should get us out.”
Clyde squawked and ran down the passage.
C.J. and Rufi stared after him, mouths agape. “Now tell me he didn’t understand you then,” Rufi said.
“I don’t even know anymore,” C.J. said. “Come on, I want to find that entrance before these torches go out.”
Rufi looked at the newly-made torch in her hand. “Good idea.”
He looked at it too. It burned brightly for now, but Rufi’s petticoat wouldn’t last long. He had to get them out of there and fast. They were indeed lost, but he wasn’t about to tell Rufi that. He just hoped they didn’t stay that way.
“Has anyone seen Rufi or Mr. Branson?” Charity asked as she took the plate Sadie offered.
Belle and Sadie both looked around. “I don’t know,” Sadie said. “I thought they were on the other side of His Majesty.”
Charity set down her plate and walked around the massive tree. “No sign of them,” she called back.
Sebastian tugged on her skirt. “I saw them head up the creek, Mama.”
Charity looked at her son. “You did? How long ago was that? Before we started eating or during?”
“It was when I was sitting on Mr. MacDonald’s head. They walked that way.” He pointed.
“What?” Calvin got up from the blanket he was sitting on. “Where’s Rufi? What’s goin’ on?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Charity said. “We just happened to notice they aren’t here.”
Calvin did a quick survey of the surrounding area. “They went up the creek, ‘Bas?”
The little boy nodded and took the cookie his mother offered him.
“Benjamin and I can go look for them if you don’t mind watching Sebastian and Truly,” Charity offered.
“Rufi’s my responsibility,�
�� Calvin said. “Bella and me’ll go.” He went to the water’s edge where his wife sat on a blanket, chatting with Honoria. “Yer sister done run off with Mr. Branson.”
Bella looked up at him. “Excuse me?”
“All right, so maybe they didn’t run off, but they ain’t come back yet. Sebastian said he saw ‘em head up the creek.”
“We were all up the creek. I didn’t see them when we came back.”
“Maybe ‘cause they went after we did,” he said.
“I wouldn’t worry, Mr. Weaver,” Honoria said. “Mr. Branson probably went to show her the fishing hole and tug-of-war spot.”
“I’ll feel better when I know where they are.” He looked at his wife. “Ya comin’?”
“Oh, very well.” Bella took the hand he offered. He helped her up and waited as she brushed off her skirt. “Let me ask Charity to look after the boys.”
“She will,” Calvin assured her, and after making sure of it, they set off.
“Where are they going?” Shona MacDonald asked Charity. “Mr. Weaver does not look very happy.”
“He’s not. Rufi and Mr. Branson went up the creek and he’s going to find them.”
“Oh. He wants to make sure that everything is on the up and up, does he?”
“Yes. I’m afraid Calvin will give poor Mr. Branson an earful when they’re found.”
“Oh dear,” Shona chuckled. Then she stilled and stared at the trail Calvin and Bella followed. “I think I will get Dallan and go upstream myself. I could do with a walk.”
“Would you like to take some cookies with you?” Charity asked, wrapping some in a napkin.
“Yes, thank you.” Shona took them and went to fetch her husband.
She found him downstream with Harrison, Duncan and Colin. “Dallan, a word?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” he told them and joined her a few feet away. “Aye, Flower?”
She stared at him a moment. “Take a walk with me? I have cookies.”
“Aye.” He turned to the others. “I’m afraid I’m being commandeered by my wife, sirs. If ye’ll excuse me?”
“Certainly,” Duncan replied.
The MacDonalds smiled and took off at a faster pace than necessary for a simple stroll. “What is it, Flower?” Dallan asked.
Shona frowned. “Not sure of the details. But either C.J. and Rufi are in trouble, or they’re about to be.”
Chapter Nineteen
C.J. stopped again and examined the walls of the cave.
“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Rufi whimpered. Fear was taking hold and she wasn’t sure what to do about it.
He turned to her. “There’s no sense denying it – yes.” He pulled her close. “I’m sorry, Rufi. But I promise I’ll get you out of here safe and sound.”
His arms felt good around her. He was solid, warm, real. Yes, she was attracted to Melvale, but something about him wasn’t right, as if he was just a visitor in her world from a fairy tale. She gazed into C.J.’s eyes. “I know you will.”
He smiled at her before his lips met hers. His kiss was gentle, comforting like before – and like before, she melted into him. Didn’t he realize he was awakening in her things she didn’t know existed until now? Maybe they could stay lost just a little longer …
He broke the kiss. “We should go. The others will have noticed we’re missing by now. I can just imagine what your family is thinking.”
“That you’ve taken me into the woods to ravish me?”
He smiled. “Never that. But another kiss, maybe …”
Rufi’s arms went around his waist, her body flush against his. She felt everything within her give itself to this man. Was that wise? Who knew? But it was as natural as breathing.
After that kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. “This isn’t how I envisioned getting to know you better.”
She swallowed hard. “I know.”
He tucked a finger under her chin and tilted her face up. “Rufi, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and …”
“What?”
“And if you don’t move your torch, sweetheart, you’re going to singe my hair off.”
“Oh!” She released him and backed away. She’d forgotten she was even holding the torch. His kiss made her forget a lot of things.
“Thank you,” He smile and winked.
Rufi blushed deep red. “Sorry.”
He chuckled. “It was my fault.” He winked again, then held his torch higher. “Where did Clyde go?”
She looked around. “I don’t know.”
Squawwwk!
“Thank you, Clyde,” he said. “Well, shall we follow him?”
“We might as well – and keep looking for the entrance.”
He nodded, then gazed at her a moment. “What are we going to tell your family when we get out of here?”
She gazed back. “That … we’re courting?”
He smiled. “Yes, I agree.” He smiled again and headed down the tunnel.
Clyde kept squawking until they caught up to him. “Look! It’s the entrance!” Rufi said. “Oh, Clyde, you lovely little bird!”
Clyde strutted in front of the entrance before darting out.
C.J. studied their surroundings again. “This doesn’t look like the same entrance. Better let me go first.”
She, too, looked around. “Oh, I see. All right.” She watched him set his torch on the ground, bend low and push through the leafy branches. “What do you see?”
“It’s safe – you can come out.”
She set her torch next to his, shoved the branches aside and found C.J. with … “Oh! It’s you!”
“Yes, it certainly is,” Melvale replied with a toothy grin – and Clyde cuddled in his arms. “And thank you ever so much for finding my bird!”
Rufi shrugged. “You’re welcome.”
Melvale quickly slipped Clyde into a crate-like wooden cage. “There, you little troublemaker.”
“What will you do with him?” C.J. asked. “And how did you know where he was?”
“I played a hunch. And heard him when he came out of there.”
“We’re lucky we made it out.” Rufi commented. “Thanks to C.J. we did.”
“Let’s be honest,” C.J. said, “we have Clyde to thank. We almost gave up, following him around in there.”
“Good thing you didn’t,” Melvale said. “He does seem to love caves. Part of why I came this way. Now I think you two had best get back to the picnic before this young lady’s family … oh, what’s the expression … busts a gut?”
“Yes,” C.J. agreed, glancing around. “Where exactly are we?”
“Downstream from everyone else,” Melvale said.
“Downstream?” Rufi said. “But we entered the cave upstream!”
“Fancy that. Now be off with you.”
C.J. glanced at the crate. “You never did answer me – what happens to the bird?”
“I take him back where he belongs and set him free.” Melvale picked up the crate. “Isn’t that right?” he asked the bird.
Screech!
Rufi yelped and covered her ears. “What was that?”
“That is Clyde,” Melvale sighed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d best be on my way.”
“That sounded like an eagle,” C.J. protested. “But … he makes chicken noises.”
“Trust me,” Melvale drawled, “he makes whatever sounds he likes.”
“Like a mockingbird?” C.J. asked as he stared at the crate’s occupant.
“Something like that,” Melvale said, then smiled at the figure cutting through the brush.
“There ye are,” Mr. MacDonald said as he arrived. “Oh, I see ye finally caught the beastie.”
“Yes, thanks in part to these two.” Melvale nodded toward Rufi and C.J.
Mrs. MacDonald was right behind her husband. “Rufi, Mr. Branson, are the two of you all right?”
“Yes,” C.J. glanced at Rufi. She nodded first to him, then to the others.
&
nbsp; “Good,” Mrs. MacDonald said. “Now you’d better get back. Calvin and Bella went up the creek looking for you.”
“Oh dear,” Rufi said. “They’ll be furious with us for being gone so long.”
“Aye, but at least ye found Melvale’s bird,” Mr. MacDonald iterated.
“Yes, there is that,” his wife agreed. “Still, the sooner you get back, the better.”
Rufi stared at the ground to hide her disappointment. The last couple of hours had been the most exhilarating, not to mention romantic, time of her life. She didn’t want it to end – especially since soon, she knew, she’d be having one of the worst times of her life. Calvin would be angry that she’d let herself be alone with a man for so long. But they’d found Clyde … sort of.
“Come on, let’s go.” C.J. took her hand.
Rufi gasped at his touch, and hoped the others didn’t hear it. She nodded, smiled at Melvale and the MacDonalds, then let him lead her away.
“Where in blazes have you been?” Benjamin said the moment they showed up. “Even the Cookes are out looking for ya!”
“It’s my fault,” C.J. said. “We went to have a talk, saw Melvale’s bird and took off after it. And caught it, incidentally – or at least chased it to Melvale, who caught it.”
Benjamin looked them over. “Is that why ya look like ya been crawlin’ in the dirt?”
“Yes,” Rufi said. “We had to crawl through some dirt to track him.
Then Benjamin noticed their joined hands. Rufi saw the look on his face and gave C.J.’s hand a little tug, but he didn’t let go. Oh no, she thought. He’s going to tell my family we’re courting – and I don’t think this is the best time …
“Are the others still upstream?” C.J. asked.
“Yes,” Charity said. “Though I’m sure someone will head back soon to see if you’re here.”
“There you are,” Sadie said as she walked around His Majesty’s massive trunk. “Oh dear, what have you been doing?”
“We found Clyde,” Rufi said with as much merriment as she could muster. It helped cover up the growing dread inside. “Mr. Melvale has him now.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Though I do wish we could have had a turn at looking for him. I hear everyone has had a lot of fun.”