He had no way of knowing Pete’s car would never be claimed.
CHAPTER 5
An old Canada goose sat on her nest, having just laid her first egg of the season. The noise of the airplane’s engine close by on the lake disturbed her to the point that she did not notice a coyote creeping up on her. When the coyote rushed, she frantically launched into flight over the water as Pete pulled back on the yoke and lifted the plane into the air. Pete saw the goose fly in front of him at the wrong moment. He had insufficient airspeed to maneuver, but, instinctively, he wrenched the yoke to the left, trying desperately to avoid the goose, but there wasn’t enough time, airspeed, or altitude. She struck the propeller and shattered one of the blades, throwing the racing engine out of balance, and, at the same time, the left wingtip touched the surface of the water, cartwheeling the plane across the surface. Pete’s head struck the doorpost, and he lost consciousness as the plane came apart around him. Only a few feathers and one broken float remained on the roiled water. A burst of bubbles and a little oil broke the surface, but nothing else was left to mark the spot where the plane went down.
Horrified, Elizabeth and Jed stared on in disbelief.
CHAPTER 6
Charles Sitton drove his ten-year-old Oldsmobile into his driveway and parked with a sigh. He was so glad to be home and see Elizabeth! It seemed she had been gone much longer than ten days. Charles was surprised to see no lights on in the house but surmised that Elizabeth had been tired and was taking a nap while awaiting his return from work. He hurried to the front door and unlocked it, calling, “Lizzie, I’m home!” No response. He walked down the hallway to her room, expecting to find her lying down, but she was not there, nor was there any sign she had been home. Concerned, he grabbed the phone.
James Romson had remained at the plant to help oversee the repairs on the assembly line along with Charles Sitton, so he was just walking in the door of his own home when the phone rang. He picked it up and answered, “Romson residence.”
“James, Charles here. Did Jed get the message to give Elizabeth a ride home today? She isn’t here yet.”
“I don’t know, Charles. I just walked in the door. I didn’t see his Bronco in the drive. Hang on and I’ll ask Mary if she’s heard from him.”
In the background, Charles heard, “Mary? I’m home. Have you heard from Jed?”
Mary Romson walked into the kitchen where James held the telephone. “Hi, James.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ve not heard from Jed. Did their plane get in on time?”
James Romson spoke into the telephone again. “Charles, Mary hasn’t heard from them. Do you know if they arrived back at the school yet?”
“The bus was at the school when I drove by, so they had to have gotten in. I didn’t see many cars in the parking lot. You know they wouldn’t hang around there long. I’ll call their sponsor, Mr. Johnson, at home and see if he knows anything.” With his finger, Charles broke the connection. He picked up the directory and quickly looked up George Johnson’s phone number.
“Johnsons’” was the tired-sounding response he heard after the second ring.
“Mr. Johnson, Charles Sitton here. Do you know if Elizabeth got the word to ride home with Jed Romson this morning? She isn’t here at the house.”
“Hi, Charles. Please, call me George. The kids call me ‘Mr.’ I know Elizabeth got the word. I saw her get in the car with Jed. They didn’t waste any time leaving, but I don’t know where they went. As far as I know, everyone went home. I didn’t hear anything about anyone going anywhere else.”
“Did anyone else ride with them?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see anyone else get in the car, but I can’t say for sure. I know Elizabeth was unhappy you weren’t there.”
“I know. It couldn’t be helped. We had a hydraulic line burst at the plant, and it started a small fire. James and I both had to go in and get it taken care of. Thanks for your time, and welcome home.”
“You might try the Baldwins. Teddy was sitting with Jed on the bus. He would know if they had any other plans.” George sounded hopeful.
“Thanks, again.” Charles Sitton again broke the connection and looked up the Baldwins’ phone number. After six rings, the answering machine picked up. Charles hung up the phone and tried to think who else might know where Jed and Elizabeth could be. Perhaps Samantha would know. She and Elizabeth were very close. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and wrist. For some reason, he was sweating and dread pooled in his stomach.
Finding the Quarlles’ number, finally, he dialed. On the third ring, he heard “Hello?”
“Hi, Mr. Quarlles? Charles Sitton here. Could I speak with Samantha?”
“I’m sorry, but you have the wrong number.”
“Sorry!” Frustrated, he hung up and carefully redialed the Quarlles’ number.
“Hello, Quarlles’ residence.”
“Hi. This is Charles Sitton. Could I please speak with Samantha for just a moment?”
“Certainly, just a jiffy.”
Charles poured himself a glass of cold water and sat down at the kitchen table. His hands shook. He knew he was being ridiculous and jumping to conclusions, but anxiety had overtaken him. Elizabeth would probably call him a worrywart when she walked in.
“Hi, Mr. Sitton. This is Samantha.”
“Oh, hi, Samantha. Welcome home. I hope you enjoyed your trip.”
“Oh, yes! Thanks! We had a great time.”
“Good. Quick question for you. Do you know if Elizabeth rode home with Jed?”
“Yes, I know she did. I saw her get in his truck. She seemed upset about something.”
“I know. I was supposed to pick her up, but we had a breakdown. Do you know if anyone else went with them or if they said anything about stopping somewhere first?”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t talk to her after we got off the bus. I don’t think anyone else rode along, though. I didn’t see anyone else.”
“Thanks very much. Welcome home, and I’ll see you at graduation.”
“Okay, I can’t wait! You are coming to my party, aren’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it! See you then.” With a shaking hand, he hung up one more time, then dialed the number every parent dreads.
“Police Department, Sergeant Donnelly speaking. How may I help you?”
“Hello, Sergeant. Charles Sitton here. I’m calling to see if there have been any accident reports or any incidents involving my daughter, Elizabeth, and Jed Romson. Jed would have been driving an old Ford Bronco, blue with a white top. I’m sorry, but I don’t know the year or license number. They should have been home, and . . .”
“No, sir. I’ve had no accident reports today at all. It’s been a quiet day.”
“Thanks. My daughter should have returned home hours ago, but neither she nor Jed have been seen or heard from. What should I do?”
“How old is she?”
“She just turned eighteen last month.”
“Do you suspect foul play? You mentioned a Jed Romson. Do you suspect he did something?”
“No, they are classmates and friends. I don’t suspect Jed of hurting her.”
“Well, sir, she is an adult, so unless there is reason to believe a crime or foul play has been committed, there is really nothing we can do. Sometimes kids do crazy things. I’m sure she’ll turn up.”
“Okay, thank you, sir. I appreciate your help.” Charles Sitton hung up the phone and sank into a chair with a worried frown. This was so unlike Elizabeth. He couldn’t imagine her wanting to go someplace or do anything before coming home.
He picked up the phone again and dialed the Romson home. “Hello, Mary? Charles here. Have you heard anything from Jed?”
“Charles, I’m sorry, but we haven’t heard from him. We’ve been trying to find him, too.”
“I just got off the phone with the police. They don’t have any accident reports or anything. They said they can’t do anything unless a crime or foul
play has been committed because they both are considered adults. I guess we just have to wait for them to show up.”
It was a long, sleepless night in both homes.
CHAPTER 7
Jed and Elizabeth were somber, and Elizabeth sniffled as they walked up the hill to the lodge. What would they do now? With the plane gone and Pete gone, no one would come to the lodge any time soon. Pete said he would reveal where they were when he got the money, but that was never going to happen now. Pete said he disabled the shortwave radio, but Jed could check. Maybe he could make it work somehow.
Jed pushed the lodge door open and stepped back for Elizabeth to enter. The room was rather chilly, so a fire was the first order of business. It was a standing rule that no one ever left the lodge without a fire laid in the fireplace ready to be lit. One never knew when the next person would arrive, and, in inclement weather, having a fire ready could be the difference between life or death. Jed took the box of matches from the mantel and quickly kindled a fire.
“Take a look around, Lizzie. I’ll go get our gear.”
There was not a lot to see. It was a huge old log cabin, once used for a logging camp, but abandoned when it was determined there was a lot of timber to be accessed much more easily and cheaply. The area was simply not conducive to road-building through marshes and small streams. The Romsons improved the cabin quite a bit, but it was still rustic. From the doorway, Lizzie could see, in the middle of the right wall, a large fireplace built of native stone with a wide, thick, rough-hewn oak mantel. Over the mantel was a stuffed moose head with antlers at least six feet wide. Lizzie hated stuffed animal heads like this. They always seemed to be watching her, creeping her out. A shudder ran through her shoulders.
A fireplace crane on the left side fireplace wall could suspend a pot over the fire, and the andirons were made with a spit for roasting meat. On the other side of the fireplace, a counter with an overhanging top and three rough stools on either side made an ell into the room.
An old porcelain sink with no faucet was on the end wall. In the back corner, just beyond the sink, a large pantry with open shelves had an assortment of bags, boxes, and cans. It looked like they shouldn’t go hungry, for a few days anyway.
On the back wall, next to the pantry, was a huge cast iron wood stove. Lizzie was accustomed to cooking for her dad at home, but that was with a gas range. How on earth could she be expected to make that thing work? A big tear trickled down her face and made a splotch on her shirt when it dripped from her chin. She slumped onto one of the stools and buried her face in her hands on the counter and sobbed.
The eight sets of bunks and a big pot-bellied stove on the other end of the lodge were unnoticed in her grief.
There was nothing fancy about the lodge. It was designed for rough living, without any frills. It was clean and neat, but it was far more spartan than anything she had ever seen, even when “roughing it” in Girl Scouts.
Jed walked into the lodge with a backpack slung over each shoulder, and he dragged their roller cases behind him. “Not bad for a home away from home, huh? It’s nothing fancy, I know, but it will keep the rain off of us until we can get home.”
Lizzie turned to look at him through bleary eyes and, as much as she struggled not to, wailed “Oh, Jed! What are we going to do?”
“Right now, I suggest we call it a night and get some sleep. I know we are both exhausted after the flight—well, both of them. It has been a long, long day. I don’t think we should make any decisions tonight. We will both think much more clearly in the morning. That area over there, with the curtain, is for you. We don’t normally have women come up here, but on occasion Mom or one of the other wives will come along. The little room in the back is actually a bathroom, although it is nothing like you’ve ever seen.” Jed smiled. “Let me show you how it works.”
He led Lizzie to the back of the room and opened the door. “As soon as I go outside and turn it on, there is a stream of water running continuously into the lavatory. It comes from a spring up the hill and flows all the time, both here and in the kitchen sink. In the winter, it has to be turned off if the lodge is not in use. But otherwise, the pipe is buried far enough to keep it flowing, and it flows enough it doesn’t freeze. The toilet has to be filled with a bucket.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me! What did you get me into?” Lizzie stomped her foot in frustration.
“Sorry, but that is the best we could do without power available to us. That little tub is a bathtub. It came out of a mini-camper, and since we don’t have a hot water heater, you don’t take long baths!” He laughed, self-conscious. “We carry hot water back here, and there is a diverter at the sink to run water to the tub. Since it is hard to carry hot water, we don’t use it much. Most of the time, when we are up here, we are hunting, so we don’t care. Not bathing much helps with the scent issue for the game.”
The scowl on Lizzie’s face showed what she thought.
Exasperated, Jed pointed. “You can grab a sleeping bag from the shelf, and there are clean sheets available in the cupboard. You should stay warm enough. If you would be good enough to say something to be sure I’m decent before coming out of your curtain, it would be appreciated. Good night. Call me if you need anything.” Jed tried not to let it show in his voice, but his irritation bled through.
“And what do we do about lights?” The question was bitter.
“Oh, thanks, I forgot. You will find a wind-up flashlight on the shelf right by the bunks. You can use it if you need to get up during the night. We also have Coleman lanterns that we use for light in the lodge. Anything else?”
“I don’t think so. I’m going to bed before anything else happens to me.”
“Call me if you need anything.” Jed shook his head. This was going to be interesting. Not only did he have to babysit a tenderfoot, he had to listen to her, too.
Lizzie didn’t think she would be able to sleep a wink, but when she put her head on the pillow, the next thing she knew sunlight was shining in her eyes, and the smell of coffee was in the air.
CHAPTER 8
James Romson stirred and lifted his head from his hands where his face was cradled. His elbows ached from resting on the tabletop and supporting his head. The sunrise was shining in the kitchen window, brightening the room with a cheery orange glow. Its beauty, however, was lost upon him and Mary as they sat where they had been all night long.
“Why don’t you start some coffee and breakfast? It’s seven o’clock. I think I’ll call Charles and ask him to come over. Maybe we can think of what needs to be done while we eat.”
“Would omelets be okay?”
“Sounds good to me.”
James picked up the phone and dialed. “Morning, Charles. Mary’s making omelets. Why don’t you come over for breakfast, and let’s see if we can make some sense of what’s going on. . . . No, don’t worry about cleaning up first. We’ve both been up all night, so we’re in the same shape. . . . Fine, see you in about fifteen, then.”
Charles drove his Oldsmobile carefully into the Romsons’ driveway. Normally, he would not be seen outside his door like this. Totally disheveled with shirt half untucked, one shoe untied, unshaven, hair catawampus on his head, eyes bleary from lack of sleep, and shoulders slumped with defeat, Charles half-stumbled as he rounded the front of his car. He was beyond caring how he looked. Charles was not a drinking man, which was good because he surely would have “crawled into a bottle” at this point. Having lost his wife of twenty-one years just three years before, to now lose his eighteen-year-old daughter was too much. Head down, he shuffled to the front door.
James, having heard the car, opened the door for him.
“Good morning, Charles. Thanks for coming over.”
“Thanks for calling. I don’t mind saying I’m at my wit’s end. I haven’t slept a wink.” Wearily, he rubbed his eyes with the knuckles of one hand. “I appreciate the offer of breakfast. I ate nothing last night; eating wasn’t even on my mind.”<
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“I thought that might be the case, and I thought if we could put our heads together, we might come up with ideas on which way to go.” James took his arm and led him into the kitchen; Charles pulled out a chair and wearily sat down.
Mary slid a cup of coffee in front of him. “Omelets will be ready in just a couple of minutes.” She still had a bit of a sense of propriety. She had taken a few minutes to wash her face, erase the tear lines from her mascara, and brush her hair. She hadn’t taken the time for makeup.
James took a pad of paper and a pen from the counter behind him and sat down heavily at the head of the table. “I thought we might write down ideas and what we’ve done so we don’t waste time and energy duplicating each other. Sound like a good idea to you, Charles?”
“Sure. Don’t have much idea where to start, though. The PD doesn’t seem to think it is too serious. The sergeant I talked with seemed to think they just ran off together. He said kids do crazy stuff like that, but I don’t see Elizabeth doing it, and Jed doesn’t strike me as one who would be so irresponsible either.”
James nodded. “I know. I think we ought to check Jed’s credit card, just in case. Does Elizabeth carry a card?”
“I sent one with her, in case of emergency,” Charles said and smiled his thanks as Mary slid a hot omelet in front of him. “My doctor would have a conniption if she saw me eating this omelet, but I don’t care! It smells good.”
Mary put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thanks. It’s three-cheese, and I have bacon coming in just a minute.”
“That would really set her off!”
Stranded at Romson's Lodge Page 2