by Slimpoet
Chapter Twelve
Luke and Angie left the car and as they reached the side door of the house, Michelle raced out almost knocking over the diminutive Angie.
“Sorry honey, I wasn’t looking. Luke, please get Herman over here right away.”
He started to open his mouth, but turned and ran toward the barn.
“Hey! Herman!” as he ran toward the barn.
Angie tightened her pink scarf. “What’s wrong Michelle? You really look scared”
Michelle’s eyes glistened in the last bit of sun light.
“It’s Matt and Stella.” Angie mentally traced Luke’s recent adventures to Matt and Stella as a couple.
Angie asked, “They have a kid, right?”
Michelle let out a “yes”, full of preoccupation. Her eyes looked for Herman’s form.
Herman and Luke returned. Michelle fidgeted.
“Honey, what’s goin’ on?”
She looked at Angie and Luke, fear showing in her face as she waved them inside,
“Come inside. Herm, we must talk in private in the kitchen. You guys come in and I will bring you some hot cider to the living room”
While waiting, Angie paced about and Luke fussed with a few lights that had gone dead on the fancy tree.
“You remember the Mark and Stella story, Angie. I think they may have had a big argument.”
That wasn’t an ‘argument’ scared I saw on Michelle’s face, Luke.”
Just then Herman came out to the living room talking very quickly,
“Guys! Stella, Matt and the baby are in trouble. Michelle says they called on the cell phone sayin’ they had gone off the road.”
Michelle blurted out, “but, the darn phone died. It was a cheap one. Then I had a call from Stella’s family and they were really angry at Matt. After the kids left the Foster house, the Fosters found some rolling papers.”
Herman took a swipe at the air a few times,
“Yeah! And I’ll bet there is beer in that car too. Darn, it’s so hard to control them at this age.”
“Herm, there is not a lot of time so let’s forget that.”
“You’re right. Stella’s folks don’t want to notify the police yet. The courts might try to take away the baby. And the drugs part is bad, too. Well that makes three cars searching: ours, the Fosters and Luke’s. And we need to get started now before the sunlight is gone.”
He startled Luke and Angie as he leapt from his chair.
Michelle you take care of the little guys, upstairs. And don’t tell them anything.”
As he ended the sentence, the little guys came bounding down the stairs. Then Mark asked,
“What are we doing now?”
Herman rubbed his chin. “Oh, well. O.K. there is some trouble with Matt.”
“Can we go with you? We heard you talking as we stood at the top of the stairs.”
Herman shouted, “NO!”
“But, Dad we are family and we want to help.”
Mary ran to them,
“We won’t be any trouble at all. We promise!”
“O.K. Michelle you still need to be here in case Matt and Stella show up. Luke you take Mark and I’ll take Mary. Angie, you stay here with Michelle.”
Angie started to complain, but Luke grabbed her hand. “She may feel better with you around.”
“Honey, I’ll call the Fosters and tell them two cars are on the way out.”
Luke turned and looked at Herman, “I lost my cellphone that night you picked me up. “
Angie went to her purse, “Here’s mine, Luke.”
Mark returned with his coat and tugged at Luke’s arm,
“Dad put us together since I know the countryside. I’ve gone fishin’ with him many times.”
Luke took Mark’s hand and they left. Herman hugged Michelle as Mary watched.
"Let's go Mary muffin'".
Three cars were prowling the countryside and not sure where to look. The sun became orange and soon was clipped by the horizon line. Then it was three sets of headlights on the hunt, floating in the night. Cell phones were jabbering away, asking questions, recommending back roads to try and places a young couple might go and always that anger that coming out of fear. The night was bitter cold and there were clouds coming toward the searchers. Luke remembered his recent time with such a scene. The phones also carried the two voices of the family heads. They were always on the verge of blaming one another.
The concerned voice of Joe Foster came over Herman’s cell phone. "Herman. Was the engine running? Can they get heat?"
Herman paused, "I don't know. Hope so. There are some clouds west of here. Better not be snow."
Moments later Luke called Herman. "This is Luke. Do Matt and Stella have any places that are special to them that maybe you forgot?"
"I don't know. I'll call Joe Foster again."
Minutes later, "Is this Luke? This is Joe Foster, Stella's father. I do remember a place Stella mentioned. There is a bluff over lookin' the river. Nice view from a dirt road. Come to think of it there is a small stream that empties into it. The snow could cover it over and catch an unsuspecting or doped up driver like Matt Henley."
"Thanks, I will tell Herman."
"He could assume his sweet Stella's a bit doped up, too." exclaimed an angry Herman.
Luke was invigorated by this adventure and felt useful. He called Mr. Foster,
"I know I am an outsider, but how about this? They may have been speeding and the tire went out and pulled them into one of those farm ditches along the road. Hell! I could do that one, stone sober."
There was a silence on the other end. Foster hung up.
Mark was so happy to guide Luke around the countryside. He blurted out,
"There's the bluff road. I'll tell Dad."
Mark grabbed the cell phone.
The car almost became stuck in the deep snow on the block long road to the bluff. It ended at a few trees and a majestic view of the prairie. They left the car and Luke grabbed Mark's hand. Mark smiled at him.
Luke spoke, "I do not see any car tracks here. Pretty sight though."
Then out of nowhere came a familiar sound.
"Whoosh!"
"Luke! Luke!"
"Yes, I know. We both know that sound."
A barely visible comical shape of textured moonlight caught their eyes.
"Into the car Mark!"
The two passengers quickly entered the car and it sprayed snow into the air out of excitement. Soon the car was on the main road. Two sets of eyes were wide open waiting for that wisp of moonlight reflecting off a flying pine tree.
"Luke, if that's the tree then, where are the lights?"
"Maybe they are at home in those funny boxes of woven pine branches."
"Oh yes. Kind of like a ghost, you mean?"
Marks eyes widened to match his open mouth.
Luke smiled,
"Yes. It is a ghost now and maybe trying to do us another favor. Mark, I want you to call your dad and tell him where we are."
Mark put on that adult air kids do when they are given an important task,
"Dad? Mark here. Wow! Guess what?" there was a pause. "No we didn't find the car yet, but we saw the tree. It was that 'Whoosh' sound we heard. We're on the road to the Davis' place, going west. You know which one. Look around Dad, that tree could be anywhere and, it doesn't have its lights so look real good into the sky."
Herman gave him a verbal pat on the back. Mark beamed as he hung up the phone.
"Mark, when I first saw the tree in that Christmas tree lot back home, I remember it seemed to call to me; ”see me, see me”. I guess it is now; "hear me, hear me".
Mark cupped his ears moving his head back and forth like some radar dish. Luke felt some need to slow down.
"See me, see me." came out of nowhere.
Mark started answering the call with his own.
"I hear you, I hear you."
"O.K. Mark let's be serious." Luke gave him an adult'
s stare.
"This is serious. Your brother is out here somewhere with Stella and maybe freezing or, even worse. Then there is the little baby. Poor little guy."
Mark looked out his side window and said nothing in return. Minutes passed and there was now a silence that bothered Luke. Maybe he could never be a good father.
"Mark! Is that a car over there?"
"I think so but watch it Luke, there is a big ditch on my side here. Maybe park over on the other side."
The two explorers were soon out of the car and trudging through the snow toward a car. Mark was knee deep so that he moved like a grasshopper, jumping into and out of each step. Luke arrived at the car first.
Matt had a cut on his head, and a young, pretty, blond woman huddled next to him holding a bundle of cloth. Luke knocked on Matt's window. No answer. Mark tried Stella's side and the window rolled down a bit.
A big sigh of relief came out the window,
"Boy! Am I glad to see you Mark. Matt ran us off the road and knocked himself out. I've been really scared no one would find us."
A muffled cry came from the cloth bundle. Stella held it close to her face and kissed the cloth. Then she looked Luke’s way,
"Mark, I bet I know who your friend is. It’s Luke, right?"
Mark shook his head ‘yes’ and looked at Luke over the roof and waved to him."
Luke peered inside and introduced himself. "Can you and the baby get out? My car is all warm inside. I am sure you will love that."
They both helped Stella and the baby out and Mark escorted her to Luke's car. Luke returned and entered where Stella had been and tried to get Matt's pulse. It was there. He felt relieved.
"Matt. Can you hear me?"
"Yeah man. Thanks. I'm really groggy and have been sort of sleeping to conserve my energy and heat. How's Stella?"
"I'm going to help you out and then you can join her and the baby in my warm car."
Luke, Stella, Matt and Mark and the little one, Orion, headed for the Foster farm. Matt finally broke a long silence,
"Luke, I know my mom would prefer us coming to her place, but the Foster's place is much closer."
Mark turned toward the backseat,
"The Fosters also have some real concerns since we do have their daughter and grandson”
Mark pointed the way and Luke followed. He also used the rear view mirror to watch Orion. Stella was breast feeding him but it took Luke a few moments to recognize what he was seeing. He did want to look at Orion, however embarrassment won out. Matt was lying quietly in the back seat alongside Stella and her busily suckling child. Mark was busy giving Luke a description of landmarks and other points of interest that carried stories he wanted to tell. Suddenly Matt's voice broke in.
"Mark, give Luke and your brother a rest. I've got a real headache."
Mark stopped and stared out his window. Matt followed with another command,
"Luke, here's the Foster's place. Turn!"
The car slid and fishtailed some as it engaged the driveway. Luke could see two figures on a porch of a house up ahead. The figures ran down the steps toward the car. It stopped and they peered into the windows. Both wore light weight coats. The man was lean, about 5'10, with fine facial features and wire rim glasses. He was a sharp contrast to Herman's massiveness and his face did not smile like Herman's. The woman was round of face and body. Her hair was in short grey curls and her face had a tight look and pursed lips, eyes penetrating. Luke saw his family in these figures; serious and humorless. Stella rolled down the window and cried a bit. "Mom!" The woman reached for the baby but Stella pulled away. Matt was bathed in a mean frown from Mr. Foster. Mark sat there with wide eyes taking in the smallest bits of this mostly silent interplay. Then he looked at Matt and nodded his head. Matt gave him a small wave in return. Luke knew these were the Fosters. Mr. Foster came to his open window.
"So you must be Luke, the stranger in this bunch."
Luke's sense of "family" ebbed. He felt the cold winter air again.
"Yes, I am. Can we get inside? We are all in need of something warm."
Orion curled his lips into some declaration of sounds and Luke smiled.
All four doors opened and four figures exited.
Luke hung back as the others entered the house. He shuffled towards the warm lights of the windows, kicking the snow.