by Claire Fogel
Gabe and I looked at each other. “Something must be very wrong.” My heart started pounding.
Gabe urged Dusty forward, and we followed. We usually walked back from camp, but Gabe was in a hurry. Sean looked over at me, his face worried.
We rode right into my backyard, stopping at the back porch. The grass was trampled, so the Elves riding greys had been here, but they were gone.
I dismounted and ran into the house, Sean right behind me. Gabe got as far as the porch and said, “I’ll be out here. I want to leave water for the greys. No one’s guarding your house right now. Just let me know what’s going on when you find out.” I nodded to him and opened the back door.
The kitchen was dark. I walked through the house to the front door. I could feel that the house was empty. When I opened the front door, the only car in front of the house was mine. There was no one on the front porch either.
Sean’s cell phone rang. It was his father, asking when he’d be coming home. Sean turned to me. “Should I stay?”
I didn’t know what to tell him. Just then I heard my father’s voice in my head.
Are you at home, Cara?
“We just got here. Where is everybody?”
I want you to stay there. Adam is on his way back to the house. He’ll explain.
“Sean and Gabe are here. Sean wants to know if he should stay.”
Please tell Sean to call his father. We may need him.
“Okay. Are we in danger again?”
You’re not in danger right now, sweetheart, so stay put.
“All right. Please stay in touch. I love you.”
I love you too, Cara. Even in my mind, his voice sounded strange.
Sean was still holding his cell phone, waiting for an answer.
“My father wants you to ask your father to come over. He said he might need him. That’s all I know. He said Adam’s on his way here and that he’ll explain what’s going on.” I felt more panicky by the minute. My heart was already pounding.
He passed the message along to his dad, who said he’d be over as soon as he could get here.
Sean looked at me, his expression worried. “Your dad didn’t tell you what’s going on?”
I shook my head. We were standing at the front window. I put my elbows on the windowsill and leaned my head against the glass. “It must be something really bad. He wouldn’t tell me anything, except that I’m not in danger right now and he wants me to stay here.”
Sean wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. His warmth felt so good, I suddenly realized I was cold, from the inside out. Every part of me felt chilled.
“You’re freezing.” He pulled me even closer, one hand cradling my head until I placed my head against his neck, between his chin and shoulder, the way I used to whenever we danced together. It was comforting and my heartbeat started to slow down. I closed my eyes, taking deep, slow breaths until I felt calmer.
Minutes later, he placed one hand under my chin to lift my face and bent down to kiss me. And I needed that kiss, just like I needed his warmth and his strong arms around me. Without even thinking about it, I was kissing him back. His arms tightened around me.
We heard a car pull up in front of the house. He whispered, “That’s my dad.” I kissed him one last time and pushed him away. We looked out the window and saw his father walking up to the front porch.
I turned away from the window and got a sudden shock. Adam stood in the doorway to the kitchen, his dark blue eyes pinned on me. Crap.
Judging by the disapproving look on his serious face, he’d been standing there for a while. He must have come in the back door.
“Bring everyone into the kitchen, Cara. I’ll explain what’s happened this afternoon.” Adam turned away and walked into the kitchen, leaving me staring at his back.
I opened the door for Mr. McKay and led Sean and his dad into the still-dark kitchen, switching on the lights quickly. Adam had brought Gabe in with him. I invited everyone to sit down and made a quick pot of coffee. Adam was silent as I made coffee and put cups on the table.
When I sat down, Adam looked at me and said, “Your mother has been abducted.”
I must have gasped because Sean immediately reached for me.
“Arlynn witnessed it, but it happened so fast, there was nothing she could do. It was almost closing time, and your mother ran to the mailbox on the corner to mail something. An SUV with blacked out windows stopped and grabbed your mother off the sidewalk in seconds. They were gone before Arlynn could even get out of the store.”
He turned to Sean’s father. “Mr. McKay, Brian asked if you would join him downtown. The police and all the volunteer firemen who aren’t on duty are doing a door-to-door search all over town in an effort to find Miss Connelly. One good thing came out of the Chief’s meeting this morning with the State Police. The Highway Patrol has each exit out of Thornewood blocked. Every vehicle is being stopped and inspected. The men who took Cara’s mother cannot get out of town, so they must still be here. There are only two ways in and out of town, and the Highway Patrol has had them blocked since noon today.”
Sean’s father stood. “Where do they need me?”
“Teams of searchers are meeting at The Crescent Moon. Brian and Chief O’Donnell were still there when I left.”
“Sean can help with the search. Can I bring him with me?”
Adam looked over at Sean. “At the moment, we don’t think Cara’s friends are in any danger. They’re trying to round up as many bodies as they can for the door-to-door search. Sean can help with that.”
Sean whispered, “Sorry. I’ll call as soon as I can.” He squeezed my shoulder and got up to leave with his father.
I walked them to the door. Mr. McKay said, “Don’t worry, Cara. We’ll find her.” Sean gave me a quick kiss and they left. I stood there at the door, suddenly aware that it wasn’t kisses from Sean I needed most.
I walked back into the kitchen. “There must be something I can do. How can you and my father expect me to just sit here and do nothing? And why are you here and not out there searching? Both of you!”
Gabe and Adam looked at each other. I could see the unspoken message passing between them: Calm her down, whatever it takes.
Gabe shifted in his seat and stood. “I’m going outside. I’ll watch both sides of the house. Cara, I’m sure that’s why your father wants me to be here. There’s no police car in front of your house tonight.” He looked at Adam and then back at me. “They’ll find her. Call me if there’s any news.” He left by the back door, leaving Adam and me alone.
I looked at Adam. “You didn’t answer my question, Adam. Why aren’t you out there searching for Mom?” I knew my voice didn’t sound normal. “She’s going through what I went through last spring. She’s probably tied up, possibly hurt, and definitely terrified. And we’re just sitting here!” I realized I was yelling and suddenly there were tears running down my face.
He came around the table and lifted me out of my chair. Adam’s arms were around me before I knew it. I sobbed, tears soaking his tunic as I leaned against his chest.
His voice was soft. “I’m here because your father thought you might need me. Maybe I should have asked Sean to stay. Then I’d be out searching too. Would that have been better, Cara?”
I shook my head, still sobbing. “No, Adam. I need you.” I was torn. Sean wanted to be here with me. Adam was here because my father wished it. And my mother was missing. Emotionally, I was a mess.
“I keep thinking there’s something I should be doing to help, you know?”
He led me into the living room and we sat down on the couch. Pulling a linen handkerchief out of his tunic, he gently wiped my tears. “There are at least a hundred people out there, searching for your mother. I don’t see what else you could do.”
I leaned against his shoulder, trying to get myself under control. I cried until I got the hiccups, and then I stopped, sniffling. Adam handed me his handkerchief. I needed to blow my nose, b
ut how could I blow my nose into Adam’s linen handkerchief? He must have been reading my mind because he whispered, “That’s what it’s for, love.”
After I’d blown my nose and calmed down, Adam asked, “Do you think you could find something for us to eat?”
Food, my mother’s favorite remedy for everything from a concussion to a broken heart.
“I’m no cook, but I can make sandwiches.”
Getting busy in the kitchen helped. At least I was doing something useful. I put water on the stove to boil and got down the teapot and some of Kathleen’s herbal tea. Mom must have gone shopping the day before because the fridge was packed. I found a pound of sliced roast beef and there was a new loaf of sourdough bread in the bread box. After the sandwiches were made, I took two outside to Gabe along with a cup of tea, and Adam and I sat down to eat in the kitchen.
“Thank you, love. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Some food will be good for you too.” He smiled, raising one eyebrow. “I expect you to finish at least one of these sandwiches.”
I had been sipping my tea, thinking about Mom, but I picked up a sandwich and tried to eat. As soon as I took a bite, I realized how hungry I was, and my sandwich disappeared quickly. I poured more tea for both of us, and then sat back, still thinking about my mother.
I heard my father’s voice in my head as I looked at the clock on the wall. It was nine o’clock. Mom had been missing for more than four hours.
Cara, the police have searched every vacant house and building inside Thornewood, but we haven’t found your mother yet. We’ll search all night, if necessary. Are you all right?
“I’m okay, Dad, just worried about Mom. Adam and I just finished some sandwiches. Have you eaten anything?”
Don’t worry about me, dear. Everyone knows we’re searching for your mother, and many of the people we’ve spoken to have brought food out to us. Sean and his father are searching their neighborhood. I have a feeling we should be searching in the forest, but we’ll have to wait until dawn to be able to see anything in the woods. He sounded frustrated.
Then I remembered our secret weapon. “No, we don’t have to wait until dawn! Rowenna has been flying over Thornewood every night. I have a feeling her night vision is a lot better than ours.”
I’ve been sending your mother mental messages all night. I think she’s been hearing me. She knows everyone is searching for her, and she knows I won’t rest until I find her. If Rowenna can search the forest, we may find her sooner.
“Okay. I’m going to contact her right now. I’ll be in touch.”
“Come on, Adam. Bring your tea, we’re going out on the back porch so I can call Rowenna.”
I stood at the porch railing and called Rowenna. It was only a few minutes before I heard the giant wings overhead and felt her magic surround me.
You sound so sad tonight, I heard her rough voice say.
“We need your help. My mother was abducted this afternoon. We’re sure the men who took her were hired by that evil man I’ve told you about. The police and Elves have been searching, but she hasn’t been found yet. Police have been stationed at both entrances to Thornewood since noon today, so the kidnappers haven’t been able to leave town. My mother has to be nearby. I have a feeling she’s being held in the forest, but the men can’t start searching until dawn. Can you see what’s below you in the woods while it’s dark?”
Yes, Cara, I see clearly at night. I’ll start searching for Alicia now. If she is in the forest, I will find her, and the evil men who took her.
We felt her wings moving the night air powerfully as she flew away. She was definitely in a hurry.
After I let my father know that Rowenna was already searching the woods, we sat down to wait.
Gabriel came running around the side of the house. “What was that? Something huge flew over the house, and I know there aren’t any birds that big!”
I looked at Adam. He whispered, “Gabe’s not telepathic. He wasn’t told.”
“Uh, Gabe, come up here and sit down with us. I have something kind of unbelievable to tell you.”
A little later, after a calming cup of tea, Gabe got up and returned to the front porch. As he went down the stairs, I heard him mumbling what sounded like, “Dragon?
Where did she come from? Next they’ll be telling me that leprechauns are real . . .”
Adam looked over at me and winked.
That was the only light moment in this whole awful night.
Normally, Gabriel’s grumbling would have made me laugh, but not tonight. I was going to sit on my back porch until Rowenna found my mother, no matter how long it took.
“How are you doing?” Adam asked. “You’re too quiet.”
“Just thinking. Even if Rowenna finds Mom, how will she be able to get Mom out of a car, or away from them? If Mom’s hurt, Rowenna may try to kill them.”
He looked over at me. “I hope those men survive long enough to be questioned. They might know how to contact Gaynes.”
“You’re right. I’d better let Rowenna know that we want to capture those men alive.”
I sent her a mental message, but without a response, I couldn’t be sure she’d heard me.
I heard my father’s voice in my head. Have you heard anything from Rowenna yet?
“No, Dad. I’m trying to be patient.”
That’s the hardest thing, sweetheart.
I whispered, “I know.”
Adam reached over and wrapped his warm hand around my cold one.
An hour later, there was still no word from Rowenna and it was getting colder on the porch. I went inside, grabbed an old, heavy sweater of Mom’s along with a warm afghan from the couch. I wrapped myself up in the sweater and put the afghan around Adam’s shoulders.
“Thanks, love. Your lips were beginning to turn blue.”
“Well, the later it gets, the colder it will be out here.”
“Are you planning to stay out here all night?”
“I’m staying out here until Rowenna has searched the entire forest, if that’s what it takes. I just know Mom’s out there somewhere.”
“Premonition?”
“Gut feeling, Adam. You can’t ignore those.”
It was quiet for a few minutes.
“Cara, can we talk while we wait?”
I was pretty sure I knew what he wanted to talk about.
“Okay. You have questions, don’t you?”
He gave me an almost-smile. “Yes, I do. In the interests of keeping your social life straight in my mind, are you and Sean together again the way you were last spring?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer. “Well, he’s not my boyfriend anymore. I don’t think I want a boyfriend.”
“Well, he’s obviously more than a friend, Cara. You don’t kiss all your friends that way, do you?”
I sighed. “No, of course not.” I thought about how best to explain what he’d witnessed.
“When we got home and found the house empty, I knew something was very wrong. I think Sean just wanted to comfort me.”
He took a deep breath and looked away. “I’d say you were doing a bit of comforting yourself.”
And, of course, he was right.
“Are you in love with Sean?”
I turned and looked him in the eye. “No, Adam. I don’t think I know what being in love feels like. But I like Sean a lot, and I am attracted to him.” What girl wouldn’t be? I wanted to be honest with myself.
He gave me a sharp look. “So you do know the difference between being in love and simply being attracted to someone.”
“Adam, my mother explained these things to me a few years ago. I’m not an idiot.”
He shook his head. “It’s been my experience that most young girls don’t know the difference. If they’re attracted to someone, they think they’re in love. I hope you won’t make that mistake.”
I was starting to feel annoyed. “Why do you care? It’s my life.”
Dropping my hand, he stood. “I c
are. Never doubt it. I’m going inside to make coffee. If we’re staying up all night, we’re going to need it.”
“You know how to make coffee?”
He gave me an arrogant look as he opened the door. “I’ve seen you make it often enough. It doesn’t appear too difficult.”
I followed him into the kitchen, just to make sure he didn’t set the coffeepot on fire. I stood behind him and watched him fill the coffee pot with water, take coffee out of the cupboard, put a new filter into the basket and spoon the coffee in. He poured the water into the coffeemaker, put the lid on, placed the coffeepot on the warmer, and pressed the “On” button.
“Very good. I think I’ll let you make the coffee from now on.”
He turned and gave me that devastating blue-eyed smile that would make any girl swoon. Except me, of course. Who was I kidding?
When the coffee was ready, he took the entire pot out on the porch. I followed with cups, cream and sugar. We were set for the night.
I heard from my father approximately every thirty minutes, but had no news for him.
“Adam, how long do you think it will take Rowenna to fly over every part of Blackthorne Forest?”
“You have to remember how huge this forest is. If Rowenna is flying low, searching carefully, it will take a long time to cover four thousand acres. She may not be able to search the entire forest tonight.”
I sighed and poured another cup of coffee.
Suddenly I heard someone walking around the side of the house, and not quietly.
“Hey, guys. I was in my backyard talking to my dad and I thought I smelled coffee. What are you doing out here so late? It’s after midnight.”
“Come on up, Kev. Didn’t your father tell you what’s going on?”
“No. I only saw him for a few seconds before he had to leave. Something about a search in the forest.” He sat down next to me. “Who are they looking for?”
“Kev, you’d better sit down. Mom was snatched off the street this afternoon, right in front of her store. The police and Elves have been searching door to door in town, and a friend of ours is searching the woods now.” I felt tears forming again. “We’ve heard nothing yet.”