by Lin Stepp
Billy Ray leaned forward with a smirk. “But me and Bucky knew where we were, ’cause he drove us up the same road you take when you’re going to the Science Learning Center.”
“Are you sure about the road?” the sheriff asked, pulling a notepad out of his pocket.
“Yeah.” Billy Ray nodded. “It passed by the goat farm.”
“How far up the road did you go?” asked the sheriff.
“Almost to the end of it, where you turn right to the science center, except Sonny turned the other way. He followed that road that leads to Cataloochee Ranch but then turned off and bumped us along a bunch of side roads me and Bucky didn’t know until we came to this old cabin.”
Bucky jumped into the conversation. “Sonny said the cabin belonged to his friend Bailey’s uncle but that they never used it because it was getting run-down.” He made a face. “It really was.”
“Yeah, it was creepy.” Billy Ray took the lead again. “All dusty and musty and the bathroom looked gross.” He wrinkled his nose with disgust.
John suppressed a smirk.
The sheriff scribbled some notes on his pad. “Boys, did you see an old red barn with a big silo near where you turned to drive up to this cabin?”
Both nodded.
“Yeah, and Billy Ray and me started feeling creepy when Sonny drove us way up into the mountains instead of taking us to Maggie to eat lunch, like we thought he would.” Bucky frowned. “He said we were going to picnic instead, but he started acting funny.”
Sheriff Sutton looked up from his notes. “Where was Sonny when you left this morning? Was he still at the cabin? Did he try to follow you?”
Bucky crossed his arms in annoyance. “We were getting to that in our story.”
John caught the boy’s eyes. “Bucky, if Sonny is still at the cabin, the sheriff needs to know that right now so they can go find him. What he did was wrong, and they need to talk to him about it.”
Bucky nodded. “Okay. We sneaked out in the night through the back window and left Sonny sleeping in the living room on the sofa. I don’t know if he’s still there, but he was there when we left.”
“What time did you leave?”
“We sneaked out before light. I don’t know what time it was, and then we walked across the mountain—”
John interrupted again. “Sonny might still be there.”
The sheriff stood. “I’m going to radio one of my deputies nearest that area to take a team up there.” He looked at his watch. “It’s not much past eight thirty. We might get lucky and still find him at the cabin. If not, we’ll put out an APB on Sonny’s truck.” He turned to the boys again. “What did his truck look like?”
“Old, black, and kind of beat-up,” Bucky answered.
“It’s probably the same Toyota he had before,” Mary Beth added.
The sheriff put his hand on Bucky’s shoulder and then Billy Ray’s. “You’ve helped a lot, boys, and I’m glad both of you are safe. I’m going to make some calls and let you folks eat your breakfast now.” He glanced toward Ela, heading to the table with a platter of eggs and bacon and another piled with pancakes. “I’ll call later in the day when we know more.”
John followed him to the door. “Should we still take the money to the church?”
The sheriff shook his head. “Sonny will run as soon as he realizes the boys are gone.” He glanced at his watch. “If he was stoned or hung over, he might have slept in and we could get lucky and catch him at the cabin. But my guess is, he’s on the road now. With descriptions of the truck—and photos of the driver—we might get lucky and catch him down the way.”
John walked back to the table in the kitchen after letting the sheriff out. His appetite rose at the smells of breakfast food, and he pulled a platter toward him to fill his plate.
The boys chattered on while they ate.
“Did Sonny hurt either of you?” Mary Beth asked. “Or did he say anything hurtful to you?”
“No.” Bucky answered around a bite of pancake. “He acted kind of nice until we started saying we wanted to go home. And when we tried to sneak out anyway, he locked us in the bedroom. He told us to take a nap, like we were still little babies.”
John saw Lydia hide a smile, dropping her eyes to stir her tea.
“Tell us what happened when you got to the cabin,” Neal said. “You were starting to tell us that before the sheriff needed to ask you more questions.”
Billy Ray finished off a piece of bacon before answering. “Sonny had some bread and peanut butter and stuff at the cabin. He made us a sandwich and we talked some. But he kept acting weird. Kept looking out of the window, checking messages on his cell phone. Walking around. You know, stuff like that.”
Neal nodded.
“After lunch, when we said we wanted to go home, that’s when he told us we were spending the night with him at the cabin.”
“We didn’t want to,” Bucky added. “Sonny tried to act like it would be fun, that it would give us time together. When Billy Ray and I got mad and said we didn’t want to spend the night, he got kind of mad. Said we ought to want to spend time with him because he was our daddy.”
John saw Mary Beth put a fist to her mouth. Tears started at the corners of her eyes.
“Ah, Mom, don’t start crying again.” Bucky made a face. “He didn’t hurt us or nothing. He just wasn’t real nice then. When he caught us trying to sneak out while he was in the kitchen, he made us go back in the bedroom and that’s when he locked the door. But we could hear him talking to someone on the phone about getting money soon, saying someone was giving him a lot of money in the morning. He made some other calls, but we couldn’t always hear him. Sometimes he went out on the porch. He said he was having trouble with his reception.”
Billy Ray looked at John with eyes too wise for a child. “Was he going to make you and Mom pay him money to get us back safe, Daddy John? That’s kind of what we thought from what he said on the phone.”
John nodded. There was no point in lying to the boys. “Sonny needed money and I think that’s what he had in mind. I’m sorry it’s so.”
“Man, he must be really messed up to do that.” Billy Ray shook his head.
Bucky frowned. “He had a lot of pills with him. I asked him if he was sick, but he laughed. Sonny drank a lot of beers, too, after he made us go to bed. At first he locked us in, but then he unlocked the door when it got real dark so we could go to the bathroom if we needed to. He listened to music for a long time and then he fell asleep on the couch.”
“We knew where the cabin was by then, Daddy John,” said Billy Ray. “We heard Sonny tell somebody the cabin stood almost at the park boundary near Double Gap and not far from the bald. Bucky and I knew Sonny was talking about Hemphill Bald. So we decided in the night that we could sneak out before light, walk through the woods behind the cabin, and then find the trail across the mountain.”
Bucky grinned. “We remembered Daddy John telling us when we went hiking in Cataloochee how to get home across the mountain. That it wasn’t real far. He said sometime he’d hike with us to the bald, and maybe to Cataloochee Ranch from our farm, and me and Billy Ray knew we were already closer to home than the ranch. Daddy John said it was only about four miles from Double Gap to where the path cut down Sheepback Knob to our farm.”
“You have a good memory,” Lydia said. “But wasn’t it dark when you left? And how did you get out of the cabin?”
Billy Ray shrugged. “We opened the back window and climbed out. There wasn’t even no screen on the window.”
Bucky bounced in his seat. “I had one of those little flashlight key chains in my pocket. We used it to find our way behind the cabin, but we found a trail right off and it wound up and dead-ended into this bigger trail. We knew to turn left to start home and in a minute we saw a trail sign. It said how many miles to Polls Gap on Balsam Mountain, but Billy Ray and me knew we didn’t have to walk half that far.”
“There was a big moon and pretty soon the sk
y started lighting up.” Billy Ray smiled. “We walked fast at first ’cause we were a little scared in case Sonny followed us and got mad or something. But Bucky said he thought Sonny would think we walked down the road to get away and that he wouldn’t think we’d know how to walk home on the Hemphill Bald Trail.”
“That was about a three- to four-mile hike to the ridges above the farm, boys,” Neal put in. “And then farther down to the farm.”
“We’ve walked it before with Daddy John.” Billy Ray dismissed the distance easily. “We recognized stuff along the way as soon as we found the big trail on the mountain, and there were signs and stuff.”
“Didn’t you see people on the search team when you came by the lodge?” John asked.
He shook his head. “We cut over after the lodge and took the trail through Upper Woods down to the Upper Farm Road.” Billy Ray reached for another pancake. “We thought it would be faster and we were getting tired.”
“Hungry, too.” Bucky grinned over a bite of scrambled eggs.
More discussion and questions continued over breakfast, and then Billy Ray turned serious eyes to John. “What will happen to Sonny? He did a really bad thing, didn’t he? Lying and trying to get money and stuff.”
“I don’t know what will happen,” John answered with honesty.
“Will he go to jail if they catch him?” Bucky’s round eyes found John’s as he forked up a last bite of pancake.
“I don’t know that, either, Son. But Sonny needs help. He has some real problems.”
Billy Ray, who’d gotten up to take his dishes over to the sink, stopped by Neal’s chair to lean against him. “Do you think you could be our daddy now, Neal? We kind of got a bad one the first time and we could use a new one.”
Bucky reached over to lay a hand on Neal’s arm. “Yeah, could you? Billy Ray and me saw you kiss Mom upstairs when we were in the bathroom. It looked like the kind of kiss that means you really like Mom.”
Neal grinned while Mary Beth blushed. “It was exactly that sort of kiss, and I’ve been asking your mom if we might form a new family. I’m glad to hear you guys approve.”
Billy Ray’s mouth dropped open. “You’re going to marry our mom? That’s neat!”
Mary Beth sat up straighter. “I haven’t said yes yet, so you boys need to settle down about this.”
“Well, why not?” Bucky made a face. “Neal’s a great guy and everybody likes him. Don’t you like him?”
She blushed. “I like Neal very much.”
“Well?” Bucky crossed his arms. “If you don’t say yes, someone else might come along and get him. Me and Billy Ray see stuff like that on TV all the time.”
John watched Neal flash Mary Beth an arch smile.
She giggled. “Well, I wouldn’t want that.”
Neal got up to walk around the table, stopping to drop to one knee. “Mary Beth Cunningham, your boys and I would like it very much if you’d consent to be my wife. Do you think you might say yes?”
She smirked. “You mean, before someone else gets you?”
“You might notice I’m asking you first.” He grinned back at her.
Mary Beth found John’s eyes with a question in them. John smiled, knowing she was asking for his approval.
“Where’s your ring?” Mary Beth turned her eyes back to Neal’s.
Thinking quick, he answered. “I thought you’d like to drive into Asheville with me to pick it out. The boys can go with us. We can make a day of it and have dinner in the city.”
“Oh boy!” Bucky and Billy Ray jumped up and down.
Neal kissed her as he stood, not seeming to mind an audience looking on. But John noticed tears in Lydia’s eyes and a wistful look in Ela’s.
The reverie ended quickly as the phone rang. John answered, learning from the sheriff that Sonny had escaped before anyone arrived at the cabin. And at this point, there’d been no sign of his truck on any of the highways leading out of Maggie Valley.
CHAPTER 21
July slipped to a close before Lydia realized it. The local gossip about the ghost sightings and the twins’ abduction had finally become less prominent in everybody’s talk and thoughts. She and John took the twins to the annual Folkmoot Parade in Waynesville, a celebration that kicked off the international Folkmoot Festival every year. They sat in lawn chairs in front of Holly’s bookstore on Main Street where they could enjoy the colorful groups from different countries dancing and singing their way down the main avenue of town.
“I really enjoyed the parade in Waynesville last week,” Lydia told Mary Beth as they sat on the porch at Hill House one day, watching the boys romp in the plastic wading pool again. “I think the group from Trinidad was my favorite, with those wonderful drums.”
“The boys loved going with you and Dad. They talked about the groups for days and showed me pictures on the digital camera you bought them.” She stroked the calico cat settled across her lap. “Buying them a camera really wowed them, Mom, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s a grandma’s pleasure to give her grandchildren gifts occasionally. Don’t fuss at me, Bee.”
Mary Beth smiled, looking down at the cat. “The kittens are growing fast, Mom. And Trudi’s fur is growing longer than Ava’s.”
Lydia’s gaze shifted to Ava, curled up in a cushioned chair nearby. “Trudi has more Persian blood than Ava, but both have pretty markings, don’t you think?”
“Yes.” Mary Beth’s eyes moved to watch the boys, where they splashed in the pool in the sunshine. “You know, I worried the boys would be scarred after their encounter with Sonny, that it might hurt their confidence or self-esteem.” She laughed a little. “Actually, the whole incident bothered me more than it did them. I’m the one who had nightmares and worries afterward.”
“Has anyone heard from Sonny? You or his family?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s sad. Bailey said Sonny had a run-in with their manager after he showed up in Florida. The police called making inquiries and Ross Dodds wasn’t happy Sonny had gotten on the wrong side of the law. They argued, and Sonny disappeared afterward. I guess he feared Ross would turn him in or that the police might pick him up in Florida, knowing where he was.”
Mary Beth dropped her eyes. “I couldn’t bring myself to press kidnapping charges, not with Ray and Wilma Harper so torn up about all that happened, but the sheriff said child abduction with a ransom demand involved was a felony offense no matter what I did.”
“Does Bailey know where Sonny is now?”
“No. He said he thought Sonny left the country. A friend had some sort of band at a resort in the Caribbean. Sonny bragged to Bailey that he had another job offer with them if he wanted it, even claiming that they’d pay his way to come down.” She reached over to pick up a glass of iced tea beside her. “Sonny is very talented, despite his problems, Mom. He plays and sings well—and he writes incredible lyrics.”
“Maybe he’ll get help.” Lydia crossed her legs. “Maybe this served as a wake-up call for him.”
Mary Beth shrugged. “I don’t know, but I hate that this situation hangs over Neal’s and my head as we start our new life together. It seems unfair to Neal.” She studied the engagement ring on her finger.
“I love the ring you and Neal picked out.” Lydia changed the subject to happier thoughts. “Have you set a date?”
“We’d like to do something simple in the fall, after Parker and Marie’s wedding in Atlanta in August—although it might be hard to get away during apple season for a honeymoon. You know how crazy it is on the farm and in the store at that time. We offer ‘Pick Your Own’ days, wagon rides, and tours of the farm, and the store simply buzzes with business while we have fresh apples, fritters, pies, cider, and apple butter to sell.”
She shifted the cat onto the cushion beside her. “Neal and I are looking at a piece of property on the Caldwell Farm where we can build a house.” She sighed. “I hate to leave our farm, but the Caldwell Farm is right next door. It w
on’t be far. Neal’s dad said we can live with him while we’re building.” Mary Beth paused, lifting her eyes to Lydia. “Or if you and Dad don’t mind, we could live here at Hill House while we build.”
Lydia’s mouth dropped open.
“Don’t look so surprised.” Mary Beth grinned. “Surely you’re about ready to move back in with Dad. He said he offered to do a renewal of your wedding vows if you’d like.”
Lydia looked out across the yard, not sure what to say.
Mary Beth crossed her arms. “Mom, you can’t simply go on living next door to Dad. It’s not right. And he wants to be with you again, to be married again. Don’t you love him? When I watch you together, it seems good between you. Am I wrong?”
“This is highly personal, Bee,” Lydia hedged. “And frankly I assumed Neal would move in with you and the boys at Main House.”
“That wouldn’t be right. That’s Daddy’s house.” She frowned. “He shared it with us these years. Took the boys and me in when Sonny deserted us. I’m grateful for that—but it certainly doesn’t make Main House rightfully ours. It’s your and Dad’s house.”
Ava jumped on Lydia’s lap, kneading gently before she settled down, giving Lydia a minute to think how to answer. “I know your dad wants to be remarried, Mary Beth,” she said at last.
“And?”
“And it feels funny to be discussing this situation with my daughter.” Lydia stroked the cat until she purred with contentment.
“I didn’t mean to pry.” Mary Beth’s voice sounded prickly now.
Lydia let out a long sigh. “I know. It’s just that I still have a few old issues I’m working through. Sometimes I find myself glad to leave Main House after being there for a while. I still feel Estelle’s presence there. I feel like she’s watching me.”
Mary Beth’s mouth dropped open. “Mother, I had no idea you still worried over those old memories.” She paused. “If anyone should feel haunted at Main House, it should be me. Grandmother came down hard on me after the boys and I moved back home. She didn’t like the noise and aggravation of small children underfoot again. She didn’t like the boys’ toys scattered around the house, their crying that woke her at night, their messy table manners.” She grinned. “I don’t know what she expected of two-year-olds at the table, but Bucky and Billy Ray failed to fulfill it.”