Wyatt spent some time searching for more clues about what happened to Caitlin on that fateful morning. He couldn't see any tracks. Walking in a semi-circle back and forth, widening his search, he searched for more clues.
It was the most frustrating thing he had ever encountered. A little girl didn't simply walk into the forest. Well, maybe typical little girls did, but Caitlin was smarter than that. She knew better. The past six months had given her a lot more knowledge about the forest than an average eight-year-old would have.
Wyatt checked his watch; he had spent a couple hours searching this one area. Now, he didn't have enough time to get to that far tree line and back home before dark. He would take Chase with him tomorrow and head east. It was about a two-hour walk from the lodge. With the days growing shorter that only gave them about eight hours of daylight.
If they left at dawn that would give them about four hours search time plus travel to and from the location before it got too dark to see. Walking through the forest with a flashlight was tough business. He couldn't afford to trip over a root or log and hurt himself.
Wyatt started the trek back, alone with his thoughts. He missed Megan. He hoped she was willing to talk to him and would welcome him back in their bed. It had been a lonely few days and even lonelier nights without holding her close.
13
With Chase already back for close to an hour, Megan anxiously waited for Wyatt's return. She no longer expected him to walk through the door with Caitlin, but a part of her remained hopeful that her daughter would be found safe. It had been four long days since the mudslide and about that long since she had talked with Wyatt instead of yelling at him. Megan knew she was wrong for putting so much pressure on him.
The guy had been out from dawn to dusk every day, working himself to the bone to find her. Megan wanted to apologize for being so awful. She knew he was trying and had nothing to do with her getting lost in the first place. Her injury and feelings of helplessness were tearing her up inside. If she were able, she would have been out there side by side with the guys searching for her daughter and probably forcibly returned home in the evenings but at least she would be doing something.
While the Morris family had welcomed both her and Caitlin into the family and she’d slowly come to accept that working as a team was far more beneficial than going it alone, at times like this, it killed her to rely on others.
She was the one who was a total mess and poor Wyatt happened to be the one person in this new world she could lean on and be a total bitch to.
Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his footsteps. Even when she was mad at him, she always felt a little zap of electricity race through her veins when she saw him.
He came through the door, looking like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Megan waited for him to look at her.
When he finally lifted his eyes, he scanned the room. She knew he was looking for her.
Rosie and Willow had been standing in the kitchen, preparing dinner, but suddenly decided they heard Ryland calling them from upstairs. Albert decided he was in need of some time outside and needed Jack and Chase to help him as the men quickly left the room.
Megan stood up with the help of her crutches. When Wyatt finally looked at her, she gently tilted her head, motioning for him to go in their bedroom. At first, she thought he was going to say no, but instead he crossed the room stopping in front of her. She stood there, unsure what to expect when he kissed her.
Instead of waiting for her to hobble into the room, he picked her up and carried her knocking the crutches to the floor, breaking the silence that had settled over the house.
Striding into the room, he kicked the door shut and carefully laid her on the bed. Joining her, they laid together, not saying a word for several long minutes.
“I should have taken my boots off,” he finally said.
Megan laughed, propping up on her elbows and looking down at their feet. There was dirt all over the pretty yellow bedspread she had handpicked on one of their outings to town.
“Oh well, it will wash.”
They both started to talk at the same time. Megan held up a hand to silence him.
“Let me. I'm sorry. I’ve been awful these past few days. It isn't your fault. You’ve been amazing and I appreciate that. You have to be the most patient man on this earth.”
Wyatt started to disagree, but she shushed him again.
“Seriously, Wyatt, I do appreciate all that you are doing. I am mad at the situation. Frustrated I can't get out there and help search.”
“There isn't anything you can do that we aren't doing,” he assured her.
“I know, it’s just, I hate being stuck here. I hate that she isn't here. I hate that I feel so helpless!”
“I get that. I do. It’s part of what I love about you. Now, don’t get too excited but I wanted to show you this.” Reaching into his pocket, Wyatt pulled out the bit of pink material.
Reaching for it excitedly. “This is from Caitlin’s jacket, I’m sure of it,” Megan exclaimed. “Where did you find it?”
“Where we think she landed after the slide. I realize it isn’t much but at least we know we’re looking in the right area,” Wyatt told her as she hugged him.
“Thank you, Wyatt.”
Not bothering to hide his yawn, he looked at her in surprise. “For what?”
“Giving me a little more hope.”
They lay together on the bed for close to an hour. She missed being held. He was her rock. Megan could hear the others in the kitchen and figured they better get up for dinner. Hopefully, they hadn't held up the meal, waiting on the two of them to emerge from the bedroom.
Megan started to ask Wyatt if he was hungry when she realized he was asleep. The man was clearly exhausted. She considered taking his boots off for him, but didn't want to disturb him. Instead, she lay perfectly still with her face pressed against his chest. The soothing sound of his heartbeat lulled her to sleep.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when Megan felt the change in Wyatt's breathing. He was awake. She knew he couldn't be comfortable wearing those heavy boots.
“Go ahead. Get comfortable,” Megan said in the darkness.
“Okay.”
He quickly shed his boots and clothes and climbed back under the covers. She leaned over, kissed him and settled back in against his bare chest.
Wyatt woke early, feeling refreshed and energized. His night with Megan had restored him and given him the hope he needed to keep going. He was positive today would be the day he would find Caitlin and return her to her mother's arms.
Chase clearly hadn't had such a good night's rest. He stumbled down the stairs, his hair sticking up in various places around his head. The glow from the candle he was carrying gave his face a yellow pallor and highlighted the heavy bags under his eyes.
No one was sleeping well. Chase had been going just as hard as Wyatt had the past week and was clearly exhausted. Wyatt considered telling him to stay home, but knew his suggestion would be ignored. Chase would be insulted.
They didn't say a word as they grabbed their gear and prepared to set out. Today was going to be a long hike. With only the two of them, they could move fast, but it was still going to take a couple hours to get there. It was hard to say for sure what was beyond the tree line. He hadn't made it that far, yet.
There had been no need. He knew it was more forestland that stretched into Idaho. The maps indicated there was nothing out there. The nearest town was at least twenty miles away. It would be very easy to get lost. Once you were that deep into the forest, it all tended to look the same no matter which way you went.
Because there was a very strong possibility they would encounter other people, Wyatt and Chase were each carrying a handgun in a holster. The last time they had seen Evan, it hadn't been a friendly occasion. Guns had been drawn and Wyatt had been shot. They weren't taking any chances.
The two men made good time, only stopping for a few min
utes here and there to drink water. Wyatt had skipped dinner the night before and was pretty hungry. He should have made time to eat something before they left, but he was too excited to get out there.
Chase gave him a Ziploc bag filled with turkey jerky and a biscuit from last night's dinner. It wasn't the best tasting stuff in the world, but it provided energy and, he needed to eat in order to have the strength to make it back home with Caitlin.
Megan woke up, stretched, and felt beside the bed for Duke's head.
“Good morning, buddy. What do you think? Is today the day we get our girl back?”
Duke's tail started to thump against the wood floor.
“I know. I'm excited too. She is going to be so happy to be home and to see you, of course.”
Duke carefully put his front paws on the bed to give Megan better access to his head. He lifted a paw indicating he wanted a belly scratch as well.
“Fine, one quick belly rub, and then I have to get up. Not all of us get to lie around and be fed all day.”
Megan made her way out to the kitchen. The house was still very quiet. She used the peace and quiet to go over the maps. Wyatt had made a small X on the area where the bloody bandage had been found. From there, she slid her finger in the direction Wyatt said he saw the footprints go in.
It was all forestland owned by the government. She doubted there would be any cabins in the area where a person, or even Evan's group, could take shelter. She grabbed another map of the same area and compared the two. The second map was a little more detailed and appeared to be more recent.
As she studied the map, she saw a small area that appeared to be privately owned land. It was surrounded on three sides by forest, but it was not designated as managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
She got excited and turned to Duke, “That has to be it. That has to be where Evan and his group are. I bet you Caitlin is there!”
Duke jumped up excited. His tongue hung out of his mouth as he rapidly wagged his tail. She turned back to the map and then back to Duke. He gave her a big lick to show his own excitement.
“I know, buddy. I can't wait to tell, Wyatt. We have to get over there.”
She continued to study the map. It was going to be quite a hike. She used the key to determine how far the area was from the lodge. She was guessing fifteen, possibly twenty miles. Carrying a backpack and walking through the forest would mean a person would travel about two miles per hour. The area looked to be about the same elevation as the lodge but they would have to go up and then down, which would slow them down a bit more.
Using the hiker formula of one hour for three miles, she figured on the high side of about seven hours. That was assuming the hiker didn't stop to eat or didn't have to climb any steep cliffs. The idea of her daughter being that far away from her was frightening.
Megan grabbed the pencil and circled the area on the map. She was certain this was where Evan or another group would have set up camp. This had to be where Caitlin was being held. Megan was convinced more than ever that her daughter was kidnapped and not simply missing.
The rest of the day Megan tried to keep busy. She helped Jack with the mudroom as much as she could before Rosie demanded she sit down. Dragging a chair outside, she rested her bad leg on it while she held the wood for Chase to pound in the nails. Her leg was feeling much better so she felt more comfortable standing with her weight on her good leg. She handed Chase nails and let him know when the boards were straight.
As dusk fell, Megan waited for Wyatt. She knew in her heart he wouldn't be bringing Caitlin home, but she was okay with that. She was certain she knew right where her daughter was. Now, it was figuring out how to get her back. She hadn't shared what she believed with Jack or anyone else. She wanted to wait for Wyatt.
She knew they would all be hesitant to storm into an enemy camp and demand Caitlin be returned. They might be cautious, but Megan would walk right through the front door and take her daughter. She didn't care what might happen. Caitlin was hers!
Wyatt and Chase were famished. Megan was dying to tell him her news, but wanted to make sure everyone had full bellies and would be willing to listen to her idea. Duke sat next to her the whole time, offering his moral support the only way he could.
Wyatt went outside to use the bathroom and grab some water to clean up. He felt her before he heard or saw her.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked before turning around.
“I need to talk to you. About Caitlin,” Megan said softly.
Wyatt sighed prepared to get the brunt of her anger again.
He put down the water, turned and wrapped his arms around her.
“I'm trying, Megan. I swear to God I am doing everything I know to do.”
She pushed back, “I know. I have an idea. Will you give me ten minutes to explain?”
“Of course. Let me clean up and I would love to hear what you have to say.”
Megan kissed him and hobbled back inside.
She sat at the table, waiting for Wyatt. Jack, Albert and Chase all sat down as well. At first she was going to excuse herself and take the maps in the room to talk with Wyatt in private, but figured one or more of them would have to go along so they may as well know her idea.
Wyatt sat down in the chair next to Megan, stretched his arm out behind her and nodded his head, giving her the go ahead to share her plan.
Megan unfolded the two maps, putting the one where she had drawn the circle on top.
“I think she is here.”
Wyatt raised an eyebrow.
“Why there?”
She excitedly explained how she came up with the idea. The rest of the men nodded, seeming to agree with her.
“You think Evan's group has her?”
Megan shrugged. “I think someone has her. It seems logical that others would be living up here. That area is where I would set up a camp. It’s close to hunting, water, and would provide plenty of shelter. I'm guessing there are some cabins already in that area.”
Wyatt nodded. She was right. The problem was the distance. He watched as she pulled out a little scrap of paper with a bunch of numbers and calculations on it.
“I think it will take six to seven hours depending on how fast you can move.”
Chase whistled, “One way?”
Megan grimaced. “Yeah.”
Wyatt looked at each of the men. Albert couldn't make the hike. There was no way. Jack and Chase would insist on going. If they did this, that would mean they would have to spend the night in the woods, leaving the others behind for at least two full days.
Leaving the women alone bothered him. What if Evan was like his brother and was using this as a way to get them away from the cabin?
Chase was the first to object to the plan. Jack and Albert had their own concerns.
“She's right. This is probably where Evan is set up. It would be smart for us to know where our enemies are. We’ve been waiting all summer for the other shoe to drop,” Wyatt explained.
Albert wasn't convinced. “So, you think it is better to walk into enemy territory and ask nicely? Do you really think that is going to end well?”
Wyatt shrugged, “I don't really see any other options. We are wasting time scouting the same areas day in and day out. No one here is willing to give up on finding Caitlin, right?”
The silence was telling.
Wyatt could feel the anger radiating off Megan. He put his hand on her back to calm her down.
“Guys, we need to do something. I would rather know my enemy. Sitting here waiting and hoping isn't doing anyone any good.”
Albert stood up, “Wyatt, you aren't being objective. You aren't thinking clearly because you are thinking with your heart rather than your brain.”
Wyatt stood up so fast his chair went flying behind him.
“Don't even question my motives, Albert. This is about a little girl. This is about making sure we are all safe. How can we be prepared to defend against something that we don't
know? What if they aren't even there at all? I'm tired of waiting for them to exact that revenge they think is due.”
Jack grabbed Albert's arm, pulling him back down to the table. He looked at Wyatt waiting for him to grab his chair and sit back down as well.
Chase came up with a compromise.
“How about we continue searching around this area first,” he used his finger to cover areas to the east and south that hadn't been searched yet. “While we are searching, Megan, Rosie and Willow can put together some things that we could use to barter with Evan's group.”
“What?” Megan asked. “Are you serious? You want me to trade a can of corn for my daughter?”
Chase held up a hand. “No, I'm saying if we don't find her, we go to their camp under the guise of wanting to trade goods before winter. It will appear neighborly. This will give us a chance to mend fences between our groups and for us to check the place out. We will look for Caitlin while we are there.”
“Why wait another week? I don't want to wait another day!” Megan shouted.
Wyatt once again put his hand on the small of her back to calm her down.
“This is a good plan, Megan. We need some time to put stuff together,” Wyatt said in a soothing voice.
She rolled her eyes, “It won't take a week to do that.”
“I'll get the distiller fired up and make some moonshine. That stuff will have them begging for more and giving us whatever we want,” Albert stated.
Albert's moonshine was stout. The group had been thrilled when he made the first few batches, but had quickly realized it was very potent. After a particularly painful hangover, Chase had suggested reducing the proof by adding more fresh water but Albert wouldn’t hear of it. So, it was decided the moonshine would only be brought out for really special occasions.
The group talked a bit more about what they could feasibly carry that far and what would earn them the most points with the other group. Megan was quiet for the rest of the conversation. She excused herself from the table and went to bed without saying another word. Wyatt knew she was frustrated and a little hurt that the others weren't willing to rush over there.
Dark Hunt (EMP Lodge Series Book 2) Page 9