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 minutes 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.
He could see both sides of the argument. Heading out without being fully prepared wasn't smart. He would try to push up the timeline. A week was a little too long, but he didn't want to get Megan's hopes up. He would talk to Chase tomorrow when they went out on their next search.
For now, he would do his best to assure Megan it would all work out. It had to.
14
Megan wasn't happy to wait for the cavalry to rescue her daughter, but she was doing her best to be patient. Rosie kept her busy digging through boxes, looking for things that would make good trades. They needed to give up some of their valuable items in order to appeal to the other group. If they walked in there with a bunch of stuff that could be easily found elsewhere, they would never get information on Caitlin.
; The sock warehouse was proving to be a very valuable find. They had chosen twenty pairs of wool socks to offer for trade. Socks were a big deal, especially during winter in the mountains. People had to walk; often in snow and frigid temperatures. Keeping their feet warm and dry at all times would be a priority. Having extra socks to change into once one pair got wet was just common sense.
“What about these?” Rosie said, holding up a couple pairs of worn, but still functional boots.
They were her husband's and didn’t fit anyone, but could be another invaluable trade item. Megan was tasked with putting in new laces and cleaning them up. Ryland pulled together some books that he and Caitlin no longer read for any kids that may be in the camp, as well as some old magazines.
Even though the magazines were outdated, they were entertaining to read and once they had been read, they could be used for other purposes.
Willow and Rosie put together some dried apples, Ziploc bags of applesauce and a bag of the potatoes they harvested from the garden. The applesauce had been removed from the jars and stored in the Ziploc bags to make it easier and lighter to transport. While they really couldn't afford to part with the food, they were willing to if it meant getting Caitlin back.
The items were distributed into piles to try to balance the weight. No matter how they did it, the backpacks were going to be very heavy. The heavier the bag, the slower the trip would be. They also had to account for the extra supplies the guys would need to stay out in the woods overnight.
Going back through the items they were willing to part with, they pulled out the heavier or harder to carry items and set them aside only going with those they thought would be of most value.
Megan grew restless. Every passing hour could be jeopardizing her daughter's life. She hobbled outside, needing a few minutes to herself. Duke followed.
“They sure are taking their sweet time,” she told the dog, knowing he would never betray her confidence. “I don't think I can wait another day, buddy. What about you?”
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 29