Chapter Twenty-Three
Hawkeye was whistling when he strode into the cottage. “Honey, I’m home!” He laughed at his joke as he set the plastic bag from the store on the table.
When he got nothing but silence in return, he called out, “Hello?”
The place was empty.
He’d expected that she’d be back from taking care of Hope by now.
He looked around and nothing appeared different since they left earlier.
Maybe she was still with Hope. Several times before he’d found her curled up with the calf sleeping.
He grabbed a flashlight from his truck and took the path to the barn at record speed. He could see as he approached that the barn was dark inside and the board was pulled into place to lock the doors.
Where could she be?
He looked through the darkness. Everything was quiet.
“Margo?” he called out.
“Hawkeye! I’m in here!” A second later she pounded on the closed doors.
He quickly pulled the board away, tossing it aside, then dragged open the door. He barely had it open before she flung herself into his arms. She was shaking.
“Are you okay?” He held her tightly.
“The door…the lights. Someone was here.”
“What happened?” He kissed the top of her head, comforting her.
“I-I don’t know. I heard someone. The lights went out and the door was latched outside. I couldn’t get out. I didn’t think you were ever going to come.” Her voice quivered with emotion.
Guilt raced through him. “I’m sorry. It took me longer than I expected and when I got back to the cottage and you weren’t there I came right away. I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner. Are you okay?” He pulled back just enough so that he could see her face, but he could only see the reflection of her tears.
“The darkness. I didn’t have any light.” She sniffed loudly. At least some of the trembling had left her body. “I’m okay, but I feel like I have spiders and other creepy crawlies in my hair and all over my body.” She shimmied. “Someone turned out the lights.”
“Did they know you were in here?”
“I yelled. They heard me. I’m sure of it.”
He nodded, allowing what she was saying to absorb. “I can fix the lights, maybe. Wait here.”
“No. You’re not leaving me.”
“I’m just going across the barn to the breaker box.”
“I don’t care if you’re taking two steps. I’m not staying alone.” She grabbed his hand.
To reassure her he squeezed her hand gently.
“Be careful where you’re walking. There are tools everywhere.
” He shone the light ahead of them. Inside the barn was a labyrinth of spaces and eerie sounds.
She tucked herself close to him, which he didn’t mind at all. He didn’t like her being scared though.
He found the metal door of the breaker box, noticing that the cobwebs were disturbed.
He opened the door and shone the light on the rows of black levers.
A mess of switches and he had no clue where to start.
Some controlled the lighting in the chicken coop next door.
He remembered learning that the tripped switch was usually in the middle, and it felt different than the others.
He ran his fingers down each one until he came to one that felt loose.
He flipped it, heard a satisfying click, then flipped it back in the other direction.
The lights above them flickered as the whirring of electricity buzzed awake.
“We’re in business.” He looked down at her. Her eyes were wide in alarm. “Hey, it’s okay.” He pulled her into his arms and held her closely.
“Someone did this. Someone was inside here with me,” she muttered against his chest.
“I’m sorry this happened. I’m here now. You’re safe.” After a moment he felt her shoulders relax. “There are cameras here around the barns, we’ll see who was out there.”
She lifted her chin, her bottom lip slightly quivering. “I hate the dark.”
“I know you do.” She was so cute he wanted to laugh but she’d punch him. He didn’t want to make light of her emotions or make her think he didn’t take things seriously. “We’re close to the bunkhouse. I want you to stay there, surrounded by hands, while I do some research. You’ll be safe there.”
“Can’t I go with you?”
“I think it’s best you wait for me. Get some sleep. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Fine. I’ll stay at the bunkhouse.”
While she checked on Hope and washed out the bottle, he looked around the barn for any clue who could have been in there. He saw fresh footprints in the strewn straw near the breaker box. There was also a large footprint in the mud just outside the door.
Someone was there tonight.
Someone had intentionally locked Margo in the barn.