Chapter 21 #2
Hitting dial, he listened as the phone rang.
Tucker’s voice came over the line, “Hello?”
“Hi, Tucker. It’s Owen. May I speak with your mom?” he asked.
“Ummm, I’m the one who called you. We need your help. A man broke into our house and got into a fight with Mom. After the police arrived, she told us to pack our bags, and we planned to head to Grandpa’s, but the truck didn’t start,” he blurted.
“Whoa,” Owen said. “Slow down. Where did you go?”
“We’re on the mountain. They searched for us and wanted to hurt Mom. We left our bikes in the ditch and hiked to Grandpa’s secret cave. She has a big cut on her arm from the man who attacked her,” he told Owen, his voice cracking.
“It’s all right, son,” he said, feeling something stir deep in his chest at calling Tucker his. “What’s going on with your mom? She has a cut, and what else?”
“She’s running a fever. Conner tried waking her up when we saw the man on the ridge. She’s burning up, but when we searched for the phone and unzipped the sleeping bag, she got the chills,” Tucker informed him. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Tucker, it’s your Uncle Dillon. Does the spring still run in the back?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Did she wake when you opened the sleeping bag?” Dillon asked as Owen pressed the gas pedal down, speeding up. He needed to find his family.
“No, she didn’t,” Tucker answered worriedly.
“Get a rag or a shirt and dip it into the spring water. Place it on her head, under her armpits, and unzip the sleeping bag. We need to get the fever down. Do you have any medical supplies?” Dillon asked.
“Grandpa has a first aid kit,” Tucker said.
“Open the box and see if you can find any acetaminophen,” he instructed. “If you can wake her, try to get her to swallow two of them.”
“Can you come here? Conner’s scared, and I don’t know these men on the mountain. They don’t belong here. It’s the Wolfe legacy.”
“We’re on our way, son. You and Conner stay with your mom. It’ll take us a bit to get there. Hunker down and keep the phone with you. Did you call the police?” Owen asked, glancing over at Mason.
“They came last night and took pictures,” Tucker said. “I don’t think they believed her. They won’t be able to find us. We’re the only ones who know about this place. Grandpa said not to tell anyone.”
He heard the fear in his son’s voice and tried to reassure him. “We know where you’re at,” Owen told him. “Nobody messes with a Wolfe. Do as I say, and we’ll see you soon.”
“Can I call you again?” Tucker asked.
“Yes, call me if you have any questions, but watch the battery on the phone. We don’t want you to run out of power until we get there,” he explained. “I’m coming as fast as I can, and I have your uncles with me. We’ll handle those men and get help for your mom.”
“All right, bye,” Tucker said reluctantly.
The men in the van seemed as affected by Tucker’s terrified voice as he did.
“Mason, you have the boys. When we get closer to the mountain, Owen will change places with you. You’ll drive us close to the house and drop us off.
Then, drive to Leslie’s and see if anyone’s there lurking around.
” Dillon ordered. “We’ll secure the house first. When it’s all clear, Mason can bring the boys and park the van in the barn.
Keep Wyatt with you. Elias, Owen, and I will get Leslie and the boys. ”
“Why do I have to stay with Mason?” Wyatt complained.
“Because you’re a whiner for one thing. Secondly, I doubt you’d make it up the trails,” Dillon said unapologetically. “Help Mason with the boys while he stays on guard.”
“Damn, I wish Cade didn’t have such a stick up his butt. I need him right now,” Owen said under his breath.
“We’ll work with what we got,” Dillon replied. “From the sounds of it, Leslie has an infection.”
“Do you want to call the local authorities?” Elias asked. “They can get to her faster than we can.”
“They won’t know how to access the cave,” Owen said. “Not to mention, we don’t know what we’re dealing with on the mountain. I’m not putting good people in harm’s way.”
“What about the police?” Elias asked.
“It sounds like Leslie didn’t get far with them,” Owen said. “They may not take her seriously. It’s a small town, and everyone knows Leslie’s house. There’s nothing worth taking there. It’s fallen into a state of disrepair.”
“Tucker mentioned someone at the house,” Elias pointed out. “Why did they hit Leslie’s and then our home?”
Shaking his head, Owen went as fast as he dared. Getting to Leslie and the boys remained his top priority, but he needed to think of Noah and Nathan.
“Does this have something to do with why you wanted us to come back?” Wyatt asked.
“I don’t know. The lawyer won’t tell us the contents of the will until we’re together.
We can’t bury Dad until the autopsy’s completed, and the town doesn’t seem too concerned about anything.
Elias and I went by the sheriff’s office.
He seems to think Dad hit his head and died from a fall.
Dad drank, but he’s walked those paths a million times.
He seemed more likely to die from liver failure than from stumbling on a rock.
We can practically walk those trails in our sleep,” Owen reminded the group.
“I don’t like this,” Mason said. “I have to think of the boys.”
Grunting, Owen glanced at him. “You’ve decided to take an interest now?”
“Shut it, Owen,” Mason seethed. “I’m doing the best I can.”
“We’ll address it later. Right now, I’m concerned about Leslie and getting to them,” Owen said. “Does everyone have a weapon except for Wyatt?”
“Why do I not get one?” Wyatt asked, indignant.
“Because alcohol and guns don’t mix,” Owen said. “I didn’t think we’d need to point that out to you.”
“When we get back to the house, I’m doing a security sweep and figuring out where to put cameras,” Elias said, starting to make a list.
Owen silently agreed while a knot twisted in his stomach. The woman he loved, his son, and little brother found themselves in trouble. Instead of walking away, he knew he’d run to them.