"No. They haven't even sent me another message to ask for an update."
Bailey looks up at me in surprise when she hears the grinding noise in my throat. "It's not right that you're a better sister than they are parents."
She nods. "I know. I just don't know what to do about it." She sends a text, getting a reply nearly immediately. "Theo at the lodge says he is delighted the boys have been found. He also says my parents haven't returned from dinner yet.”
We’ve reached the entrance of the trail now. "You say your parents do this all the time?"
"Yes." She sighs. "The boys have been late for school, doctor’s appointments, you name it. They show up without the right school supplies. I have to search their backpacks for a note from the teacher and handle it. Otherwise, things get missed."
"Has anyone other than you, maybe the school, given them hell for this?"
"No." Then she looks up at me, catching my tone. "Are you saying that you could…"
"If you think it's a good idea, and that they would learn a lesson if a stranger told them off." I pause, smirking. "A public place is always best for such a thing, I find."
Bailey grips my arm. "Go for it. Please. It will be the highlight of my month."
I should be focused on the task at hand, not the way my stomach twinges every time she smiles at me or her fingers clutch me.
We drive the boys to The Timberline Tavern, and when I march them in I see a couple in a booth by the window, laughing over drinks. Normally the crackling fireplace and faint aroma of good bourbon make the place feel like a comfortable second living room, but now I’m so filled with rage it takes considerable effort to keep my expression neutral.
I bend down to whisper to the boys. "Why don't you run and tell your mommy as loudly as you can that you were lost in the forest? It'll make everybody in the restaurant laugh."
I stand up again. Bailey puts her hand over her mouth, holding back a giggle. "Do it," she whispers, her eyes bright.
My job is to take care of the forest. Wrangle the tourists. Keep visitors and the environment safe. It isnotmy place to tell off a couple of flaky deadbeat parents. However, if these morons are going to put their children in danger and then guilt trip Bailey about it, they need somebody to put a foot up their ass.
The boys’ voices slice through all other conversation in the room, making everyone stop and stare.
"Mommy, we were lost!"
"We were in the middle of the forest all alone!"
"We got to see the sunset again, and then we got to stomp around the trees, and then we got to hide by the rocks, but we didn’t know where we were."
"They were gonna send a helicopter and everything! But then the nice man found us.”
“And he said you were going to give us ice cream so can we have it now please?"
I walk slowly toward the corner booth. Between my jacket with my name and Ranger embroidered on it, the walkie in my pocket and my stance, I’m clearly an authority figure.
"There was an entire team of people out searching for your children." My voice is always deep, but now it scrapes out in such a booming bass even the kitchen staff can hear.
"We had a helicopter, ATVs, and half the town on standby. You abandoned your boys to go have dinner. Nobody was supervising them. They were officially missing. And now here you are, what? Drinking?"
Their faces turn ashen as the entire room turns to stare at them. Hard.
Kaitlyn opens her mouth to speak, but I hold up a hand, stopping her. "And don't you dare say that your daughter was babysitting them. She was studying in another room and had no idea what was going on. You simply grabbed your purse and strolled out the door. What kind of mother are you?"
Her bottom lip wobbles. Jeremy's arm wraps around her protectively, but he can't meet my eyes. They both look shaken, and suitably mortified.
"Now." I glare at them hard. "You will make sure that the boys get dinner and the ice cream they were promised. I'm going to make sure that Bailey eats, because she's been busy parenting your children. You two are obviously incapable."
Jeremy finally meets my eyes, and I hope my glare bruises his soul. "Do better," I growl.
In a blink, my expression changes as I smile down at the kids. "Fist bump me if you promise not to go into the forest again without an adult."
Two fist bumps later I turn, taking Bailey's elbow to lead her outside. She's silent until we get around the corner away from the windows. Then she leans against a wall, trembling.
