“Tucker,” she warned.
“What? I’m trying to make him feel better. You’re a good shot, Mom,” he said. “I don’t like the man who came to our house tonight.”
“I’m not too pleased with him myself,” she grumbled.
“I’ve seen him before,” Tucker said, walking closer to Conner.
“Where did you see him?” she asked.
“Grandpa always said to always check people’s feet. They can change outfits, but they rarely think about their shoes,” Tucker informed her. “He’s wearing a special kind. I’ve never seen them before on anyone else.”
“We’ll talk about it later. Let’s make it to the cave,” she said, shivering from the dampness. “We’ll make a fire and have a campout. We’ll see what Jeremiah left us to eat and have a picnic,” she said, hoping she alleviated their fears.
When they arrived, Tucker turned on the flashlight and went to the steel box Jeremiah added a long time ago. Teaching them survival tactics, he took them to the caves for special campouts. The box held sleeping bags, food, flashlights, nightsticks, and an array of tools.
Conner walked past him and set up the firewood under the open circle between the rocks. From the inside, someone might smell the fire, but from the outside, the smoke dissipated before it reached thepeak. Bending down, he struck the match, lighting the fire. Tucker moved toward her and held out a first aid box.
“Mom, you’re bleeding through your shirt,” he said. “You know what Grandpa said about injuries in the outdoors.”
“It’s not bad,” she assured him. “Why don’t you help Conner with the sleeping bags?”
“Will you call Owen?” he asked.
“Yeah. As soon as I bandage my arm,” she promised. “Will you help me?
“Sure. Do you think he’ll come?” Tucker asked, peering at her.
“Of course,” she replied, giving him a squeeze.
The cut appeared deeper than she first thought, making her grimace. Opening the box, she took out antiseptic, gauze, and a wrap. Tucker poured the liquid onto her arm and she hissed as the excess dripped onto the ground. It stung like hell. She patted the area, and Tucker helped wrap it while Conner pulled out a bag of freeze-dried candy.
“Can we eat a little?” he asked.
“We need to get some water from the spring. Do you have the purifier?” she asked, stifling a yawn.
“I’ll get the water. Conner needs to pee,” Tucker told her.
“I’ll go with you,” she said, pushing herself off the cave wall.
They walked to the back of the cave and slippedto the side, collecting water from the hidden spring. She didn’t think anyone knew of this place, but she didn’t plan on risking the boys.
When they settled into the sleeping bags, she walked toward the cave’s entrance and dialed Owen’s number. When he didn’t answer, she said, “It’s Leslie. We need you. Call me back.” Leaning against the cold, damp rock, she stood vigilant over her boys until she figured out who to trust. Like Tucker, she wondered if Owen would return her call. After all, he left her once before to figure things out on her own.
CHAPTER 19
Owen rubbedhis eyes as they drove through the small town where Dillon lived. His brother stayed mainly off the grid, and Elias pinpointed his current location. The boys fell asleep, and he enjoyed the peace before the little demons woke and created chaos. With their tummies full, they fell asleep shortly after. He hoped
Glancing at Mason, he struggled to comprehend what happened to him. Yeah, his wife’s death ripped his life apart, but he loved kids. Yet his two children acted like monsters. Nathan screamed when he didn’t get his way. Noah cried in his sleep, and Mason made no move to comfort his son.
“Hey,” Wyatt called from the back. “Stop the van. I have to piss.”
“What did I tell you? We have kids in the van,” he reprimanded. “We’re almost to Dillon’s place, hold it.”
“You stopped when the kid needed to pee,” his brother pointed out.
“It’s nephew to you,” Owen corrected, and “if you wake them up, I’ll put you in the middle of them. In fact, it’s probably not a bad idea considering you act like them.”
“Leave him alone,” Elias yawned and stretched. “I have to pee, too.”
