Climbing inside, she relished the warmth as she zipped it. Maybe after she rested, she’d figure out what to do about the intruder at her house and then the people at Jeremiah’s. Feeling her phone in her pocket, she debated whether to contact Owen again. He left her alone before. Maybe he took off again after hearing about his son. Her heart shattered into a million pieces for Tucker, who seemed excited to know about Owen.
Closing her eyes, she murmured, “You can’t hurt me anymore. Please don’t hurt the boys.” Exhaustion overtook her, and within minutes she fell fast asleep.
Tucker stretchedand scanned the cave, searching for his mom. Conner raised from his sleeping bag and said, “I have to pee. Will you take me?”
Seeing his mom wrapped inside the sleeping bag,Tucker put a finger to his lip and motioned for Conner to follow him.
“Let’s not wake her,” he said to Conner. “I’m sure she kept watch last night. When we return, I’ll make us some breakfast. Grandpa left us a good stash of beans.”
“Can I make the coffee?” Conner asked hopefully.
“I saw hot chocolate. It’ll be easier, and Mom likes it too,” Tucker replied, waiting for Conner.
“Will they search for us up here?” he asked. “I wish Dad still lived. He’d know what to do.”
“Grandpa taught us what to do. Maybe he did it for this reason,” Tucker suggested. “We can help mom because we’re not babies anymore.”
“All right,” Conner said, mulling it over. “What happened to her calling Owen?”
“She said she’d call him after we got settled. If he’s getting his brothers, he may already be on his way,” Tucker surmised. “Let’s see what we can find to eat and let her rest a bit. Then we’ll keep watch.”
“Dad left binoculars in the bin. Can I bring ‘em?” he asked.
“Sure. They might come in handy,” Tucker said, patting Conner’s shoulder. “Good thinking.”
Conner grinned as he ran back to the steel container and opened the lid, finding his favorite cereal, granola bars, and freeze-dried fruit. “We can eat this. I’ll warm up the hot water for the hot chocolate. Then do you want to wake Mom?”
“No. We’ll let her sleep a bit longer. Let’s take our drinks and food while we keep watch,” Tucker suggested, helping his brother load a bucket with their breakfast while Conner poured water into the kettle, stoked the fire, and then added the kettle to the grate.
A few minutes later, they sat inside the cave, watching over Wolfe Mountain.
“Remember when Dad told us our blood runs through this place?” Conner asked, munching on the fruit.
“Yeah,” Tucker said, tearing a granola wrapper and taking a bite.
“Do you think someone wants our mountain? What about my brothers? Why did they leave if the mountain’s important to us?”
“Mom said Grandpa made a mistake. Sometimes saying sorry doesn’t make up for it. You have to wait until your actions show you mean to change.”
Nodding, Conner pulled out the binoculars and searched the area.
“I didn’t see any possums last night. Maybe we’ll catch a mountain lion today,” he said, scanning the terrain.
“You’re supposed to watch for strangers, dummy,” Tucker chastised. “We can see animals all the time.”
“I’m searching,” Conner argued. “I’ve only seen a couple of rabbits and a goat.”
“We’ll take turns,” Tucker suggested. “Finish upyour hot chocolate before it gets cold. I’ll watch for a while.”
Conner passed him the binoculars while he sipped on his drink.
An hour later, Tucker saw a man walking over the ridge with a rifle strapped along his arm.
“Get back,” he whispered to Conner, pushing him farther into the cave.
“What’s the matter?” he whispered.
“We need to wake Mom. There’s a man on the other side of the ridge. I’ve never seen him before,” Tucker said. “Can you wake her while I watch him?”
