“I’m scared, and my throat’s dry from howling. It sure took you long enough,” he shouted, making the crowd laugh with relief.
“I’m coming, buddy. Stay away from the rocks in case they fall,” he shouted as Cade pulled another rock down.
“Mom already told me,” Conner said. “I can’t see her or Tucker. Can you get them out?”
“We’re working on it,” Cade assured him.
Wyatt climbed up the rocky mound with his good arm and moved the rock.
“What are you doing, Wyatt?” Owen asked. “Get down.”
“No. He’s my brother, too,” he said stubbornly.
“Mine, too,” Mason said, climbing on Owen’s other side. “We told the boys to howl, and we’d come. It’s a hellava time to show ‘em we mean it.”
The men lifted their heads and howled, feeling the bonds of brotherhood for the first time.
“They’re coming, Tucker. I hear them,” Conner said as he climbed toward them. Owen poked his head through the hole to see Conner’s outstretched hand. He took it and pulled him through the hole.
“Hi,” Owen said as Conner clung to his neck. “Did you get hurt?”
“No, but Mom did. She says she feels sleepy,” Conner reported. Owen swallowed and glanced at his brothers.
“Come on, little man,” Wyatt said. “Let’s get you something to eat while our brothers get Tucker and Leslie.”
The hours drifted to the wee morning as they dug carefully. They heard Tucker’s cries as they broke through the rock wall.
“I’m coming, son,” Owen called.
“Mom’s not talking anymore,” he sobbed. “She won’t answer me.”
“She’s tired. It’s almost morning. You’re doing such a great job watching over her. She’ll be proud of you.”
The rock moved, and Owen shone a light into the hole, seeing Tucker’s dirty face and a beam lying across Leslie’s leg.
Unable to contain his worry, he raced to pull the rocks away.
‘Easy, brother,” Cade warned him. “One small mistake and we’ll have this wall crumbling around us.”
He turned his head, hoping Tucker didn’t hear him. “There’s a beam across her leg. It’s sat there for hours,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Then we’ll need to hurry,” Cade encouraged him.
“We got this,” Dillon said, peering at them with one eye completely closed.
They made an opening big enough for Owen to climb through. He reached Tucker, hugging him.
“Go with your uncles. I need to help your Mom.”
“Will she die?” Tucker asked on the verge of crying.
“I won’t let her. Please go to Uncle Mason,” he said, pointing toward the opening.
Taking out the canteen, he wiped Leslie’s face. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled. “Did you get Tucker out?”
“Yes, now it’s your turn. Do you hurt? Dillon can give you a shot of morphine,” he offered.
“No. I don’t feel anything,” she replied. “You’ll keep them together, won’t you?”
