Page 57 of Shelter for Tanna

Braden could never let them know how afraid he was. It was his responsibility to comfort them. He was surprised when Max climbed over him and settled on his other side, and he knew instinctively what to do. He opened his arms and both boys cuddled against him, so he wrapped his arms around them and held them close. Daniel’s body shook with silent sobs, and Braden had no idea what to do, so he kissed the part in the boy’s hair and just pulled him in tighter.

Terror gripped him. He loved those children. He’d started to think of them as his. If their mother… Would the courts let him keep them? He’d sure as hell fight for them, but he hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.

He had to find Tanna. It was the only option his heart would allow.

* * *

God, it was cold! She shivered under the rain gear, knowing it was partly to blame, but if she took it off, she’d be soaked in seconds. The rain was relentless. There was one bright spot. The mud was cold too, but it was perfect for her throbbing ankle. She simply thrust it into the slime and the cold from the goo helped.

How long had she been down there? She never wore a watch anymore, just used her phone for the time, so she had nothing. It had been such a dark, gloomy day that it had even been hard to tell when sunset was, so all concept of time was skewed. Sitting there, her feet stuck in the mud and trying hard to keep from sliding off the rock, she waited, curlicues of steam emanating from her lips and nose. At least she had on her heavy jacket under the rain slicker. She was getting thirsty, and she wondered if there was some way she could use the slicker to collect some water to drink. Of course, that would entail taking it off, and she’d be freezing in seconds. It would be best to just wait.

So she waited. There was nothing else to do. A couple of times she nodded off, waking to the sensation of sliding down the rock, and she’d push herself back up, trying hard to ignore the pulse throbbing in that ankle. Only one thing brought her comfort.

Braden would be looking for her. By now, he would’ve realized something was wrong, and between the fire department and all the law enforcement people he knew, he’d have everyone mobilized. They’d be scouring the countryside, searching everywhere. But could they find her?

That gorgeous firefighter would die trying. She just hoped that wasn’t the shape she was in by the time they found her.

* * *

Sounds of thunder woke Braden, and he looked at the clock. Five. In thirty minutes, it would be light outside, or whatever version of light MotherNature would allow them to have that day. Braden smiled as he glanced at the two kids. Max was at the edge of the bed, one arm and one leg hanging off, and Daniel was still beside him, though not against him anymore, curled up in the fetal position with the sheets clutched tightly under his chin. Common sense told him to send them to school and try to keep their schedules as normal as possible, but he knew that couldn’t happen. They wouldn’t be able to concentrate and, worse yet, Max would be a huge distraction for everyone at the school. He’d never be able to sit still and listen while thinking about his mother. Nope. Braden hoped his mom and dad could keep watching the kids, because that’s what would need to happen.

By the time the coffee was made, it was a little lighter outside, so he decided he’d drag on his clothes from the day before and head out. He’d left them in the laundry area, so the kids weren’t awakened, and Marsha woke in time to see him go. He didn’t ask her. He didn’t have to. The look in her eyes told him she and his dad would be there for as long as they were needed, and he sent up a silent prayer of thanks for his family.

Charlie’s office was abandoned when he drove by, but there were two city cars and a sheriff’s department cruiser at the diner down the street, so he stopped in. The first person he saw was Ted, and the two city officers were guys he didn’t know but had seen around. Ted pointed to the vinyl beside him. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah.” A mug appeared before him and a server named Maddie poured him a steaming cupful. “What’s the plan, guys?”

“No plan. We’re just going to keep looking,” the younger of the two city officers told him.

“Did anybody get anything else out of Charlie?”

Ted shook his head. “I don’t know how that idiot stays in business. His record keeping is non-existent.”

“That’s what Tanna has told me.” He cupped the mug in his hands and sat there, unsure what to do.

Ted broke the silence. “So what areyourplans?”

Braden gave him a tiny shrug. “I dunno, but for some reason, highway eighteen twenty-one just keeps calling to me. I’m going back out there, see if there’s anything we missed.”

“That’s some rough terrain out there,” Ted pointed out. “That takes a turn at the junction where that church is and runs right on into MammothCave National Park.”

“Yeah. Who knows? She might not even still be in WarrenCounty. She may have crossed the line into, I dunno, Edmunson or Barren counties. There’s no way of knowing.”

“I wish this damn rain would let up,” the older city officer mumbled.

“Yeah. And it’s cold too. I’m really worried about her,” Braden said barely over a whisper.

“I get it. I do. When my sister was missing, it rained like this too. Really hindered us,” Ted said.

That was the first Braden had heard about that. “Your sister was missing? How long did it take to find her?”

Ted shook his head and stared at the tabletop. “You don’t need to hear that story right now. It didn’t end well.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Braden’s heart lurched in his chest from pure fear. Ted was trying to prepare him for the worst, and he didn’t want to hear that. “So I’m going to head on out there and see what I can see.”

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