Page 67 of A Forgotten Heart
An order for the boys to go back into the house was on the tip of Nick’s tongue, but that light in the distance flickered once again. Only, this time on the north side of the house.
Unease skittered down his spine.
It couldn’t be a coincidence, those two lights. Could it?
The McGraw property spread farther than the eye could see. If someone was out there, they were trespassing. And this time of night, whoever it was would be up to no good.
But Nick couldn’t be in two places at once.
He tore his attention off the horizon and studied the boys. They were so young. “I need your help,” he blurted.
This was dangerous. If something happened to one of these boys, he’d never forgive himself. Neither would his brothers.
Elsie believed in his ability to think things through. This was his only choice.
Nick clamped his hand on David’s shoulder and turned the boy to where he’d seen the flicker. “See there?”
Eli hovered at their back, watching over David’s shoulder.
David nodded.
“That’s over by the dried creek bed where you boys play hide-and-seek during the summer. I saw a light flash.”
“I know lots of hiding spots over there, Uncle Nick,” David said.
“I want you two to sneak over there and scout the area. Then come right back.”
Eli was fairly bouncing on his toes. “Yes!”
Nick put out a hand to quiet the boy. “This isn’t a game of hide-and-seek. There could be men out there who want to hurt you. Hear me? You are only to scout it out.”
Both kids nodded. Nick hesitated for a moment, pulled his rifle out of the scabbard he’d slung across his back.
The warning his father had given him when he’d handed a rifle to Nick for the first time echoed through his head.
Nick held out his rifle to David. “Don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you’re willing to shoot.”
David eyed the gun, quiet and serious now. His jaw twitched as he reached for it. “Just like you taught me, Uncle Nick.”
“Meet back right here. Be careful.”
They were gone, running through the snow and into the woods just moments later.
Nick’s chest locked up.
Please, God, be with them.
Nick took a quick moment to settle Patch close to the house. The dog would bark an alert if anyone came close.
Then Nick hiked in the other direction.
The pulsing in his shoulder kept time with the pounding in his head. When was the last time he’d slept?
He pushed through the exhaustion, fighting through the snow drifts and trying to stay out of sight.
This was about protecting the people he loved.
Tillie’s sweetly asked question popped into his mind again.
