Page 68 of A Forgotten Heart
How come you aren’t a teacher like Miss Elsie?
All the reasons he’d told himself years ago resonated like hollow excuses now.
Sure, he’d been framed, but he could’ve fought to have the truth revealed. Could’ve gone to a different school. Tried again.
Isaac had got him thinking about going back. Starting over.
He had never filed the paperwork to buy that land. What if he simply…didn’t?
Drew had big plans to expand. Build the McGraw legacy. Someone would have to winter with the cattle. But what if Nick could still go back to school?
His head reeled over the revelation that he truly wanted to go back to school. Finish his teaching certification.
He couldn’t deny it any longer. After this was all over, he would sit down with Drew. Talk things over. Make a plan. He might not know what to do about Elsie, but this path seemed clear.
Forcing his mind back to the present, he slowed as he climbed through the brush. A flash of light from ahead had him scurrying behind a tree for cover.
The form of a rider appeared in the distance, dark against the starry sky and snow-covered ground.
Two riders, carrying torches.
He pulled out his spyglass and looked through it.
Both men’s faces were concealed with bandannas. By the way they carried themselves, they certainly weren’t Nick’s brothers.
An icy chill prickled under his skin. What were these men doing out here on McGraw land?
Nick sank into a kneel and watched, hoping to see some activity to prove the riders had a different purpose than what he feared.
The two men circled. Came close together, paced apart. What were they doing? Watching? For what?
Nick couldn’t stay and watch all night. He needed to get back to the boys. Make sure they were all right.
He hated abandoning his post but had no choice.
With deliberate steps, he made his way back to the barn. As he neared, Patch jumped up and came to his side with high-pitched whines.
“Hey, boy. Where are the kids?”
Patch circled Nick, agitated.
“David. Eli. Where are you?” he called quietly into the dark.
Dread snaked up his spine.
“David. Eli.”
No answer.
His pulse galloped in his ears. Had they been caught by whoever was out there? Where were they?
His eyes scanned for any shadows moving.
Nothing. Wait?—
Something crackled in the underbrush.
Nick whipped around. “David?”
