Page 43 of Taming His Honeydoll
A bit of light and air penetrated from a grated hole in the backside of the concrete bunker and she could see the fear shining in them. “It’s okay, Levi,” she soothed. “We’re playing hide and seek from your Daddy.” She helped him down the stairs with the use of her cell phone light and over to a small table with four chairs around it.
“It’s really dark in here,” he whispered, clutching her hand.
“It’s the best place to hide,” she whispered, sitting down in one of the chairs. “And I have lots of food in here. Even a peanut butter cookie. Would you like one?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so, Nana.” He fidgeted from one foot to the other, his eyes darting into the dark shadowy corners.
She knew he must be upset, but she needed him to be quiet so that if whoever was out there caught onto the shelter, they wouldn’t hear anything coming out of the vent.
“Okay, then, darling. We have to be very quiet so your Daddy won’t hear us if he comes outside looking, okay? After a few minutes, we’ll just jump out and surprise him if he doesn’t find us.”
She flashed the light all around the small bunker to ease his mind. “See, there is nothing here but food and supplies.” She lit up every corner and he finally relaxed his grip on her hand and crawled into her lap. Apparently, he wasn’t that trusting that a monster wasn’t hiding somewhere behind a shadow. She snuggled him close and kissed the top of his gold curls. Sawyer had explained about his experience during the night and his aversion to sleeping in front of a window.
She glanced at the shotgun she’d laid on the table and prayed she wouldn’t have to use it in front of her grandchild. It might traumatize him for life.
Finally, Rachel checked her cell phone and noted that the security app was nothing but a straight line. Someone must have disabled it. She had no bars for cell service inside the bunker so she couldn’t even text Sawyer. She had received a text from him though.
‘Get to the bunker.’
Luckily, she’d already been headed there. They were in the bunker now and her heart was still pounding. She knew everything that was going on because she’d been briefed by her son already. This was proof someone was after Levi; she was sure of it. If it was his step-nana going to such lengths to get a grandchild, she should be arrested.
Then another thought crossed her mind. Were they after Emma too? Had someone accosted Sawyer and Emma while they were out riding? The thought brought cold chills down her spine and a silent prayer to her lips.
***
ABLACK VAN WAS SCREECHINGinto the driveway about the time Sawyer and Emma were riding hellbent for leather out of the pasture to greet them. Nat, Denver, Charlie, and Bud jumped out of the black van with 9 millimeters in their hands and Nat waved at Sawyer to keep his distance.
Sawyer nodded but Emma wanted to run to the storm shelter to assure herself that Levi hadn’t been taken. She was frantic with worry, but he grabbed Nutmeg’s bridle and held it. “Just a few minutes, honeydoll. Let them clear the house first. We don’t want anyone firing at us while they are trying to get away.”
There was little doubt in Sawyer’s mind that this was a deliberate breach. It also told him who they were after—his son. He was armed himself, but the four men would make short work of clearing the buildings and Emma needed him with her.
Emma wrung her hands, almost beside herself. “Did Rachel answer you? He has to be in there. Right, Sawyer?” She tried to choke back a sob as she threw her arms around his neck. He held her trembling body close to his.
“I’m sure that’s where they are,” he soothed. “Mom knows how to react in an emergency, she will have taken him there as soon as she heard the breach alarm. They had time to get to the shelter without being seen.”
The horses were content to stand side by side and get their breath. They’d been run harder than they had in a long time and they were still blowing and huffing. Sawyer could see the men head out the back door to secure the barn. Nat gave him the thumbs up sign meaning the house was clear. It only took a minute before the barn was cleared and the men turned towards them.
“There’s no one here,” Nat yelled. “Whoever it was took off on a four-wheeler.”
Emma jumped off Nutmeg and ran for the storm shelter she could see sticking up by the far side of the house. Sawyer was right behind her. She dropped to the ground. “Rachel! Levi! Are you in there?”
“We’re here,” Rachel cried. “We’re safe!”
Emma almost fainted in relief as Sawyer dropped to his knees and put in the door code, then lifted the outer door. It was only seconds before the other door opened from the inside out and Rachel stood on the steps, tears of relief flowing down her face. She took Levi’s hand and pushed him up the stairs towards his parents.
“See, Levi? I told you your daddy would find us.”
“You win, Daddy, you found us,” Levi piped up uncertainly. He was surprised when they both enveloped him in their arms, his mother crying all over him. “We were just playing hide and seek. Why are you crying Mama?”
“I-I’m just so happy to see you,” Emma choked out and hugged him with a chuckle.
All the adults surrounding him, even the four men dressed all in black started laughing and he grinned back, deciding it was okay after all.
“Yeah, I win,” Sawyer replied gruffly, ruffling his hair. Then he helped his mother up the steps and gave her a big hug. “Thank you for keeping him safe, Mom,” he whispered in her ear.
She nodded, drying her eyes with her apron when he released her. “I’m so glad you and Emma are safe too,” she whispered throatily. “I was worried...” She trailed off and they all looked grimly at each other completely understanding why.
As Emma and Rachel headed for the house with Levi, Sawyer turned to face Nat and his crew. “That was too close for my comfort level. Thank God you guys knew what you were doing. That barn breach perimeter gave us the extra time we needed for Mom to get Levi out of the house. Is there any damage inside?”
