Danger in the Woods - Nick and Mandy James Series

Chapter 3

  “Thank you for coming,” Aunt Clara said anxiously to Deputy Sanders. “I’m beside myself. I should never have let them go off alone.”

  “It’s okay, Ma’am. We’ll find them I’m sure. They couldn’t have gone far. Not in the storm.” Deputy Sanders stepped down the porch steps and headed to his car to radio his dispatcher, then returned moments later to talk to Aunt Clara.

  “Okay, I’ll need some more information.” Aunt Clara invited him inside and offered him a seat. “You say their names are Nick and Mandy,” he said jotting it down in his notebook. “How old again?”

  “Nick is thirteen and Mandy is ten. They’re good children. They’ve only been here a few days. The three of us had picnicked yesterday and the day before at the edge of the valley. There’s a deer trail I frequently use. So when Nick wanted to go again, he assured me he could find his way there and back by following the trail,” Aunt Clara was nearly in tears. “Mandy wanted to go too. I should have gone with them. Laundry could’ve waited.”

  The deputy nodded and made a few more notes. “How long ago was this?”

  “This afternoon. Right after lunch, so at least they had some food in their tummies before they left but that was all,” Aunt Clara said feeling sheepish. “I know I should have called sooner, but I was sure I could find them myself.”

  “I understand,” the deputy said.

  “Nick’s a good boy and a scout…a Boy Scout, you know. His folks are real proud of him. But all those two children have with them is a bag of my oatmeal cookies I’d baked this morning and a couple bottles of water.” Aunt Clara wiped her eyes with the hem of her apron. “They’ve never stayed with me before, just visited with their folks from time to time. I know George and Mary will never let them stay with me again. I’m sure they’ll be right angry with me.”

  “Have you talked to them?” the Deputy Sanders asked.

  “Not yet. I was hoping I’d have found them by now. When I couldn’t I tried to call you folks but my phone was dead…from the storm I figured. I hurried to my neighbor’s place down the road a piece. They’ve got one of those new-fangled phones that don’t need wires…I forget what you call them.”

  “Cell phone?” the deputy asked.

  “Yes, I believe that’s what Truman said it was. George and Mary have one, too. Anyway, I called you folks as soon as I could.”

  “You want us to give them a call for you?” the Deputy Sanders offered.

  “I suppose that would be best,” Aunt Clara agreed.

  “In the meantime, there’s not much we can do in the dark. As soon as the sun comes up, we’ll set out. You’ll need to show us where they were headed.”

  “I can do that,” Aunt Clara said with a nod. “It’s not far. That’s what troubles me. I should’ve been able to find them.”

  “Well, in that storm and with all the wind and rain, it would be easy to get turned around in the woods, and especially now that it’s dark. Hopefully they’ve found a place to sit tight and wait to be rescued.”

  “I sure hope so, bless their hearts. I’m so scared for them, especially with all this talk lately about some strangers hereabouts somewhere poaching deer,” Aunt Clara volunteered.

  “Have you seen them? These men?”

  “No, but sometimes I think I’ve heard a shotgun go off in the middle of the night. I don’t like it. A stray shot could go through someone’s home and hit an innocent person. Can’t you folks do something about that?”

  “We’re trying to. We’ve heard reports from several others as well. If you see or hear anything suspicious, please call us. We want to catch them too.” The deputy stood up. “I’d better be going. Stay inside. No need for you to go out in the cold.”

  “Alright. I’ll stay in, but I wish I could be out looking for them instead.”

  “I know, but it will be safer if you stay home and inside. Besides, if they do manage to come back on their own, it would be better if you were here. In the meantime, let us do the looking. Especially if there are strangers lurking in the woods taking shots at deer or anything else.” He started for the door, “Oh, and I’d keep the doors and windows locked. Don’t open your door to anyone you don’t know.”

  “Okay. I’ll do that,” Aunt Clara agreed. “There was a time when folks didn’t have to worry about such things as this. Those were good times. I don’t like the way things are going these days. I worry for my children and grandchildren. What’s this world coming to?”

  “I understand. Well, we will stay in touch. I’m sure the kids will be found and okay, other than cold and hungry,” he tried to reassure her.

  “I sure hope so.” Aunt Clara stood up and walked to a window. All they had on were their little jackets and I’m sure they were soaked through in the rain.”

  Deputy Sanders drove away and Aunt Clara moved through her small home, locking windows and pulling blinds and curtains closed to keep out the cold and the eyes of strangers.

  She sat back down in her favorite chair wondering and worrying about Nick and Mandy. Tears fell. “My precious children…where are you?”