Page 7 of Mountain Refuge

Her mouth dried up, and she glanced around the darkening woods. “Let’s head back.”

“Five more minutes.”

“No, I’m the adult here, and we’re going back right now.” She added as much sternness to her voice as possible. These two needed to know when she meant business. “I have to help Mrs. White if anyone wants to eat supper. I think we’re having fried chicken.”

“Yippee!” Footprint forgotten, Derrick straightened. “My favorite. Come on, Eric. If we’re late, all the legs will be gone.”

Dani turned, then stopped. Everything suddenly looked the same. Except for the creek. Follow the creek back to where the boys had played, then turn…left. “Where’s Monster?”

“He doesn’t like to get wet,” Eric said. “Ran off when we started splashing. He’ll be back.” The boy frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“We might be lost.”

“No, we aren’t.” He marched ahead of her. “Don’t be silly. Follow me.”

After several minutes, they stopped. “Is there where you played in the water?” Dani studied the area. Any splashed water had dried.

Something crashed in the bushes next to her. She whirled and gasped.

Monster darted from the foliage, tongue lolling.

“You crazy dog. How about you show us the way home?” She patted his head. “Obviously, none of us are certain.” How could she have let them get lost?

“We aren’t lost.” Eric glared. “We played right over there. You sat on that log. What’s wrong with you?” He turned left and continued.

“We play in here all the time,” Derrick said, following his brother. “You’ll get used to things.”

Not fast enough. She made a mental note of landmarks as she moved through the trees. Ahead, she spotted the clearing where the afternoon shadows had yet to darken.

A twig snapped behind her.

She put a hand to her throat. “Monster, you need to stop scaring me.” She gave a nervous laugh and turned.

Something moved between the trees. Something on two legs.

Monster moved to her side. His hackles rose, and a deep growl vibrated from his throat.

“Easy, boy.” Dani backed up. Instinct told her it was not a friendly person flitting from shadow to shadow. If it was one of the cowboys, they’d have called out a greeting. She whipped around to face the clearing.

The house rose in the distance. “Last one to the house helps with dishes.” She ushered the boys to move faster.

Breath rasping in her lungs, Dani burst through the back door of the kitchen.

“Mercy.” Mrs. White spun, flinging mashed potatoes from a wooden spoon and onto the floor. “Are you being chased by a bear? Look what you made me do.”

“A race.” Eric grinned.

“Go wash up while Dani helps me.” She shook her head. When they were gone, she turned to Dani, grabbing a rag as she did. “Something spook you?”

“I’m sure it was nothing, except for the crazy feeling of being lost.” She pulled an apron from a nearby hook, then washed her hands. “Silly, really. The boys knew the way the whole time.”

“Of course, they did.” She frowned, cleaned up the spatters on the floor, then turned back to mashing the potatoes. “Give that gravy a stir, would you? And help me keep an eye on the biscuits. I expected you back earlier.”

“I’m sorry.” Dani glanced at the clock. “When do you need me back each day?”

“By four.”

Ouch. She was more than an hour late. Any excursions with the boys would have to be on the weekends and days they had no school. “I won’t be late again.”