CHAPTER 23
The terrain was steep and winding, and several miles up the mountainside to reach the ridge that McKenzie was named for. The cabin was old and sat behind the abandoned Forest Service lookout tower that was used during fire season to watch for forest fires. As the terrain changed over the years and became more populated, the Forest’s needs changed, and a new tower with better distant views and technology had been built further up the mountain.
Ellie had been talking about riding, camping, even mentioning a cabin, calling it “Miss Rene’s cabin.” Relief struck him when he recalled the many conversations, especially when Jameson and Everly mentioned Ellie’s girl campout at the cabin, earlier that day, but it was quickly dampened by the realization that Rene had been planning this for some time and preparing Ellie for this event.
Anger coursed through his body as that sunk in, along with the reality that this could just be another sick plot twist, a planted idea to cause a diversion, to give Rene more time to execute her real plan. This was all they had to go on though, a hunch that he hoped was divine intervention as a result of answered prayers.
He was running on equal parts faith and fury that his gut reaction wasn’t failing him on this one. She had to be there. He promised Sam he would bring their girl home, and he would. Those two quickly invaded his heart and became his world. Living without one of them wasn’t an option. He would protect what was his, at all cost.
Sam wandered through Dawson’s home lost in thought, wondering where Dawson was and if he had Ellie yet. Shifting from worry for Ellie to confusion, she wondered how a threat, a real movie worthy enemy, managed to find its way into her world and right under her nose. Trying to pass the time and distance herself from the massive guilt and trepidation that was swarming around her, she focused on her surroundings, picturing Dawson in his environment.
His home was a stunning reverse living, lodge style home that sat atop a modest hill, surrounded by nature and breathtaking mountain views all around. With windows on all sides and decks surrounding the entire perimeter of the structure at each level, it was exquisite. His home was masculine in design but comfortable and homey, perfectly Dawson, safe and strong.
“Where have you drifted off to, honey?”
“Gran, you startled me!” She replied with a nervous chuckle. “I’m just trying to keep myself busy and focused on anything but worry. It’s not working very well.”
Lou reached for her just in time to catch the tears that fell with Sam’s raspy sobs. “Oh honey, it’s going to be okay. I feel it in these old bones of mine,” she said, assuring Sam it was the truth; Louise Shaw was known for her intuitive wisdom. “Dawson and Evie love that child. They won’t let anything happen to her, and they’d sacrifice everything for our Ellie girl!”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. It’s not just Ellie; it’s all of them. I can’t lose any of them. I couldn’t live with it, knowing I brought this here!”
“You shush now! You are not responsible for that deranged woman bringing all her crazy to town,” Lou said, not one to mince words, making her feelings well known and not caring if it offended anyone. “She needs help, that one. None of it is your fault; ya hear me, girl?”
Sam looked around, tossing her head back, defeated, crushed, and terrified that the world she had so carefully and hesitantly let in was about to crash down around her, and there wouldn’t be any pieces worth picking up.
“Have faith, girl. Dawson will find her. That boy loves her, and he loves you, too.”
Granny’s doses of wisdom always brought calm to the storm. She was right; he loved them, and she loved him, desperately and completely. He had become a pillar of strength and comfort that felt like home. He was home for her, the missing piece to her heart, the happiness she didn’t know was missing. He made her whole, completed her and Ellie. He was going to bring her home. She felt much stronger and at peace with that declaration.
The team approached the cabin in prompt fashion, despite the rugged ascent, pausing several yards out to abandon their horses and evaluate the scene, not wanting to risk their position or presence before entering. Blake led their mission, his extensive military experience abundantly clear as he outlined the next steps of their rescue effort. While nerves were fried and tensions high amongst the group, he delivered a sense of confidence and cool that they all needed to adopt before commencing their rescue efforts.
They only had one shot at this. There was no room for error, especially given the situation. They had no idea what awaited them on the other side of that door, what they would stumble upon, and to what degree Rene was willing to push her level of crazy to accomplish her goal, whatever that may be. Patience was running thin. All Dawson wanted to do was get inside, find his little tomboy in a tutu, and get home to Sam.
He knew what everyone was thinking when only one horse was tied to the fence outside the cabin. Ellie and Rene had each had a horse at last encounter. What were they going to find inside? Whose horse was missing, and why? He feared this rescue could unravel something far worse than expected. Pushing those thoughts aside, he was counting on that being Ellie’s horse and finding her inside…he needed her to be.
“Dawson, I need you to hang back,” Blake challenged, wanting a flawless rescue. “Let Jameson and me rush first. We need to do this the right way, man.”
Dawson was tired of waiting. Deep down he knew Blake was right, but adrenaline was challenging logic and his patience. He wanted in there; he needed to get in there.
“Tayler, you hear me? Do I need Sparks to babysit you, or are we good? You’re in too deep, man. We can’t afford your emotions blowing this shit.”
Jaw clenched, he dug deep, trying to find the strength he needed to honor what Blake was asking. He could do this. He didn’t want to be the cause of anything that could go wrong; he just wanted this nightmare to be over. He looked Blake in the eye and nodded, assuring his cooperation.
Blake whispered orders through his radio, and people began to scatter, surrounding the cabin in absolute silence, so surreal, it looked like something right out of a Friday night cop show or military movie on HBO. They moved swiftly and quietly, closing in on their target. One of Blake’s men thrust the front door open with a hefty tool, like a battering ram, and Blake led the charge from the front while Morgan charged the rear, weapons drawn, clearing and securing the few rooms in what felt like seconds.
There was nobody there, nor had there been, based on the layers of dust, dead bugs, and animal carcasses.
“They were never here, damn it; they were never here.” Blake was pissed, already moving ahead, trying to put together their next move.
“What the fuck! Where are they?” Colton asked, surprised as everyone was to find the cabin empty. “The horse…”
“The horse was a plant,” Dawson chimed in, surprisingly calm, realizing what Rene’s plan really was, and it had little to do with taking Ellie. “It’s part of her game. She brought us here, planted the horse to buy her time. She wanted us to believe they were here.”
“Sick bitch. What next, Coop?” Sparks, who had been team ‘innocent until proven otherwise,’ was finally on the bitch is crazy
bandwagon.
Blake, ready to move, got on the radio and started delegating. “Let’s get Crime Scene in here. If there’s anything there, they’ll find it. Let’s get back down the mountain and regroup at Sugar Pine.”
“It’ll be a bit of a wait, sir. We are stretched thin. We still have some guys processing the fire house, and I just heard over the radio there was some kind of explosion, a vehicle, being reported.”
“Explosion? Shit, it’s her; this is her finale! We need to get to Sam,” Dawson decided, sold on the idea that this is just another part of Rene’s scheme.
Blake understood Dawson’s desperation, wanting to get ahead of the woman holding their lives hostage, but he didn’t want to make another mistake. “Hold up man. We don’t know that. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…let’s be smart…”
Before Blake could finish his thought, Evie rushed from the cabin, ghost white, fear washed over her features, radio in hand, having just received a call from Jessie at Sugar Pine Stables. “Dawson, it’s a red truck. The explosion was a red truck, matching Rene’s. Ellie…”
“Don’t say it. This is part of her game. Let’s get down there, Coop., Let’s beat her at this round!”
Without hesitation, Blake motioned toward the horses and led the pack. He agreed with Dawson; they needed off this ridge. Much of the team held post at the cabin, protecting it as a crime scene and watching for Rene and Ellie, should this be another sick twist to her game of wild goose chase. Blake, Dawson, Everly, Colton, and Morgan started their descent, radioing ahead to Carigan and Jessie who were leading the group at the equestrian center, which served as their base. Their quick descent felt like slow motion, only a thirty minute trip rather than the endless hours it felt like.
Dawson was certain he would never take to these trails again with the same admiration and appreciation; they lost their joy and beauty, now marked in time as one of the worst days of his life.