I wanted to call H and let him know what was going on, but I knew better. What could he do but worry? Worrying and wondering about something and not being able to do anything about it was like a terrible, itchy rash you couldn’t scratch. This was one of those can’ts that I wished would become a can in a hurry.
Dad brought Jackson and G-Pa home around six o’clock, blowing through the back door like a gust of cold wind. We met them in the kitchen. Dad said, “We’re only here for a few minutes for a quick bite, and then we’re headed back out.”
Mom started pulling things from the refrigerator. “Tonight, in the cold?”
G-Pa answered, “Can’t quit looking for those boys. They’re most likely out there in the cold going on twenty-four hours now. That’s not good.”
Grancie asked, “Where’s the coffee, Jennifer? I’ll make a fresh pot. Julia, see if you can find a thermos. I’ll make enough to take with them.”
“Good idea. The sheriff’s concluded that Derrick and Wendell are the two who broke the window, and they’re still on the Emerald Crest property somewhere, either lost or injured. Either way, we must get to them. He’s getting detailed maps of the property, and now it’s more like search and rescue.”
Mom said, “That’s a lot of ground to cover, especially in the dark. But you don’t need Jackson, do you? He has school tomorrow.”
“Yes, we need him. They’re organizing all the athletes from the high school, and we’re to meet at the courthouse in twenty minutes. I’m picking up Mr. Hornsby. He and I will try to find where he last saw and heard them last night. That should narrow the search field down a bit. They’re getting lights and a couple more ATVs. The more men we have searching, the more ground we can cover.”
We stood around the island in the kitchen. Mom asked, “Don’t you want to sit down to eat?”
Dad said, “No, we’re good. Need to get back to town. I’ll eat while I wait on that thermos of coffee.”
Mom passed out ham sandwiches and opened a bag of chips. Then Grancie looked at G-Pa. “John, are you going back too?”
“You just heard what Ben said: The more folks we have, the more we can do to find these boys in less time. Time is our enemy right now.”
Dad swallowed and wiped the mustard from his mouth. “Speaking of things to do … Jenn, I need you and Mother and Julia to go out to Emerald Crest. Julia, you call Mr. Lafferty now and tell him you three are on the way. Take my computer to communicate with him when you get there.”
G-Pa interrupted. “There’ll be more activity on that property tonight than he’s ever seen before. You can keep him informed of what’s going on.”
“I’ll have my cell, and I can call you, Jenn. Then you can type the message for Mr. Lafferty. That way, he’ll know what we know.”
I had not said a word, but I was hearing can’ts turning into cans. “I can help too, Dad. I’ll keep him calm. I can show him some more about the computer. He can type messages back. He types on the TTY.”
“Good girl. Mr. Lafferty will like it that you are there. Maybe you can play the piano and distract him.” Dad gulped his coffee. “Go call him right now and let him know you’re coming. Then get out there as soon as you can. I don’t want all the traffic and lights to surprise him. You must get there first.” Dad slapped Jackson on the back. “Grab a snack for your pocket and a couple of extras. Could be a long night. Let’s go.” He kissed Mom. “Keep your phone near. The remote for the gate is in the glove compartment. Julia knows what to do.”
I was dialing H before they were out of the driveway.
He answered quickly. HL2.
This is Julia. Coming to see you. Will explain when we get there. Don’t worry.
Now? Is this about the window?
Yes. Will be there in fifteen minutes.
Mrs. Schumacher still here.
Bye. Julia
I ran upstairs and got my yellow pad and came back down to help Mom get Dad’s laptop ready to go. Grancie was still busy in the kitchen and called out to Mom in the office. “Maybe we should take some cookies or leftover pie or something. I hate to go out there with just a whole basket of trouble and nothing else. Do you have anything? Or we can stop at the house and get the carrot cake.”
“Brownies are under the cake stand. You know where the paper plates and foil are. Take whatever you think.”
We had on our jackets and were in the car in five minutes with a plate of brownies and a laptop computer. Mom was always cautious. “Nancie, check the glove compartment for the gate opener. I don’t want to leave here unless I know we have it.”
Grancie looked around and couldn’t find it. I hopped out of the back seat and opened the front door to search myself. “Here it is. Just mash this button when we get to the gate at the bottom of the hill.”
“Got it.”
Mom drove faster than usual. “It’s really cold out there, but no snow yet.”
Grancie agreed. “And aren’t we glad there’s no ice? Close your eyes. Not you, Jennifer; you keep driving. But I need to pray. Lord, you know what a mess this is. You know where those two boys are. And if they’re in trouble, and it appears they are, I know you’re there with them. Please be with every man and boy on this search team tonight. Guide Ben and Mr. Hornsby to the spot where those boys were last seen. Thank you for the moonlight. And Lord, it would be so helpful if it didn’t start snowing too. I ask that you calm Mr. Lafferty and help us to make him feel comfortable, and especially help Julia, Lord. Thank you for listening. Amen.”
Grancie prayed like God was right there in the front seat. No fancy words like they used at church for Grancie. I could tell she talked to God regularly like that, like she was giving him directions or telling him just what she wanted.
Mom slowed down. “It’s so dark out here. Julia, is this where I turn?”
“Yes, ma’am, but go slow. We’re almost to the gate, and then we’ll start climbing. The lane is narrow, and it has some hairpin turns.”
Mom had a death grip on the steering wheel. “Wow, it’s been a long while since I was out here. I had forgotten how treacherous this can be in the dark.”
“You’re doing fine, Jennifer.” When we got to the gate, Grancie mashed the right button and the gate opened. “So how do we close it?”
“You close it the same way once we’re through the gate.” Then I thought. “But don’t close it, Grancie. Dad will need to get through, and I don’t know if he has another gate opener. And all those other people that are coming. It’ll be all right to leave it open.”
Mom said, “Smart girl. Always thinking.” Mom drove slowly. “Keep your eyes open for animals. I don’t want to hit a deer, and I know they’re out here.”
Finally, we pulled up in front of the mansion and parked. I hopped out of the car, ran up the steps, and rang the bell. Lights flashed, and Mrs. Schumacher answered the door. I hugged her hard before she had a chance to speak.
“To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“My mom will explain. Where is Mr. Lafferty?”
“He’s in the library waiting for you.” Mrs. Schumacher turned to Grancie. “Hello! It’s been a while. We have two Mrs. Russells tonight. Welcome.”
I turned quickly to Mom. “Let me have the laptop. I’ll go set it up.” I took it from her hand and practically skidded down the long hall to the library.
H was sitting by the fire. I waved and went straight for the desk in the corner—the one where Dad always worked. I opened the case and turned on the laptop. No signing Hello or How are you tonight. I had the computer open and plugged in by the time Mrs. Schumacher brought Grancie and Mom into the room. They said the mannerly things you’re supposed to say when you come to see somebody, and Mrs. Schumacher interpreted for H. I didn’t have time for that tonight. At least not this minute.
“Mom, the laptop’s ready. You must type fast. He needs to know what’s going on before all the action starts.”
Mom sat down, and I motioned for H to come to the desk. My
mind was going so fast I couldn’t think about signing. I just pointed to what Mom was typing. She told him the whole story. And she was good at it. She sugarcoated better than anybody. She didn’t use what she called alarming words, so Mr. Lafferty stayed calm.
The grandfather clock struck seven fifteen. The minute Mrs. Schumacher realized what was happening, she turned on all the outside lights. Bright light flooded the garden and the path to the studio.
By the time the clock struck the half hour, I saw Dad’s truck through the window. He parked on the north side of the studio. Right behind him came the sheriff’s car. Dad called Mom to make certain we were there and had told Mr. Lafferty what was going on. Then he told Mom that somebody was bringing Mrs. Smithson and Mrs. Brady and to ask Mr. Lafferty’s permission for them to stay inside the house during the search.
Mr. Lafferty said yes, and Mrs. Schumacher excused herself to make tea. Grancie had been standing, holding the brownies since we got there. Mrs. Schumacher asked her to come to the kitchen with her.
We saw Dad get out of his truck, and we watched Mr. Hornsby hobble to the ATV and climb on behind Dad. Dad started slowly down the path. The sheriff was right on his tail on another ATV. G-Pa followed in the pickup, and behind him were seven more trucks. The truck cabs and beds were filled with men and boys from the school. In this kind of darkness, those big lights might be seen across the whole county. If Derrick and Wendell were on this property, they had more than a good chance of being found with this many people out looking for them.
Before the clock struck eight, the mothers were there, thanking Mrs. Schumacher and Mr. Lafferty for allowing them to stay. They explained that law officers were at their houses in case the boys showed up, but they wanted to be near their husbands and friends in the last likely place their sons were seen. Mrs. Schumacher left the room after she seated the ladies in front of the fire. Mom got up and tried to comfort them.
I watched Mrs. Smithson and Mrs. Brady and remembered my first visit to Emerald Crest, seeing all these things unlike anything I’d ever seen before. But they didn’t seem to notice. They just looked tired and like they cared for nothing except for seeing their sons walk through the door. It was quiet in the room until Grancie and Mrs. Schumacher returned with coffee and brownies for everyone.
When Mrs. Schumacher was there to interpret, Mrs. Smithson apologized to H just in case her son had had anything to do with the broken window. H thanked her for the apology and told her he’d read about her son in the paper, how he was a promising young athlete with hopes for scholarships.
Mrs. Smithson, even in her tiredness, couldn’t hide the surprise and the pride in her face. That should tell her something about H, I thought. That he was kind and cared about people. I was hoping and hoping that the more people who got to know him, the more it would help change the way the townspeople thought about him.
The clock struck nine and then ten. Mrs. Schumacher asked H if he wanted to go upstairs. He signed No. His mother had taught him good manners, and he wasn’t about to leave his guests. I imagined he was worried and curious like the rest of us. I was so glad neither Mom nor H mentioned my playing the piano. It was not a night for “Jingle Bells.”
Just after the clock struck ten thirty, Mom’s phone rang. She listened and didn’t speak, but her face said, “Big news.” I couldn’t tell if it was good or bad, but it was something important. I would have been popping questions like a popcorn popper, but not Mom. She returned her phone to her pocket and began to speak calmly. “We can be grateful. They have found the boys. They are talking to them right now. That’s all good news. But apparently there are some injuries, and they’re trying to figure out how to get them to safety.”
I asked, “What do you mean to safety?”
Mrs. Schumacher was doing her best to keep up with the interpreting. I watched H’s face. It was like stone now. I wondered if he was remembering his own injuries when the car hit him and his mother.
Mom continued reporting what Dad had said. “Apparently the other night when they were running away, they ran quite a ways down the road that cuts through the property. But then they left the road and ran out through a heavily forested area, and they fell into a deep ravine that’s more like the opening to a cave. They couldn’t climb or crawl out.”
Mrs. Brady looked at Mrs. Smithson. “We must go to them. Somebody tell us how to get there.”
Mom said, “They’re already sending someone for you now. You’re to meet the driver outside next to the studio. Ben said a paramedic and another guy rappelled down to the boys. They’re assessing the injuries now, but the boys may have to be airlifted out. They can’t climb, and it’s too steep to carry them out. They have requested helicopter assistance, so they’re just waiting now.”
Mrs. Brady and Mrs. Smithson began to cry. They held each other like holding on would keep their boys safe. Mrs. Schumacher led them out the garden room door and across the brick path through the garden to the studio. We watched as a truck drove up and in seconds they were gone. If Jackson Russell ever did anything stupid like that and caused Mom and Dad and all these people this kind of pain, I would set his hair on fire and pull his fingernails and toenails out one by one.
Just as the clock struck eleven fifteen, we heard the helicopter. H couldn’t hear it, so I pointed to the window and up. We could see flashing lights in the sky, and I fingerspelled h-e-l-i-c-o-p-t-e-r.
H smiled and fingerspelled N-o-w w-e p-r-a-y f-o-r s-a-f-e-t-y.
Yes.
There was not a mean bone in H’s body. Those boys had done him harm. They had upset his life and caused lots of people to be worried, and I was angry at them. I didn’t want them to be hurt or anything like that, but I was mad and so tired and sleepy. I curled up like a cat on the rug in front of the fireplace. H rolled over near me and signed Sweet sleep, Julia.
Just after midnight, the doorbell rang. I jumped up from where I was and ran to the door with Mrs. Schumacher. It was the Russell men. They looked tired and cold. They entered the library and went straight to the fire, shedding their coats and gloves.
Mom got up and hugged Dad and Jackson, and Grancie kissed G-Pa like she hadn’t seen him in a month of Sundays.
Dad started by apologizing to Mr. Lafferty for all the activity and for invading his home and privacy and for keeping him up so late.
Mrs. Schumacher voiced for Mr. Lafferty. “No need to apologize. Tell us about the boys. Are they safe?”
Dad told the story of how they’d found Derrick and Wendell after more than an hour. “They’re both dehydrated and probably have hypothermia and are certainly in shock. One of Derrick’s knees is busted up pretty bad and he’s got a compound fracture below the knee in the other leg. Too early to tell how much blood he lost. Wendell fared a bit better with a nasty bump on his head, probably a concussion, and a few other bruises and contusions. Could have a dislocated shoulder. But it seems that Derrick might have cushioned Wendell’s fall.”
I was totally awake now. “But, Dad, where did they find them?”
“This area is known for having caves. Seems like these boys found one when they weren’t looking. They just ran right through the forest until there was no more ground and went down the rabbit hole, so to speak.”
“So they heard you and they called out?”
“Yes. They heard us. Otherwise, they might have never been found. I think Wendell might have been unconscious for a short while, and I doubt Derrick was able to move very much. Apparently, after he came to, Wendell applied some kind of crude tourniquet to Derrick’s leg. That helped with the bleeding.”
“But they’ll be all right, won’t they?”
G-Pa answered, “They’re airlifting them to the hospital in Elkins. We’ll know more in twenty-four hours, but with the good Lord’s help, they’ll live. I imagine Derrick is looking at some surgery and months of rehab.”
I was still curious. “Did anybody ask them why they were out here breaking windows?”
Dad looke
d straight at me. “Julia, this was not the time to ask the boys that question. I can tell you they were both traumatized.”
Then G-Pa added, “We found out from Angus’s older brother that some of the high school boys have a club. He assured us it wasn’t a gang or drug related, just a club. And there were things they had to do to get to be a member, sort of like initiation. Seems they had to prove their bravery.”
I knew what G-Pa wasn’t saying. Like Angus said, those boys called this a creepy house and told wild stories about ghosts and buried treasure. But G-Pa wasn’t about to say anything like that in front of Mr. Lafferty.
Dad started to put on his jacket and turned to H. “I’ll get someone out here tomorrow to get started on the repairs. Again, I’m so sorry, but I don’t think we’ll have any more broken windows. There will be some activity out here the next couple of days, then things should settle down. You’ll need to decide what you want to do about Mr. Hornsby now that the threat is over.”
Mrs. Schumacher spoke for H. “We’d like him to stay. We need someone on the property taking care of things. We don’t need another near-tragedy at Emerald Crest.”
“I agree, and Edgar needs the job. He’s good and faithful, and he’ll do you well. I’ll give him a call first thing in the morning. I think we can change his work schedule to days though. He’ll be so grateful to know he still has a job, especially this close to Christmas. We’ll be leaving now, but thank you for taking care of my family tonight.” He shook H’s hand.
H signed, and Mrs. Schumacher voiced, “You have a beautiful family, one that’s well taken care of, Ben. And these other families will have medical bills, especially the boy with the leg injury. If they need any help, I want to be the one to help.”
H had let his secret out. He trusted our whole family.
We said our goodnights, and Mrs. Schumacher closed the door behind our tribe. Grancie made it to the bottom step before she stopped. “Would you look at that—those large flakes? It’s just beginning to snow. Thank you, God, for holding it back till now.”
Dad and G-Pa said, “Amen.”
Silent Days, Holy Night Page 16
