Megan was pulling on Wyatt's arm.
“What?”
“We have to follow her. If she isn't staying here, we have to follow her to her camp. She has Caitlin!”
Wyatt looked down at his bare chest. He noticed his jeans weren't buttoned and quickly fixed the problem.
“Megan, I need to get some clothes and shoes on first.”
She looked down, realizing how little he had on.
“Fine! Hurry up and get dressed. I need to get my flashlight anyway.”
Evan stopped them, “I will grab my gear and look for her trail. Catch up to me when you can, but please don't go in front of me. If I am going to find her tracks, I don't need you stomping all over them.”
Megan didn't bother to answer and kept heading towards the cabin. She had no intention of trusting that man as far as she could throw him but if he proved to be a better tracker than she was, then she had every intention of taking advantage.
Wyatt watched as she limped off with determination. His mom had been quietly standing off to the side, watching the scene unfold.
When he got close to her, she stopped him. “Do you think it was really her?”
“I believe her. She is pretty shaken up. Can you try talking to her while I throw some clothes on?”
Rosie nodded and walked with him to the cabin.
Wyatt dressed in less than three minutes, but Megan had still managed to beat him out the door.
Bryan was waiting for Wyatt when he emerged from the cabin.
“She took a lot of first aid stuff,” he said in a grim tone.
“Thanks man, I'll let Megan know.”
“Hey, uh, sorry about, well you know, getting all crazy about the theft and what not.”
The tension was still there but Wyatt gave him a tight smile.
“I get it. It's cool but I will tell you we aren't raiders. We are exactly who we say we are. You can trust us.”
Bryan didn't return the smile. “Can any of us really trust anyone?”
“No, I guess not.”
Wyatt caught up to Megan who was rubbing a hand across her chest. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yes. She got in a good kick. I will definitely have a bruise.”
“You fought her?” Wyatt asked incredulously.
She chuckled, “Not exactly fought. She knocked me down. I grabbed her pant leg. She kicked me. End of fight.”
Megan could see Evan up ahead. He had made his way to the edge of camp and was staring into the trees.
“Do you trust them? Believe they don't know the Green Woman?” Megan asked.
“I don't know. All I know is it’s time to get out of here.”
They walked up behind Evan, being careful not to disturb any tracks or other signs that the Green Woman may have left behind.
Evan turned to face them. “Well, I followed her tracks to this point and then they disappear into the heavy brush. This is the third time I have seen her around here. Every time she leaves the camp in a different area, but almost always the same direction.”
Wyatt nodded, “She's smart. She knows how to keep us off her trail.”
“Yep, but I have a pretty good idea of where she may be. With your map,” he pointed to Megan, “I think we can pinpoint an area to do a thorough search.”
“I think we could probably find her on our own,” Wyatt said.
“Wyatt, I swear we had nothing to do with any of this and certainly not with taking Caitlin,” Evan reiterated.
Megan wasn't in the mood to hash out what they did or didn't do. She wanted to get moving.
“Fine,” Megan said, giving Wyatt a look to let it go for now.
Evan looked at Wyatt, “She is clearly an expert in wilderness survival. I suspect she is a former military specialist of some sort. That means she knows how to stay hidden. We probably all walked right by or over her home on several occasions.”
“Wow,” Wyatt said with plain admiration in his voice.
Megan shot him a dirty look.
“She isn't a hero. She is a kidnapper,” Megan pointed out.
Wyatt looked properly chastised.
“No matter what she is, the goal is to find her. We will worry about who she is or isn't once we get Caitlin home,” he said.
“So what's the plan? We leave now?” Megan asked impatiently.
Evan looked to Wyatt.
Wyatt took a deep breath.
“We need to get a plan together. We need supplies.”
“Fine, let's grab our bags and go,” Megan said turning back around and heading towards the cabin.
Wyatt watched her go.
“She is determined,” Evan commented coming to stand beside him.
“Yep. Especially when it comes to her daughter.”
“Well, I can lead you guys to where I suspect she is. We'll look for tracks and other clues to confirm her location.”
“That would be great. I guess we better hurry up and get our stuff together before she leaves without us.”
Evan laughed, “Do you think she will at least wait until the sun comes up?”
It was Wyatt's turn to laugh, “Nope. She will risk breaking her other leg and both of ours. I say we stall another hour. By then the sun should be making its way up.”
Evan shook his head, “I cannot believe we are about to head into the forest in the middle of the night.”
“Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?” Wyatt chided punching him on the arm.
Turning to give him a serious look, “This new life is an adventure; and a dangerous one. So, if given the option, I much prefer to experience it in daylight,” Evan answered solemnly.
Wyatt agreed with his reasoning. Now if only he could get Megan to comply.
22
Megan waited for Evan and Wyatt to get their stuff together. When she thought they were taking too long, she decided to start walking towards the spot where Evan had lost the Green Woman's tracks. She was eager to get going. If the two men didn't hurry up, she would leave without them—they didn’t have any time to waste.
Wyatt must have sensed her frustration and announced he was ready, just as she was heading out the door. She was beginning to think he had a sixth sense for her emotions.
By the time they finally made their way out of the cabin, the sun had broken over the horizon, washing the area in a pretty pink glow. There was a chill in the air and the dampness from the past couple of days of rain made the air smell a little putrid but lush at the same time; reminding her of her fall down the ravine. She hoped it didn’t set the tone for a bad day.
The mist hovering above the ground would make it difficult for them to see very far ahead but she wasn't worried. It was a clear sky and the sun would help burn it off. It didn't matter if it was so foggy she couldn't see ten feet in front of her or if it was pouring rain. She was going to find that Green Woman today. Her dad would say, “Come hell or high water.” The phrase applied here.
Megan watched as Evan and Wyatt walked towards her. They were discussing something important. Each had a serious look on his face.
“What?” she asked as soon as they got close enough. “What's wrong?”
Wyatt grimaced, “Nothing. We just wanted to make sure we were prepared for anything. Jack and my mom are going to be heading out shortly to return to the lodge.”
Megan nodded, “And?”
Wyatt knew he wasn't going to be let off the hook. She was very intuitive and knew when he wasn't telling her something. She started walking, so he kept pace beside her.
“Did you happen to see what the Green Woman stole from the shed?”
Megan shook her head. “It was in a green bag. I didn't exactly have time to ask for an inventory.”
“It was medical supplies,” Wyatt stated.
What did it matter what the woman stole, a thief is a thief. “Okay. And?”
Evan enlightened her to their suspicions. “She usually only takes food and supplies. She has never taken any medical supplies in t
he past. We think Caitlin is injured and that is why she was here.”
Even once it was spelled out for her, Megan kept her cool.
“I imagine Caitlin did get hurt falling down that hill. Look at me,” she said gesturing to her leg. “I didn't make it out unscathed. I'm glad she is taking care of her. That is a good sign. If she came all this way and went through the trouble of stealing medical supplies, she can't be all that bad, right?”
At least that’s what Megan kept telling herself because if she, for one moment, imagined anything horrible happening to her daughter, whenever she found that person, she would be the only one walking away alive.
Wyatt hadn't really thought of it quite like that. He had a feeling Megan was acting cool with it all, but as soon as she laid eyes on Caitlin, she would probably claw out the Green Woman's eyes. If her daughter was seriously injured, he had a feeling he and Evan wouldn't be able to stop Megan from really hurting the woman.
They didn't spend a lot of time talking as they navigated the uneven terrain. Each was lost in thought. Wyatt knew Megan was envisioning the reunion with her daughter. He couldn't help but wonder if they were on another wild goose chase. They had been searching for Caitlin for nearly two weeks and each time he was convinced they would find her, they came up empty handed.
Evan was walking ahead. In some areas, they had to walk single file through the dense trees. The route was different than the one Wyatt had used to get to Evan's camp in the first place. Evan explained he wanted to stay off any main trails. Staying in the cover of the trees would give them the advantage. The Green Woman may not be that far ahead or she could be lying in wait, just in case someone did come after her.
Evan stopped occasionally to gauge direction and look for signs the Green Woman had passed through the area. Wyatt knew he was tracking or trying to track. With the dense brush, finding actual footprints on the ground was impossible but it was possible to see the depressions made by a foot if you looked very close.
Evan was using many of the same tricks Megan had taught Wyatt a few months ago. Even so, Wyatt was glad Evan was doing the tracking. He wasn't very sure of his own skills and wanted to be certain it was done right.
Wyatt watched Megan. He knew her mind and body were solely focused on Caitlin. She wasn't stupid. She knew her daughter could very well be seriously injured. If she let herself focus on that, she would go out of her mind. Instead, she was focusing on finding her in good shape, not letting anything else get in the way.
The silence between the three allowed them to remain alert. Idle chitchat was never a good idea in this type of situation. They needed to be able to hear every little sound in the forest. It could be the Green Woman preparing to attack or it could be a bear out looking for a last meal before hibernation. The Raiders could also be around, which was another worry for Wyatt if they decided to venture farther up the mountain. Would his family be able to protect themselves?
Evan put up a hand signaling them to stop. “Listen,” he whispered.
Wyatt and Megan both cocked their heads to the side, as if that would improve their hearing. No one breathed or moved.
Wyatt waited. “What? The birds?”
Evan nodded. “You hear them? Someone or something just disturbed them. It’s coming from over there.” He pointed off to the right.
They had been skirting around the meadow not wanting to risk exposure out in the open. It made the route a little tougher and it was taking longer but it gave them the protection they needed.
“Do you think it's her?” Megan asked.
Evan shrugged, “It makes sense if it is. That is the general direction I think her camp is in.”
“Let's go,” Megan said giving Evan a small push on his shoulder.
She had been put in the middle between the two men. If Evan didn't move, Wyatt knew Megan would go right over the top of him.
The trio was making good time. It was late morning. If they found Caitlin, they could still get to the lodge well before dark.
Wyatt had moved off to one side, looking for any signs of a cabin or even a hut. He took a step and before he knew what was happening, his leg was encompassed in excruciating pain. The surprise attack made him shout out in agony.
Megan and Evan both stopped and ran to him. Wyatt had dropped to the ground and was writhing around unable to hold still. He frantically tried to pry open the rusty jaws of the bear trap that had gripped his lower leg.
“Oh my god!” Megan shouted dropping to her knees. “Evan, help me!”
Slipping his pack of his shoulders, he left it where it fell and got on the other side of Wyatt.
“Wyatt, listen to me,” he stated very calmly. “You have to stop moving around. You are making it worse. I know man, I know it hurts, but you have to stop so I can open the trap.”
Megan moved to the top of his body and put his head in her lap. “Shh, Wyatt. Stop. Let Evan release the jaws.”
Evan positioned himself at the end of Wyatt's outstretched leg. He quickly moved the pine needles and brush that were hiding the trap.
“It’s a spring trap, which is a good thing,” Evan told him. Using his body weight, Evan pressed down on each side, loosening the spring and making it possible for the jaws to open.
Unfortunately, the trap was old and rusty. It wasn't cooperating. Someone had modified the trap and lined it with small teeth. Wyatt's pant leg was hiding the damage but he could tell it was a serious injury by the amount of blood pooling on the ground and how much it hurt.
“Megan, I need you to pry open the jaws. Grab a stick.”
She quickly found a branch and stuck it in the jaws while Evan pushed down.
“Now, Wyatt,” Evan told him. “Turn your foot and pull back.”
Megan and Evan used all of their weight and energy to open the jaws. They waited for Wyatt to comply but he couldn’t seem to shift his leg.
“I can't move it,” he groaned.
Megan removed her right hand from the stick that she was using to hold the jaws open.
“Megan, don't!” Evan shouted knowing exactly what she was going to do.
She ignored him and stuck her hand into the trap to turn Wyatt's foot just enough for him to scoot back and pull it from the sharp teeth.
As soon as Wyatt's foot and Megan's hand were clear, Evan released the stick jumping back at the same time. The trap's mouth slammed together, creating a horrible, screeching metal on metal sound.
Megan rushed to Wyatt, who had fallen back on the ground. He was breathing fast and she could see perspiration on his forehead. She’d never seen him this pale before as his breath rasped against lungs that sounded constricted from pain.
“Hold on, baby, hold on,” she soothed while carefully pulling the shredded pant leg up. She gasped when she saw the injury.
Evan was standing over her, looking down at the leg. They both froze. Bone was exposed and the leg was bleeding profusely.
Megan took a deep breath. She felt a calm wash over her. She closed her eyes and envisioned the medical books she had read over the summer.
When Megan opened her eyes, she was ready. “Evan, I need a bandage. A large bandage.”
He quickly opened his own pack, “Here, use this.” He handed Megan a small package. She knew exactly what it was—an Israeli bandage. It was what soldiers carried into war. The gauze pad included a pressure bar.
Evan opened it, being careful not to touch the sterile pad. She put the non-stick pad against the nasty gash. The pressure bar was positioned over the pad covering the wound. She wrapped the leg, making sure the pressure bar stayed in position. The bandage applied pressure to the wound, to stop the bleeding.
The gauze would help protect the wound until they could get it cleaned, stitched and dressed. Megan had read about the Israeli bandages in one of the first aid books at the lodge but had never seen one in person. They needed to get their hands on more of these.
Wyatt started to shake. Megan knew he was in bad shape. The bandage was quic
kly turning red. The blood flow wasn't stopping. He was going into shock and they were miles from anybody that could help. Regardless, she refused to do nothing.
“I need a blanket,” she instructed Evan much like a doctor would demand a surgical tool from a nurse.
Evan quickly grabbed one of the Mylar blankets from his own bag and tore open the packaging. He left it folded in half and covered Wyatt.
“We need to elevate his feet,” Megan barked sending Evan on a search for something they could use to do just that.
He came back with a short log, “Will this work?”
“Yes. I will hold up the injured leg while you lift the other and push the log under.”
They quickly got Wyatt's feet on the log. Megan was repeating soothing words of comfort the entire time.
She moved to his head and lay down next to him, holding his face in her hands. “You're going to be okay. Just hang in there. We need to get you to the lodge.”
“Megan, look,” Evan said pointing through a clearing in the trees. A small trail of smoke was rising in the air. “It’s definitely a wood fire. I can smell the fir.”
“Do you think it's her? Are we close?”
Evan nodded, “I'm guessing this trap is one of her defense systems. We must be very close.”
Megan looked at Wyatt. His eyes were closed and she could see the pain etched on his face. He was suffering. She looked back at the smoke that acted like a beacon to Caitlin's position.
“Go,” Wyatt whispered. “Go get her. I'll be fine.”
Megan laughed. It wasn't like a funny laugh, but more of an ironic laugh. She managed to get this close to her daughter only to potentially lose the man she loved. She was forced with an impossible decision. Did she stay with Wyatt and get him to the lodge or go get her daughter?
If the Green Woman checked the area, she would see the sprung trap and the blood. She would know someone had been close. She may move, taking Caitlin with her. Megan wanted to scream in frustration.
Evan was looking to her, waiting for her to make a decision. Could she leave Wyatt? Could she actually leave her daughter?
The EMP Lodge Series: Books One to Three Page 35
