6 Maple Leaf Hunter

by Maddie Cochere

  “Susan,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry about the gold. I’m sorry about everything.”

  I hugged him as best I could. “It’s not your fault, Alex. You can’t blame yourself for this,” I said.

  “Where did you come from?” he asked. “Are you ok? Is Dad outside?”

  I shook my head and said, “I know I look terrible, but I’m ok. Dad doesn’t know I’m here, but he will soon.” I sat down and patted the seat beside me. He sat down.

  “Alex, the cow thing at home,” I said. He nodded his head. “I believed you when you said you weren’t involved.”

  “I know,” he said. A puzzled look crossed his face. “Why are you bringing that up now?”

  “Because I want you to know I trust you,” I said. “I believe you when you tell your dad and me something, and I want you to trust me now and believe me.”

  “Anything,” he said. “I trust you.”

  I put my hand on his arm and said earnestly, “I have to know where the gold bars are. What did you do with them?”

  He seemed surprised I knew about the gold, but he reached around and pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket.

  “I buried it in the woods,” he said. “Everyone has been so busy looking for you, no one has asked me for it yet, and I was afraid to dig it up.” He opened the piece of paper to show me a rudimentary drawing of the campground and surrounding area. An X marked the spot. The gold was close by.

  I took the map from him and said again, “Alex, you have to trust me.” I put my hand on his arm while I called out, “Ralph.”

  He came into the room, and Alex immediately bolted from his seat.

  “Alex,” I said sharply. “He isn’t here to hurt us. He rescued me and brought me here.”

  That wasn’t entirely true, and I honestly didn’t know why I was sticking up for the man, but in the back of my mind, I felt certain he would do the right thing if he only had the opportunity to do so.

  I held the map out to him, and said, “This is where the gold is.” I looked at Alex and said, “Please don’t ask questions. Go and help him dig it up.” I turned back to Ralph and said, “You know where Silver Run and the authorities are. When you get there, send my husband back to me.”

  Neither of them said a word. They left the room, and I slumped down in my seat. Beau hadn’t wakened or moved a muscle throughout the entire discussion. I closed my eyes and waited for Mick.

  Chapter Eleven

  My entire body itched. At times, I thought I would lose my mind.

  Head to toe poison ivy was worse than the sprained ankle, the appendix surgery, and even having the rest of the leech removed. Climbing the hill in the forest, and then sliding down the other side, had assured that my arms, legs, hands, and feet were sufficiently covered with the rash.

  A shot administered by the doctor helped, and the calamine lotion was soothing, but the full-body itch persisted and was maddening at times.

  “Mick,” I whined. “More calamine lotion.”

  He smiled sympathetically and asked, “Where?”

  “Everywhere,” I said.

  Darby and Nate would have offered to help, but both were highly susceptible to poison ivy. Their surgical gloves protected them as they leaned closer to the bed and tsk-tsked and clucked over me like two mother hens.

  “Tell us about the leech,” Alex said from the corner of the room. He had a huge smile on his face. “What did you think when you saw it on your leg?”

  I visibly shuddered and wriggled with the heebie-jeebies again, but I couldn’t help laughing, even though it hurt to laugh. “Oh, Alex, you should have heard me,” I said. “I screamed, and then I kept making these little screaming sounds the whole time I tried to get it off. I sounded like the Sasquatch.” Everyone laughed, but Mick’s face clouded with sorrow. He leaned down to give me a kiss and hug me yet again.

  I put my hand alongside his cheek and stared deep into his eyes. I wished he would believe me. “Mick, I was ok. Really I was. Nobody did any of this to me, and I think I managed pretty well.”

  There was no mistaking my disappearance had been hardest on him. I wanted to ease his pain, but it seemed an insurmountable feat. No matter how hard I tried to tell him that it wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to me, his fabricated mental images of my being whisked away by a Sasquatch, and then later locked away in a dark basement while chained to a wall, wouldn’t be erased for some time yet.

  “You know,” I said. “Martha may have saved my life with the antibiotic. The doctor said it settled my appendix down until he could get in and take it out.”

  He clenched his jaw and pressed his lips together tightly before saying, “She tried to kill you.”

  “I know,” I said. “But she risked an awful lot by getting the pills for me. She’ll be paying for that for a long time.”

  “You’re too forgiving, and you have too soft a heart,” he said. “If those two would have called the police the very first night they had you, you would have had proper medical care right away.”

  “I think Ramsey panicked,” I said. “He probably thought he killed Ralph, so there was no way he was going to call the police. Detective Bentley told me people do desperate things when they panic.”

  “Speaking of Detective Bentley,” Darby said. “I thought he was coming up here.”

  Mick shook his head. “He was, but when I called and told him Susan was safe at the lodge, he decided to stay in Ohio. He said he’d stop by to see us when we got home.”

  A nurse came into the room. “You’re almost done,” she said as she handed a clipboard to me. “Here are your discharge papers. Sign at the x’s, and then you can get dressed whenever you’re ready.”

  Darby, Nate, and Alex stood to leave the room. “We’ll go get the RV and pick you up out front,” Darby said.

  Alex picked up my new pair of crutches. “Are you coming down in a wheelchair?” he asked. “I can take these out for you if you are.”

  I smiled warmly at him. For the past two days, he had been helping me as much as he could, even though there was very little he could do. It was as if all of his anger and his bad attitude had been put behind him, and he was like his old self again.

  “Sure,” I said. “You can take them for me. Thanks.”

  The look on his face let me know he was pleased with himself for offering. I slipped my hand into Mick’s. I knew he was relieved Alex’s attitude had changed for the better, but I also knew they would be doing some talking when they got home. It had been a rough couple of months for both of them.

  The three guys left the room, and Mick opened a bag containing clean clothes for me. His hands were competent as he placed each piece on the bed and then insisted on dressing me. His fingers caressed my skin at every opportunity as he slid, pulled, and buttoned clothing. It was incredibly sexy, and I couldn’t believe he was getting me so worked up. His beard continued to work its magic, and I reached my hands up to pull his face to mine for a kiss. It was long and deep and would have led to more caressing if the nurse hadn’t opened the door to deliver the wheelchair.

  I felt a flush of embarrassment come into my face, but Mick smiled broadly and thanked the woman.

  Once I was settled into the chair, he rummaged through the bag and pulled out my brush. He took his time slowly brushing and untangling my hair. It was a loving gesture, and I was grateful.

  The RV took up a considerable amount of real estate in the pick-up area, and a line of cars had formed behind. Darby jumped out to put the steps down and hold the door for me. Mick didn’t bother helping me up the stairs. Instead, he gently swept me up into his arms and carried me into the vehicle. I giggled at his action, but I couldn’t hold back a wince from pain.

  His face showed alarm. “Did I hurt you?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “It hurts to laugh. Don’t do or say anything that will make me laugh.”

  Still in his arms, Mick carried me to the back of the vehicle. I r
ealized his intention was to place me on the bed.

  “Wait,” I said. “I don’t want to lie down. I want to be with you guys. Put me on the sofa.”

  He argued and fussed, but I was adamant and soon comfortable in a sitting position. Nate pulled out of the pick-up zone, and I was never so glad in my life to be on my way home from a vacation.

  “We haven’t had much of an opportunity to talk,” I said. “I want to know what happened after Ramsey ran off with me.” I looked at Alex and asked, “Did I hear you say you came back for me instead of going for help?”

  Mick interrupted. “Susan, why don’t we wait until you feel better, and you’re stronger,” he said. “We can fill you in on all the details later.”

  “No,” I protested. “I’m fine, really. I want to know.”

  It took a moment, but it dawned on me that maybe it was Mick who wasn’t ready yet to talk about what happened. I quickly changed my tune.

  “Maybe you’re right,” I said. “We can talk about it when we get home.”

  He sat down next to me, and I happily leaned on him for support as we left Silver Run behind.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “Mick!” I called out. “I’m running down to Martin’s to pick up stuff to make the Reubens. If that goes well, I might go to the market.”

  He must have run from his office to the kitchen, because he was beside me within seconds.

  “Let me take you,” he said. “You shouldn’t be driving yet.”

  “Of course I can drive,” I said. “We’ve been home for twelve days, and the doctor told me I could do things as I was ready, and I’m ready to go to the deli. I’m off my crutches, and the pain from my surgery is almost gone. I want to try going out on my own. I won’t be long.”

  His look was one of doubt, but I smiled sweetly and gave him a peck on his clean-shaven cheek. “I’ll call you if I need you,” I said.

  Other than still having a sore ankle, I was doing well, and my spirits were high. The contract for Princess Pancake had arrived by courier, and I was ecstatic to sign it and send it back to my agent. Having additional time off from work was welcome, and I had indulged in doing nothing more than having fun with Lizzie - when I could get her away from Darby and Nate.

  It felt good to get in the car and drive on my own. Detective Bentley was coming by for dinner tonight. Mick’s parents had picked Lizzie up earlier in the day to take her to the zoo, and she was excited to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Grandpa promised to make the little princess pancakes in the morning.

  I opened the door to Martin’s Deli, and a feeling of sadness washed over me. The deli was closing at the end of the month. Martin was ninety-five now and had slowed considerably over the past year. He never mentioned it, but the rumors going around town were that he had suffered a couple of mini strokes, and his family was insisting he retire. A for sale sign had appeared on the building while we were gone.

  “Hi Susan,” he said cheerfully from behind the counter. He continued pushing the slicer against a large block of cheese. “I heard you were back from Canada. They tell me you had a run in with a Sasquatch.”

  There was a twinkle in his eye and a slight smile on his lips, so I surmised he had heard most of the story.

  “I did,” I said. “It was quite an experience.”

  He nodded his head, but the smile disappeared as he said, “I saw a Bigfoot once.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile of my own. “I don’t know if I believe in them or not. I think I’m undecided.”

  “Oh, I’m sure,” he said. “You ask your dad about it. He saw it, too. He was on the football team, and he was late comin’ to work after practice one day. I wasn’t able to leave to deliver groceries to Mrs. Miller over on Old Carbide Road, so when your dad showed up, I sent him over in my jalopy. About an hour later, I got word he was broke down out there, so I got a ride with Pastor Rick, and the three of us set to work to get that car runnin’ again.”

  This was what I would miss the most about Martin. You could always count on him for a bit of gossip or a good story, but I especially liked when he gave me glimpses into my dad’s life when he was young. I think Martin always had a soft spot for my dad, and I know he missed him when my parents moved to Texas five years ago.

  “The next thing we knew, someone was throwin’ rocks at us,” he said. “Not a lot. Just a few here and there, but the Pastor got hit on the back of his head. It was hard enough to draw blood. Your dad took off runnin’ toward the woods to catch the kids throwin’ the rocks, but it wasn’t kids. A Bigfoot stepped out in front of him.”

  “Martin,” I said with surprise and my eyes wide. “You’re making this up. My dad would have never kept a story like that to himself.”

  The twinkle came back into his eyes. “Oh yes he would,” he said. “Your dad was too afraid to move. And if truth be told, I was afraid myself. It was Pastor Rick who saved the day by pickin’ up a couple of rocks and throwin’ ‘em at it. That Bigfoot just turned around and walked back into the woods. We left that old jalopy out on that road for over a week before we finally got someone to tow it back into town.”

  “But that’s such a cool story,” I said. “Why wouldn’t my dad have ever told us about it?”

  “Because he peed his pants,” Martin said. “Now what can I get for you, dear? Your usual?”

  His comment took me by surprise, and I burst out laughing. The hard laughter brought pain to my side, but it was worth it to hear the story. We chatted for a few more minutes while he sliced my corned beef and Swiss cheese. Before leaving, I slipped behind the counter to give him a hug and wish him well in his retirement.

  The bell tinkled above the door as I left, and I felt a strong feeling of nostalgia. I knew an enjoyable part of my family’s history would soon be gone forever.

  I walked around vehicles and made my way to my car at the side of the lot. I usually parked in front of the plate glass window, but most of Martin’s lot was taken over today by townspeople who were attending the adjacent car show and street festival.

  My plan was to run to the market for wine. I tried to remember what else I needed, but my thoughts kept flitting back to Martin and my dad. I couldn’t help smiling again as I fumbled for my keys and pulled them out of my purse.

  It wasn’t until I was to the door of my car that I noticed a black SUV with tinted windows had parked exceptionally close to me in a spot that wasn’t even a parking spot. It would be a tight squeeze to open my door and get in. I contemplated going around to the passenger side and climbing across.

  Before I had a chance to move, I was grabbed from behind, and a hand clapped across my mouth. My attempts to free myself were useless. The man opened the back door of the SUV and shoved me. I didn’t have an opportunity to duck or make the tight squeeze easier, and I cracked my forehead on the doorframe. He continued to push until I was across the seat, and he was inside the vehicle beside me.

  I instinctively grabbed my side. It wasn’t the only pain I was experiencing. My right foot had caught under the front seat when he pushed in behind me, and I felt the ankle turn the wrong way.

  I sat up with tears in my eyes. Not only was I frightened, but I was also in pain. I was shocked when I saw the man sitting in the car with me was Ralph’s son, the same person who had given the rocks to Alex in Niagara Falls. I couldn’t imagine what he wanted with me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked incredulously as I gripped my side. “Do you know I just had surgery? Are you trying to kill me?”

  I wished I wouldn’t have uttered the words. What if he did want to kill me?

  “Where are the coins?” he demanded.

  Oh my gosh! Not this again. “What coins?” I asked. “I thought you guys already had all the gold.”

  “You had ten coins,” he said. “We don’t have them, and the cops haven’t found them, so all we can figure is you pulled a fast one on us.”

  My head was spinning. There were too m
any parts to this story, and I didn’t know all of them. I grabbed the door handle of the SUV and yanked hard. It didn’t open. The child locks were on. The man rolled his eyes.

  “Dad said you’re a reasonable person,” he said. “Give me the coins, and that will be the end of everything.”

  “I thought you took the coins before we ever came back to the States,” I said. “Darby and Nate’s house looked like a tornado went through it. You could have been more careful.”

  “There weren’t any coins in that house,” he said. “I know you have them, and you’re going to take them to Dad’s construction office tonight at ten o’clock. Dad said I could trust you, so no cops. Not that husband of yours either, or those two goofy guys, or the kid. Just you. If you don’t bring them, or I see anyone else, you’re going to have to watch that little blonde girl of yours a lot closer.”

  I couldn’t help gasping. Nothing he said had frightened me until he mentioned Lizzie. And if he didn’t have the coins, they had to still be in Alex’s room. I was sure I had put them on his dresser when I returned home from the market with Darby.

  Knowing where the coins were, and that giving them to him would keep Lizzie safe, I had no trouble agreeing to his demands.

  He unlocked the car and squeezed himself out. He waited for me to extricate myself. My packages from the deli, my purse, and my car keys were on the ground. I leaned down to pick them up. When I stood, he handed a piece of paper to me with an address.

  “Make sure you come in your own car,” he said. “And don’t forget to come alone.” He turned to walk away.

  “Wait,” I said.

  He stopped and turned back to face me.

  “What happened to your dad?” I asked. I couldn’t understand why Ralph was still looking for the coins.

  The man smirked. “He was picked up in Montreal this morning with the gold bars. He couldn’t fence them, and the police caught him in a sting. The coins you have are my ticket out from all of this.”

  Some little corner of my heart ached, and my disappointment was genuine. I had honestly believed Ralph would turn himself in at Silver Run. Instead, he went on the run.