Wiley Johns

by Ciana Stone

  Feeling suddenly ill at ease, Molly called to the girls. "Come on, girls. You can eat your ice cream on the walk to the car."

  "Goodbye, Kaylee." Mrs. Brant called out. "Come back soon."

  "I will. Bye, Ice Cream Lady."

  They all walked outside and headed in the direction of Molly's car. She had the three girls walking in front of her so she could see them and so was shocked when someone suddenly had her around the waist from behind, twirling her around into strong arms.

  Her momentary trepidation disappeared when she realized who held her. "Linc!" She laughed and called out. "Hold up girls."

  "Where're you headed?" he asked.

  "Taking the girls to Cody's house. They're having a sleepover. Then to the store. What about you? Do you have plans tonight? You're welcome to come over for dinner."

  "I'd say yes, but I have a date."

  "Or three?"

  "Something like that." He grinned. "Raincheck?"

  "Absolutely. Have fun."

  "You too." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and then jogged across the street to his motorcycle, parked at the curb.

  "Sorry," Molly said to the girls. "Y'all ready to head over to Bernice's house?"

  "Yes!" It was a chorus that sounded joyous and excited. Molly gave another silent thanks and grinned at the ice-cream smeared faces of three little girls. This was Kaylee's first sleepover, and she was so excited she was bouncing. But Molly would keep her phone close, just in case.

  Maybe she'd even get lucky and receive a call from Wiley. She'd feel better if she heard his voice. Just knowing he was safe would ease her mind. It wouldn't ease her missing him. Out of the blue, she remembered dancing with him in the kitchen, swaying to an old tune and before she knew it, she was singing softly to herself. "Only the lonely." An ache of loneliness started inside her, one that she knew wouldn't be eased by anything but Wiley coming home.

  Chapter Twelve

  "Fly to pieces"

  "Stay where you are, I'll get it." Molly left her grandmother, Netta and Nellie Mae in the kitchen where they were having dessert and hurried to the door.

  "Linc, hi." She pushed open the door. "Change your mind about—"

  It hit her like a punch to the gut, and she felt her insides clench, and her throat constrict. "What's wrong?"

  His eyes carried something she hadn't seen in them before. Fear. "I got a call. Wiley—"

  "Oh god, no." She held both hands up before her as if she could ward off whatever awful news he was about to impart. " No. No, no no."

  "Molly!" He took her hand and pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her and held on tight as she chanted her one-word mantra.

  It was only seconds before Elisi was at the door. "What's happened?"

  Molly stopped chanting and looked up at Linc. "Please don't say it."

  "I won't."

  She nearly sagged in relief. "So, he isn't--?"

  "We don't know."

  There it was again, that hideous terror that permeated every cell in her body, threatening to push her right over the edge into a scream that wouldn't stop. "Oh, god."

  "Come in." Elisi stepped back and held the door. "Bring her in, Lincoln."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Molly didn't resist when he swept her up in his arm and carried her inside. Netta and Nellie Mae were watching from the entrance of the dining room as he placed her on the couch in the living room and then sat beside her.

  "Now," Elisi said and closed the door. "Tell us what you do know."

  "Not much," Lincoln said. "Only that his car was found and there …" He cut a look at Molly and took her hand. "There was blood inside."

  "Oh, god." She didn't care that her words came out more like a moan than articulated syllables. Everything in her was seized in a grip of fear that made it almost impossible to breathe.

  "Do you know where his car was found?" Elisi asked.

  "I do."

  "And what do you plan to do?"

  "What makes you think I plan to do anything?" He asked and then shook his head. "Okay, there's no point in me trying to evade this, is there? Deacon and I are going to find him."

  "How?" Molly asked.

  "We'll find him." For the first time since she'd met him, she saw a side of Lincoln he'd kept hidden, and it was almost frightening. He was cold, resolute and utterly fearless, and she knew, he'd either find his brother or die trying.

  "The last thing he'd want is you dying to try to save him."

  "I'm not going to die, and neither is he."

  "What makes you think he's still alive?"

  Lincoln tapped his chest and then stuck his forefinger against the center of his forehead. "I know. So does Deac."

  "Then go find your brother, Warrior," Elisi said. "Our strength and protection go with you."

  "Thank you." Linc nodded solemnly before turning to Molly. "I'll bring him back to you. I promise."

  "Bring yourself back, Lincoln. I don't think I could bear losing you."

  He smiled and hugged her, and Molly clung to him for a bit, taking comfort from his strength and confidence. When she released him, he gave her a kiss on the forehead. "As soon as we have him and are safe, I'll call."

  "I'll be waiting." She rose as he did and walked him to the door. "Please, be safe. And tell him—tell him I love him."

  "I will."

  After one more brief hug, he left. Molly closed the door and turned to find all three women watching her. "I have to talk to Trina. And Mica."

  Elisi nodded. "Of course. We'll be in the kitchen if you need us."

  "Thank you." Molly hurried to her room. Once inside she leaned back against the door, and her entire body started shaking. She hugged herself, sucking in big gulps of air to try to stave off sobs that were already making her body hitch. If she let it start, she'd be lost to the fear, and she couldn't allow that.

  She had to put her energy into his safety. Come home to me, Wiley. Like you promised. Come back and be a family with me and Kaylee and Elisi and let me love you the way you deserve. Please, please, come home.

  It took a while before she felt she could talk to Trina and not lose it, but once she was calm, she found her phone and called.

  "I was about to call you." Trina didn’t bother to say hello. "My dad just left. He and Uncle Linc are leaving within the hour. Dad pulled some strings and got an Admiral to get them on a transport. Brody insisted on going with them, as did Jasper and Mathias."

  "How's Mica feel about all this?"

  "She told them to go and bring Wiley home."

  "And how do you feel?"

  "Terrified on too many levels to count. I know Wiley's good at what he does, and chances are he'll find his own way out of whatever situation he's in. But I also know that if he's in a fix and needs help, there's no one better than a SEAL team, and basically, that's what he's getting."

  Trina's confidence made her feel better. "I'm so glad to hear that. I was about to lose my shit."

  "Oh girl, I did. When Dad first told me I totally lost it."

  "Do you want to come stay with me, so you don't have to be there alone?"

  "Oh, thank you. That's really kind, but I promised I'd go stay at Mathias's place with Mica and Etta. You're welcome to join."

  "No, no, I'm fine here. I need to be here with Kaylee but thank you. Just promise you'll call if you hear anything?"

  "You know I will. Hang tough, Molly. They'll bring him back. Safe."

  "That's all I want. Thanks, Trina. I'll talk to you soon. And if you need me for anything, you know you can call anytime."

  "I do. Thanks, Molly. I'll talk to you in the morning."

  "Okay. Bye."

  Molly sat down on the bed and stared out of the window for a long time. There had to be something she could do to connect to Wiley, to give him strength or hope or somehow let him know that help was on the way.

  An old memory surfaced, one that had her springing from the bed and hurrying to the kitchen. Elisi was sitting at the t
able with Netta and Nellie Mae. All conversation ceased when she entered.

  "Remember when you helped Doris Gray Hawk spirit walk to her daughter who was in the hospital in Michigan?"

  Elisi shook her head. "No, we're not doing that."

  "We have to." Molly took the free seat at the table. "Please, Elisi. I have to let Wiley know that help is coming. Linc and Deacon are getting ready to leave. Brody, Jasper, and Mathias are going with them. If Wiley needs help then he'll get it, but he needs to know, and you can help me tell him."

  "It's too dangerous, Molly."

  Molly reached for her grandmother's hand. "Remember what you told me? That he could be the great love of my life? Well, I think he is, and I have to help him, Elisi. I have to. If I don't do something, I'll fly to pieces. Please, I can't do it alone."

  "What's she talking about?" Netta asked. "What's spirit walking?"

  "Something she is not doing." Elisi crossed her arms over her chest, a clear indication she was firmly against the idea.

  "I can do it. Please."

  "And what if you get lost?"

  "Then you'll pull me back. Elisi, please. You taught me that if someone needs help, you have to give it."

  Elisi's expression took a full ten seconds to soften. "Fine, but if I sense you're in any danger, any at all, I'm pulling you back."

  "What is spirit walking?" Netta asked again.

  "Just what it sounds," Elisi replied. "Molly will go into a trance and with my help, her spirit, or consciousness if that term makes more sense to you, will go in search of Wiley."

  "Is that possible?" Nellie Mae asked.

  "We're going to find out," Molly answered the question. "And you can help. Both of you.

  "How?"

  "Elisi will show you." Molly looked at her grandmother. "Right?"

  "This works best out of doors under the sky," Elisi said instead of an answer.

  "Okay, let's do it." Molly was the first to her feet and didn’t wait for the others. She went outside through the kitchen door, cut through the side porch and to the backyard. The moon was only a sliver away from full and provided ample light.

  Molly set up the chairs in a circle and took a seat to wait for the others. She didn't have to wait long. Netta and Nellie Mae followed Elisi like supplicants trailing after a high priestess. Molly wondered if either of them realized it, and then smiled at the fact that she had. It was an apt analogy. Elisi was very powerful.

  Hopefully, powerful enough to help Molly find Wiley. She had to know if he was safe or hurt and to let him know that help was coming. She had to tell him she loved him.

  "Are you ready?" Elisi asked.

  "I am." Molly was determined to keep anyone from knowing that she was more than a little afraid, but when Elisi's gaze locked with hers, she knew the folly of that.

  But the nod Elisi gave her was assurance enough to have her closing her eyes and opening her mind.

  ****

  Wiley stared at the ceiling, willing his mind to calm. Three days he'd been locked in this hell. Three days of threats, water-boarding, sleep deprivation, no food and barely enough water to survive.

  This morning, like the others before it, he stuck to the script. He was part of a security team for a wealthy industrialist in the country to do business with the people currently in charge. His captors hadn't appeared any more convinced today than yesterday, but they had displayed a good bit more frustration at their inability to extract information.

  Wiley had no doubt that before the sunset, they'd come for him again and he fully expected the real interrogation would begin. He was smart enough to know that it would be far worse than waterboarding. There was nothing else for him to do but get his mind into a place that he could turn off everything but one thought.

  Wiley closed his eyes and his mind filled with the vision he held dear. Molly's face. He'd lived his entire life accepting that in his youth he'd fallen for the wrong woman, and his punishment for that love was he wouldn't get another chance.

  He'd accepted that he'd spend his life alone, not even able to acknowledge that he had a daughter and never able to forgive himself for missing her childhood and making an enemy of his brother for over half their lives.

  Then he walked down that sidewalk in Cotton Creek. He hadn't even had a reason to be there, he just liked the town and felt like a walk. And that walk had led him to her. He'd never forget it. Dirty, tangled hair and lying on the sidewalk covered in vine and dirt, she'd looked up and smiled, and he was a goner.

  Now he couldn't close his eyes without seeing the way she now looked at him. No, not at him but into him with an expression that filled him with unwavering faith that her heart was his. She'd given it willingly, and that was a gift more precious than anything he could imagine or wish. That would be what he clung to.

  Until he was no more. He might go down, and they might well end him, but he'd not give them what they wanted.

  As if in answer to a prayer, he heard a whisper in his mind. Wiley? Wiley, please, please hear me.

  Wiley's eyes opened, and his breath paused. Waiting.

  Wiley? Can you hear me? Feel me? I'm trying so hard to find you.

  Molly. I'm here.

  Oh god, Wiley. I don't know how long I can do this, so I must hurry. Linc, Deacon, Brody, Jasper, and Mathias are on their way. I need something to give them to help them find you.

  What could he give them that would make sense? His captors hadn't bothered to even blindfold him when they took him which had told him that they didn't plan on him living long.

  During the journey, he pretended to be in pain and doubled over, retching. As the driver pulled over, Wiley managed to hide his phone under the seat. The battery might die within a day, but the tracking device would be active until then. And that meant, his people should know where he was.

  Wiley quickly communicated that to Molly and then added a bit of information his people didn't have. Tell Deac, our old friend with one eye is my host, and his third wife is as ugly as the first two.

  I will. Wiley, are you okay? Have they –

  I'm okay. They haven’t done anything I can't take.

  But—will they?

  I'm coming back to you, Molly. Just like I promised.

  I'm so scared, Wiley. Afraid of never seeing you or laughing at one of your t-shirt slogans or making love to you or crying happy tears at the way you're so sweet to Kaylee. I can't lose you, Wiley. I've waited my whole life to fall in love.

  Me too, baby, and I'm not about to let that slip through my fingers.

  Please don't say these things if there's a chance you –

  Don't think it. There's a SEAL team coming for me, and I will come home to you.

  I love you, Wiley.

  I love you, Molly.

  Wiley? Are you still there? I can barely hear you.

  I love you, Molly.

  Wiley?

  Wiley?

  Whatever miracle had connected them vanished, but he wouldn't bemoan that because she was the answer to his prayer. Again. He'd take whatever they had to dish out, and he'd survive until the SEAL team arrived.

  Then he'd personally end every one of these bastards and go home to his family.

  And not God or the Devil would stop him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Blink if you want me"

  "Mama?"

  Molly opened her eyes and rolled over. Kaylee stood at the bedroom door, holding it open just enough to look in. "Mama?"

  "I'm getting up sweet girl. Just give me—"

  "Kaylee Joy, I told you to let your Mama rest."

  "But she's been in bed forever, Elisi."

  "Not forever, she's just sleeping in today."

  "It's okay." Molly sat and ran her hands over her face. She'd never felt so tired. There was barely enough energy in her to stay conscious. She opened her arms to Kaylee. "Come here, Squirrely Jo."

  Kaylee raced into the room, clambered onto the bed and into Molly's arms. Molly hugged her tight and
smiled at her Grandmother as Elisi entered and sat on the foot of the bed.

  "I'm sorry to dump everything on you," Molly apologized to her. "I should get up and—"

  "You should not," Elisi argued in a voice that had the power to end any argument. "Your strength will return, but you should not rush it. You'll want to be at full strength when—"

  Molly nodded. She wasn't foolish or living in a dream world. There was a very real chance that Wiley would not make it home, no matter what his brothers and friends did. She'd felt and sensed more than he probably wanted during the spirit walk. His captors meant to break him.

  Then kill him.

  Just the thought made her break out into a cold sweat. She kissed Kaylee's forehead and forced a smile. "How about I call and ask Cody if maybe you could go over and spend the day with Bernice?"

  "No, Mama. I have to be here when Mr. Wiley calls."

  Molly and Elisi shared a look before Molly turned her attention back to Kaylee. "What makes you think he's going to call today?"

  "Cause he will. Could I go over to Mrs. Netta's? She's going to teach me how to do that jelly flower thing."

  "Jelly flower?" Molly looked at Elisi.

  "She creates gelatin art cakes. Very pretty. Tasty, too. She offered to help Kaylee learn."

  "That's really nice of her. You'll walk her over and back, right?"

  "You have to ask? Now, come on, Kaylee, let's leave your Mama alone and let her get rested and feeling better."

  "Okay." Kaylee hugged Molly, got off the bed and took Elisi's hand, but stopped and looked back at Molly. "You and me can't do it the way Elisi does cuz we have white blood."

  "Do what, sweetie?"

  "Go places in our head."

  Molly looked at her grandmother, and Elisi shook her head, so Molly just smiled at Kaylee. "You're absolutely right, and I won't forget."

  "Okay." She looked up at Elisi. "Can we go to Mrs. Netta's now?"

  "Absolutely," Elisi agreed and then addressed Molly. "Your phone is charged and on the nightstand. If you need me call. I'll stay with Kaylee while she and Netta do their thing."