Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel)

by Roberts, Charliann

  He watched as the thermometer reached one hundred-three, and his eyes widened in alarm. He gave her three caplets of Tylenol, and placed a cold cloth on her forehead. He watched her eyes close and she soon dozed off. Leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar, he hurried to the kitchen, where Bess was preparing breakfast.

  “Bess, would you keep Nicky occupied when he wakes up? Mariah isn’t well. She has a fever. I’m going to call the doctor.”

  “Don’t you worry, I’ll keep him busy. It wouldn’t be wise to let him near her right now. Go ahead and make your phone call.”

  Bess Tanner had been Nick’s cook and housekeeper for the past ten years. When he married Mariah, she and Bess immediately became close friends. Nick didn’t know what they’d do without her. He’d always treated her as though she was a member of the family, and he knew she’s felt the same way toward them.

  He hurried into the den. Dr. Wisenberg was one of the few doctors who made house calls, if necessary. Dr. Wisenberg assured him he would arrive in a couple of hours. He told him to keep applying the cool face cloth to her forehead.

  Nick dialed the phone number out in the stable, and waited. After the tenth ring, Art picked up. Nick explained the situation to him.

  “You stay and take care of your wife. I’ll handle everything out here. Give her my love.”

  “Thanks Art.” He hung up and hurried back to Mariah’s bedside, where he waited for the doctor.

  Chapter Three

  “Oh my God, Doc, are you sure?” Nick asked, as he escorted Dr. Wisenberg to the door.

  “Yes, Nick.” The doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay? Maybe you should sit down.”

  “No, no, I feel great!” he exclaimed with a grin. “We had no idea she was pregnant. She’d always had an irregular cycle, and she wasn’t this ill when she carried Nicky. We figured she had a bad case of the flu.”

  “It was a good thing you only gave her Tylenol. However, from this day forward don't give her more than one or two at a time, and only if needed. I have to be on my way. You make sure she calls for an appointment when she feels a bit better.”

  “Oh I will, Doc. I’ll drive her in myself. Thanks for stopping by. I was awfully worried about her.”

  “Her fever dropped. Give her plenty of liquids to care for her cold. She’ll be better in a few days. As for her other symptoms, she should be fine in a couple of months. You take good care of her. She’ll have her hands full with little Nicky,” Dr. Wisenberg said with a smile. He waved when he climbed into his car.

  “I will, Doc. Thanks again.” Nick turned and rushed back into the house. He entered through the kitchen and found Bess at the table, watching Nicky while he drew a picture with his crayons. She looked up in concern.

  “Anything serious?” she asked quietly.

  “She’ll be okay, Bess. Nothing seven more months won’t cure.”

  She sighed in relief, and they shared a smile.

  “I’m going to check on her before I head back out.”

  When he appeared in the bedroom doorway, Mariah was sitting in bed with three pillows behind her. He stood there for a moment and admired her. She looked up, and her face reflected a warm glow of happiness, and a sparkle of joy in her eyes. He entered the room and sat next to her on the bed. He placed a gentle kiss on her temple.

  “I love you, Mariah.”

  She buried her face in his neck, breathed a kiss there, and then looked into his eyes with a smile. “I love you, too. I’m so happy,” she whispered.

  “So am I,” he said softly, and his lips continued to explore her soft ivory skin. He raised his head, his eyes filled with love. “Are you feeling a bit better now?”

  She nodded with a smile, and he moved his mouth over hers, devouring its softness. He slowly pulled himself away from her and stood up.

  “I hate to leave you, honey.”

  She yawned as he spoke, and he smiled at her.

  “I’ll be fine. I’m just very tired. Don’t worry about me. Bess is here if I need anything.” Her grin turned into a chuckle. “At least now we know why I’ve been so sick.”

  “Yes, and in a good way,” he told her, leaned down again and drew her face to his. He lovingly placed a kiss on her lips. “You try to sleep a bit longer. Bess is keeping Nicky busy out in the kitchen. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  He stood and grabbed his Stetson from the top of the dresser where he’d placed it. He blew her a kiss, and smiled as she breathed lightly between parted lips. He watched her fall into a peaceful slumber. He turned to leave and gently closed the door behind him.

  Art sat and waited for a fresh pot of coffee to finish brewing when Nick entered the office. He placed a hand on Nick’s desk and rose to his feet with a worried expression. “How’s Mariah? Is she going to be all right?”

  Nick looked at him and wore a broad, full-of-love smile.

  Art grabbed his shoulders and gave him a quick hug.

  “What was that for?”

  “I remember that look on your face about four and a half years ago, my boy. When is she due?”

  Nick threw back his head and let out a howl of laughter. “Am I that obvious?”

  Art nodded with a smile.

  “Around the eighth of April; it should be the perfect month. The snow will hopefully be melted, and she won’t have to suffer through the summer heat the way she had when she was pregnant with Nicky.”

  Art gave him a loving punch in the shoulder. “Good timing,” he said, then placed his hat on his head, and left while Nick sat with a proud smile spread across his face as he raised his boots to rest on the corner of his desktop.

  Chapter Four

  One month passed and though Mariah was still quite tired, she was beginning to feel much better. Nick wasn’t as worried about her, and he was able to stay out later each day while they tried to complete their preparation for the coming winter.

  During the last week of September, Bess asked for a few days off. Her sister had recently given birth to her first child, and she wanted to drive to White Bear Lake to visit. Mariah assured her that she was feeling quite well now, and not to worry. She and Nicky would be fine. Bess left for White Bear Lake on Friday, and promised to return on Sunday afternoon.

  Nicky sat on the living room floor and played with his Legos while he watched cartoons on television. Mariah rested on the couch while she kept an eye on him. He was building a doghouse for Lucky, their five-year-old Border Collie.

  Thirty minutes later, he looked up at his mommy. She was sleeping, so he decided to let her rest. He slipped on his jacket, pulled up the zipper, and whispered for Lucky to come to the door. Lucky followed him out onto the porch. “Let’s go find Daddy, Lucky, so we can help him be a cowboy.”

  * * *

  Nick had another long day. He and four of his men had been out checking the barbed wire fencing and made any needed repairs before the first snowfall arrived. They’d have to be prepared for winter by mid-October.

  Another hour and the sun would be down. He stepped into the house and removed his boots at the door. When he entered the kitchen, he noticed how quiet it was, and wondered what his wife and son were doing. He walked through the dining area and into the living room when he noticed Mariah, asleep on the sofa. He walked over to her and gently tapped her shoulder.

  “Honey, are you okay?”

  Mariah slowly opened her tired eyes with a smile, and he helped her sit up. She stared at the Legos spread out on the carpet and remembered that Nicky had been sitting on the floor with Lucky.

  “Where’s Nicky?” he asked.

  “He was right here, building a doghouse for Lucky.” She looked around the room. “They must be in his bedroom.”

  “Nicky, daddy’s home,” he called out. When there was no answer, he went to find him. “Nicky, come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sang, but still no answer.

  Mariah stood up and walked down the hallway to check the bathroom.

  They searched t
he house and couldn’t find the boy, or his dog. Nick pulled his boots back on, took off like a bolt of lightning and ran to the stable. The men had been getting ready to head home when he came toward them.

  “Has anyone seen Nicky and Lucky?”

  “Aren’t they in the house with Mariah?” Art asked.

  “There’s no sign of them. Would you guys mind staying for a bit longer and help us search for them?” he asked, with a look of panic.

  After they’d checked the stable, in the stalls, and around every square foot of the barn, they saddled their horses and headed out to the pasture.

  Four of the men left with Nick and headed south, while the other four rode to the north with Art.

  They approached Art’s cottage first, in hopes that they’d discover the boy had stopped by for a visit. There have been times when Nicky would come over to visit with Lillie.

  Art opened his front door and called out for Nicky, then for Lucky.

  The only sound he heard was when the furnace kicked in.

  He ran back outside and left the door unlocked, in case they show up. He shouted for the men to head off in different directions, and to yell for both Nicky and Lucky. “The dog will bark if he hears their names being called.”

  He slid into his saddle and headed north along the edge of the woods. It would be dark soon. They all carried flashlights and medical kits in case of emergency. He couldn’t have gotten very far on those short little legs, Art thought. He rode along the woods and called out loudly. “Nicky! … Lucky!”

  Nick asked Mariah to stay at the house in hopes that they’d return. He brought his cell phone with him and told her to call him if they happen to show up.

  Lucky knows the way home, and he’d never leave Nicky’s side. Mariah stood out on the porch and yelled for them until she lost her voice. The sun was going down quickly along the horizon. It would be dark soon. She sat down on the porch, held her face in her hands and cried her heart out.

  “This is my fault,” she sobbed. “Please Lord, please lead my baby back home safely.”

  Chapter Five

  Nicky looked at his dog, and his cheeks were wet from crying. He wept aloud and wrapped his arms around Lucky’s neck. Lucky licked the tears from his face.

  “I’m cold, Lucky. Where’s my daddy?” He looked around, not knowing which way to go. His little teeth were chattering, and he clung to Lucky with fear in his eyes. It was growing dark, and he had no idea where they were.

  He walked a few steps ahead and spotted a huge wagon piled with hay. Lucky barked at him and ran toward the wagon. He turned around and barked again. Nicky moved next to him and Lucky jumped onto the wagon and continued to bark. Nicky walked up to it and tried to climb, however, it was too high for him. He stood and cried. Lucky moved over to the side of the wagon and again began to bark.

  The dog acted very excited when Nicky noticed the wheel of the wagon. He put his foot on the wooden spokes and held onto the edge tightly. Lucky grabbed hold of the sleeve of his jacket and backed up slowly while Nicky swung his leg over the edge. With a smile on his face, he gave Lucky a big hug. Lucky led him to a pile of hay and acted as though he wanted Nicky to play with him. When Nicky crawled over to him, Lucky snuggled up and pushed him gently into the small stack. Lucky placed his head across his tiny body to help keep him warm. Nicky was very tired and fell into a comfortable sleep, while Lucky remained still, his eyes and ears alert as he protected his little master.

  * * *

  Nick drove his jeep to the end of his driveway and turned onto the road that led to his neighbor’s property, one mile south. When he approached the dwelling, the security lights came on, which enabled him to search the area carefully. His neighbor hired him to take care of the grounds when she moved to New Mexico.

  He quickly searched the acreage and found no sign of his son or his dog. He cut across the meadow, while he carefully shone the spotlight ahead of the Jeep and off to the side, giving him a bright, open view. He spotted Garrett driving slowly along the side of the dirt road.

  “Garrett! I’m making a stop at the house to check on Mariah. Meet me at the stable in ten minutes and we’ll both head out on horseback.”

  “Okay boss, I’ll have the horses waiting. Kim just arrived. She’s in the house with Mariah.”

  “Thanks, I’ll be right back.”

  When Garrett Johnson had come looking for work, Nick had known him to be the best horse whisperer in Brockenridge County. Nick hired him on the spot. He and his wife Kim have a house in the city of Huntington, about twenty miles west of Pinewood Hills.

  He hurried in to check on Mariah and found her in the living room, rocking back and forth, in a deep trance. She was staring out the window and didn’t respond to him. He softly called her name. Kim approached from the kitchen carrying two cups of coffee and handed one to Nick.

  “She’ll be okay. She was sitting on the porch when I arrived. We talked for a bit, and then I led her into the house. I gave her a mild sedative. She’ll be fine.”

  Mariah noticed him standing next to her, and she smiled when he knelt down beside her. He kissed her on the cheek and placed an afghan across her lap.

  “We’ll find him, honey, don’t worry. Everyone is out searching. Lucky will take good care of him, you know that don’t you?” She nodded with a faint smile. “I’m going back out now. You sit and have a nice visit with Kim. I’ll be home as soon as we locate him.

  “Thanks Kim, I appreciate your coming by.”

  “No problem,” she said with a look of concern. “We’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe.”

  He nodded, then placed his Stetson on his head and hurried out to the stable where Garrett waited patiently, the horses saddled and ready to go.

  * * *

  After the men had been searching for a couple of hours and still hadn’t found Nicky, Art phoned the Pinewood Hills Police Department. They arrived at the Colburn Stables Ranch within ten minutes, and the Huntington Police Department appeared soon after, bringing with them a search and rescue police dog. With four hundred acres of land to cover, they knew it might lead to a long night.

  When Kim convinced Mariah to take a nap, she began working in the kitchen, making sandwiches and coffee for the men. It was becoming very late, and a few of them would stop in for a break now and then, to grab a bite to eat. She made sure there was enough food and coffee ready for them at all times. Many nearby neighbors joined in the search, along with volunteers from Huntington. The late-night news showed a recent picture of Nicky, with his age and description.

  At four a.m., Nick appeared in the doorway. The look on his face told Kim that he had no good word yet. She sat him down at the table and poured him a cup of coffee.

  “Is Mariah sleeping?” he asked quietly.

  “I gave her another sedative around two a.m., and she fell into a deep sleep soon after.”

  “Will that be safe for her? I’m assuming you know that she’s expecting?”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that. Don’t worry, Nick. It’s only a mild sedative; Chamomile is one of the gentlest herbal sleep aids, and safe for pregnant women.”

  “Thank you so much, Kim. I don’t know what I would have done if Garrett hadn’t been able to reach you.”

  “I’ve been working the graveyard shift this week, and luckily, I have tonight and tomorrow night off.” Kim was a nurse at the Huntington Urgent Care Center.

  After a couple bites of his sandwich, Nick pushed his chair from the table and stood. “Thanks for the sandwich, Kim, and for all of your help with Mariah. The men helping with the search also appreciate the food ready for them when needed.” He grabbed his Stetson from the shelf by the door.

  “I wish you luck,” she said. “I hope you’ll be back with good news soon.”

  He only nodded, stepped out the door and headed for the stable. Garrett would have a fresh horse ready and waiting.

  * * *

  The girls had been hiking through the woods for abou
t an hour when they finally decided to stop and rest. Angie, Patti and Sherri sat down on a log that blocked the pathway.

  “This tree trunk looks as though it fell recently,” Angie said. “It must have come down in last week’s storm. I heard that it hit pretty hard here in Pinewood Hills.”

  They each grabbed a bottle of water from their backpacks, along with the box of cheese crackers Patti pulled from hers. The sun had begun to warm the early morning chill, as it slowly worked its way through the tree branches.

  “Isn’t this beautiful,” Sherri said, and took a deep breath of fresh air. “I’m glad we decided to take this trail. A creek runs near here. Should we see if we’re able to find it? I heard Maggie talking about it to a customer last week.” Maggie is Sherri’s sister, who now owns the Pinewood Hills Country Market & Cafe, located along the county road, one mile south of Pinewood Hills.

  “Okay, after we’ve finished our snack. Starting our hike at six a.m. may be beautiful, but I’m hungry,” Patti said, and shoved a few cheese crackers into her mouth with a grin.

  Patti suddenly looked at Angie. With a frightened expression on her face, she whispered, “Did you hear that?”

  “What?” she asked, and placed some loose hair behind her ear.

  “Shhh, listen.”

  They all heard a soft, low-pitched growl off to the east, through the pine trees located along the edge of the trail.

  “Oh my God,” Patti said quietly. “I hope it’s not a bear. Maybe it caught the scent of our crackers, or perhaps us. I told you we shouldn’t have come into the woods this early in the morning.”

  Angie stood and crept slowly toward the pine trees.

  “Angie, don’t go over there,” Patti whispered, “it might attack you.”

  Angie pulled her flashlight from her jacket pocket, and swept a ray of light in the direction the noise came from. She noticed a slight movement and directed the beam to what appeared to be a wagon filled with hay. She heard another low growl, and then she saw a little boy, as he pushed himself to a sitting position and rubbed his eyes. He glanced directly into the bright glow of the flashlight and sat with his thumb in his mouth, while tears flowed down his cheeks. He looked very frightened, and his dog remained in front of him protectively.