Chapter 7
Fully alert now, Nick and Mandy thought they could hear rustling outside the vehicle on both sides. Then a dog barked but it sounded like a different dog than Butch. The bark became a low-throated growl as a voice hoarsely told it to shut up. That voice. It couldn’t be! Nick and Mandy remained where they were still listening intently to the noises around them. Both prayed the car doors were still locked!
“Jest break the window,” one of the creepy men was saying. “We can hot wire it!”
Both kids looked at each other terrified. Every muscle was tense. Every nerve on edge. Their breathing became shallow and their hearts were pounding! This was not happening! Not again! Not these crazy, filthy, slimy men!
Then they heard something heavy strike the driver’s side window. And again! They were trying to break in the car! No way, was Nick going to let them get in this car! No way!
Struggling to get up, Nick leaned across to the steering wheel and pushed with all his might. The horn started to blast. At the same time, he began turning every knob and pushing every button on the console. Suddenly lights began flashing and the siren began to wail.
The two creepy men were so startled by the sudden commotion that they were momentarily stunned and frozen to their spots. Even the dogs, both of them this time, were whining and yowling, their ears hurting from the high-pitched siren.
Nick could hear shouts of other men and saw them on the run. More dogs were barking and running toward them at top speed.
“Hey, sheriff! We got yer kids! We got yer kids!” One of the creepy men was hollering. They were desperately trying to find a way to escape, and taking hostages seemed like their only way to escape. The other man continued to strike at the window, but Nick would have no part of it. Scrambling into the front seat, he managed to open the front door shoving it into the side of the nasty man, then quickly slamming it shut and locking it again. Startled, both men stared at Nick but there was defiance in his eyes. ‘Just try to do something stupid!’ he was thinking, ‘Just try it!’
By now a half-dozen deputies had surrounded the vehicle, the two men, and their dogs still growling and barking viciously, but so were Striker and one other police dog, their teeth bared and muscles flinching with great anticipation! You could almost hear Striker and his companion thinking, “We want a piece of them! Let us at them! Let us at them!”
Deputy Sanders commanded the two wanted men to put down their weapons and give up. They both spat a few nasty words that infuriated Nick even more. Once again, he flung the vehicle door open, knocking down the second man then slammed it shut locking it once again.
“FREEZE!” Commanded all the deputies at once, also somewhat startled by Nick’s actions. But taking advantage of the moment, they kept pointing their guns at the two men. Adrenaline was at an all-time high in everyone!
“Striker! Fritz!” Both police dogs jumped into action at the command, facing off with the two nasty mutts, who were now cowering near their owners. With their masters down and surrounded, the mutts backed off, still snarling but somewhat subdued by the powerful and commanding presence of the two police dogs.
With a great measure of relief, Nick relaxed in the front seat while Mandy timidly climbed up from the floor in the back to peer out the front window to watch what was happening. She and her brother were both very happy to see all the deputies and their dogs.
A few hours later, Nick and Mandy ran to the waiting arms of their dear Aunt Clara. They all hugged and cried for quite some time. Aunt Clara blamed herself for the whole frightening experience, but Nick insisted he and Mandy should have stayed put and waited for help.
“Never mind, dear,” his aunt said. “You’re both safe now. But you probably won’t want to stay the rest of the week with me now, will you?”
“Not stay?” Nick and Mandy hugged their Aunt tightly, relieved to be back safe and sound. “Of course we want to stay! This is one vacation we will never forget!”
Although very happy that her great-nephew and niece were both safely back with her, Aunt Clara still worried that the children’s parents would insist they both come home anyway. “How can your parents trust me after all this?” she wondered aloud.
“We’ll explain everything, Aunt Clara,” Nick reassured her. “I’m sure it will be okay. Besides, we helped the Deputy capture some criminals!”
Nick and Mandy’s parents had been contacted by Deputy Sanders who agreed that the children could stay the remainder of the week with their great aunt provided they stayed out of trouble and didn’t go wandering off into the woods again!
The deputy smiled when he shared the good news. “Actually, your parents are very proud of you both but were ready to come get you, until I explained how much you wanted to stay the rest of the week with your aunt.”
For the next three days, Nick and Mandy happily took more short walks through the woods with Aunt Clara as she pointed out interesting plants to the children and showed them which ones were edible.
“Wow! We were walking through a grocery store and didn’t even know it!” Nick exclaimed.
“That’s right. It’s Mother Nature’s fast food,” Aunt Clara laughed.
“Next time we’ll know better!” He laughed.
“Well, let’s hope there is no next time,” Aunt Clara said with a tired sigh. “At least not like this.”
The next day Deputy Sanders stopped by to see how they were doing bringing another man with him.
“You are both probably ready to go home, I suspect,” the Deputy said with a laugh.
“A little, but we will miss Aunt Clara,” Nick said.
“Well, I just wanted to thank you again, for all your help. In fact, we got more than we bargained for,” Deputy Sanders said. “I wanted you to meet someone else who is also grateful for your help,” the Deputy said, then introduced Nick and Mandy to his companion. “This is Federal Agent Frank Bradley.”
“Hello, kids,” Agent Bradley said with a smile then shook their hands. “We are very pleased with your bravery and help in catching these two men.”
“Really?” Both children asked at the same time.
“Well, it seems that the Clifton brothers were into more than poaching deer,” Agent Bradley explained.
“Yes,” Deputy Sanders agreed. “I thought I smelled something very familiar when I found you both on that dirt road.”
Nick and Mandy looked at each other then back at the Deputy Sanders and Agent Bradley not sure what he meant.
The Deputy continued, “It turns out that they also had a little marijuana farm in the woods and were making other harmful drugs at their cabin. They were part of a larger illegal drug operation and had quite a business going here. But thanks to both of you, we were able to catch them.”
“I’m not really sure I know what marijuana looks like up close. I’ve seen pictures of it but never smelled it before,” Nick said.
“Well, I’ll show you.” Deputy Sanders motioned for them to follow him outside to his vehicle. Opening the back hatch, he pulled out a large plastic sack and opened it. Inside were several wilted green leaves. Nick stepped closer and sniffed.
“Oh-oh,” he said quietly.
The Deputy only smiled.
“During the night when we were lost,” Nick began to explain, “remember I told you that we were worried that their dog might smell us?
“Yes,” the Deputy Sanders and Agent Bradley looked at him still smiling.
“Well, I guess we were near some of these plants,” he pointed at the plastic sack. They smelled different and I thought that if Mandy and I rubbed them on our hands and arms and legs that the dogs wouldn’t smell us as easy.” He looked up at the Deputy. “Are we going to get in trouble for that?”
Both men burst out laughing! Even Aunt Clara started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Nick asked.
“Well, first of all, you’re not going to get into any trouble,” Agen
t Bradley smiled at them. “Second, that was probably the smartest thing you could have done! The dogs were so used to the smell of the marijuana, that they might not have followed you.”
Deputy Sanders agreed then offered some advice, “Next time, though, if you find yourselves lost, just find a friendly tree, sit down and wait.”
“What if we get lost in the desert?” Mandy asked seriously.
“Then find a friendly cactus or lizard!”
Everyone laughed but Nick agreed they probably would have been found much sooner, if they had stayed in one place, “Just like that forest ranger taught my class last year. I should have followed his advice.”
“Yes, but thankfully, everything turned out okay this time.”
Deputy Sanders, with his dog Striker, and Agent Bradley waved goodbye as they drove away. The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying a nice lunch, playing games, and just relaxing with Aunt Clara.
The following day, George and Mary James arrived to take their children home happy to see Nick and Mandy were well and safe. Although very excited to see their parents Nick and Mandy were still a little worried. Aunt Clara, however, reassured them that everything would be fine. “Your folks and I had a nice long chat last night on the phone after you two went to bed,” she explained.
The kids were anxious to take their parents to the place where their adventure had begun the day the storm came. However, today, gazing across the valley, all seemed so peaceful again. The sky was blue, with very few clouds. The river below lazily drifted along flicking sunlight back into the sky, just like before. A few birds flew by chirping happily while a gentle breeze teased their hair.
Back at Aunt Clara’s, they enjoyed a nice lunch and visited until it was finally time to head for home.
“I’d like to get home before dark,” Mr. James explained to his children. “Give your Aunt Clara another hug and kiss, while your mother and I put your things in the car.”
“I hate to leave you here all alone, Aunt Clara,” said Mandy with soft eyes.
“My dear children, I have lived here nearly all my life and a good portion of it alone. Having you children here this week has been both exciting and terrifying. Gratefully, everything turned out well. In the meantime, my life will settle down again, into its usual routine. But I want to you both to know that you can come visit me anytime you like. I will miss you, you know. I will miss you harder than thunder can bump a stump.” She wiped a tear from her cheek.
Mandy giggled. “What does that mean?”
“It means I will miss you very, very much.”
“We will miss you too, Aunt Clara,” Nick said giving her one last hug.
“Yes,” said Mandy. “And I will miss your cookies!”
Aunt Clara chuckled. “I’ll make sure I always have plenty of cookies on hand when you come back next time.”
“Come on, kids,” Mrs. James called to her children. “Time to go.” Nick and Mandy headed for the car and climbed in. Mary James gave her aunt a big hug. “Thanks for having them. They will never forget this week!”
“I am so glad everything turned out okay. I was so worried.”
“I know. But all is well. We’ll be back, that’s for certain.”
With happy waves, Aunt Clara watched as their car disappeared around the bend in the road. What a joy those children were to her.
As for Nick and Mandy, this would definitely be one vacation they would remember for the rest of their lives. With excitement, they could hardly wait to share their adventure with their new classmates! Both kids sat back watching the trees and hills passing by the windows, each thinking about their visit with Aunt Clara in the mountains. Yes, this would definitely be one week to remember!
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“Danger in the Woods” is the first in a series of suspense stories for children
For additional information about the Nick and Mandy James Series and other books by
Peggy Lea Baker for teens and adults, please visit www.peggyleabaker.com, and her blog at www.plbaker.wordpress.com.
Danger in the Woods - Nick and Mandy James Series Page 7
