By dusk, Graham held Tehya’s hand with two packs over his shoulder and a rifle in his right hand. “Come on, boy, keep up. You can do it,” he encouraged Sheriff as they hurried across the overgrown park toward the dark rock known as Tubbs Hill. There were a few old structures there, but more trails and woods than anything else. With higher ground, he knew it was the best advantage he had to see what was coming and to keep Tehya out of the line of fire. And he could hear them coming. The rumble of their engines kept getting closer. They’d be there soon, and he still had not secured his daughter’s safety.
“Hurry up ahead, Tehya, get up on the trail behind the trees and keep going,” he said. “Sheriff, come on buddy. We’re almost there,” he said when he looked back and with that little encouragement, Sheriff picked up his slowing pace.
“Dad,” Tehya said, entering the darkened trail.
“Just keep going. Quiet now. Voices carry,” Graham said in a whisper and when he checked behind him, he saw headlights across the large field…they were nearing the diner and had already spotted his truck.
He hoped they didn’t place a hand on the hood of the truck, feeling the heat. It was hot enough already. Maybe they wouldn’t smell the hard fuel or oil dripping from beneath the engine. But then he noticed, too, that while he and Tehya were concealed in the darkness of the trail, Sheriff wasn’t quite there yet, and Graham could see him moving toward them in the sparse moonlight. He also knew he couldn’t whistle now or yell out, exposing them to the invaders. He looked back at Tehya and met her pleading eyes, then walked back into the clearing and scooped Sheriff up by the middle and backed slowly into the dark.
Sheriff had the decency to withhold a grunt until they were completely concealed, and Graham sat him down again.
Then Graham took Tehya’s hand in silence and the three of them navigated the dark dirt ascent up the narrow trail. On one side, the lake waters crashed against the rocks; on the other, steep rocks stood against the carved-out hill. And because it had rained recently, the trail was muddy and slippery in spots. Without risking a fall, they used what little moonlight peeked through the pines and looped up and around fallen tree trunks and jutting boulders.
At the same time, the invaders made themselves known with high-pitched calls and occasional rapid gunfire, sounds he hadn’t heard in years. The vision reminded him of Dutch’s last day and the choice he and Clarisse made. Those images invaded his nightmares.
Sheriff stopped in his tracks and jerked at one point.
Graham softly said, “No.”
He put one paw in front of the other then and followed along. Perhaps he too remembered from times past.
Tehya knew not to talk but to stay close and besides, she couldn’t get away from Graham’s tight grasp. With their tormentors so close, he would never let her go.