SAMUEL, JOSHUA, AND the pilot of the helicopter used to arrive at the site sat inside his vehicle surveying the twenty-acre property. The minicomputer Joshua was using indicated the vehicle's last signal was within a two-mile radius. Satellite survey of the signal around noon showed the vehicle leaving the house and reaching the curve in the road, but never entering the highway. That information reduced the search area to the mile leading from the curve to the exit of the property.
The two brothers prepared themselves for the weather and possible retrieval gear as they discussed strategy. Samuel was going east through the woods, while Joshua tracked west. They would make contact every ten minutes. Not sure what they were up against, Munford’s men or just a simple accident, the two armed themselves with weapons. The pilot would be handling the base equipment to keep track of their path.
As they stepped out of the vehicle they walked the road from the curve towards the highway first to see if anything stood out. Other then the tracks from their vehicles, nothing on the road indicated an accident of any kind. It took them less than ten minutes to walk the road before the property entrance came into view. The snow was intensifying, the day was darkening, and Samuel’s professionalism was slipping.
“Damn it, nothing. Are you sure we’re in the right place?” he snapped.
Not allowing his brother’s temperament to throw him off, Joshua turned and began walking slowly back in the direction they came from. This time he was shinning his light in the woods. “You know the strategy, start from the last sighting,” he calmly replied.
Following his brother’s lead, Samuel looked up towards the woods on the opposite side of the road. Taking small steps he flashed the light up and down the trees, looking for any sign of a mishap. The wooded area was dense, with tall trees that sole purpose was to keep the property secluded from outsiders. Most of them were older sturdy trees that a bulldozer would not have any luck bringing down, but there were a few that were less forbidding with broken limbs. Samuel took a few more steps then stopped. He flashed the light back to the broken limbs and walked closer to the embankment. “Joshua, over here.” They both surveyed the area. “It looks like something came through here breaking a path down the embankment.”
“Yeah, it does. The question is,” he said as he knelt down to see the area between the trees better, “when?”
“I’m going down,” Samuel stated as he began descending the embankment.
Joshua followed suit as he yelled back. “We’re going down an embankment on the east side of the road. Tell me what’s down there.”
The pilot put the co-ordinates from their tracking devices into the computer and waited. “The computer is showing trees, water, and livestock, probably deer in the area.
“Copy,” Joshua replied. The two moved slowly, following the broken limbs and marks on the trees. “The snow would have covered any signs of something coming through here in the last three hours.”
“We may be in the wrong direction,” Samuel stated fearfully.
“No. Something came through here--these nicks on the trees are fresh,” Joshua replied. Joshua was a professional tracker. He could find people that took great steps to hide their tracks.
Samuel flashed his light back up the embankment. He, on the other hand, was the strategist. Thinking things through had put him ahead of people and incidents. Looking back up the embankment he followed the probable path of the car in his mind. Taking into consideration the stability of the trees and then if she was conscious and still attempting to steer the vehicle or if she had lost consciousness or if she was ….. he stopped his thoughts. That was an unacceptable notion.
Following the path of the trees, the opening suggested a vehicle could fit through until approximately thirty feet from where Joshua stood. Then there was a cluster of trees that would have stopped the progress or boomeranged the vehicle. He looked to the right but the density of the trees would have stopped a car dead in its track. Going back to the cluster of trees and following the path to the right. “Joshua,” he yelled and took off running down the hill.
The car was turned over on its side lodged between two trees. The front of the vehicle was severely damaged, the windshield broken and the airbag was deployed. Samuel climbed on the vehicle and noticed the window was rolled down. “Cynthia,” he called out. No answer.
Joshua called in the location and raced over to Samuel just as he climbed off the vehicle. They pushed it right side up then frantically searched inside. “Is this her car?”
“Yeah. Her purse and cell phone are inside.” Samuel replied dejected. “The good news is she is apparently alive and able to walk away from this. The bad news is she walked away from the car. Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. You’re the one that fell for a city girl. Me, I want a good old country girl with enough common sense not to leave a communication device behind.”
Samuel frowned and looked at Joshua. “A country girl wouldn’t know what to do with a cell phone or me.” He turned his flashlight back on and surveyed the area. Changing his mindset from what he would do to what Cynthia would do, he looked down and across the creek below. Nope, the water would mess up her boots. Looking along the creek, he turned the light off and placed it in his back pocket. “She would go back in the direction of the house.”
Joshua looked in the direction, “I think you’re right. I’ll work from the house back to you.”
“See you on the other side,” Samuel replied as he put Cynthia’s purse on his shoulder.
The sight froze Joshua in his tracks, “Goes well with your outfit.”
The look from Samuel told him, his big brother was not in the teasing mood. “She will ask if I found her purse. You’ll understand if you ever get a woman.”
“Okay,” Joshua chuckled as he began his climb up the embankment then mumbled. “I don’t want a woman if I have to carry her purse.”
“You have something to say?”
“Nope.”
“I didn’t think so.”
When he reached the top of the embankment, Joshua was met by Brian, LaVere’ and Edmond.
“What did you find?” Brian asked.
“The car flipped over down by the creek. Samuel is following the trail back towards the house. I’m taking it from the house forward. The temperature is dropping; we have to find her now.”
The men jumped in the SUV and drove towards the house. “I’ll go with you. Two sets of eyes are better than one.”
“Make three sets of eyes. I’m joining you,” LaVere’ added as the vehicle stopped in front of the house. He extended his hand, “LaVere’ Ashro.” Joshua shook his hand but never gave his name. “I take it that’s your helicopter I’m about to commandeer. Then you should at least know my name.”
“Actually it belongs to the President of the United States.”
LaVere’ stepped out of the vehicle. “Better, tell him I have it,” he said as he closed the door and ran into the house.
“Can he handle a chopper?”
“That and some more,” Brian replied as they began their stride over towards the woods. “Your man at base said you have trackers on. You take the woods; I’ll trail the property line. LaVere’ will use the lights from the chopper once it really gets dark.”
“Roger. Check in every ten minutes,” Joshua called out as they went in separate directions. He pulled out his cell. “Sammy, Brian’s on foot and LaVere’ is going up in the chopper. Anything on your end?”
“Negative. I’m about a half a mile out from the clearing; nothing,” he replied.
Joshua stood facing the woods and looked to his right; the woods extended for miles. He turned on his flashlight and waved it, “Do you see my light?”
“Affirmative.”
Okay, we’re talking about a woman. He thought. What would a woman do? “Go to your right. Follow the creek bed.”
“It makes more sense to walk straight to the clearing. Turning would take her further into the woods,” Samuel called back.
“Exactly, go to your right,” Joshua shut off the phone and walked toward the woods.
Samuel looked around the area, the darkness had descended and his anxiety was increasing. His once regarded unbreakable control was about to shatter. Cynthia was somewhere out there, possibly hurt with the temperature dropping and no sign of the snow letting up. He flashed his light towards the clearing trying to decide if he should follow Joshua’s advice. Cynthia’s life could depend on it. The car was in bad shape; nine times out of ten she was injured. Nothing in front captured his attention. He turned towards the creek and flashed his light. Listen to your heart ran through his mind. Taking his own advice he turned and followed the creek. A half a mile in the area around the creek appeared to curve. A little further ahead a wooden bridge crossed the creek. He flashed his light under the bridge. His heart stopped at the sight, as he ran mindlessly through the woods praying and cursing until he reached the top of the incline. Climbing down the side he called out, “Cynthia.” There she was curled up on a step under the bridge, unconscious with her coat wrapped around her. There was blood on her face, her clothes were ripped and she appeared to be frostbitten. Stunned, it took him a moment to gather his thoughts. Looking down at what appeared to be her lifeless body, an angry roar escaped his throat. She was his damn it, death was not going to take her away from him! Not now! He gently pushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead, “I’m here Sleeping Beauty. Your prince is here to rescue you.”
He pushed the button on his phone, “Joshua,” he calmly spoke as he checked her vitals and then for broken bones. “We are about a half-mile northeast from my last location under a bridge. She is unconscious, some broken ribs, a swollen foot, and possible hypothermia. Get the chopper ready to take off as soon as we are clear of the woods. She’s in bad shape.”
Pushing all emotions aside, he continued to talk to her as he worked quickly, removing her wet outer clothing and wrapping her in an insulating blanket. From his backpack, he pulled out items to create a makeshift harness which he quickly assembled. Stabilizing her fragile body and ensuring she was immobilized he placed her securely inside and carefully lifted her onto his back. Moving strategically up the slope, Samuel was careful not to lose his footing for fear of causing her more harm. Once he reached level ground, he proceeded in the direction of the house. Hearing the motor of the chopper he looked upward. The light from the chopper was sufficient to see his way through the now dark wooded area.
Joshua was at the edge of the woods giving directions to LaVere’ on where the light was needed. LaVere’ landed the chopper and jumped out as the actual pilot pulled up in Samuel’s SUV, parked, and took over. Brian, Joshua, and LaVere’ gently removed the harness from Samuel’s back and placed it in the back of the chopper. Samuel and Joshua climbed into the chopper and were immediately lifted. Brian drove Samuel’s SUV, while Edmond picked up LaVere’ and headed to Richmond.
* * *
JD’s cell phone sounded. Checking it, he recognized Brian’s number. “Have you found her?”
“Yeah,” he replied sadly. “We’re on our way back in. Samuel and Joshua should be arriving soon by helicopter. I’ve placed a call to the administrators to advise them of their arrival. Her car swerved off the road down an embankment. She is alive but unconscious.”
JD took in the information as his wife, Tracy, and Rosaline stood in the doorway staring at him. As soon as he hung up the call, Tracy walked over to him, “What’s happened?” She asked in a fearful tone.
Not sure how to tell her without causing her pain, he simply reached out and pulled her into his arms. The action scared Rosaline sending her to the comfort of her husband’s arms. They had all gathered at James and Ashley’s home awaiting news. JD spoke calmly. “Apparently Cynthia’s car swerved off the road and she was hurt. They found her near LaVere’s home and are transporting her to the hospital.”
“Is she alive?” Calvin asked.
“Yes, unconscious.”
“I’m going to the emergency room,” Tracy said.
“I’m going too,” Rosaline joined her.
“I’ll be there as soon as I tell James and Ashley what’s going on,” JD replied.