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“Maybe Joel has had more luck.”
If only she had a way of letting Mason know what was happening out here. She had no doubt he had called in the state police and a search was being conducted, but this area was vast. It would take sheer luck to find them.
“Hey, Max,” Eric called. “Crushed leaves here. I think she went this way.”
Annie held her breath as their footfalls faded into the sounds of chirping birds and the running stream. But it was a while before she found the courage to drop back to the ground.
***
Seven o’clock. It took all the prayer and strength Jon could muster not to go charging into the forest with a gun to search for Annie. One word kept reverberating in his head:trust. Trust Annie, yes. But even more, he needed to trust God for this situation. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. Somehow, they needed to get out of here to their daughter, but the outlook was so bleak that it was hard to hang on to faith.
But minute by minute, he managed to stay at the ready with his gun.
Sarah returned from a quick trip to the toilet in the bunk room. She appeared about ready to drop. Jon had tried to get her to take a nap, but she’d refused, so he tried again.
He gestured to the bunkhouse. “I’ll call you if they come, Sarah. You won’t be much help if you don’t get some rest. We could take turns standing watch. You sleep for an hour, and I’ll wake you so I can sleep a bit too.”
She took her spot by the window. “I know you. You’re not going to sleep until Annie is back here.”
“It’s hard to wait,” he admitted. “I thought about going just a little ways into the woods and seeing if there’s anyone out there.”
“All that will do is lay tracks for those guys to see that someone is back here.”
It was the same reminder she’d given him for hours, and it was all too true. But how long did he wait? Until the men came busting in here with their guns blazing and he had no idea whether they had Annie with them or she was dead somewhere?
The not knowing was killing him.
A movement caught his attention, and he motioned for Sarah to be quiet as he peered around the windowsill with his rifle ready. The line of vegetation around the perimeter of the clearing shivered as if some unseen hand was moving it. Then a figure moved. The gleam of the sun revealed Annie’s blonde hair first, and she stepped into view. Jon didn’t think—he just reacted and raced out the door toward her.
Her eyes widened when she saw him, and her mouth trembled as if she was trying not to cry. It seemed he ran in slow motion across the clearing, and it felt like an eternity before he had her in his arms.
He buried his face in her hair. “I was so worried.”
“So was I,” she murmured against his chest. “I laid several false trails and got lost a couple of times, though I hate to admit it.” She lifted her head and looked out at the compound. “Where is Sarah?”
“In the shed. She’s standing guard. Let’s get inside before those guys show up.” He led her toward the building. “We transferred all the weapons and ammo into here in case the hunters tried to take out the armory. I found a box of grenades, but I’m not sure what to do with them.”
They reached the utility shed, and she stepped inside. Sarah let out a strangled cry and stumbled toward her sister. Annie embraced her and patted her back as she heaved huge sobs against Annie’s chest.
“I thought I’d lost you forever,” Sarah said in a choked voice. “We were so scared. We didn’t know what to do.”
“You did exactly what you should have and waited for me.” Annie let go of her and swept her hand around the space. “And look at this. We’re ready for a war, and it’s a good thing because I think we’re going to have one. I’m sorry to say I doubt my ruse will delay them for long.”
“You think they know we’re here?” Jon asked.
Annie shook her head. “It’s hard to say, but I erased every track I saw. I hope they come waltzing in here with no idea we’re going to take them down. I left a trail toward the booby trap you made in hopes one of them would step into it, and they’d need to come back here to give him aid.”
She stepped over to examine the boxes and guns. “Lots of ammo.”
“What can we do to help?” Sarah asked.
Before she could answer, they heard a man screaming obscenities out in the woods. He sounded like he was in pain.
“I think someone just made contact with your punji sticks, Annie.”
She grabbed a gun. “Everyone, take your stance. Aim for the chest so you’re more likely to hit them.”
Jon kicked the door shut before the first men arrived, and he rested his gun on the windowsill. These guys were going down.
