Chapter 428 Chapter 428
“Why did we have to walk this far?”
Calum glanced back at Blair, “if the car isn’t seen in the town, no one will know we’re here.”
Blair shrugged, “okay, but we could have parked at the top of the hill.”
Emersyn smiled to see the look Kobie gave him. She didn’t care if they had to climb twenty hills, she was close to finding her daughter and she’d do anything to get her back.
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that Noah wasn’t far behind her and Blaise behind him. She couldn’t believe Blaise was here. She’d thought of her from time to time and wondered if she’d overcome the bullying she used to face. It wasn’t her fault half of her upper body was covered in darker-colored skin. She smiled at her when their gazes met. Judging by the t-shirt she wore now, even in this cold, Blaise no longer cared what others thought of her. A woman as tall as Blaise carrying a gun, she was very comfortable holding would end any bullying for sure. She looked at the gun in her hand, or it could be that. She stumbled and turned to pay attention to where she was walking again.
Kobie stopped walking, so Emersyn paused as well. Calum was looking at his phone. He looked around slowly. She hoped they weren’t lost.
“Some rough terrain coming up,” he pointed, “but if we cut across here, we can avoid some of it.”
“Done,” Blair said quickly.
Kobie grinned, “I think we need to go for more walks.”
Blair raised an eyebrow and looked at her, “and you’d like to fit that in when?”
She shrugged, “I’ll figure it out.” Kobie turned and looked around. “We need to go faster; I don’t want to miss this woman when she checks for us.”
“Would have been good if she’d mentioned a time,” Blair mumbled but followed Calum.
Emersyn tripped over a small rock and came close to falling when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and prevented it.
“Careful,” Noah said, his breath hitting the back of her neck.
A shiver went through her, and she was momentarily stunned to realize it wasn’t a bad feeling, just one she never thought she’d feel. Her cheeks went hot as she turned and looked up at him. “Thank you. I’m not in the greatest shape.” She rolled her eyes, “not much hiking in my life.”
“I know, mine either until lately.” He walked more beside her now, which made her feel better, less alone.
She didn’t want to tell him that every little movement out there scared her. The closest she’d been to nature since that day she’d regret forever was when they allowed the windows to be open in the summer. Even after Aspyn was big enough to venture outside, she was not allowed to accompany her. It was too risky for a mother and child to go outside together.
“How are you doing?”
Startled out of her thoughts, she gave him a half-smile. “Anxious.”
He nodded, his gaze moving over her face, almost as if he were caressing it with his eyes. “Everything will be fine.” He told her, but she could see the doubt in his eyes.
His lying to her meant a lot at this point, he was still looking out for her, even in that small way, despite her being able to scent that he was having his own struggles. The car ride had been particularly hard, to sit there and feel the emotions coming off him and not be able to do anything about it. She wondered a few times on the trips if the others in the car were able to pick up on them, surely it wasn’t just her.
Turning, she looked to see Blaise looking all around them, still holding the gun. She wondered what she did exactly, to be so versed with a weapon. Or weapons, as she’d spotted the knife handles sticking out of a strap on her leg. Whatever it was, she felt both intimidated and more assured that she was getting her child back, today.
“I’ll be right back.” Noah moved by her and walked quickly past Kobie until he reached Blair. He said something to him, making Blair pause in step and looked around. Nodding, they both moved to reach Calum, halting him and speaking to him. Calum looked down at the map in his hand.
“I’m going to check around that hill,” Blaise said loud enough that both Kobie and Emersyn heard.
“I’m going to see what secrets they’re keeping.” Kobie gave her a forced smile, a lot of teeth showing, and went toward her mate.
Emersyn was happy for a minute to catch her breath. She really felt like she was slowing them all down. Resting her hands on her hips, she looked in the direction Blaise went, wondering what she was checking for exactly. Maybe she had to go to the bathroom, that thought occurred and she was happy she’d thought of that before they’d started out. She turned again and saw a single flower a few feet away, it was purple and stood out among the dying grass and weeds. It was juvenile and she knew it, but she still walked over to it, needing to touch the fragile-looking thing that was holding its own out here in the elements.
Smiling at the lonely bloom, she leaned down to touch it and the ground gave way under her feet. She tried to grab onto something, anything as her body fell. Her shoulder smacked a hard surface sending her spiraling in another direction. When she landed on her side, all she could do was gasp to find her breath again.
She didn’t move for a moment, checking if the pain was from the fall or something serious.
Her face was covered in dirt, it was even in her mouth. The grit in her eyes made it impossible to open them without them burning. Sitting slowly, she groaned when she moved her arm, it was stinging. Panicking she brushed at her face trying to clear it.
“Emersyn.”
She paused and blinked furiously as she lifted her chin to look up. It was so dark, the only thing she could see was the light above her where she’d come down.
“Stay back from the edge.” Calum’s deep voice echoed.
“Emersyn,” Noah called again.
“I’m,” she coughed clearing the dust from her throat, “here.” She didn’t know if she said it loud enough that they would hear her.
“No, I didn’t bring a rope.” Blair sounded annoyed.
“Emersyn, stay calm. I’m coming down.”
“Noah, you can’t...”
Debris started to fall on her head, she scrambled a few feet to her left and curled her arms over her head. A thud and quiet gasp told her that Noah had just jumped into the hole she was in.
He coughed, “Emersyn.” She heard movement. “Are you all right?” He was right beside her now.
She reached out and then winced as the pain went through her shoulder. “I don’t know.” Opening her eyes wide, she tried to see again.
“Noah.” Blair bellowed down the hole.