Chapter 55 Part 55
Asher
The rest of that week, Asher had spent his time helping with the chores, and spending time with Comet. He was itching to saddle up the horse and go out into the woods, but the weather was cold, and in the thick snow, anything could happen.
“Hello.” Asher answered his ringing phone. His breath made little white puffs in the cold air outside. He had just finished cleaning Comet’s stall. Nobody else could go near the horse.
“Asher? It’s Charlie.”
“Hey, Charlie. What’s going on?” Her voice sounded nervous, just shy of panicked.
“I haven’t called the sheriff yet, because we both know he won’t be able to help me,” she said.
Asher straightened, and leaned his arms on the railing of Comet’s stall door. “What’s wrong?”
“Bear Claw and two friends snuck out last night. I found the letter on the kitchen counter this morning. He took his two friends for their own vision quest. It’s too cold, Asher; something will go wrong, and—”
“Do you know where he went?”
“I’m not sure. His own quest was deep in the woods, but I don’t think he’ll take them there. It’s sacred ground for us. Bear Claw would never take white kids up there,” she said.
“There’s another storm expected. What the hell was he thinking, taking them out in this weather?”
“I think it’s got everything to do with him trying to fit in,” she said sadly.
“I’ll find him,” Asher said.
“Thank you, Asher. I didn’t know who else to call.” He could hear the relief in her voice.
“Stay put, Charlie, don’t venture out in this weather. I’ll do my best to find him.”
They ended the call, and Asher sighed. Rick and Theo were at the other end of the barn, and he called them over.
“What’s up, Asher?”
“Theo, go get Blair and Colt. Rick, start saddling their horses. I want rifles, blankets, bedrolls, food, water, warming blankets, the first-aid kit, and our thick work gloves. We’re going to need them.”
Theo ran off while Rick started getting everything together that Asher had asked for. He also knew he couldn’t venture into this weather alone. They would wear reflective yellow vests over their jackets. He prayed that the boys were still alive.
Blair arrived first, with Theo close on his heels. Theo joined Rick and helped him get everything Asher wanted. Blair frowned as he looked at the two hands, then at Asher as he loaded three rifles.
“What’s going on?” Footsteps had both of them lifting their heads, and Colt walked toward them with a grin on his face.
“Charlie called me. Bear Claw took two friends into the woods last night, some BS about a vision quest for white boys,” Asher said.
“And you called me stupid when I had those deer hide jackets made for all of us,” Colt said.
“It’s leather, Colt, leather,” Blair said, and shook his head.
“Whatever, deer hide sounds better,” Colt said.
“We’ve got some dried meat we can pack. I’ll ask Eden to make up some flasks with coffee,” Blair said. He turned toward the two hands. “Rick! Get that camping kit I put together last winter. Make sure the gas canister is full!”
“You put together a camping kit?” Asher looked amused, and Colt chuckled.
“It’s got this little one-plate stove with a gas bottle. It has some plastic plates and utensils, a can opener, matches, and a torch. You know, things you need for camping, but in rougher circumstances,” Colt said.
“It’ll work. We don’t know what we’ll find or where we’ll find them,” Asher said.
“I think we should put on thermal underwear, and chaps over our jeans,” Blair said.
“We ride out in an hour,” Asher said, heading out of the barn.
Between Blair and Colt, they must have told everyone. Asher had just finished putting his jeans back on when Maggie stormed into the house. “Asher!”
“Upstairs!”
He pulled the thermal vest over his head as he listened to her footsteps coming closer to the bedroom. “Colt said you guys are going to the woods to look for some missing kids?”
“Yeah, it’s Bear Claw and two white boys. When I find him, I’m going to hit him upside his head,” Asher said.
“What can I do to help?”
“My Army backpack is in the closet, in the foyer. There are thermal blankets on the shelf above it. Roll them up tight and put them in there. I don’t know in what condition we’re going to find them.”
Maggie rushed out of the bedroom as Asher finished dressing. He had on thermal socks and his fur-lined leather boots. Thermal underwear, a long-sleeved shirt, a woollen jersey, and over that he’ll put on his fur-lined leather jacket, the one Colt had made.
He knew Eden would pack enough provisions to last them a week, and with Blair’s camping kit, they could make coffee to refill the flasks. Asher joined Maggie downstairs, and took his winter hat from the shelf. It would trap the heat around his head, and over his ears.
Asher pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. “Rick. We’re going to need a fourth horse to carry their feed.” He ended the call, and Maggie looked worriedly at him.
“The weather’s really terrible,” she said.
“We’ll be fine. This time I’m not venturing out alone,” Asher said, wrapping his arms around her.
“I put another flashlight in the backpack with a set of batteries. I also put some apples and carrots in there for the horses.”
“Thank you. We’ll be back as soon as we can.” Asher kissed her forehead, lugged the backpack over his shoulder, and walked out of the house as he pulled his gloves on.
His brothers were already waiting in the barn when he arrived, and a few seconds later, Thomas walked into the barn as well. He looked grim and worried.
“You boys, be safe out there. There’s nobody except me and Dylan to go look for you if something happens,” Thomas said.
Colt snorted, flashing his father a smile. “We’ll be fine, Dad. I’m more worried about what Asher’s going to do to Bear Claw when we find them.”
Ten minutes later, Asher, Blair, and Colt rode out of the barn, and across the wide-open field, white with snow.