Escape from Fire Mountain (4 page)

Red Beard strode over to them. “What are you doing here?”

Molly peeked over Nikki's shoulder. “We crashed in the water and nearly got burned up. Then Nikki found us, and now we're going to her house to be safe.”

The man's piercing blue eyes glowered at the little girl. “And just where exactly is Nikki's house?”

Molly hid her face in Nikki's shoulder. “We're not sure exactly.” Nikki moved Molly around to the front and held her close. “Like I said, we're lost.”

James touched the curled horn on the ram's head. “Are you guys hunters?”

The other man, the one Nikki remembered as Frank, moved in behind them. He picked up one of the rifles and stood with his feet apart, pointing it threateningly. “Get inside that tent. All of you—now!”

Nikki held Molly with one arm and took James's hand. “Come on, kids. Do what the man says.”

There was barely room for all of them to sit down inside the tent. Nikki put Molly on the sleeping bag. Her mind raced. What had she gotten them into? All along she had promised to take care of them, and then, like an idiot, she'd walked right into danger.

She rubbed her forehead and tried to think. These were cruel men—criminals. They had guns and probably wouldn't hesitate to use them.

Molly pulled on her sleeve. “Those men are bad.”

“Yes, they are. Very bad.”

“What are we going to do, Nikki?” James asked worriedly.

She didn't have an answer for him. They could hear the two men arguing outside the tent. Frank was angry. “I say we get rid of them now, Strecker. No one will know. They'll think the fire got 'em.”

“We'll wait. People are probably looking for those kids.”

Frank snarled. “All the more reason to take what we have and get out of here before they find us.”

“Maybe you're right.” Strecker moved away, and they had to strain to hear his voice. “We'll pack everything and leave in the morning.”

“What about the kids?”

“We'll take care of them early, before we go.”

The tent flap flung open, causing Nikki to fall back with a start. Frank jerked the sleeping bag out from under Molly.

“Sweet dreams, kids.” He sneered evilly at them.

“What are they gonna do to us?” James whispered when Frank had gone.

“Nothing.” Nikki bit her lip. She felt in her pocket for her knife. “They're not going to get the chance. You and Molly try to get some sleep now. When I wake you, don't ask questions. Just be ready to go.”

Frank had laid the sleeping bag just outside the tent's opening. His sleeping body blocked any escape through the door.

Nikki could hear him snoring. James and Molly were huddled in one corner, using each other for pillows. She pulled out her pocketknife and scooted to the back wall of the tent. Quietly she slit the canvas all the way down, then stepped out and moved around to the front. The moon gave her enough light to see where she was going.

To the four-wheelers.

They were so sure of themselves the men hadn't thought to remove the keys. She unfolded her knife and punctured the tires of one of the vehicles. Then she threw that set of keys into the woods.

Frank made a choking, sputtering noise and sat up. Nikki crouched behind one of the four-wheelers. The big man looked around a moment and then lay back down facing her. In the darkness she couldn't tell if his eyes were open or closed.

She waited for what seemed like hours until she heard his even snoring.

Then she moved to the guns.

One was a high-powered rifle with a bolt. Her dad had one just like it, and she'd seen him use it many times. She slid the bolt out and put it in her pocket. The other gun had a lever action. Nikki felt on the ground for rocks the size of the barrel. With a stick she forced three of them down into it.

Time was running out. Nikki made her way back to the slit in the tent and gently awakened James. “Time to go.”

James didn't say a word. He helped her pick up Molly, grabbed the pack, and followed her out of the tent.

They sat Molly on the seat of the four-wheeler, put it in neutral, and pushed it down the valley. They hadn't gone far when Nikki heard yelling. The men were awake and had obviously discovered the empty tent.

“Get on, James!” Nikki put Molly on her lap, turned the key, and pushed the start button.

Nothing.

It wouldn't start. “Come on …” She pushed the button again. The machine made a grinding noise and then slowly worked its way into motion.

Nikki kicked it in gear, found the headlight switch, and roared into the forest. She had to pick her way carefully. Even though she had driven her uncle Joe's four-wheeler many times, there wasn't much room to maneuver, and she didn't want to make any mistakes.

Behind them they heard the two men bellowing and cursing over the other disabled
four-wheeler. Nikki smiled. Wait until they checked out their guns.

On through the dark night she drove without stopping. After a while James tapped her on the shoulder. “How can you tell which way we're going?”

She pointed at the sky. “Up there. See the Big Dipper?”

“I think so.”

“Line up the two stars at the top of the dipper. See that shiny star off to the right? That's called the North Star. You can find your way around at night if you know which direction to travel. Right now we're heading south. And if I don't wreck us, we should run into my house in about a half hour.”

The four-wheeler trembled. Then it sputtered and jerked to a complete stop.

Nikki sighed. “Well, that's it. We must be out of gas. Looks like we walk from here.”

James was too tired to say anything. He just climbed off and fell in step beside her.

Nikki was stiff from carrying Molly. She shook out her arms one at a time. Awake Molly was heavy, but asleep she was like a lead weight. Every muscle in Nikki's body screamed at her to stop and rest. She held the flashlight in the crook of her
arm and kept walking. All the trees and landmarks looked alike in the dark. Undoubtedly they were moving in the right direction, but that didn't guarantee they were heading straight for the lodge. Unless she saw something familiar soon, they would have to turn around and search behind them.

The moon had gone behind some clouds, and it was difficult to see where they were going. Forty-five minutes or more had passed, and Nikki was sure she had somehow missed the lodge in the darkness. It was possible that she had walked right past the house without even knowing it.

Then she heard it. A horse's whinny.

Goblin.

She moved to the sound and in a few yards nearly ran smack into the back of the corrals. Somehow she had managed to lead them to the far side of the lodge. If it hadn't been for Goblin, she might have kept going until daylight.

Nikki headed for the house. She stopped on the front porch. It felt so good to be home.

“We're here.”

James was half asleep behind her. His eyes fluttered open. “Is this it? Is this your house?”

“Home sweet home.” She hefted Molly onto her hip and led the way into the house. Upstairs Nikki tucked Molly and James into her bed. They were asleep before their heads hit the pillows. Nikki moved for the telephone.

There was still no dial tone, only the soft whisper of static.

The chances of someone's listening to the CB at this time of night were small, but for the children's sake, she plodded into her dad's office and picked up the handset. “If anyone can hear me, we have an emergency at Tall Pines Hunting Lodge. Repeat, this is an emergency.”

Nikki called for help until she fell asleep on the desk still holding the receiver.

The big grandfather clock in the hall struck six. Nikki's head jerked to attention. She couldn't believe it. She had actually fallen asleep at the controls. She tried calling out again. There was still
no response. It was useless. Whatever she was going to do, it would have to be on her own.

Through the window she noticed the horses milling around the water tank. They hadn't been fed the entire time she was gone. “Boy, I'm a fine one to leave in charge.” Nikki headed outside to look after them.

Goblin seemed glad to see her. He nuzzled her with his soft white nose. Nikki patted him. “I wish you could help me, boy. Got any suggestions on how to get these kids home? Maybe we'll all pile on you and take off upriver. What do you say?”

“I'd like that.”

Nikki turned. James was standing behind her. She smiled. “I didn't expect you to be up yet.”

“That clock woke me up.”

“Me too.” She broke up some hay and threw it into the feeding trough. “Do you ride, James?”

The boy looked down. “No.” He glanced up at her. “I sure would like to try, though.”

Nikki ran her hand through her hair. “We have a problem, James. The telephone's dead,
and I can't pick up anyone on the CB. You and Molly may have to stay with me until Sunday, when my parents get home.”

James made a face. “My dad will be worried sick.”

“I know. I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out how to get you home.”

“Can't you just drive us?”

Nikki was flattered that he thought she was old enough to drive but didn't say so. Instead she told him that her parents had taken the only vehicle except for a broken-down jeep in the barn.

“What about the horses?” James's face was hopeful.

“I thought about that. But the only cabins I can remember anywhere upriver are near Waterton. Is that where your grandfather lives?”

The boy nodded. “We go there every summer for vacation.”

Nikki frowned. “Waterton is over sixty miles away, James. By the time we got there my parents would have been back and could have driven you.”

“Maybe we could carry gas to the four-wheeler and use it to go home on.”

Nikki hadn't thought of that. It was a possibility. The poachers had probably cleared out of the woods by now, worried that their escaped captives had made it to a phone and called the sheriff.

“That's not a bad idea, James. After breakfast we may just give it a try.”

Molly bit into a piece of toast. “You're a real good cooker, Nikki.”

Nikki laughed. “Yeah, it takes a special talent to pour milk on a bowl of Crunchy Smacks.”

“Are we going to take gas to the four-wheeler now?” James asked.

“You finish your breakfast. I'll fill the gas can and go after the four-wheeler. It may take me a while to find it. You and Molly can watch TV until I get back.”

James's lower lip went out. “I'd rather go with you.”

“I know you would, but Molly needs the rest. Okay?”

He looked at his feet. “Okay.”

Nikki patted him on the back. “I knew I could count on you.” She squeezed Molly and started out the door. “I'll be back as soon as I find it.”

The last thing she wanted to do was take another hike into the woods. But she remembered how good it felt when she finally made it home last night. James and Molly needed to get to their home, too.

The gas can was on a shelf in the boat shed. Luckily it was three-quarters full. She grabbed it and was on her way out when she heard voices.