Previously: Jonah and Reinhardt trek into the woods. Under the guise of mushroom hunting, Jonah pursues the path—as laid out in Granddad’s journal—in hopes of discovering the mystery behind his vanishing.
THE SUN had sunk below the horizon, yet the lingering greyness stifled the light of stars in the west. Reinhardt ran across the farmyard and into the house.
“What’s wrong, Reinhardt?” Eleanor asked.
“Jonah left me in the woods.”
“He did what?”
“He was mad at me and went off; before I knew it, he was out of sight and hiding from me. I waited, but the noises started to freak me out, and he wouldn’t stop hiding! And it was getting dark, so I ran home.”
“All this just happened?”
He nodded. His face was still smudged and damp with tears. Eleanor used a kitchen towel in an attempt to wipe his face, but he squirmed. “Go wash up and have some food.” From the counter she put together a plate. Reinhardt washed his hands and face then returned to the table. Eleanor turned the porch light on and stared out the window. She looked to Reinhardt, she looked back out the window.
“I’m not hungry, Mom.”
“I’m going out on the porch,” she said.
“I’ll come with you,” he said, jumping up from his seat. Together they stood out on the porch. The house lights shone on the front lawn; Grandma’s summer kitchen windows were all alight too. Eleanor walked across the lawn to Grandma’s and knocked on her door.
“What is it, Eleanor, you look tense?” Grandma asked. Though the night was considerably warm for early spring, she was wrapped up in a quilt and was already wearing an old-fashioned night cap.
“Jonah is still out, and I’m becoming a bit worried. I’m going to walk down the lane to the woods, only I’m waiting for a call from Noah. Would you mind much?”
“Oh, not at all, how long has Jonah been out?” The ladies looked across the lawn to Reinhardt; he was leaning over the porch rail. “How long have you guys been out?” Eleanor yelled across the lawn.
“After stacking logs, we went out to the woods.”
“Hours.”
Grandma popped on her work boots, swapped her night cap for a wool felt hat, and grabbed a bag from a hook by the door. They crossed the lawn.
Eleanor asked, “Reinhardt, will you get a flashlight?”
“We took all the flashlights,” he said. “They’re in the backpack Jonah took.”
“You didn’t tell me that; what else did you haul out there? Wait, Mother, do you have any flashlights?”
“I have just the thing,” Grandma said. She walked back across the lawn, hung the bag up, popped off her boots, and disappeared inside.
“What else did you take to the woods?” Eleanor repeated.
“Well, that’s why I went at all. See, Jonah needed help carrying supplies. At first, he—well, I just thought I better help him, and we were on the hunt for morels, but then he wanted to stay out so long, and I was tired of carrying the pack, the pack that had the flashlights and some water and stuff like that. And the sun was setting, so that’s when he got angry with me…”
Grandma returned. “This will have to do, my dears,” she said, holding up a lantern. “It’s actually quite nice, see?” She turned it on and twisted a knob that expanded and contracted the shutter. “Noah just gave it to me. It’s a neat old thing, strong light.”
Mother and Son walked the lane. Clouds scattered the sky, but through them a waning gibbous helped illuminate the path. They neared the edge of the woods; the lantern light reflected off the side of the metal Quonset and proved of little use for seeing into the woods.
“Jonah!” Eleanor called out several times. “I wonder if he came up already. She looked on both ends of the Quonset. All the lights were off inside, the windows on the west end were dark. They stood still, listening, waiting. She asked, “Should we try walking in the woods?”
“The woods sound so creepy during the night,” Reinhardt said. “Maybe Jonah came up from the other end?”
“Did you come up from this side?”
“I came back this way.” Reinhardt nodded.
“Let’s go back home,” Eleanor said.
Returning home, they saw Grandma sitting in the rocking chair knitting.
“Did Noah ring?” Eleanor asked.
Grandma’s fingers continued on; her gaze glazed over in her work. She gave a gentle shake of her head that matched the rhythm of her rocking. “All’s quiet here.”
“No sign of Jonah?”
“All’s quiet as a church mouse.”
“I’m starting to get worried,” Eleanor said. “If Noah hasn’t called by now, that means he’s probably headed home and has been driving since dinner. Son, you really ought to eat something.” The plate of food sat cold on the table. Reinhardt took his seat and picked at the food. Eleanor continued, “Maybe I should call Pastor John.”
“I’m just not hungry, Mom.”
“That’s fine, Dear.” She joined him, her elbows on the table, hands folded with her forehead resting against them.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I’m just thinking, praying. Your brother has got me worried, and if I don’t hear from him or your father pretty soon, I’m going to be a basket-case.”
“Call Pastor John then,” Grandma said. “Noah may not be home for another hour or two. Jonah’s probably trying to harass his brother by staying out, unknowingly to the detriment of his mother and soon everyone else…” she trailed off into an undecipherable mumble and began knitting with renewed vigor.
“I’m afraid I’ll block the line,” Eleanor responded more to herself than to Grandma.
They all sat in silence listening to the nix-nix of the knitting needles and the gentle sway and creak of the rocking chair.
After a few minutes, Eleanor said, “I’m sorry, Mother. You don’t have to stay, I forgot…” Just then the phone rang and she sprang to it. “Hello?”
“Hello, Ella,” came the voice of Noah on the other end of the line.
“Oh, thank goodness it’s you,” she exhaled. “Please tell me you’re not staying the night.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t even going to call, I’m nearly home, I left late, and now I had to stop for gas. I’m at Certified; they let me use the phone. Do you need me to pick up a gallon of milk?”
“Can you please just hurry home?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Everyone’s fine, I think, just Jonah hasn’t come in yet, and it’s getting pretty late.”
“He didn’t go out with that girl?”
“No, no, heavens no, Reinhardt and him were in the woods. Reinhardt came up a while ago, but not Jonah.”
“Alright, well I’m just up at Certified. I’ll be right home.”
“Okay, thanks,” Eleanor said.
“I’ll grab some milk and fresh batteries too. Love you.”
“Love you too. Oh, wait—” she heard the phone line terminate, “…there aren’t any flashlights.” Standing by the wall phone, she palmed her face. She took a deep breath, then grabbed the phone book from the shelf and searched the “C’s.”
“Mom, will you come sit with me?” Reinhardt was at the couch now.
“Of course, one moment.” She found the Certified Gas and Market phone number and called back, but the line was busy. She gave up and joined her son on the couch. The nix-nix of the knitting and the rocking of the chair continued. Eventually, they heard the rev of the truck coming up the lane.
Noah parked the Chevy in the barnyard. From the passenger side, he brought out two jugs of milk. He handed them to his son. “Go run these inside please. And bring out some more flashlights.”
“Jonah and Reinhardt took all the flashlights to the woods,” Eleanor said. “But we have this.” She held up the lantern Grandma had given her.
“Oh, right, that thing.” Noah frowned. He took the lantern from his wife and placed it out of sight on the floorboards of the truck cab.
“Did you intend to stay in the woods all night?” Noah asked Reinhardt.
Reinhardt shook his head.
“Okay, thankfully I’ve got one in here.” Noah brought out a bulky flashlight from the truck glovebox and put some fresh batteries in.
“Who’s that coming up the lane?” Eleanor asked.
“Pastor John,” Noah said. Eleanor gave him a confused look. He added, “I called him up at Certified.”
“I was just considering doing the same thing, calling him—especially when I didn’t know if you were coming home.”
“Well, sounds like we’re on the same page.” He winked. Seeing Eleanor was not much at ease, he gave her a hug and kiss. “Don’t be worried, Ella. John and I will walk the woods. I’m sure he’s fine.”
Pastor John parked his vehicle. “Good evening, Brandtmeyers.”
From the porch the voice of Reinhardt yelled, “Who’s that?”
“Pastor John,” his mom said.
Reinhardt came over to them and asked, “The two of you are going out there?”
“Not wise to walk in the woods alone at night,” Pastor John said.
“Wild animals?” Reinhardt asked with wide eyes, but a yawn overtook him. The day had left him tired and disheveled.
“Lord willing, your expression will be the wildest thing we see all night. We’re more likely to be sprayed by skunks than come across any animal that’s really dangerous,” said Pastor John.
Noah said, “There’s more of a chance to trip and fall and break your leg in the dark, that’s all. Head back inside now, stay with your mother, and keep her company, please.”
“Grandma’s inside. I want to come along.”
“Please stay inside. There’s one lantern for Pastor John and this flashlight for me.” He held up his flashlight. “I don’t want you tripping in the dark and getting hurt.” He looked to Eleanor and added, “And your mother would appreciate the extra company.”
Eleanor put her arm around Reinhardt. “Come on, Son. Let’s keep watch on the porch for your brother. It’s like you said earlier, maybe he already came up, or soon will.” She directed her attention to her husband. “Please be careful, Dear.”
“He’ll track Jonah down, and I’ll make sure Noah doesn’t lose his track.” Pastor John offered with a smile. Noah handed him the lantern.
“Here John, this one for walking,” he held up his flashlight, “and this one for searching. Let’s go.”
Next Part releases next Saturday…
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