Shadows at Sunset: Sunset Trilogy ~ Book 1 Read online

  ***

  At six-twenty that evening, I emerged from the forest into the backyard I had known all my life with Dakota in tow. We bounded through the back door that led into our modest country kitchen to find my mother looking for something in the refrigerator. “Hi, Mom.”

  My mother looked nothing like me. She had brown curls that reached her shoulders and matched her warm eyes. Her skin was an olive tone, now bronzed from the summer sun. She was a few inches shorter than me with more curves. I stood five feet, seven inches tall, and my pale skin burned if I spent too much time in the sun. My blonde hair hung in soft waves, and my green eyes seemed to be something of a miracle considering that both my parents had brown eyes.

  My mother closed the refrigerator door and turned to me, her white blouse tucked into her khaki slacks. “There you are. I was just trying to figure out what to do for dinner. What are you in the mood for?”

  “Ethan’s coming over with a movie and we were going to order a pizza. Where’s Dad?”

  “He’s held up at the station. I’m not sure when he’ll be home.”

  “Really? What’s going on?”

  “Oh, it’s probably some drunken tourists in a scuffle. He said not to wait up for him. So pizza, huh? Mind if I have a piece? I’ll buy.”

  “Mom, if you buy, you can have half the pizza. Is veggie supreme okay with you?” A few years ago, I had given up meat. I had never liked the chewy, greasy texture of it, especially red meat. But I hadn’t gone vegan, at least not yet. Cheese and ice cream were still two of my favorites.

  “I wouldn’t expect anything else. I’ll probably just have one piece. I’m not very hungry.”

  Even though she tried to hide it, I could tell she was worried. She always told my father that the one time she let down her guard, trouble would find him on the job. It didn’t matter that nothing remotely dangerous ever happened in our town. She still worried.

  I ignored her concern. Whatever was keeping my father couldn’t be that serious. “Good, because Ethan will probably eat half of the whole pizza and Brooke might be coming over too.”

  She grabbed a book off the kitchen desk. “Well, there’s cash in my wallet. Go ahead and use that when they get here. I’ll be outside.”

  “You better get a jacket. It’s starting to get chilly out there,” I told her.

  Up in these mountains, the nighttime temperatures ranged from the seventies during the most intense heat waves to as low as the forties, and sometimes even the thirties. Tonight would be one of the latter. It was a sign that fall was not far away.

  My mother flashed a brief smile. “Good point. I heard there’s a cold front coming through tonight. Summer sure flies by around here.” After grabbing a fleece jacket from the coat closet, she disappeared outside.

  A few minutes later as I hung up the phone from calling in the pizza order, I heard our front door open. We kept our doors unlocked, as did just about everyone else who lived around here. Our town was as safe as they come. Besides, having a wolf to protect our home meant the chances of someone breaking in and getting away with whatever they intended to do were pretty slim. And everyone in town knew that this was the sheriff’s house. Only a stranger to the area would try to break in, and Dakota would take care of that.

  Ethan came around the corner, all six feet, three inches of him. At eighteen, he was tall and boyishly handsome, with thick brown hair that flopped across his forehead framing his warm brown eyes. I had noticed lately that he was starting to fill out.

  His black T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders now, when, a year ago, it would have hung loosely on his thin frame. Having known him since he was ten, I still remembered when he was shorter than me and skinny as a stick. I had watched him grow up and witnessed all of his awkward phases. Even though he was turning out really cute, he was like a brother to me.

  He greeted me with a smile. “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself. I just ordered our pizza. Veggie supreme.”

  “Why am I not surprised? I had a burger for lunch just because I knew dinner with you would be vegetarian.”

  “And you’re right. But there’s ice cream for dessert. So what movie did you bring? It’s a romantic comedy this time, right?”

  “Keep dreaming,” Ethan said with a groan. “Of course not. You know you have to save those for Brooke.” As he rambled off the name of an action movie I vaguely recognized, he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a Coke.

  “Okay. I’ll save the romance for another time.”

  He nodded, popping open the can. “Do you think you’ll actually stay awake tonight?”

  I grinned at his teasing. He knew me so well. Rarely did I make it through a movie without dozing off, since hiking in the mountains wore me out. “I don’t know. I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises. Can you grab me a Diet Coke? That will help.”

  Ethan was closer to the refrigerator, so he reached in for another can of soda and tossed it to me. Then we sat down at the kitchen table to wait for the pizza.

  “Where’s your dad tonight?” Ethan asked.

  “Work. Mom said he would be late.”

  “Really? Wonder what that’s all about.”

  “I don’t know. How was work for you today?” I asked, changing the subject from one boring topic to another.

  “The usual. Another fun summer day spent manning the deep fryer for hungry tourists. I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait for school to begin.”

  “I’m not crazy about working the summer away either, but at least we’ve got some cash,” I reminded him. “And I can definitely wait for school to start.” Just the thought of lugging heavy books home and spending hours cooped up in my room working on homework dampened my mood.

  “You never want school to start. Personally, I think college is looking better and better every day. Have you thought any more about where you want to go?”

  I averted my eyes to the side, not wanting to meet his gaze. College was a sore subject with me. I couldn’t imagine leaving Dakota, but I didn’t expect Ethan or anyone else to understand that. “No. I’m trying to put off that decision as long as I can.”

  “You can’t run from it forever.”

  “I know. It’s not the college part that upsets me. It’s Dakota. I know I can’t take him with me.”

  “You got that right. I don’t think he’ll be allowed in any dorm. But your parents will keep him and you can visit. They’re not going to get rid of him once you leave. He’s better behaved than any dog I’ve ever known.”

  “I still wish I could take him with me. It just won’t be the same.”

  Dakota knew we were talking about him, and he also knew I was upset. He rose from where he was lying, walked over to me, and rested his big wolf head in my lap. His amber eyes gazed up at me, unblinking.

  I scratched at the base of his ears. “See? He agrees with me,” I told Ethan.

  “Of course he does. He always takes your side,” Ethan stated. “Okay, we’ll change the subject, for now. But you will have to deal with this soon.”

  “After Christmas,” I promised.

  “Halloween. You need to get your applications out by Christmas.”

  “Thanksgiving then, and that’s my final offer.”

  “I guess I’ll have to live with that. I just think it would be cool if we went to the same school and I don’t want you to lose your chances by applying late.”

  “That’s very sweet of you.” I had already considered applying to several of the same schools as Ethan if I had to apply to any. As long as there was a photography program, I could at least pretend to be interested. “And I agree. It would be nice to know at least one person at college. But we said we were going to change the subject.”

  “You’re right.” Ethan sighed, and Dakota, sensing that I felt better, lay down at my feet. “Where’s Brooke tonight?”

  “She was going to try to come over, but--” I glanced at my watch. It was almost seven o’clock. “If she’s not her
e yet, I don’t think she’s going to make it.”

  “You know, one of us really needs to have a car at our disposal this year. We’re going to be seniors. How lame will we be if we have no way to get out on a Saturday night?” Ethan asked.

  As I tried to cheer him up, my cell phone buzzed. It was a text message from Brooke. Her sister needed the car for her night shift at a bar in another town and didn’t have time to give Brooke a ride. Ethan and I would be on our own tonight which happened a lot since Brooke lived across town. I flashed the message at him before we continued talking about what it would be like to be seniors this year.

  The pizza arrived a little later, and we shared it with my mother. We still hadn’t heard from my father, and the worry in her expression had deepened. She ate one slice before retreating to her bedroom with a glass of white wine and her book.

  Ethan and I polished off the pizza and then scooped Rocky Road ice cream into bowls and smothered it with chocolate sauce. We carried our dessert into the family room where the big flat screen TV beckoned. Dakota followed us, seeming reluctant to leave my side. He usually preferred to be outside on a cool summer night, but he hadn’t gone to the back door all evening. Perhaps he didn’t want to leave until my father returned home. Whatever it was, it was a nice change to have him around.

  As the movie began, I snuggled under a blanket in the recliner while Ethan sprawled out on the couch. With the lights off, we ate our ice cream by the glow of the TV. All that could be heard was the music of the opening credits and our spoons clanking against our bowls. When I finished, I set my bowl on the side table and rested my head back against the chair. As hard as I tried to stay awake, I lasted about ten minutes before my eyelids grew heavy and I drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  “Laken, wake up,” Ethan whispered, gently shaking my shoulders.

  I opened my eyes and smiled at him.

  “You fell asleep. I think you missed the entire movie.”

  “That’s nothing new,” I said in a sleepy voice. “Was it any good?”

  “Yeah, it was. I’ll leave it for you and you can watch it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” I yawned. “What time is it? Did my dad come home yet?”

  “Ten-thirty and, no, he isn’t back yet.”

  Just as he answered, headlights reflected against the sheer window curtains and we heard a car pull into the driveway. I sat up quickly, suddenly wide awake. I could tell by the low rumble of the car that it was my father. That, and the fact that Dakota didn’t move a muscle. If it had been anyone else, Dakota would have been on his feet, growling, in an instant. “He’s here. Finally. It’s pretty late. Now I’m kind of curious to know what’s been keeping him.”

  “Come on, Laken. Nothing ever happens in this town. A tourist probably hit another moose and totaled their car,” Ethan mused.

  He stood from his kneeling position by my chair as my father appeared around the corner. We both turned our attention to him. His jacket was slung behind his shoulder, his wrinkled light blue shirttails hanging over the waist of his jeans. Worry etched through his usually soft facial features and warm brown eyes. His salt-and-pepper gray hair appeared disheveled, even down through his neatly trimmed beard.

  He nodded slightly. “I didn’t expect anyone would be up when I got home.” His voice sounded exhausted, drained of energy.

  “Well, she wasn’t until a few minutes ago,” Ethan explained.

  “Yeah. I fell asleep during the movie, again,” I said sheepishly.

  A faint smile crept across my father’s tired face before he looked at Ethan. “It’s getting late. You’d better get home, son.”

  Usually my father didn’t care how long Ethan stayed. He had even allowed Ethan to sleep on our couch a few times. But tonight, Ethan took the hint right away. “Yes, sir. I was just about to head out.” He looked over at me. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Of course,” I replied--like he even had to ask.

  As Ethan headed into the entry hall, my father turned to him. “Ethan. Do you have a jacket? It’s pretty cold out there.”

  “No, I didn’t think to bring one. I’ll be fine. It’s not far.”

  “I can give you a ride.”

  “No thanks, Mr. Sumner. You just got home, and I’m sure you don’t want to go out again. Besides, I’ve been making this trek for years now.”

  “Okay.” My father followed him to the front door. “Have a good night, son,” he said as he shut the door behind Ethan.

  When my father returned to the family room, I watched him curiously. “What happened today?”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down on the couch with a strained sigh. “Ryder Thompson disappeared from his backyard this afternoon. He was playing on his swing set when his mother had to run inside. By the time she returned, he was gone. Vanished without a trace. We spent all afternoon and evening combing the area and came up empty.”

  I sat straight up, my back stiffening. I knew Ryder from babysitting him a few times over the last year. At three years old, he was a quiet little boy who didn’t talk much yet. He would be helpless out in the wilderness alone, and tonight the freezing temperatures could be dangerous. “How did he disappear?”

  “I’m sure he just wandered off after a butterfly or something. There were about ten of us searching, and he must have gotten pretty far. Unfortunately, he got a good head start on us. His mother tried to find him herself. By the time she called us and we got there, he’d already been gone for a few hours.”

  I cringed to think of Ryder lost in these mountains, especially in the dark. There had to be something we could do. Tomorrow morning would seem like forever to such a small child. He was probably scared to death right now.

  “And to make it even worse, he’s only wearing shorts and a T-shirt.” My father shook his head. “He’s going to freeze out there, probably already is. We called the nearest canine search and rescue team, but they can’t get here until the morning.”

  “Morning? Dad, that could be too late.”

  He rested his elbows on his knees. “I know. That’s the best they could do. I’m just sick over this whole thing. I’ve been with the Lincoln Police Department for over twenty years and nothing like this has ever happened. We’ve had car accidents, bar scuffles, and the occasional break-in, but this is a child. We searched really far tonight, but we finally had to give up.”

  “Have you told Mom?”

  He nodded. “I talked to her a few hours ago, and I’m sure she didn’t want to interrupt your movie or, in your case, wake you up, to tell you. I think she was hoping we wouldn’t have to tell you at all. It brings up bad memories for us.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “I never ran off when I was three.”

  “No, try six. That’s when you started wandering off, but somehow you always made it home safely before dark.”

  I avoided his gaze as the memories came back to me. He was right. As soon as I had learned I could talk to animals, I ventured into the forest alone all the time, even when my parents scolded me time after time.

  What they hadn’t known was that I was never really alone. And if I lost my way, the animals led me home. “I remember.”

  “I still don’t like you out there alone, but at least now I know you’re with Dakota.”

  I glanced over at the black wolf sprawled out across the carpet. “He never leaves my side.”

  “Speaking of Dakota, I’m surprised he’s not out tonight,” my father commented.

  “He seemed to want to stay in. I think he sensed something was wrong.”

  “He’s a good boy. I remember being a little reluctant to keep him. But I’ll tell you what, I’ve never regretted it. He’s been really good for you. I don’t know how you do it, but you really get through to him.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without him.” I briefly recalled my conversation with Ethan tonight about going away to college and realized how empty a college dorm would feel without Dakota lying at the fo
ot of my bed.

  “Well, listen, I’m going to turn in. I don’t know if I’ll sleep, but I’d better at least try since the search teams are going to be at the station at six in the morning.” He stood up. “How ’bout you? Are you going to head up to bed soon?”

  “In a few minutes.”

  “Okay. Good night, Laken.”

  “Good night, Dad.”

  As soon as he disappeared around the corner, I sat still, staring at Dakota. My mind was spinning out of control with thoughts of the lost little boy. You have to do something. You can’t leave him out there alone tonight. Dakota will help. Together, you could find him. He could freeze or animals could get to him. You have to at least try, I told myself.

  Taking a deep breath, I began to piece together the situation. The Thompsons lived about a mile down the road from us. Their house was even on the same side of the street. That meant if Ryder had wandered off from his backyard, he was probably somewhere in the wilderness behind our houses. I knew these mountains better than anyone, and I could organize a search party of animals who had nocturnal abilities that a trained search-and-rescue dog couldn’t match. Suddenly, I knew what I had to do.

  I stood up abruptly, tossing my blanket aside. Dakota sprang to his feet like a soldier ready for battle. His solid stance told me he knew we needed to find Ryder, and fast.

  My eyes met Dakota’s knowing stare. “Come on, Dakota,” I said confidently, but softly enough that my parents wouldn’t hear me. “Let’s go find that little boy.”

  Chapter 2

  Adrenaline pumped through me as doubts crept into my mind. Would this really work? I knew I could make the animals understand that a little boy was lost, but how could they tell me where he was? I realized quickly that I couldn’t dwell on these doubts. I had to at least give it a shot. I would never forgive myself if I didn’t try.

  Still dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, I grabbed my hiking boots and a fleece-lined flannel jacket from the coat closet. Then I headed for the door that led to the garage, slowly opening it and cringing as it squeaked. I stopped for a moment, listening to make sure my parents didn’t wander out of their bedroom to see what I was doing. If they knew that I was about to attempt to find Ryder on my own, they would surely stop me. After all, they had no idea that I would have help. No doubt, they would think I was crazy. They would never believe that I could find a little boy lost in the dark when my father couldn’t find him in the daylight.