Page 140 of Rescued
“Hang tight, baby boy, okay?”
Arlo makes a strangled sound. “What do you mean?”
Austin turns onto Hunter’s road. “Let me talk to him for a bit, okay? I promise I’ll bring him home safe and sound.”
There’s silence on the other end of the line. “But he’s my baby brother.”
I nod, my throat tightening. I’ve never heard Arlo so distraught. Never in all the time I’ve known him. “I know he is, but I promise I’ll take care of him.”
Arlo lets out a breath. “I know. I trust you.”
Hunter’s driveway is right ahead, so I clear my throat. “We’re about to pull in, baby boy. I’m gonna let you go. I’ll text you when we’re on our way home. Call the sheriff and let them know we found him.”
“Okay,” Arlo whispers. “I love you.”
I can’t help but smile. Salem is safe, and Arlo trusts me to take care of him. “I love you too.”
I hang up the phone just as Austin pulls into the driveway. Hunter is sitting on the porch, and he drags his eyes away from the barns to glance at us before looking back at them.
Austin parks near the house, then shuts off the truck. “I’ll go up and talk to Hunter. Let me know when you’re ready to go.”
“Thank you for everything today.”
He shifts in his seat, shooting me a slight grin. “No problem, man. That’s what friends do, right? God knows you’ve shown up for me countless times.”
My eyes burn a little at that. I nod, then push open the truck door.
Hunter stands, grabbing a bottle of water before making his way over to me. “I still don’t think he knows we know he’s in there. He hasn’t come out.” He hands me the bottle of water. “Brought this out in case he’s thirsty.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
The truck door opens and shuts behind me as Austin gets out.
I don’t waste any more time. I start walking across the field, trying to figure out what I’m going to say. This is a serious situation, and he scared the fuck out of all of us. But… I don’t feel right punishing him for it. He’s in pain. And I don’t think he should get in trouble for that.
When I make it to the barn, I pause right outside the door, inhaling a deep breath.
I push it open, and when it creaks loudly, Salem’s head snaps toward the door, his eyes settling on mine. He’s sitting in the hay, facing the horses, his hands folded in his lap.
We just stare at each other for a second. He nibbles on the inside of his cheek, then looks away from me, his shoulders slumping. “Arlo didn’t want to see me?”
My throat aches. Of course he would think that. “Of course he does. But we told him to stay with Nora in case you came back. We didn’t want to be gone if you did. You get me instead.”
His throat bobs heavily, then he nods. “Okay.”
Without a word, I make my way over to him, sitting down beside him in the hay.
“Water?” I ask, offering him the bottle.
He takes it from me but doesn’t open it.
We sit in silence for a second, and finally Salem sighs. “I’m in trouble, huh?”
“No. At least not with me. Arlo might want to kick your ass a bit, but I think I can talk him down.”
He reaches forward, picking up a piece of hay. I watch as he folds it in half, then in half again, before unfolding it and breaking it apart at the crease lines.
