Harlan’s fingers paused. Cricket took the opportunity to slide a piece of cornbread out of his grubby pocket and pop it in his mouth. Ray smiled. Boys that age were always hungry.
The fingers started up again.
I told Mister Fergus about it. I hadn’t told anyone before then, but I saw something in a dream that scared me. The Witchy Lady. For some reason, I thought Mister Fergus would be the one to tell about it. After I did, he took off after her.
Ray nodded. “I ran into him in the woods. The Witch found us both,” he added in a grim tone. “Please continue.”
After he was gone, I tried to find him and Willa...in one of my dreams. That was something I’d never tried before. I’d always just kind of gone wherever the dream wanted to take me. That night I told myself to find Willa’s beacon. It’s a twin thing. Sure enough, I found it, but it was Mister Fergus who talked to me when I hovered over the cabin. That’s pretty much it.
“The twin beacon...can you feel it while you’re awake or do you have to be in one of these dreams?”
I can feel it most of the time, but it was stronger during the dream.
Ray nodded. The concept was fascinating, and he didn’t doubt the story’s veracity. For a numbers guy like him, that was surprising. “You boys think you can find the cabin?”
Both heads nodded.
“I don’t see Serena Jo letting you venture into the forest. You’ll probably have to draw a map.”
“The problem with that,” Cricket began, then Harlan tapped his friend’s shoulder and began to sign.
The way we’ve figured out the location is through Cricket’s compass work, my dream memory, and because we’ve been there before. Mama has to let us come.
“I’m not the one who needs convincing.”
The door opened then.
A slightly less disheveled Otis walked past them, down the steps, and up the dirt road that led through the village. Ray remained silent until he was gone, then turned to face Serena Jo.
“Will he be okay?”
She nodded. “Your friend grazed him. He just needs some rest. He’s operating on very little sleep ever since...his brother.”
“She’s no friend of mine,” Ray said with a frown.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m tired too.”
Skeeter stuck his head out from behind his daughter. “What you boys been talkin’ ‘bout?” The blue eyes squinted with suspicion.
The boys exchanged guilty glances. Ray stifled a grin.
“You been talkin’ ‘bout goin’ into the woods, haven’t you? It’s comin’ off you both like skunk stink.”
Cricket giggled. “You always seem to know everything, Mister Skeeter. Guess we can’t deny it. Just want to help, is all.”
“Well, you can’t. Ain’t the job of you boys to find Willa.”
As the old man brushed past them again, his back now toward his daughter, Ray caught an exaggerated wink directed at himself and the boys. The wink’s message was clear: We’re going to do exactly what I just said you can’t. The man continued in the direction he’d gone a few minutes earlier. Ray kept his face from reacting as he turned to face Serena Jo.
“What now?” he asked.
“I’m going to talk to my son. In private,” Serena Jo replied.
Harlan stood, let his gaze rest on Ray for a moment, and then followed his mother inside.
Cricket whispered, “You got that, right?”
“I think so. We’re going to go with Skeeter to look for Willa? The four of us?”
“Yep. You’re smarter than you look. Usually, good-lookin’ fellers like you ain’t none too smart.”
Ray smiled. “What’s next?”
“I’ll take you to Mister Skeeter’s house. We’ll wait for Harlan there.”
“Shouldn’t I say something to Serena Jo first?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Just holler through the door. She’ll hear ya. And by the way, don’t be gettin’ any ideas about her. She don’t need no boyfriend.”
He would not insult this boy who was so clearly smitten with his best friend’s mother. Ray could relate. It seemed he was also developing a crush, but he wouldn’t act on it. Not yet. The first order of business was to find her child and the enigmatic Fergus.
Images of himself as the rescuer flitted through his mind, evoking thoughts of a passionately grateful Serena Jo.
***
“You sure she’s in the privies?” Skeeter asked Harlan, who had shown up a few minutes ago. They’d been waiting for him in the old man’s cabin. Now Ray knew why Serena Jo smelled of rosemary — the herb’s fragrance permeated her father’s home. Ray found himself hungry for some focaccia bread dipped in olive oil. Instead, he’d happily eaten the dry cornbread drizzled with honey that Skeeter offered.
Harlan nodded.
“Hmmph,” the grandfather replied, but he seemed content with the answer.
“She’s gonna be awful mad at us, Mister Skeeter.”
“You don’t think I know that?” The old man was clearly agitated.
“Should we rethink this venture?” Ray asked. The notion of an angry Serena Jo was distressing, especially if the anger were directed at himself.
“We got no choice,” Skeeter replied. “I know my daughter, and she will never allow the boys to go into the woods right now. She’s scared to death for her kids. Plus, she ain’t buying the dream business. I can tell.”
“But you do?”
“’Course. I had ‘em myself when I was younger. But my daughter ain’t cut from the same cloth as me and the boy.”
“So what’s the plan?” Ray asked, warming to the task. He’d recently navigated
