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our way, I’ll trek into the village and make some calls there.”
    â€œBut—” Jake’s head was spinning with all sorts of reasons why that plan wouldn’t work. Even if the stupid phone did work again tomorrow, if the police got involved, Jake and Taylor would have to tell them about Bull, and the money that they’d taken. Anyway, if it were that simple, Mom would have gone to the police by now.
    â€œThat’s my final word on the subject, Jake,” Abe said.
    Jake fumed inwardly. Once again his dad thought he knew best. What did he care, anyway? He’d left theirmom years ago, so what did it matter to him if she was dead or alive?
    Taylor stood, rubbed his stomach, and put on a fake smile that it hurt Jake to see. “Who’s hungry? Let’s go eat Thanksgiving dinner!”
    â€œSomeone’s talking sense at last,” said Abe with a weak laugh.
    â€œCody can have mine,” Jake said quickly.
    â€œLook, buddy, would you just—”
    â€œI’m not hungry.”
    Abe stood, his eyes full of sadness. “Suit yourself, Jake. But I’m going to eat your deer and be thankful that your mother is alive, and that I’ve been reunited with my two boys. I lost you two once before, and I won’t risk losing you again.”

    That night Jake dozed for brief spells but woke frequently to listen to Taylor’s deep breathing on the bed that they shared. He could also hear Abe’s snores from across the room. His dad slept under a quilt their mom had made, a bright patchwork creation with no two pieces the same.
    As Jake lay awake, the argument he’d had with his dad played back over and over in his head. He didn’t know how his dad and Taylor could be sound asleep, knowing that on the other side of the country some thugs were plotting to kill their mother. He couldn’t stand how helpless it made him feel, not being able to do anything.
    His dad was so sure he was right. But he’d more or less admitted it was a mistake to have chosen his dream over his family. So, what if he was wrong this time too? Jake knew he couldn’t take that chance—not with his mom’s life on the line. No. He wasn’t going to wait around for Abe to do something.
    Lying there, Jake made a plan.
    Just before dawn he heard Abe get up and stoke the fire in the woodstove. Soon he smelled coffee. Jake pretended to be asleep as he heard the sounds of Abe getting dressed. Finally he heard his dad leave the cabin to check on his traplines. It hadn’t snowed overnight—so Abe had been wrong about that, too.
    After dressing quickly, Jake shook Taylor. Cody had been snuggled under the blankets and popped his head out between the two boys.
    Taylor moaned. “Leave me alone.”
    â€œTaylor, wake up,” Jake insisted.
    His brother rolled toward him. Taylor’s sandy hair stuck out in all directions. “What . . . what is it? Is it morning?”
    â€œNot yet, but get up.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause we’re getting out of here.”
    Taylor’s eyes sprang fully open. “What are you talking about?”
    Jake climbed out of bed and stood up. “We’re going to get Mom.”
    â€œDad changed his mind?” Taylor asked, sitting up.
    â€œNo. He just left to check the traps. We need to be gone before he gets back.”
    â€œWe’re leaving Dad?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œForever?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Jake said. It was the truth. “You heard Mom’s voice, Taylor. She needs us, and if Dad won’t go get her right away, then we need to.”
    â€œBut how?”
    â€œTaylor, we’ll figure it out. We did it once, and we can do it again. Besides, we know what we’re doing this time, don’t we?”
    Taylor hesitated. “I guess . . .”
    â€œSo, c’mon. We’ve got to hurry.”
    Reluctantly Taylor got out of bed, followed