Chapter 162
"Damn it!" John Stone Sr. spat angrily before rushing inside to grab a flashlight.
"What's wrong?" Mary Stone followed him anxiously.
"That idiot William went into the mountains. I need Michael's help!"
Mary gasped. "William went into the mountains? He's always been terrified of them!"
In the past, it was always Michael who secretly brought game to the main house. Back then, the family hadn't split up, and everyone could enjoy meat occasionally. Now, with separate households, they had to fend for themselves.
"Be careful," Mary said, not daring to suggest going along—she didn’t want to slow him down. Her husband was surely heading to Michael’s place to ask for help in the search.
John Sr. emerged gripping the flashlight and saw Patricia still standing frozen at the door.
"Go home. I'll get Michael to help look for him."
Patricia shrank back, unwilling to face her brother-in-law. When Michael lost his temper, it was no joke.
"Dad, please find William..."
John Sr. ignored her, slamming the door shut before hurrying toward Michael’s house with the flashlight.
Emily Johnson had just snuggled into bed when urgent shouts came from outside.
"Who is it?" she grumbled, forcing herself up. The winter night was bitterly cold, and the warmth of the blankets was hard to leave.
"Dad, Robert might have gone into the mountains. He hasn’t come back yet. Michael already went to look for him."
"Robert went into the mountains?" John Sr.'s brow furrowed. Since when would Robert willingly enter the wilderness? William must have talked him into it!
"I understand."
Not daring to venture into the mountains alone, John Sr. went to find his nephew. But when he reached his elder brother’s house, he learned Daniel had already been called away by Michael. Left with no choice, he found another nephew to accompany him.
Deep in the forest...
"Big brother..." William Stone’s voice trembled. The terrifying events of the day had shaken him to the core. Now he huddled close to Robert, too scared to move.
Night had fallen completely, leaving them stranded in the wilderness with no choice but to wait for rescue.
Michael followed the scent of blood and finally found them in a secluded hollow.
"Michael!" Robert called weakly.
William kept his head down, unable to meet his younger brother’s gaze.
"Cousin, your leg needs a hospital!" Michael crouched to examine the injury, his tone sharp. "Why didn’t you come to me if you wanted to go into the mountains? What good was bringing William?"
William shrank further, silent.
"Cousin William, were you trying to get Robert killed?" Daniel couldn’t resist sneering. "Going into the mountains in winter and letting him get hurt like this!"
They had wasted so much time searching. They could have been warm and comfortable in bed by now!
"That’s not true!" William protested.
"Daniel, help me." Michael swiftly gathered vines and used branches to brace Robert’s broken leg. The rough descent required precautions.
Daniel shot William a glare but stepped forward to assist without hesitation.
"Hold on, Robert." Michael hoisted his cousin onto his back. The weight of the grown man made each step heavy.
Daniel led the way with the flashlight while William, nursing his own injuries, stumbled along at the rear.
Halfway down, they met John Sr. and Daniel’s older brother rushing toward them.
"We need to get him to town—his leg is broken!" Michael panted.