Chapter Twenty Two

Sam

Well, we had the children but now we needed to get them away from Forks and quickly or the leeches would be on our trail.

"Jake, your friend in Port Angeles, will he lend you his truck again?"

"Sure I guess, why?"

"No time for explanations. We'll use your truck to drive the kids that far then Quil, you drive Billy back to the reservation then find Emily and tell her we are going off for a few days. Billy you can tell the elders the same thing, that should cover us."

"You want me to come back?"

"Yes Quil and bring the others with you, all except Jared. Tell him he's to look after the res while we are gone. I'll contact him as soon as it's safe to phase. For now everyone stays in human form, that way no one is going to tell Jared anything that can be forced from him. In fact, tell him to remain human unless danger threatens the tribe."

"Won't that leave the village unprotected? With the leeches on the warpath and only Jared to stand between them and the rest of the tribe."

"It can't be helped at least for now. We have to get the children out of here quickly. Besides, Carlisle won't start a war, not while we have the children. That would be foolhardy and he is anything but a fool."

"I wish I was as confident as you Sam. By the way, where are we going?"

I shook my head although I had already decided on Denali. I would keep it to myself for a while, I didn't want any slip ups.

I helped Billy back into the trick after checking Charlie was safe.

"How long do we have before the effects wear off?"

"Sophie told me it should be good for three to four hours and I knew you would want as good a head start as possible so I gave him a double dose. She wasn't sure how long it would work on a child so I didn't dare double dose them too. But here's the rest and a hypodermic, if the kids start to come round before you get them safe you can dose them but only once they begin to wake."

I nodded taking the bottle and syringe gingerly hoping it wouldn't be necessary to inject them.

Jake started the engine once the children were safely hidden in the back of the truck under an old picnic blanket Billy kept in there and we were soon in Port Angeles. His friend didn't ask any questions and while we transferred the children Jake kept him occupied. Quil drove away with Billy who gave us his blessing and we filled up the new vehicle, the tinted windows being a godsend with gas.

"Now what?"

"We drive north Jake, the others will catch us up. I gave Billy instructions to hand to Quil when he dropped him off and told him to tell Quil to remain human and not read his instructions until he was back on the road with the rest of the pack. He'll know where to find us, we'll wait when we get far enough away to feel safe."

"With the leeches kids in tow? Are we ever going to be safe Sam?"

"Probably not but once the pack join us we'll be a hell of a lot safer than right now."

We finally stopped at a small truck stop close to the Canadian border, not far from a spot I knew we could cross in secret although it meant phasing to do so and I was glad I had ordered Jared to remain human unless in danger. While we waited for the others to catch up Jake went to buy something to eat, scowling when I told him to pick up something for the children although they hadn't stirred yet. If they would just stay asleep until we had crossed the border, although it would mean tying them to our backs, it was only as wolves we could use the secret crossing place.

When my phone went it startled me, I had been deep in thought but once I heard Jared's words I was back to reality. He had captured Charlie headed for the reservation and been forced to knock him out.

"He didn't see me and I couldn't let him reach the elders. Instead I took him to Emily and she's going to take him away from the reservation. I didn't know what else to do Sam."

"That's fine, I'll contact her, she can join us here."

"Yeah, wherever there is and no, don't tell me. I'm in enough trouble as it is. Old Quil is demanding to know why the rest of you are away. I told them the story you gave me but I think he's suspicious. He asked why I wasn't with you but I just told him you felt it best to leave someone here to watch over the tribe."

As soon as he rang off I contacted Emily and asked her to drive to the truck stop close to the Canadian border and tell no one where she was going.

"What's going on Sam? Jared couldn't or wouldn't tell me. Why is it so important to get Charlie away and why did Jared find it necessary to tie him up, gag him, and lock him in the trunk of my car? He's our friend Sam."

"I'll explain everything when I see you. I'll leave a couple of the pack to take over from you when you get here and I'll meet you in Denali."

"Denali? You mean you're going to Johnny H? What is it Sam? There's a problem isn't there?"

"Please Emily, not now. I have to go but I'll leave Jake and Paul here waiting for you."

I hated to withhold the truth from Emily or get her mixed up in this but Jared has been right, Billy couldn't take responsibility for Charlie and Harry wasn't up to it right now. Things were becoming more and more complicated and I hated all the secrecy but it couldn't be helped. The arrival of the others half an hour later was a relief although neither Jake nor Paul were too pleased to find they had another wait ahead of them but I cut off all complaints with a curt,

"Not now. Wait for Emily, then check Charlie is OK and join us in Denali."

"What if he's awake? How do we get him across the border?"

"You and Jake can carry him across while Emily takes the car across and then join her again. If he causes any trouble then do what you need to, but no more Paul, do you understand?"

Paul nodded sulkily, he saw Charlie as a leech lover and would probably be quite happy to allow him to slide off his back into the river and drown while I was not about to allow that to happen.

"And please, don't tell Emily anything, I told her I would explain when she gets here but I think it's best she knows as little as possible. In fact I want you to drop her off at the hunting lodge a few miles east of the reservation and tell her to stay there. I'll be with her as soon as I can and Jake, if you can, take her cell phone. I don't want her finding out anything from Sue or someone else at home, she wouldn't understand."

"What about the phone line?"

"There isn't one at the hunting lodge and with no transport she'll have to stay put. If the leeches do find us I don't want her anywhere near."

Paul laughed,

"I'm really glad I'm not you. When Emily finds out what you've been doing she's gonna be spitting nails."

I scowled at him, though he was right, it would take a lot of clever thinking to get myself out of this still looking good in Emily's eyes.

"Sam. Hurry up, the kids are stirring."

I groaned and ran over to the truck just in time to see Leah inject Sophie's potion into the little girl's thigh.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Yes, if you think I'm carrying a wriggling brat across the river you are mad."

Ignoring the sour tone in her voice I indicated that Colin was to tie the girl to Embry's back once he phased and stay alongside him as he crossed in case of trouble. I would carry the boy and indicated for Brady to stay at my side.

"Leah, you and Quil take the truck across the border and buy a couple of blankets the other side to wrap the kids in, warm them up."

I had thought of the river crossing as the only way to smuggle the kids into Canada and Jake had borrowed a couple of large sheets of plastic from his friend which we wrapped the two children in to try and keep them dry. At least it should keep their bodies and clothes dry, their hair I could do nothing about but maybe on our backs that wouldn't get too wet. If they were too wet by the time we got over then Leah could buy a couple of sweatshirts in the souvenir store at the crossing, better do that anyway I decided and gave her the instructions. She was livid but I detected a hint of amusement at the idea I might be in serious trouble with Emily!