The Perfect Dutton

Part 10

My father came storming into my room that night. Clarke passed out on the small couch in the corner with chocolate frosting all over her face.

"Have you seen Tate?" His voice calloused and worried

"No, why?" I stand up slowly from my bed

"H-He went to feed his horse, and he never came back." His answer chilled me to my core

"O-ok go ask Monica I'll check the house."

"I already did."

"What, ask Monica?"

"No, check the house."

"Well, I'll check again. You go ask her."

I force him out of my room, grabbing my thigh holster. I shake Clarke awake.

"Mommy." Her soft voice angelic

"Come on, sweetie, now listen closely." She rubbed her eye." You stay by my side and do not leave it, okay?"

She just nodded, confused, and dazed from sleep. Adjusting my thigh holster upon my thigh, I grab my gun from the nightstand and slip it in place. I grab her and begin searching around the house. Monica comes barreling down the stairs screaming for her son while yelling at my dad. all of us soon come to the realization that Tate is nowhere in the house. Whipping around to face my dad, I see Beth standing next to him, consoling a crying Monica. When did Beth join the party? I have no clue. Squeezing my hand, Clarke looks up to me, a million questions behind her eyes. None I have the answer to. I kneel down to her level. smoothing out her hair and cupping her face. I just stare at her. Taking in her eyes, I pull her into a hug and whisper that it's gonna be okay. Standing back up, looking at my father, we both have the same look. We have to call Kacy, and I don't want to be on the receiving end of that call. 

With a heavy sigh, I pull my phone out, " I got it." I speak to no one in particular

Walking out of the room, I dial up Kacy and let it ring. The anxiety building up, I feel like I am choking. Lightheaded, I sat down with Clarke at my side. Finally, he picks up.

"Raven, what's up?" I don't answer him,"Raven?" I shake my head, clearing it

"Um, Kacy, something has happened." My voice coming out soft, weak almost I hate it

"What happened? Is Monica okay?" He questioned his voice, panicked

"Yes, Monica is okay for the most part it's Tate."

"What happened to Tate?"

"..."

"Raven, answer me." I hear a car door close and a truck start up

"...He is missing..." Silence followed my statement,"Kacy?"

"I'll be home in twenty."Click," he hung up, my hand still holding my phone to my ear, listening to the silence

Bile made its way up my throat, running to the bathroom. I slammed the door shut. Kneeling over and hurling my guts up into the toilet. A small light knock comes from the door.

"Mommy, you okay?" Her voice soft

"Yes, sweetie, I'm fine." I answer back, flushing the toilet and wiping my mouth with a wet wash cloth

Quickly throwing some mouth wash around in my mouth and spitting it out, I open the door. There, Clarke is standing outside the door holding her little bunny rabbit stuffy.

"C'mon sweetie, let's go find Grandpa." Her face lights up at that 

Walking through the house, we finally come to the kitchen, my father pacing back and forth while Beth and Monica sit on the floor, Monica still crying. And for the first time since I met her, I feel sympathy. Loosing a child is a horrible pain, one I know too much about. Shrugging off the pain and memories, I walk over to Monica, reaching my hand out to her.

"Get up off the floor, let's go find your son." A small, very faint smile plays on my face

She wipes away her tears, taking my hand. She stands up, her hand in mine. I look at my father, and he quickly gets on his phone. Calling anyone he can. I grab flashlights and my jacket. handing one flashlight out to everyone in the room, we began our search outside. The night was long and horrible, with no trace of Tate anywhere. Kacy had arrived, and he began digging around. Who would want to take Tate, we didn't know. Thoughts were running through my mind in the early morning. the sky clouded and the day gloomy. Who would do this? Why? How? I didn't dare voice my thoughts as I looked around. Clarke is holding my fathers hand, walking slowly. She seemed to realize what was happening. She was always a bright child, very smart for her age. Sometimes to smart. Looking through the grass and dirt for tracks, I'm not finding anything. At the sound of voice, my whole being fills with dread.

"Mommy, I found a boot." Clarkes voice rang out

I looked to Monica, and she took one look at the boot and fell to the ground. I ran up to Clarke, along the dirt where the boot lay were tire tracks. I followed them for a few feet before they disappeared in the thicket of brush. I turned around and ran back to everyone. I shook my head and looked at my feet. 

How could this happen?

(Sorry for the late update, I hope this one is good as I won't be able to update for the coming weeks. I have SBAC tests coming up and a bunch of math tests to take care of. Along with some homework to do. I hope this chapter will suffice for the next 2 weeks at best. 3 weeks will be the max. you guys/gals will have a brand new chapter when I return. I will try to make it a bit longer to compensate. In the meantime, I wish you all good fortune and the best of luck.)