“That'll do,” Noah said. Sarah nodded, and took the second exit when they got to it.
The Wagon Trail Motel looked like it had seen better days, but it would suit their purposes nicely. Rather than being a single building with a lot of rooms, there were numerous cabins scattered around a five-acre lot. Noah went into the office and rented two of them, telling the desk clerk that they were interested in buying some property in the area and might want to stay a day or two.
Their cabins were side-by-side, and they carried their bags into them before gathering in the one that Noah and Sarah would occupy. Unlike a normal motel room, the cabins included a small kitchen. Noah commented that if they had to stay a few days, at least they wouldn't have to keep putting up with restaurant food.
They sat and talked for a little while, trying to guess what kind of attack might have taken Neverland by surprise, but they simply didn't have any information to go on. Neil continued to whine about wanting to call Lacey, but Noah wouldn't budge on the matter. They finally decided the only smart thing to do was get some rest while they could, so Neil and Moose went back to their own cabin.
Noah and Sarah lay on the bed, and he kept an arm wrapped around her as she snuggled up to him. They talked for a few moments, but then Noah drifted off to sleep. Sarah lay and watched them for a while, envious for the moment of his ability to shut out everything else when he needed to sleep.
When he awoke two hours later, Noah found Sarah still awake and watching. She smiled and crinkled her eyes when he looked at her, then pulled his face down for a kiss.
“That seems like a nice way to wake up,” he said. “Did you sleep at all?”
She shook her head. “Hmm-mm. Just been laying here watching you. I didn't know how long you wanted to sleep, so I just laid here.”
Noah picked up his phone from the nightstand beside him and glanced at it. It was nearly one thirty in the afternoon, but there were no text messages or missed calls. “I guess it's time I got up. I was hoping we would have heard something by now.”
“Me, too,” Sarah said. “Could I make a suggestion?”
“Sure, Babe,” Noah said. “What is it?”
“Let Neil and Moose call the girls. Assuming they're okay, both of their dads work for the head office. They probably know something.”
Noah lay there and looked at her for a moment, then nodded. “I think you got a good point, but we need some throwaway phones. There was a sign on the road out front for a McDonald’s a few miles ahead. If the town is big enough for that, there’s probably a Walmart. Why don’t you run on in and get some burner phones, and maybe pick up something for dinner.”
“Okay,” Sarah said. She kissed him on the end of his nose as she rolled off the bed and slipped into her shoes again, picked up her purse and slipped out the door. Noah heard the car start a moment later, and she drove away.
He thumbed the speed dial icon for Moose and put the phone to his ear.
“You guys awake? Okay, then get over here. I just sent Sarah to get some burner phones. It's time we find out what's going on, if we can.” He ended the call without saying goodbye, and there was a tap on the door only a minute later. “Come on in.”
Moose and Neil stepped inside and sat down in chairs at the small table. Noah got up from the bed and went to join them.
“I haven’t heard anything, so I’m sure neither of you have, either. Sarah is going to pick up something for dinner while she’s out, too. Soon as she gets back, you guys can make your calls.”
“Damn, I wish she’d hurry,” Neil said. “If anything has happened to Lacey, I’ll go nuts.”
“Lacey’s a smart girl,” Moose said, “and her daddy is one of the toughest men I’ve ever known. I think she’ll be okay. Elaine, too.”
The three of them sat and talked for another half hour, until Sarah returned. She stepped inside with three bags, and handed one of them to Neil immediately. The skinny kid ripped it open to find two prepaid disposable phones. He passed one to Moose and then began ripping at the package on the other. It took them only a couple of minutes to have the phones assembled and activated.
“Neil,” Noah said when Neil looked at him, “go ahead and call Lacey. Make sure she's okay, and then see if she knows anything about what's going on.”
Neil's eyes lit up as his thumb flew over the dial pad and put the phone on speaker. They heard the one on the other end ring four times, and Neil was starting to panic when Lacey finally answered.
“Hello,” she said cautiously.
Neil gasped in relief. “Hey, honey, it's me! Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I'm all right,” she said. “Do you know what's going on?”