Free Home: A Stranded Novel by Theresa Shaver Page A

I’m sorry, Alex, but your dad wouldn’t want you to risk getting caught for him. You have to stay away.”
    “Yeah , well, that’s not going to happen! What time do you get locked in and is there a guard in the yard at night?” she asked, in a 'don’t argue with me' tone.
    “We work until it gets dark and then they lock us in with whatever they are fee ding us for supper. I’m pretty sure they don’t put out a guard at night but it’s not worth taking a chance, Alex. You have no idea what kind of animals these men are.”
    “Trust me , Doc. I know exactly what they are. I need someone to make sure that the hay elevator door is unlatched. I will be back tonight after dark with everything you need. Be safe and tell my father I’m coming!”

Chapter Four
    The girls moved away from the area, quickly putting distance between them and the men working in the woods before circling around and heading north again. Even though they had the information that they needed, they still wanted to take a look at Emily’s home. It was close to noon so they settled down for a break in a clearing and they pulled out the lunch they had brought with them. Alex picked at the peanut butter and jam bun sandwich as she thought about her dad. After five minutes of silence, Emily broke into her gloomy thoughts.
    “I’m sorry about your dad. If it was my father, I would do the same thing but we really need to talk about this. If you get caught, it might blow our chances of freeing everyone,” she said softly.
    “I won’t get caught, just like you wouldn’t get caught if you had to sneak around your place. This is our home turf , Em. Nobody knows our farms like we do. I could probably sneak into my house without getting caught!” At Emily’s startled expression, Alex laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going anywhere near the house. The barn is between the house and the fields so they won’t have a line of sight on me. Then I will climb the hay bale elevator up into the loft and I’m in. Piece of cake!”
    Emily was still frowning. “We’ll see what everyone else thinks when we get back to base , I guess.”
    Alex’s face took on a set expression. “I’m not going back to base. We’ll scout out your place and then I need to go and get some supplies for Dr. Mack. You shouldn’t have any problems getting back to the bikes. Just leave mine and I will be back later.”
    “What!? Alex, there is no way you are doing this by yourself! Forget it! Besides, where are you going to get the medicine your dad needs? You have to come back with me and then we will all make a plan!”
    “Not going to happen. Don’t bother fighting me on this , Em. I’m going alone. If for some unlikely reason I get caught, then I need the rest of you guys to keep working on a plan to free us. I’m not risking anyone else. It’s my dad who needs help, so I’m the one who’s going to do it. Besides, I really don’t think I’ll get caught.”
    Emily threw up her hands and growled in frustration. She knew how stubborn her best friend was and there was no use in arguing with her right now. She also knew that there were many hours before it got dark and she could be back with help before Alex made her move.
    “So where do you plan on getting these supplies? Last time I checked the Shoppers Drug Mart was closed.”
    Alex smiled with relief that Emily wasn’t going to keep arguing with her. She also felt bad about the half lie she was about to tell but she had made a promise and she was going to keep it.
    “Mrs. Moore’s house is only one more road over and just to the west. She told me she has some supplies stashed away if we needed them. After we check on your place , we’ll come back here and split up. I’ll get what I need and then make my way back here and hang out in the trees until dark. I don’t plan on staying very long in the barn so I should make it back to base by ten o’clock.”
    Emily looked away and took another bite from her