Big Daddy Sheriff (Big Cedar Daddies #1)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

Theo went to bed a little after ten o’clock, leaving the Littles to eat their junk food and watch their scary movies.

The women gave it about thirty minutes and then Grace crept quietly into the bedroom and then back down the hall.

“He’s out.”

The others giggled.

“We ready?” Janie asked.

“Ready,” Grace said.

They opened the back door and stood as still as statues, seeing if the slight noise stirred the sleeping Daddy.

Once they were satisfied the coast was clear, they filed onto the deck and down the steps, moving slow so their footsteps wouldn’t be too loud atop the wood.

They continued at the measured pace, not wanting to trip in the dark clearing before reaching the tree house. It was a little scary climbing up the ladder at night, but they reached their destination without incident. Grace used her cell phone as a light to locate one of the backpacks they’d stashed up there earlier. She pulled out the flashlights and passed them out.

“Everyone sure they want to do this?” she asked.

“So sure!” Mindy declared.

Belinda looked a little nervous, so Alyssa leaned over and said, “Stick with me, little sis. We’ll have a good time.”

Belinda smiled at that and nodded, keeping the binky between her lips.

“Come on. Let’s go find Bigfoot!” Janie cried.

The women tried to contain their laughter as they scampered down from the treehouse and set out into woods.

This was going to be an epic evening.

Theo yawned as he opened the front door.

“Sorry, man,” Quinn said. “I thought I could spend the night apart from her. But after talking to the guys at the firehouse…”

“Hey, it’s no big deal, brother,” Theo said. “And you’re always welcome here. You know that. I’m just glad you called instead of staying up stewing over this all night. Come on. They’re watching scary movies back in the den. I bet Little Alyssa will be glad to see you.”

They went down the hall to the den, where they could hear the TV on even before walking in. The Littles stepped around the corner to see images of a woman being chased by a werewolf flickering on the screen.

“They’re already asleep,” Theo said, looking from the covered lumps on the floor to his friend.

But Quinn stepped deeper into the room, shaking his head.

“They’re not asleep,” he said, not bothering to keep his voice low. He bent down and pulled a blanket back, revealing three pillows that had been arranged in a line. “They snuck out!”

“Ah, shit!” Theo grumbled. “I’ll get dressed.”

Quinn nodded.

The hunt was on.

“Uh, guys, what was that?” Alyssa asked.

She was trying to stay brave for Belinda, fully engaged in her role of big sis to the younger Little, but it was awfully dark in those woods. And there were noises. Lots and lots of noises.

The flashlights were bright, but the darkness was so strong that the LED beams couldn’t really compete with it.

“It sounded like a growl,” Mindy whispered.

“That brings up a good question,” Janie stated with a frown.

The women walked a few more paces, their feet crunching on the leaves and twigs that littered the forest floor.

“What do we do if we actually find Bigfoot?” she continued.

“We take his picture,” Grace declared.

“Then what?” Janie asked.

“Run!” Grace cried.

“We just take his picture and run?” Janie asked.

“No. Run! Now! It’s… him!” Grace yelled.

The women froze in terror as their flashlight beams landed on a hulking, hairy form that was stalking toward them.

Belinda screamed first, her pacifier falling into the dirt as she opened her mouth wide. The other women followed, and soon the quiet night was split by blood-curdling cries of terror.

The beast reared up on two legs, threw its head back, and let out a ferocious roar. Through it all, Alyssa had the wherewithal to hold up her phone and snap a few pics, though she wondered if it was the last thing she’d ever do.

Just when the women thought they were goners, two strong voices called out. “Get out of here! Go on. Get!”

Quinn and Theo appeared through the trees, waving their arms and making as much noise as possible.

The creature hurriedly got on all fours and scurried the opposite direction, disappearing into the darkness.

“Oh my gosh! Bigfoot almost killed us!” Alyssa cried.

“No. You came upon a black bear,” Quinn said. “He was more afraid of you then you were of him.”

“That, uh, wasn’t Bigfoot?” Alyssa asked meekly.

“Nope.”

“Oh.”

A heavy silence settled over the group of Littles.

Finally, Alyssa said, “So, uh, let me guess. We’re kind of in trouble.”

“Yep.” Quinn nodded

The Littles groaned at the realization that they set out to hunt Bigfoot, but what they actually found was a whole crop of spankings.