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Chapter 130 — The Escape
"Mason, where you been? Channing almost missed the race because of you!"
"I'm sorry, Dad." (Fingers clench the table knife)
"Mason, you must to do what I say."
"Yes, Daddy". (His mouth fills a bitter taste)
"Mason, give your place to Eden, she so upset."
"Okay, Dad". (His heart is beating like a hammer)
"I disown you, Mason. You are no my son any longer."
He looks at the bloody knife in his hand--
"Mason, what you done?"
"Mason, Mason, wake up, it's a nightmare!"
Mason hugs Mary, but still sees the bloody knife in his hand.
In the night the storm broke. The garden rustled and creaked as if there raged a witch. Older children open-mouthed looking out the window at the raging nature.
Mary accompanies Mason to the car before he's take off to the office.
"Don't wait me too early," he warned. "Today's court session promises to be a long and deep."
"We'll miss you," Mary kissed his cheek.
"Of course," he smiled and got into the car.
Mary returned to the house and came across two pairs of reproachful eyes.
"Walk?" Chip and Samantha chorus asked.
"No, look at the rain and wind, sweetie."
"Noo-oo-oo!" children ached and scattered around.
Christie sadly looking out the window: she likes have the children outside much more than at home.
But at the day they did outdo themselves. After a couple of hours Christie gives down and went to Mary.
"We must do something! Today they just do not like themselves and can kill each other."
Mary tried to calm Chip and Sami, but also failed.
"They are bored," she finally made her verdict. "I think we should go to the Capwell's house."
Christie beamed. Despite everything she still liked to visit Capwells. Her lost love for Ted was healed for long time, and they have the good friendship now.
* * *
An hour later, Mary already has a nice talk with Eden who stopped by here. Chip and Samantha quietly sat in the kitchen and helped Rosa make cookies; Christy shared the latest news with Ted.
But just before lunch Brandon's cry shakes the house.
"No! It is not true!"
Everyone run in the living room. Charlie and Brandon rolling on the flour and punching each other.
"Stop it," Ted firmly grabbed Charlie by the collar and began to pull off.
Mary and Eden were dragged off Brandon.
"What has come upon you?" Eden asked Brandon. "You never like fighting earlier."
Brandon quietly wriggled out of her hands and ran outside.
"Brandon, come back!" Mary ran after him, but the boy disappeared in the rain.
She returned to the house.
"Do you found him?" Eden rushed to her.
"No, he ran away. Where's Charlie?"
"In the living room. Ted tries to learn what's up for them."
Mary entered the room and joined the rest of the adults that were around scratched Charlie. He's dark and do not answer any questions, but looked askance at one then another.
Ted took Charlie to his room and then he tried to reach CC. But CC was not in the office, and secretary reported that he just gone to the business meeting in San Francisco.
"Excellent," Ted sadly commented and returned to the living room.
"Father is in San Francisco," he said. "Does anyone know where mom is?"
"I'll call her to Armonti's," Eden said and goes to call.
"I'll go into the garden to look for Brandon," Christie stands up from sofa.
"I'll go with you," Mary got up also.
"He could not run away too far," Ted said confidently. "Do not worry, he does soon be found."
But Brandon disappeared without leaving trace. They searched for him all in turn, searched every corner of the garden. But the estate seems too large.
Called by Mary Mason entered the house along with Sophia.
"Have not yet found him?" he asked quickly steps in the living room.
"No," Mary quickly embraced him. "I do not know what to do!
"Apparently the kid does not want to be found. Where's Charlie?"
"Still locked in his room. We tried to ask him but he is not too talkative."
"I'll try to talk to him," Sophia said and goes upstairs to the second floor.
"Did you looking for in stables?" Mason asked. "No? Then I'll go. May be he's is sitting there. It's his favorite place."
But Brandon was not found in the stables too. Mason walked around a few promising places, but its also was failed. He returned to the house through the back door and upstairs to change soaked clothes. Passing along the corridor he heard Sophia tries to reach out to Charlie.
"We do need to find Brandon, you understand me? Where did he run away?"
"I do not know!" In Charlie's voice could be heard sobbing. "I do not know."
Mason was about to enter and stop the questioning but heard:
"Sweetie, I know you're scared. But you not be any punished. I swear. Tell me why you quarreled?"
There was silence for a few moments and then Charlie give up: "He mocked over the way me speaking. And he said that he'll teach me to speak in California way. I said that I'll not have a deal with snobs. And he said that he is like his father is. And I said that he cannot be like his father because he's adopted."
"What?" Mason burst into the room. "What did you tell him?"
He saw the huge frightened eyes of youngest brother.
"Mason, calm down," Sophia took his hand. "Charlie, why do you say it to Brandon?"
"Because it's true," he looked up her. "I heard that my father and his mother talked about it. Well, I told him. And he yells and rushes at me! But I do not know where he escaped. I really do not know!
Sophia and Mason looked at each other.
"I'll call Cruz," Mason said and run downstairs. The case took a bad turn.
Sophia turned to Charlie.
"You acted very badly," she said dryly. "You should not say Brandon about his adoption."
"And he was not supposed to laugh at me.
"Charlie, I understand that you're offended, but it's too serious thing."
"I ever know that he does not know it! I thought it turned to be witty about his father's liking. In my school there was the adopted boy so he called himself the foundling and was not offended by jokes. His parents were so cool! They always came to him. He was jealous by everybody!" Charlie's eyes dreamy flashed and then went out. "Sophia, what will happen now to me? Father would punish me, right?"
"Maybe. But first we must find Brandon. Charlie, you're playing together. Remember maybe there is some place where he likes to hide?"
"I do not know," he shook his head. "I almost did not talk to him."
"And where you would go if you were on his place?" They heard Mason's voice from the door. "If you feel really bad where you would ran?"
"To my room. But..." Charlie suddenly stopped and swept past Mason out the hall.
"Charlie, come back!" Mason chased him and grabbed his hand. "I'll see you."
"He ran away because me so I must look for him!" Charlie broke away and ran out to the rain.
"Damn!" escaped from Mason powerlessness.
"Did you find Brandon?" Mary came up to him.
"No, and Charlie ran away too. To seek for him."
Half an hour later Cruz came in, and again Capwells went with flashes to the wet garden. Rain died down, but still it was drizzling.
Mary fills Mason up with hot coffee when the door suddenly opened and showed both of two runaways.
"Brandon, how are you scared me!" Sophia ran to him and saw that he was limping.
"He was at Lockridge property, tangled in barbed wire," Charlie explained.
"Its need to call the doctor," Sophia turned to Mason who nodded and dialed the number.
Sophia gently helped Brandon to upstairs to his room.
When they were out of sight Mason looked at his youngest brother.
"How did you know where he was?"
"I remember that he told me that he lived with her mother in the mansion and there was the barn with a well-hidden place. I run there and saw that he was stuck in the wire. I unhooked it and he still did not want to go with me!"
"But he did so what did you tell him?" Mason asked.
"He is really lucky guy. He has mom who loves him. Unlike me," Charlie said and go upstairs too, leaving Mason thoughtfully watched after him.
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