But there was good news, too. Dad wiggled his toes last night and Louise shared that he’d gotten so excited, he almost cried. It had been too difficult for him to move his lower body at all since it happened.
Doc had come by with some tea leaves to steep for her father in hopes that they could help his heart calm. So far, nothing had happened, but maybe it took time?
“You go on back to bed, Louise. When the crew stops by in a little bit, would you let them know that we won’t be digging? We could use their help in the search.” Anna swiped a hand over her windswept hair.
“Of course. I’ll make sandwiches for them to take with them as they search.”
“Thank you.” After a quick change of clothes that were sure to get filthy by day’s end, she downed two cups of coffee. The liquid scalded her mouth and throat as it went down. But if that didn’t help keep her awake and focused, nothing could. She refilled her canteen with water and put her boots back on.
When she walked outside, the first streaks of dawn started in the distance. It would be another good hour or so before the sun was up.
She rode back into town to check in with the sheriff, who was coordinating the search.
A crowd was gathered in the street with lanterns. Tying her horse on a post, Anna entered the throng.
The sheriff whistled and everyone quieted. “All right, people. We’ve searched the acreage closest to the Ziegler ranch. It’s time to spread out even more. That flash flood a while back opened up all kinds of gullies and crevices. Perfect places for a young boy to go exploring and get lost. Let’s put our focus on those for now, especially the ones closest to their ranch, and we will spread out from there. The day will get warm, so he’ll need food and water. Everyone make sure you have plenty with you. Fire three consecutive shots in the air if you find something.”
The group began to disperse and Anna spotted Martha over by her horse. The woman stared off into the distance.
Anna grabbed Misty’s reins and steered her steps in Martha’s direction.
The woman stood still as a statue.
No words came, so Anna placed a hand on Martha’s shoulder and squeezed.
“My last words to him were a scolding.” Caleb’s mom sniffed. “He wanted to go exploring and I told him no. He argued with me, and I came down on him pretty hard. Talking about all the dangers out there and he should never go exploring alone.” A single tear ran down her cheek.
“This isn’t your fault, Martha.”
“My mind tells me that, but then this horrible guilt washes over me. Maybe if I’d taken the time to go exploring with him ... or if I hadn’t spoken to him so harshly.”
It was one thing to be the friend of the missing person. Another entirely to be a mom, dad, or family member. What must they be going through? It pinched Anna’s heart to even try to fathom. “Caleb is a smart kid. He’s resourceful and youhave brought him up well. There are lots of people looking for him.”
“Please tell me we’ll find him? Please? Tell me that Caleb won’t end up like...” Guttural sobs choked off the last word.
Anna gathered her friend in her arms and held her tight. She was sure everyone was thinking the same thing. Fearing it. Praying against it. The town couldn’t endure another tragic loss.
“God knows exactly where Caleb is. He’ll show us where to find him.” The words slipped from her lips before she had time to think them through. So many people said the same words about Mary.
Anna shook the thought away. God Almighty knew where the boy was. She had faith in that. But whether or not He would show them where to find Caleb was beyond her.
As the sun baked the earth beneath him, Joshua crouched down and studied the gulley. There was a small boot print here and another one over there. But how old were they?
His training was in medicine, not tracking. Even so, every available person had dropped what they were doing and were assisting in the search.
Their little town was relatively small, with about fifty families. They all knew each other. All the kids played and went to school together. But the surrounding terrain of Wyoming Territory was rugged and rough with snakes and mountain lions and far too many places for a small boy to get lost or injured.
The negative thoughts weren’t helping.
Martha and Alan were looking all over the place for their son. Joshua’s dad was out searching too. While his mom—Caleb’s grandma—stayed at the family ranch to keep an eye out for the lad in case he wandered home.
Not one of them wanted to mention Mary, but her name hung in the air like the scent of rain after a thunderstorm.
God, we could use Your help.
No other words would come.
He searched the rest of the washout and found no trace of his nephew. The sun was high overhead. How long had he been out here?
