Page 77

“Do you want me to go with you? I can move around my appointments.”

“No, baby.” I cut her off. “It’s too cold for you to be out, and I want the ability to move quick without worrying about you.”

“You do know I have a coat and I can—”

“Take care of yourself, yeah, I know.” I wrap my hand around the side of her neck and pull her close. “I appreciate that you wanna help.” I know she’s concerned about the kids being out in the woods. It’s something that she hasn’t hidden from me, and something I know is on her mind all the time. If she could be out there looking nonstop, she would. The whole town has stepped up since we sent out a request for people to be on the lookout, not just in town but on their properties, for any sign of the kids who might be hiding somewhere. And there have been a few sightings, but nothing has panned out.

After dumping what’s left in my mug down the drain, I plant a kiss on her lips. “I need to finish getting ready and get out there before the snow starts coming down too hard.”

“Okay.” Her eyes scan mine before I pull my gaze away and walk out of the kitchen. It doesn’t take me long to finish getting dressed and only takes a few minutes to get Storm in his gear, with his GPS collar, coat, and reflective vest. He hasn’t worked in this weather, and I honestly have no idea how he is going to do, but at this point, there is no harm in finding out.

I stop at the bathroom door, where Genevieve is doing her makeup, and she turns to look at me.

“I’ll call if I find anything.”

“Okay,” she whispers, and I lean down and touch my mouth to hers.

“Try to have a good day.”

“I will if you call to tell me they are safe.” She drops her eyes to Storm when he butts his nose against her hand. “If you track them down, I’ll make you a steak.” He has no idea what she is saying, but still his tail starts to wag. “Love you.” She looks up at me with her eyes wide. “I mean—”

Grasping her face in both my hands, I kiss her before she can take it back and press her into the sink. She melts against me, holding my shirt at my sides while her tongue tangles with mine. If I had more time, I’d take advantage of the robe I know she has nothing on under at the moment, but I need to get out of here. Reluctantly I drag my mouth from hers and wait for her eyes to open. “You can’t take it back.”

“Wyatt.”

“And I love you too.” I slide my hand down her back to her bottom and squeeze. “Be good, and I’ll see you this evening.” I wait for her to nod, then let her go and call Storm to follow me out of the house.

After parking in Genevieve’s driveway a few minutes later, I get out and grab my pack while Storm hops out of the back. Even with the snow just beginning to fall, there is already a dusting of it covering the ground, and it feels like the temp has already dropped a couple of degrees.

Stopping just inside the woods, I squat down and grab Storm by his scruff and look him in the eye. “Okay, let’s try this again, bud.” I take the T-shirt Sandie gave me out of the bag I put it in and let him scent it before I release him with his order of “Go.” He takes off and is slow at first, with his nose to the ground, going the same direction he always does. As we get deeper into the forest, the terrain shifts, becomes more rugged, and the ground becomes hazardous with the snow that is coming down harder than before. At five miles in, the idea that Romey and Ezra could be out here keeps me pushing forward even when I’m out of breath and cold to the bone.

I lose sight of Storm up ahead of me despite the vest I put on him, and I stop to scan the forest, my breath coming out in white wisps in front of my face. When I look at his GPS locator, I can see he’s not far ahead, so I follow his location and come to a creek that is likely dry most of the year but is now full of moving water from the heavy rain we’ve had the last few days. By the time I find a way to cross, I’m at least half a mile behind Storm. We haven’t ever been this far up into the mountain, and I have a difficult time believing that the kids are this far out from town. That’s until I hear Storm begin to bark. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but then I hear a female voice yell and more barking, this time more aggressive than before. Running as fast as I can toward the sounds and the beacon on the GPS tracker, I see a small, run-down cabin, probably used for hunting in years past, come into view, along with the vibrant color of Storm’s vest against the brown-and-gray backdrop of our surroundings.

“Romey, Ezra,” I call out after ordering Storm to stand down.

Slowly, like in a scene out of a movie, the rickety door of the cabin opens, and Romey peeks outside. She looks terrified to see me, but there is also a hint of relief on her tired face.

“Is Ezra in there with you?” I ask, and he appears, poking his head under his sister’s arm.

The two of them look healthy and clean under what looks like about five layers of clothes, which make them appear much bigger than I know either of them is.

“Hey.” I approach them slowly, and Romey’s bottom lip trembles, either from cold or from the tears she’s trying to hold back. “We’ve been looking for you two.”

“We were going to turn ourselves in today,” she whispers, and I stop dead. Shaking her head, she looks over at Ezra and admits, “It’s getting too cold, and we need help.”

“Okay.” I walk across the snow-covered ground. “Are you both okay? Are either of you hurt?”

“No,” she answers.

“Hungry?” I question, and they both shake their heads no at the same time. “Can I come inside?”

Nodding, Romey steps back, and I enter the small one-room shack and look around. A piece of the roof is missing in one area, and most of the glass from the window is gone, leaving it just a couple of degrees warmer than it is outside. There are two piles of blankets with pillows, a stack of books between them, two flashlights, and a small pile of food that includes some canned goods, a box of Pop-Tarts, and some other junk-type food. Even if it’s not much, it looks like the two of them were making it work. “That’s Storm,” I tell Romey when he wanders over to her and presses into her side. “He’s been looking for you for a while.”

“Are we in trouble?” she asks, and I shake my head.

“No, but there are a lot of people worried about you guys. Do you think that you can make it back into town with me on foot?”

“Yes,” Romey says, then looks at Ezra, who nods.