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“Let’s see what he’s got.” Gaines smiled at her and let the dog get a better sniff of the sweater.
As the rescuers divided into groups, Luna realized she was one of only three. That meant Marshal Gaines would be in her group. Her knees got wobbly again. As each group moved in assigned directions, both Luna and Wiley got a “pull” toward a grove of trees that was not on their grid.
“Excuse me, Marshal Gaines?” Luna thought about how she was going to approach the subject.
“Yes, Luna?” Gaines stopped to listen.
“I don’t know how to say this, but—”
He interrupted her. “Go ahead.” He didn’t smile, but his face was soft. “Over a decade in the Bureau, I’ve probably heard it all.”
“Then I’m sure you’ve heard of a woman’s intuition.” Luna looked up and gave him her sweetest smile.
Gaines smirked and nodded.
“Can you indulge me for a few minutes?” Luna tried not to sound like she was pleading.
“OK. Let’s hear it.” His tone was even.
“Would it be all right if Wiley and I headed into those woods on the other side of the meadow?” Wiley was tugging on the leash, pulling her in the same direction Luna was pointing.
“That was going to be next after we scoured this area.”
Wiley was pulling Luna along.
“I can’t afford to have another missing person, so I can’t let you go there alone.”
Luna scrunched up her nose. “What if our group goes together?”
“I don’t want to break protocol. I’ll go with you and get someone from another group to track our grid.” He pulled out his phone and pinged a lead tracker in the closest group.
“Ray? Send one of your people over to me.”
Within a few short minutes, a local librarian joined Luna and Gaines’s group. Gaines handed the tablet to one of the remaining people. “We’re going to check out another area. Should take us about an hour. I have my cell phone. Just hit the button that saysGAINESon the upper-right corner of the tablet, and I’ll answer. Everyone OK with this?” Nods and mumbles went around.
“Thank you for indulging me,” Luna said in a hushed voice, as they moved quickly across the small open field that had once been a sheep farm. She stopped suddenly and pointed. “Over there.” It was a thick grove of oak trees. She started calling Avery’s name. Wiley let out short whoops. Luna stopped again. “This way.” They moved through the thicket of trees when Gaines spotted a large felled oak. Must have been over a hundred years old. Gaines spotted something pink among the dead branches and the hollowed-out trunk that was resting horizontally on the ground. The three ran swiftly to the spot, praying it would be Avery, alive and unharmed. Gaines and Luna were calling her name as Wiley barked and yelped. The pink object moved slightly as the trio got closer. Gaines moved a large branch out of the way. The little girl’s eyes fluttered, then shut again.
“Easy does it.” With Luna’s help, Gaines kept moving the branches.
“Avery? Honey? Can you hear me?” Luna said tenderly. A moan came from the child. They moved the debris as fast as possible, Wiley barking them on. Gaines knelt next to the tree trunk and began removing the leaves covering most of the little girl’s face.
“Avery? I’m a policeman.” Gaines wanted her to understand he was one of the good guys. He doubted a three-year-old would know what a U.S. marshal was, but he showed her his badge anyway.
“Mama,” the girl whispered.
“Yes, honey. We’re going to get your mama, but first we have to get you out of this tree. OK?” Gaines said reassuringly. He checked her for fractures, cuts, and bruises before trying to move her. There were a few superficial lacerations, probably sustained while stumbling through the woods.
How Avery got wedged inside the oak was a good question, but at that moment, they needed to get her to safety. Gaines pulled out his mobile phone and hit a speed-dial button. “We’ve got her. She’s conscious but slightly dazed. A few cuts and bruises. She seems to be breathing normally and is asking for her mother.” He listened for a moment. “Roger that.”
Luna immediately whipped off her bandana, poured some of the bottled water on it, and began to clean Avery’s face. “You OK, sweetie?”
“I want my mama.” Tears rolled down her face. And then Luna’s face. Luna could have sworn she saw Gaines’s eyes well up, too.
About eight minutes later, a medevac helicopter landed in the small field. Two EMS attendants ran toward the thicket with a stretcher.
“Hey, how would you like to go for a helicopter ride?” Gaines smiled at the little girl.
“Mommy?” she squeaked. “Where’s Bunny?” she gabbled.
