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Moments later Cameron caught a glimpse of flashing lights about a mile down the mountain and then they disappeared around a curve. A huge sense of relief washed through him. He knew that curve. The ambulance was almost here.
It was like getting his second wind. Adrenaline kicked in as he glanced down at the top of Lili’s head. She was warmer now, lying close against his body, and she was still breathing. He had to believe she was going to be okay.
All of a sudden, the sound of sirens turned into a scream as the flashing red and blue lights appeared, coming toward him at breakneck speed. Cameron immediately moved to the side of the road and held up his hand. The driver killed the sirens as the ambulance pulled up in front of him.
Cameron swiftly moved to the back of the vehicle as the driver jumped out and both EMTs came out on the other side. He knew them all. He’d gone to school with the EMTs, Fagan Jennings and Billy Jackson. And he’d known the drive, B. J. Kelly, for a good twenty years. He’d never been so glad to see them in his life.
Kelly opened the back doors. Fagan climbed in, and Billy took Lili from Cameron’s arms and passed her off to Fagan.
“Jesus, Cameron. You guys pulled off a small miracle here tonight finding her so fast,” Fagan said, then realized the little girl wasn’t just sleeping. “What happened to her? She’s unconscious! Has she been injured?”
“Biggers drugged her. I don’t know what with. Her breathing is shallow, and she was hypothermic when I got to her. She’s not allergic to anything we know of, and her parents will be waiting for you in the ER when you arrive. That’s all I know,” Cameron said.
He watched Billy Jackson climb inside. His last glimpse of Lili was Fagan putting a stethoscope on Lili’s chest and Billy buckling her onto the gurney. And then B. J. Kelly closed the back doors and climbed up into the cab, turned the ambulance around, then gunned it back down the mountain as loud and fast as they had arrived.
Cameron could still see taillights when the second ambulance appeared on the way up to get Biggers. As soon as it passed him, he dropped to his knees and put his arms around Ghost’s neck.
“You did it, Ghost! You found Lili. You are such a good boy.”
Ghost whined and licked Cameron’s chin. When Cameron stood, the dog moved a few steps ahead to lead the way until they reached where he’d parked.
A county officer was standing guard at Biggers’s vehicle.
“Waiting for a tow?” Cameron asked.
The officer nodded. “Yes. Taking it in to the forensics lab. Good job finding the kid.”
“Team effort,” Cameron said, then opened the passenger door to his Jeep. Ghost jumped in, settling in his spot as Cameron closed the door and circled the vehicle to get in.
The relief of sitting down, and knowing they had accomplished what they set out to do, was huge. It felt like he’d lived a lifetime from Rachel’s phone call to handing Lili over to the EMTs, but when he glanced at the time, he was shocked. Less than four hours had passed. It would be dawn soon. He shuddered, thinking what might have happened but for Ghost.
He laid a hand on the big dog’s head.
Ghost looked up at him and then began licking his paws.
Cameron sighed. He wanted to go straight to Jubilee, but his face was burning from the cuts and scratches of running through the woods, and he needed to get Ghost home. He passed the mailbox where Rachel had left her baby’s shirt, then another two miles down before turning up his drive.
Seeing the porch light still burning and the lights he’d left on was the only welcome he was going to get. There was no one waiting for him except the angel in his dreams.
Ghost sat up in the seat as Cameron pulled up beneath the carport. “Hey, buddy, we’re home,” he said.
He opened the door and got out, expecting Ghost to leap across the seats and follow, but instead he just sat, whining.
Cameron frowned and then circled the Jeep and opened the other door. Ghost still hadn’t moved, and then Cameron saw all the blood on the seat and the floor, and dark stains on the white hair on one of Ghost’s front paws.
“Aw, man…what did you do?” he muttered, then slid his arms beneath his dog, lifted him out and carried him into the house through the side door, and laid him on the kitchen floor.
It didn’t take long to find the deep cut on the paw pad. Cameron ran back to the Jeep to get his backpack and rifle, then knelt beside Ghost and pulled out the first aid kit. After sluicing the cut with water to remove debris, he applied antiseptic cream.
Ghost yelped once, then continued to state his objections with soft, intermittent whines until Cameron began wrapping the injured paw with gauze.
When he finished, Ghost tried to lick it again, but Cameron put his hand over the bandage. “No, Ghost. No licking.”
The dog looked up. Cameron cupped Ghost’s jaw, gazing down into the deep black eyes of the animal before him, and then leaned down—foreheads touching.
“Thank you for your sacrifice, buddy. You ran hurt. You didn’t stop because of what I asked of you. You have more courage than most men I know. No chewing your bandage off, okay? Now let’s get you some food and water.”
He carried Ghost to his food and water bowl, then went to clean up the mess he’d left on the kitchen floor while Ghost ate. Cameron knew he’d gotten scratched, but he had no idea it was so bad until he saw himself in a mirror. It looked like he’d gone four rounds with a bobcat and lost the fight. Still, there was nothing to be done but wash up and apply antiseptic. He would heal. He wasn’t as certain about Lili.
