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Was this wildlife biologist really a dog hater? “I’m happy to go home right now,” he said.
Her expression relaxed. “He really needs to not be a problem.”
“He really won’t be,” Tucker said with more aggression than he meant to. Computer Guy gave him a look that was the equivalent of a slap on the shoulder. This made him strongly dislike Computer Guy.
Wynona introduced her team, and Tucker learned that Computer Guy’s name was Craig. He also learned that Craig was a wildlife biologist just like Wynona, and he was from South Dakota. So that’s what was stuck in his craw. Craig wanted her job.
“Do you want to follow me?” Tucker asked. “There’s no address to plug in the GPS.”
She nodded. “Don’t lose me.”
Tucker got into his truck, fantasizing about losing all three of them and going into the forest to find the toad all by himself. He was pretty sure he’d be able to recognize it. He was pretty sure there were no other toad species with a scarlet stripe down its back. The thing was actually kinda beautiful — for a toad.
He led them south, deeper into the forest, keeping an eye on the sky. Dark was coming quickly.
He parked his truck at the Katie’s Gulch Trail head and let Sundance out. He sprinted into the woods excitedly.
Wynona got out of her van and glared at the patch of forest that Sundance had disappeared into.
Tucker wasn’t going to be able to put up with this. No one ever hated his dog. “He has never once chased an animal. He might get excited and roll in a dead one, but that might be helpful if he finds a dead toad.”
She didn’t say anything, but Craig laughed as if he were a frat boy sharing Tucker’s secrets.
Tucker shot him a look that said,We are not bros, and the cocky look slid off his face.
The man was wearing a thick winter coat and pack boots—a bit much for the current conditions. They weren’t going ice fishing.
Tucker pointed his forehead at the entrance of the trail, which was barely distinguishable from the forest. “We can start hiking in, and you tell me if you see a spot where you want to stop and set up.”
He put his pack on and then waited for them to get assembled.
“We’re not going to be able to carry all this,” Craig said.
“Yes, we are,” Wynona said through tight lips.
“Why didn’t we bring a pack horse?” Craig asked.
Wynona didn’t answer him. “It’s going to be hard enough to spot a toad,” Martin said. “I imagine it would be much harder on horseback.”
Craig gave him a dirty look. “I didn’t mean we would be riding horses. I meant a horse for the gear.”
Martin shrugged, seeming unoffended by Craig’s barbed tone.
“I don’t think we’re going to see anything while we’re hiking. They come out at night,” Wynona said.
Craig looked at her. “Then maybe we should be on horseback.”
Wynona ignored him and looked at Tucker. “How far are we from any of the locations you saw in the photos?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Tucker admitted, “but I’ll know it when I see it.”
