can try.” Grady looked around the dark area, but Scout wasn’t there. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. “Scout. Come.” There wasn’t even the sound of a bark. Now it was time for Grady to panic.
“Please, don’t hurt me,” Zack cried as the big wolf came toward him. He raised his shaking hand and waved, hoping the animal would leave his hiding place. “Just go away. Please.”
Zack took off running. He wasn’t sure what he was more afraid of, the animal or his dad finding him. He climbed the rough hillside, and went through a group of trees, but every time he looked back the big wolf was still following him. He tripped on a rock and cried out as he fell. He rolled over and saw his bloody palms. It hurt so bad, but he wasn’t going to cry. He just had to get away.
He got up and started to walk again, hoping he could find someone who would get him back to his mom. He looked up at the sky. It was getting late and it was going to be dark soon. That scared him. Nighttime was when bad things happened. He glanced over his shoulder to see the wolf was still following him. Zack climbed over the next rock and stopped. There was a coyote, then soon there were three of them.
Suddenly the wolf following him took off after the wild dogs. The animals fought, and soon the coyotes ran away, but not the wolf, who came back to him. Afraid, Zack backed away, but the animal still came closer. Then he saw a collar and a tag hanging from his neck.
“You’re a dog?”
As if he understood, the animal barked at him.
All at once the wind began to blow and Zack hugged himself. It began to rain, and lightning and thunder weren’t far behind.
The dog barked again and started off, but stopped and waited for him. Maybe the dog was taking him home. Zack went after him, but they came to another mine and the dog slipped inside, showing him the way.
Shivering, he went inside the dark old mine. He didn’t know what else to do. Inside, he stayed close to the opening, and the fading light, but couldn’t help but be curious by all the treasures. An old mining car sat on tracks. He wished there were some blankets to keep him warm. It began to pour rain outside and he stepped back. The dog came up beside him, and Zack stood very still, then he reached down and petted him. His fur was soft.
“Good dog,” Zack managed to say.
The animal nudged him away from the entrance and Zack sat. The dog sat, too. “Can I see your collar?” Zack carefully reached for the silver tag and read the letters.
“U.S. Army. Your name is Scout. Wow, you’re an army dog. You can protect me.”
Scout laid his head on Zack’s leg, and he was beginning to feel a little better. Now, if only his mom would find him.
CHAPTER THREE
THREE hours later, and exhausted from the search, everyone stood next to the sheriff’s vehicles to figure out the next move. They’d had to wait out the heavy rain, then had gone back out and combed the area once it let up, but any trail of her son had been washed out.
“But we can’t leave Zack out there,” Gina cried.
A frustrated Reed Larkin said, “Of course not, Gina, but it’s getting dark. I need to go back to town and get more volunteers and we’ll start out again at first light. The men need to eat, and get some rest.”
“It could be too late by then,” Gina argued.
The sheriff turned to Grady Fletcher. “Is there a chance your dog might be with Zack?”
Gina was hopeful. “Is that true?”
Grady nodded. “Scout might have got the boy’s scent and gone after him. If the dog couldn’t get the boy to follow him back to us, he’d stay.”
She was hopeful. “So Zack’s not alone out there?”
“It’s a possibility,” Grady told her. “I don’t know for sure.” He hesitated. “Scout had some injuries while in Afghanistan.”
Gina frowned. “Injuries? So you don’t know how he’ll act? Could he harm Zack?”
Grady shook his head. “Scout wouldn’t hurt anyone unless he’s given provocation. If he found your son, he’s been trained to stay with him. He’ll protect him with his life.”
The sheriff stepped in. “I know I can’t get you to go back to town, Gina, but I can call Lori.”
“No, I don’t want her out in this weather. She’s pregnant and Jace is out of town.”
“So you’re going to spend the night in a truck?” the sheriff argued. “And there’s more rain expected.”
“I’ll be all right.” She turned to Grady. “That is, if you’d be willing stay, too. Of course I’ll pay you for your time.”
The man straightened. “I don’t want your money. I’ll stay for the boy and for my dog. But a better plan might be to go to my grandfather’s cabin up the road. At least dry off and get something to eat.”
Reed Larkin stepped in. “That’s a good idea, Gina. You can’t just keep wandering around these mountains. You’ll get lost. That isn’t going to help Zack.”
How could she leave her son? “How far away is the cabin?”
“About a half mile from here,” he offered. “You’ll at least be close by, and if Scout leads the boy out, he’ll bring him to the cabin.”
She looked back at Reed. “Go, Gina,” he told her. “You’re chilled to the bone. I’ll be back at first light.”
It had been a long time since she’d trusted a man, outside of her new brother-in-law, Jace, and a few of the townspeople. It looked like she didn’t have much of a choice.
“Thank you, Grady,” Gina said. “I promise I won’t be a problem.”
Grady knew that wasn’t true. Gina Williams had already caused him the kind of trouble he didn’t need right now. “I know. And you’ll at least dry off and get some food in you.”
The sheriff stopped Grady. “I’ll be back at dawn.” He handed him his card. “If anything happens before then call my cell phone.”
Then the men loaded into the vehicles and drove down the road.
“Come on, let’s get you warmed up.” Grady helped Gina into the truck, then turned on the heater, trying to stop her shivering. The temperature had already dropped with the fading daylight, and with the combination of the rain, it was damn cold. He, too, was worried about the boy, praying he had found cover.
He drove along the bumpy road that led to the old log cabin that he’d called home for the past three months. In the dim light, the place didn’t look much better than when he’d officially moved in a few months ago, knowing his grandfather needed a lot of help for his recovery.
After parking the truck, he got out to help his guest, but she’d already jumped down by the time he reached her. He climbed the steps to the porch
