Desert Rescue (K-9 Search and Rescue)

by Lisa Phillips

  “If he isn’t, we’re here for him anyway. Right?”

  Jennie nodded.

  She figured by now that Patrick couldn’t hear their conversation. He’d have reacted—hopefully well—to something she had said. Or he was just focused. Concentrating, as she was, on praying for Nate with every step, despite being drawn into a conversation with his partner. That was probably Eric’s attempt to distract her.

  “Thank you.” She glanced at him again. “For being here.” She motioned in front of her, toward Patrick. “For both of us, and Nate.”

  If something happened to Patrick, Eric could continue. Jennie wouldn’t know the first thing about going up against a dangerous gunman. Though, she had to admit she’d done pretty well when faced with her brother. But that was different.

  She’d have said he couldn’t possibly try to hurt her, but he had.

  Jennie fought a sigh. Later, she would cry over the lack of love between her and the only sibling she had.

  She recognized where they were headed. “That’s my house.” Nate’s house. “Do you think that’s where they went?”

  “We’ll find out. And if he’s not there,” Eric said, “we’ll move on and find him.”

  Jennie swiped at the tears on her cheeks and nodded.

  Patrick turned. “We need to search the house.” His face was pale. As she watched, he started to keel over.

  Jennie ran to him and ducked under his good shoulder, as she had before. “I’ve got you.”

  “We need to get in there.”

  Eric said, “I’ll go.”

  “Tucker can clear the house and find Nate.”

  “If the door was open.” Eric shot him a knowing look. “I’ll go inside and leave the door ajar. Once I’m out of sight, tell Tucker to come in. At least he’ll be a distraction to the man holding Nate. At best, I can take the guy down and he can find Nate.”

  “You take the man.” Patrick nodded. “Tucker will find Nate.”

  Relief rolled through her. The wash of it was like sunshine on a cold day. Sudden warmth and happiness. Nate. They were so close.

  Was he really inside?

  She couldn’t even contemplate the worst that could have already happened. That didn’t bear thinking about. Not when God had brought them this far.

  You did, didn’t You? Thank You.

  There was one final hurdle, but she was grateful anyway.

  “Copy that.” Eric didn’t waste any time. He raced over to the house, head low and gun drawn. Should they have called for backup? Maybe there was no time. Also, she didn’t want the man holding Nate to freak out at multiple approaching cops and wind up hurting Nate in a way that none of them could recover from.

  She shivered just thinking about it.

  Eric kicked in the back door and moved inside. Patrick showed Tucker the shirt again, so he could get Nate’s scent. “Tucker, find!”

  She held her breath as the dog darted across the yard.

  “It’ll be okay.”

  She nodded. “I know.” More just to say the words aloud than because she believed them. “It has to be. I can’t lose him the way I lost you.”

  His arm squeezed her. She reached up and took hold of his hand. Patrick turned his face so his mouth was against her cheek. “You didn’t lose me.”

  Inside the house, a gunshot rang out.

  Then another answering shot.

  Jennie sucked in a breath. “Nate.”

  * * *

  “Hold on.”

  Jennie’s whole body shuddered. Patrick held her tight in his one good arm. “Just hold on.”

  He wanted to go inside the house and help Eric.

  Right now he would be a liability, and Jennie had no way to defend herself. Tucker was in there, and Eric.

  “Hold on.” He said the words a third time, repeating the mantra as much to her as to himself as seconds ticked by like minutes and it felt like an hour before Tucker let out one short, sharp bark.

  Where was Eric? Who had been shot? Patrick had more questions, but standing took a lot of brain power. It hurt.

  They made their way to the house. He had to grit his teeth with each step, and he knew the dental bill alone after all this would be killer.

  But if they got Nate back, it would also be worth it.

  Eric appeared in the doorway, clutching his arm. “The gunman is dead.”

  “You got hit?”

  “Just a scratch. Unlike you.”

  Patrick wasn’t going to banter right now. “Tucker found Nate?”

  Eric nodded and moved aside. Jennie let go of Patrick and he swayed. His partner led him to the hall and he collapsed against the wall. Probably bleeding on the drywall paint. Leaving a smudge. He tried to turn to see where Jennie had gone, but pain tore through him and he hissed out a breath.

  Where was Tucker?

  And where was Nate? It had been hours. He wanted his son back.

  “I’ll step out and call this in,” Eric said. When Patrick glanced over, he added, “Dead guy is in the dining room.”

  “Copy—” Bile rose and he couldn’t get any more words out.

  “You need an ambulance.”

  He needed his son.

  “Nate!” Jennie called out to the boy. It sounded like she was running through the house. Frantic. Searching. Was he hiding? Had that man told him to duck inside some closet and stay there?

  Patrick turned the other direction and saw Tucker sitting by the kitchen at a door. Waiting for him? No. He’d found Nate, right? “Tuck.”

  The dog barked. His body moved the way it did when his tail wagged. But he stayed in that “Sit” and he didn’t break it.

  Nate was there.

  Patrick tried to push off the wall, but he couldn’t control his weight and started to keel over. He slammed into the other wall and cried out, “Jennie, he’s in here!”

  He heard her coming. Down the hall. The patter of her feet closing in. “Tucker.” He breathed out his dog’s name.

  Patrick couldn’t move. Pain sparked tears in his eyes. He needed to get to his son. Given all the blood, he was going to scare the boy witless the second Nate saw him. He frowned, gasped a breath and tried not to lose it as Jennie raced past him.

  “Laundry room.”

  She didn’t even pause, just sprinted to the door and petted Tucker. Then told him to get out of the way.

  Patrick heard the shuffle, pushed along the wall and looked around the corner.

  He managed a couple of steps. His dog sniffed his hand, but Patrick didn’t have the strength to even pat his head.

  He made it to the table, braced his weight and kept going to the kitchen counter. He grabbed the dish towel hanging on the oven and pressed the towel against his wound. The pain made him want to throw up, fall down or pass out. Perhaps all three. He settled for sliding down the wall.

  Jennie opened the door. Nate was huddled in the corner where Patrick could see he had no visible injuries but looked seriously pale. She crouched. “Hey.” Nate’s gaze shifted from her to Patrick. Jennie touched Nate’s shoulder. “You okay?”

  Nate said nothing. His cheeks were red over the pale color. Patrick couldn’t tell if they were flushed from fear and crying or if he’d been slapped around. Told to stay where he was. Scared enough he couldn’t move now.

  Patrick swallowed down nausea the pain was causing. “Hey, buddy.”

  Nate’s gaze shifted to him again.

  “I hurt my arm.” There was a whole room between them, but he kept his voice low. “Will you go see the doctor with me?”

  Nate looked at his mom, then back at Patrick. He chewed his lip. “He told me not to move.”

  “He’s gone now.” Jennie touched Nate’s cheeks. “That man is not going to hurt you anymore.”

  Tucker wandered in and s
topped by Patrick’s boot. He motioned with a flick of his fingers. “Go.”

  The dog trotted to Nate and licked the boy in the face. Nate squealed and giggled. It was subdued, but it was there. “Hi, Tucker.”

  The dog sniffed his son’s neck and then lay down by his side. He put his paw on Nate’s lap. Not something Patrick normally allowed, asking for affection like that. But this time he let it go. Clearly the two of them had something special, and right now it seemed like it was more important for Nate to feel safe than anything else Patrick might have to correct in the ornery Airedale’s training later.

  Eric came in. “Ambulance will be here in five.”

  Patrick tried to nod. His consciousness faded toward black, but he fought it for every inch of hold it wanted to take. “Thanks.”

  Jennie shifted. He heard her pet his dog, his good boy and the best dog ever. Yes, you are. Then Patrick felt warm fingers touch his cheeks. “Hey there. Hang on, okay?”

  He tried to focus on her face. Couldn’t make his eyes do what they were supposed to. “Love you.” He needed her to know. No matter what, he’d always loved her.

  And he always would.

  * * *

  “Is Dad okay?”

  Jennie held steady to Nate’s hand, clutched in hers. “The doctors just need to make sure. But they said he’s awake, right? So that’s good.”

  He’d told her he loved her.

  Jennie wanted to curl up and cry. It just hurt more, knowing neither of their feelings had ever changed. But that still didn’t mean he forgave her for what her family had done to him.

  Or for putting their son in danger.

  Jennie led Nate down the hall to Patrick’s hospital room. At the door she said, “Do you want me to go first?”

  If Patrick was bandaged and hooked to machines, it could be scary.

  Nate shook his head and didn’t let go of her hand. He’d stuck with her as much as possible in the last day or so since they’d found him at home. She didn’t blame him. Jennie wasn’t feeling much like being separated from her son right now. Later they would need to work through those feelings. Right now they were just enjoying the closeness of having each other back.

  Jennie held the door open.

  “Hey, guys.” Eric pushed off the wall, an easy smile on his face. “Good timing. I should be going.” He ruffled Nate’s hair and hurried out.

  “What was that about?”

  Patrick grinned. It was strained, but there. “He has a date with your friend Beth.”

  Jennie turned to the door then back. Patrick laughed, and Nate leaned against her hip while his father groaned. “Ouch. That does not feel good.” He smiled down at their son. “Hey, buddy. Have you been taking care of Tucker?”

  Nate nodded.

  Jennie moved forward with him, close enough Patrick could hold out his hand and Nate could lean in for a gentle hug.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Me, too,” Nate said. “We stayed at the rental house last night. They have DVDs.”

  “Anything good?”

  Nate shrugged. “Will you be out soon?”

  Jennie nearly smiled. It sounded like Patrick was in jail, not in the hospital. Patrick returned her smile. “I hope so.” His brow furrowed. “Do you think maybe...when I am, you might want to come home with me and see my house?”

  Jennie’s stomach hardened. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. What was she supposed to say?

  “You and your mom could stay in my guest room, and you could see where Tucker lives.”

  That sounded nice but didn’t exactly answer the questions rolling through her mind.

  Patrick glanced at her, some of those questions on his face. She still wasn’t sure what she should say.

  Nate answered for her. “That could be good.” He looked at her.

  She nodded. “I like it.” For her son, she could do anything.

  Nate smiled. The first time since being kidnapped. He wandered to the chair and plopped onto the seat, slouching down.

  She was about to pass him his backpack, so he had something to do, when she felt Patrick’s warm fingers touch hers.

  She let her gaze slide to him.

  “Yeah?”

  Jennie nodded. He tugged her closer. Enough she got the message and leaned in.

  “Ella tried to kiss me at recess,” Nate said. “I didn’t let her because it’s gross.”

  Patrick’s eyes flashed with a smile. Jennie tried to smile back, but it wavered. Patrick whispered, “You know how I feel. How I’ve always felt.”

  She shook her head. “After everything my family has done to you?”

  He studied her face. “I’m thinking since your father and brother haven’t been in your life for a long time, maybe ever, that makes me and Nate your real family.”

  He really thought that? Tears filled her eyes. “I got you shot.”

  “Jennie, you didn’t hurt me. I’m guessing this—” he wiped the tears from her cheeks “—is because you actually love me.”

  “I never stopped.” She grasped his wrists, determined to hold on tight and never let go. “I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”

  “Good.” Patrick tugged her to him and kissed her. “You’re the one for me. I knew it in high school, but I know it even more now. I want us to be together. For real.”

  Jennie nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Marriage, Jennie. We need to give Nate a real family.” Patrick kissed her again. “The family neither of us had.”

  “Do you really think we can do this?”

  “Yes.” He sounded so sure. “If we do it together.”

  Jennie’s heart soared. She had everything she’d ever longed for, right here.

  EPILOGUE

  One Year Later

  “Go, Nate!” Jennie jumped up and down, but it was short lived given how exhausted she felt. She watched her son from the sidelines as he ran with the ball, avoiding all the other kids on the opposing team trying to snatch his flag.

  “Run! Run!” Beside Jennie, Patrick’s mother cheered, also. Then she turned to Jennie and they shared a smile.

  It had taken some time, but the two of them had rebuilt trust, and now Nate’s grandma was a huge part of his life. Mostly trying to balance being the “fun” grandma to make up for everything she’d missed and not letting things get out of control. Too many snacks wasn’t good for anyone. But Jennie was enjoying watching them figure it out as they got to know each other.

  As for the letters Patrick had written, Jennie figured her father had thrown them away. However, there was no way to ever know. So she’d let that go. Along with the rest of the hurt.

  She sat on the blanket, letting out a satisfied sigh. The ring set fit snug on her left hand. Patrick had slid it there nearly two months ago now. Longer than either of them had wanted to wait, but it was for the best and gave them all time to adjust. They were different people now than they had been, building a relationship with God and with each other.

  They were a family for real, both Jennie and Nate having the last name Sanders. Nothing of who she had been was a part of their lives now. How could it be, when that life had been loneliness and dishonesty and this one was filled with life and blessing?

  Jennie lay back on the blanket and closed her eyes, overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion. Well, that wasn’t the only reason.

  Thank You, Lord.

  So many blessings.

  She woke to a strange sensation. As soon as she opened her eyes, she realized what it was. “Tucker. I told you how I feel about you licking my face.” She shoved the dog away playfully and sat up.

  Patrick crouched by her, dressed in his state police uniform. “I brought sandwiches.”

  She was about to thank him when pandemonium erupted on the flag football field. Barely
seconds later Tucker had stolen some kid’s flag and made a run for it while all the players and the coaches chased him. Nate fell on the ground, laughing.

  Patrick sat by her, tugging her to his side. “You were asleep when I got here. Tired?”

  She didn’t like the worry on his face. “Yes, but it’s not bad.”

  “What...?” He didn’t finish.

  Jennie leaned in, touched both his cheeks and spoke close. “I’m pregnant.”

  Cheers and congratulations erupted along with laughter on the blanket. And not just from his mother.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, look for the other books in the K-9 Search and Rescue series:

  Trailing a Killer by Carol J. Post

  Mountain Survival by Christy Barritt

  Keep reading for an excerpt from On the Run by Valerie Hansen.

  Dear Reader,

  What a journey this has been. It reminds me of the promise God gives us, to bring beauty out of ashes. And doesn’t He do that? What a blessing that we can live in the security of that promise. Whether it will happen on earth, or in Heaven, there is joy and blessing coming.

  I pray this story has blessed you, and that you seek Him as you journey on.

  I would love to hear from you by email through my website, www.authorlisaphillips.com, where you can fill out the contact form, and subscribe for news about new releases. I very much enjoy connecting with readers.

  In Him,

  Lisa Phillips

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  On the Run

  by Valerie Hansen

  ONE

  “Code Silver. All personnel, be advised, we have a Code Silver.”

  The male voice blaring over the PA system sounded a lot calmer than Janie Kirkpatrick felt. In the three years she’d been an emergency room nurse she’d never encountered a code silver except as a drill. Now, she was staring down the barrel of a real handgun, the object of the hospital’s cryptic warning. It didn’t matter that this firearm wasn’t actually silver, the threat was frighteningly clear.