Strange. Something didn’t fit. He started to ask her about what she’d said, but quickly decided it wasn’t his concern. Obviously she didn’t want to share it with him, and that bothered him.
* * *
Ella opened the garage door to the kitchen, so Josiah could carry Robbie, who was sound asleep, into the house. Buddy and Sadie greeted them at the door when they entered.
Positioned at the sink, Linda glanced at them.
“Where’s Alex?” Josiah asked as he crossed the room.
“In the den. She came home right before dinner. I can fix you some leftovers if you want.”
“Thanks. We ate in Fairbanks not that long ago.” Josiah headed for the hallway.
Ella followed him. “Will you carry him upstairs and put him on his bed? I doubt he’ll wake up before morning. He’s worn out from today.” Josiah had gone out of his way to make the outing to Fairbanks special for Robbie. That was another reason she was attracted to Josiah when she shouldn’t be. He cared about her son, and Robbie hung on to every word Josiah said. Robbie’s father had never spent any time with his son.
After he placed Robbie in his room, he backed away. “I’m going to let Alex know how my visit to the store went today.”
“I’ll be down in a little bit. I’m tired but not ready for bed.” Ella removed Robbie’s tennis shoes while Buddy settled on the floor next to the bed.
She put a light sheet over her son, then smoothed some of his hair from his face. When she did that when he was awake, he’d act as though he was too old to have his mother fuss over him. In a couple of months he would be nine.
What if I have to leave Alaska?
Ella crossed to the window to pull the shades halfway down but stopped and looked out onto the backyard toward the stand of birch and spruce trees at the rear of the property. It was eleven o’clock at night, and the sun was finally setting but would rise before five. At least she didn’t have to worry about a man peeking in at her son sleeping here. Chills shivered up her spine as she thought back to Thursday night, when Foster had done just that. She tugged the blinds another several inches down.
She dug her cell phone out of her jeans pocket and checked to see if David or Thomas had left her a message. Nothing. Still no sign of Foster. People headed into the wilderness all the time to disappear from civilization. What would she do if the police never found Foster?
She’d left Georgia because of Keith. She didn’t want to leave Alaska because of Foster.
Her son mumbled something she couldn’t understand and rolled over on the bed.
“Robbie,” she whispered, checking to see if he was awake.
When she saw his eyes were closed, she released her pent-up breath and headed into the hallway. Her stomach rumbled. She’d worked up an appetite after walking along Chena River at the Fairbanks Downtown Market after visiting the Carter Kennels. She’d enjoyed the music, sampling some of the food and the atmosphere. For a while, she’d felt free, as though they hadn’t a care in the world, and she and Robbie were spending the day with a wonderful man under normal circumstances.
Now she wasn’t even sure if that would ever be possible. After Keith had been put into the Witness Security Program because he’d turned state’s evidence against the crime syndicate he’d worked for, she had no idea where he was. She didn’t know if he was in a prison or out there somewhere with a new identity.
Robbie and I are totally in Your hands, Lord. She repeated the prayer as she descended the stairs to the first floor. She’d done everything she could to vanish. She followed the New Life Organization’s instructions—as though she and Robbie were in WitSec like Keith—and so far it had worked for four years.
As she neared the den, she heard Josiah ask, “What did David have to say?”
“He’s calling everyone about meeting to help with the search now that the state police have found the black truck. What are you going to do?”
Ella paused before entering to hear what Josiah would say to Alex without her around. She didn’t want to keep him from doing what he should do. Josiah and Buddy were a great SAR team.
“I’m staying here. My first priority is Ella and Robbie.”
“I’m going. You know how I feel about any child that’s missing.”
“You should. I would go, too, but—”
“Good, because I’m going to be involved,” Ella said from the den’s entrance.
Josiah looked at Ella. “You can’t. What about your son?”
“Robbie will also go. He’ll help me at the command center. David will be there, so we’ll be fine, but they’re going to need all the trained dogs with good handlers if they’re going to locate Seth.” When Josiah frowned and started to say something, she set her hand on her waist. “And honestly, do you see Foster walking into the command center to take Robbie? We know what the man looks like. With the police crawling around the area, he won’t.”
Josiah exchanged a glance with Alex. “Okay, but only if David agrees.”
She put her other hand on her waist and narrowed her eyes on Josiah. “You’re hoping he says no, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “Of course. That’s why bosses get paid big bucks.”
“He volunteers his services just like you.”
“But he has the fancy title.”
Alex laughed and rose from the couch. “I’m going to let Sadie outside to check the grounds, then I’m off to bed. Four o’clock will be here soon enough.”
Ella sat where Alex had been. “So tell me, what have the police found?”
“The black truck used to kidnap Seth was found off Eagle River Road half an hour ago. The area around there is wooded and vast. Although it’s going to be dark soon, the K-9 unit is searching the immediate area, but as soon as it’s light, they want us in place so we can blanket the vicinity.”
“Maybe they’ll find Foster and Seth beforehand.” Ella shifted to face Josiah at the other end of the couch.
“I hope so, but there are a lot of places to hide, and the Eagle River is nearby. He could try using the water to throw the dogs off.”
“Even in July the water is ice-cold.”
“There’s a chance Foster isn’t even there or Seth. But it has to be searched.”
“And you need to be there. Robbie and I are going, too. This is why I work for Northern Frontier Search and Rescue. I’m good at running the command center and keeping track of where our volunteers are.” She scooted closer to Josiah until they were inches apart. “I’m going, and David can’t do anything about it once I’m there.”
His blue eyes softened. “Fine. Both Alex and I are dedicated to searching for any child missing, no matter when or where.”
Ella wanted to melt under his perusal. “I know. I’ve seen your dedication.”
“Once when we were eleven, a friend went missing. The conditions weren’t the best. Only about half the searchers needed arrived. By the time he was found, he’d died. I’ll never forget that. That’s why I got serious about survival in the wilderness and trained Buddy to be a SAR dog.”
“I’m so sorry about your friend.”
“The worst part was I couldn’t do anything to help him.”
The more she got to know Josiah, the more she realized how much integrity he had. But she still felt that he kept a part of himself bottled up and hidden from the world.
She laid her hand over his on the couch. “You were only a kid. Robbie keeps wondering why he can’t help search.”
His gaze locked with hers, and she felt like she was drowning in those blue depths. “I understand why kids don’t join search teams. In Alaska, tragedy can happen quickly. But even knowing the reason doesn’t mean it didn’t affect me.”
The urge to cup the rugged line of his jaw inundated her. She grappled for a subject that would k
eep her from speculating how it would feel to kiss him. “I wonder how capable Foster is in the backcountry.” She relaxed against the cushion, slipping her hand from his. Too dangerous.
“Let’s hope he makes a mistake and gets caught.”
“That’s what I’ll be praying for while you all are out searching.”
He rose, holding his arm out toward her. “We’d better get some rest. We’ll have to leave in less than four hours.”
When he pulled her to her feet, she came up close against him. He grasped her, their gazes bound as though ropes held them together. He brushed his fingers through her hair, then cupped her face. He bent toward her, then his mouth claimed hers in a kiss. Suddenly, her legs felt like jelly, so she gripped his arms to keep herself upright.
A series of barks broke them apart as Ella looked toward the door.
“That’s Buddy,” Josiah said, as he charged from the room.
SEVEN
Could someone have gotten into the house?
Josiah raced for the stairs, taking them two at a time with Ella right behind him. He hit the second-floor landing at a dead run. When he reached Robbie’s room and started to open the door, the barking ceased. He slammed into the room, his heart galloping as fast as a polar bear after its prey. Nearly colliding with Robbie a few feet inside, Josiah skidded to a halt.
The boy stood in the center of the room, his arms straight at his sides, a blank expression on his face as he stared into space. Buddy nudged his hand. Nothing. Josiah glanced toward the hallway, not sure what to do.
Ella hurried inside, took one look at her son and relaxed the tensed set of her body. “Occasionally in the past, he has sleepwalked. He used to do it more when he was younger. The doctor thought he’d outgrow it as he got older.” She kneaded her neck. “It’s been six months since he did it, so I thought he finally had. Usually the age range for sleepwalking in children is between four and eight years old, and he’ll be nine in September.”
“Then I’m glad Buddy was here. If Robbie had left his room, he could have fallen down the stairs.”
“He wanders around his bedroom, and I’d often find him asleep on the floor the next morning.” Ella guided Robbie back to the bed and tucked him in. “He doesn’t realize he’s done it, even when he wakes up in a different place.”
Josiah stood with Ella by the door to make sure Robbie didn’t get up. She curled her hand around his and took deep breaths.
“I think he’s fine.”
“If not, Buddy will let us know.”
In the hallway she faced Josiah. “You and your sister have done so much for Robbie and me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I do it because it’s the right thing to do. You can trust me. I won’t do anything to hurt you or Robbie.”
“I know.”
He studied her for a moment. “Do you really? I’m not sure you do.”
“Why do you say that? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“Someone has hurt you, made you wary. I certainly understand that. I just wanted you to know where I stand.”
She pursed her lips and stared at his shirtfront. “I won’t deny that I’ve been hurt. I divorced a man who didn’t love or care about his son.” She took several steps to her bedroom door. “Good night. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Josiah watched her disappear inside the room, closing the door quietly while her body language screamed tension. It was obvious the man didn’t love or care about Ella, either. Under different circumstances, he would pursue Ella, but he didn’t have any business getting involved with a woman. The last one had left her mark on his heart.
* * *
By five in the morning the next day, Ella had signed in most of the searchers at Northern Frontier Search and Rescue. She counted only three left in line.
“Mom, why can’t I go out with Josiah? I want to learn all I can about having a SAR dog.” Robbie whined as he sat next to her at the check-in table for Seth’s searchers.
“Because you’ll remain glued to my side the whole time.” She took the check-in form from another searcher and gave instructions to the next person.
“But I want to help!”
“You are helping. I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t with me. You’ll be able to search when you’re older.”
Robbie pouted. “I’m always too young. When I get my puppy, I’m gonna start working with him right away. At least I can do that.” He slumped against the canvas back of the chair.
“That’s a good plan.” Ella took the check-in form from the last searcher. It was two minutes until David would brief the search teams on the situation and objectives.
Ella rose and stretched.
Robbie jumped to his feet. “Can I hang out with Josiah until he leaves?”
She nodded, realizing a good part of the day would be boring for her son. Maybe she shouldn’t have come, but that would have meant one less team of handlers and dogs. Like Josiah said last night, this was the right thing to do.
She watched her son hurry to the tent and find Josiah standing next to Buddy. A couple of seconds later, he handed her son his dog’s leash, and Robbie grinned from ear to ear.
With a deep sigh, she made her way to the tent, wanting to listen to the briefing but still keep an eye on the check-in table. Two searchers had yet to show up—a husband-and-wife team. She hoped nothing had happened to them. They could use everyone to help the state troopers overseeing the search for Seth.
David signaled for quiet. “I’ve just been updated. We’ll be searching this area.” He pointed to area south and west of Eagle River Nature Center, where their staging area was. “A trail from the truck Foster used in the abduction of Seth London headed away from the center toward the south. From the tracks the police have found, there’s evidence that Foster went into the backcountry with Seth but the boy didn’t come out. A vehicle was reported stolen half an hour ago. They believe, based on the footprints, that Foster took the car. There was no evidence the child was with him. Our job is to search that area and pray we find the child alive.”
As David continued to fill the searchers in on what they would do, Ella spotted the couple arriving and walked back to the table to check them in.
“We’re sorry. We had a flat tire.”
“I’m so glad you are here and safe. David is just finishing up with the group now. Talk to him, and he’ll give you the spiel and instructions.”
They nodded, then rushed to catch the last part of David’s briefing. Ella started back toward the tent pitched near the nature center. Her gaze immediately zeroed in on her son, who hadn’t left Josiah’s side. In the past days, Robbie had followed Josiah around everywhere. They’d bonded almost overnight, and that scared her. What would happen when Foster was found and they went back to their life without Josiah and Buddy? The thought added a chill to the cool morning air. She zipped up her light parka as though that would warm her. She had a feeling that when Josiah went on with his life, he’d leave a hole in both her life and Robbie’s.
Memories of their kiss the night before haunted her again. She’d barely slept because he’d filled her thoughts. She would not fall in love with Josiah. She’d fallen in love with Keith, and her life had become a nightmare not long after the wedding. How could she tell Josiah about her ex-husband?
The searchers began grouping with their team leaders. Josiah knelt in front of Robbie and clasped her son’s arm. He said something too quietly for her to hear, but whatever Josiah told Robbie, it turned his frown into a grin.
Robbie hugged Josiah, then gave him Buddy’s leash. Josiah rose, and they exchanged high fives. Emotions overflowed her throat. She swallowed hard as Josiah looked around, then caught sight of her. He smiled and waved. Her son had missed out on a male role model. Even when Keith had been aro
und, he hadn’t really been a part of Robbie’s life. How would she ever be able to make it up to her son for her bad judgment concerning her ex-husband?
“I’ve noticed you’re one of the organizers. Could you answer a few questions?” a woman asked from behind Ella.
When Ella pivoted toward her, she realized a cameraman was standing behind the woman, as well as a photographer snapping pictures as the searchers prepared to leave.
“We just arrived and didn’t catch the briefing.” The young lady she recognized from a local television station held a microphone up for Ella to reply.
She froze. She always worked way behind the scenes of a search, and usually kept track of any media covering the rescue. Being fixated on Josiah’s relationship with her son had caused her to let down her guard.
Ella pointed toward the tent. “You’ll want to talk with David Stone. He can answer your questions.”
“Thank you.” The woman and her cameraman headed for the tent.
But the photographer stayed behind and continued taking pictures. This rescue would generate a lot more media coverage than usual because of the nature of the story. She quickly put some of the searchers between her and the reporters, grabbed Robbie, then headed around the nature center.
She wasn’t worried about the TV reporter, because the station wouldn’t air anything that didn’t contribute to the story, but she would have to stay away from the photographers. For all she knew, her husband could be dead. He’d certainly angered a lot of people, but she wasn’t going to take a chance.
* * *
Hours ago after being airlifted to one of the sites where a set of tracks, which the authorities thought were Foster’s and Seth’s, had been discovered, Josiah gave Buddy a long leash. Josiah kept his gaze trained on his surroundings for any footprints to compare with what he’d seen at the start. He prayed to the Lord to guide his steps and help him find the child. He knew of the dangers in the wilderness—bears, moose, freezing water, falling on the rough trail.
The other searchers were behind the handlers with their dogs, covering the ground much more slowly, looking for any signs to help them. To Josiah’s left, his sister and Sadie were following Eagle River. He hoped the child hadn’t fallen into the ice-cold river or the many creeks feeding into it. From what he’d heard in the briefing, Seth didn’t swim well.
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