SEVEN
Bryce got the impression he’d interrupted a private conversation between Sierra, her father and Sheriff Locke. But he trudged forward anyway with every intention of inserting himself into the thick of things.
He wouldn’t be left out. Not as this juncture.
As he approached the counter, he forced a grin. “You guys are getting started without me?”
Frowning, she shook her head and straightened the pens and cards on the counter. She didn’t seem happy with whatever had been discussed. He didn’t wait for an explanation and instead gave Samson the attention the dog required. Or rather, demanded. Bryce thought Samson’s eyes were scolding him for not staying here this morning after Bryce had taken him for a walk. Like the dog wanted Bryce to stay and help him protect Sierra. “I know, boy, I know.”
When he stood, John had moved over near the door, preparing to open it for customers. Someone had already shoveled the sidewalk in front of the stores, and would need to keep at it all day long.
“What did Samson say to you?” Sierra teased.
“He implied with his eyes that he didn’t like that I had left him and John here to protect you alone. So he was scolding me. I was just telling him I understand that you need to be watched and protected from Raul.” Sierra’s eyes had narrowed as he spoke. He lifted his palms in surrender. “I’m just telling you what he said.”
Sheriff chuckled. “You two are ridiculous.”
“Maybe it’s you who needs protecting, Bryce,” she said.
“Yeah, from you. I see that look in your eyes,” he said. “You want to kick me to the curb right now. But even if you do, I’ll stand out there in the cold.” He wouldn’t let Raul get another chance at her like he had before in Boulder, and then twice already here in Crescent Springs.
Sheriff Locke actually rolled his eyes. “Well that’s my cue to leave you two to protect each other, but please remember—I want to know if something suspicious happens. Anything odd or strange or out of the ordinary. Don’t take any risks. Let’s keep in close contact.”
Hmm. That was an interesting way to put it. She was a deputy. Why wouldn’t she be in close contact? Bryce didn’t miss Sierra stiffening at the sheriff’s words.
“Thanks, Sheriff,” she said. She didn’t exactly seem pleased to see her boss in the store this morning.
Bryce would wait until the sheriff exited before he spoke. Sierra held her silence as well. He hoped she would tell him what was going on. Before she got the chance the front door signaled the sheriff’s exit and that someone had entered. Jane came through bringing snow with her on her coat and boots. She coughed then spotted Sierra at the back and gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No worries,” Sierra said. “It’s hectic out there.”
Sierra turned to him with a forced smile.
“What was that all about?” he asked.
“That depends on what you’re referring to specifically.”
After shrugging out of her coat, Jane hung it on a rack at the back wall. She rushed behind the counter and stuffed her bag onto an already overflowing shelf. Tugging off her knit cap, she turned and smiled at them while she finger combed her long black hair and put it up in a hair clip. She released a hefty breath. “There. Do I look like I’m together?”
“As always.” Sierra’s smile was warm and her gaze held respect for her employee.
Then Sierra turned her attention back to Bryce and grabbed his arm. “Jane if you don’t mind working up front and—” she leaned in to whisper “—keeping an eye on Dad, I have a few things to do.”
Jane scrunched her face and waved her hand. “Pfft. Go ahead. Please. You’re the boss. I got this.”
Sierra promptly ushered Bryce and Samson to the apartment. Bryce let her grip on his arm remain as she urged him back like he was a child. At the door to the apartment she seemed to realize she still held on to him and released him.
She opened the door for him. “Gentlemen first.”
He tried to hide his smile as he entered her home. This was serious business and he needed to remember that.
Someone was out to kill Sierra.
Once inside, Samson rushed to his water bowl and Bryce stuffed his hands in his pockets. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”
She paced frantically and shoved her hands through her hair. “The sheriff first asked me to leave town for a few days. Then when I refused he said I’m off duty until further notice. What does that even mean?”
Good for the sheriff. Bryce approached and blocked her from pacing. He gently grabbed her arms. “Sierra, calm down. It means that he cares about you, and I for one am glad for that since I feel the same way. I came to Crescent Springs to be here for you. Protect you. Investigate. Everything that’s needed to make sure you’re safe.” Oops. He’d said the wrong thing.
“You think this is about you? Me not working as a deputy makes it easier for you to watch out for me?” She shrugged free of his grip, a deep frown brimming with annoyance carved into her forehead.
He dropped his hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry that I was selfish enough to think of it that way.”
She covered her face with her palms. He couldn’t be sure—was she crying? He didn’t know what to say to appease her. Maybe he would just go stand outside the door and watch over her from a distance. Maybe that would be better for them both.
She dropped her hands, her face twisted into anguish. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I didn’t mean to lash out at you. You’re only here to protect me. I just feel like the walls are closing in around me.”
He approached and took her in his arms then. Sierra hugged him back, her face pressed against his shoulder. Bryce wanted to comfort her, but old feelings for her were stirring so easily the more time he spent with her.
Lord, how do I protect my heart? She’d hurt him once. He’d come here only as a friend, and didn’t want to get hurt like that again. But it was becoming increasingly clear that the struggle with his feelings for her was far from over.
Sierra stepped away. “Well, at least this gives us more time to search for Raul. If I’m only working at the store part-time and then have nothing else to do, I have more time to fight to get my life of peace and quiet back.”
In her eyes he saw that she wanted that more than anything. Terror was quickly beginning to reign in her life again.
Bryce frowned. Sure they’d discussed going out there and searching for Raul, but he was sure that wasn’t what the sheriff had in mind when he’d taken her off deputy duties. In fact, Bryce imagined that what the sheriff had in mind for her was stay inside and wait for others to track Raul down—the exact opposite of what she was planning to do with her new freedom.
Now Bryce’s job would be even more difficult.
* * *
The perfect distraction came later that day when a SAR call came in. A couple of snowshoers hadn’t returned. Sierra had driven the mountain roads and finally parked at the trailhead. The volunteer searchers would follow, but Samson needed time to search the area without other people confusing the scents.
She hopped from the vehicle and opened the door for Samson to jump out. She kept him leashed for the moment. She was dressed in the typical search-and-rescue gear, along with a bright orange jacket over a Kevlar vest per Sheriff’s request. Sierra studied Bryce, who had come along with her. She couldn’t shake him so easily, for which she was secretly grateful.
He’d donned his own vest too, just in case. They looked like they were going on a raid rather than searching for people lost in the wilderness.
“This feels so over-the-top,” she said.
“You really think so? It seems sensible to me. You’re not going out without protection, especially with a target on your back.”
She got out the snowshoes and they each donned a pair. She preferred snowshoes to a snowm
obile because clues could be missed as she searched.
She squatted next to Samson to release the leash. Looking into his eyes, she rubbed his ears. They’d been together and trained together. She knew his signals, and he understood her, as well.
Now... “Zooch!” Find. “Go find people.”
Samson barked and took off, running through the snow.
“Wait,” Bryce said. “What are you doing?”
Sierra angled her head at him. “We’re in the wilderness. Samson is searching for people. He’s following the smells in the air to find them. He’s cross-trained for trailing which can include tracking from an article, but dogs are smart and finding someone can include tracking via the ground or the air. He’s certified in avalanche searches, as well.” She took off after Samson as quickly as she could in snowshoes. “So we’re doing an area search now based on the scent. But he can air scent for humans without an article or an initial scent to go from.” She scratched her head. “I’m sorry—you probably know all that stuff.”
Bryce had gotten her the dog, but he hadn’t gone through the K-9 training himself. Still, she hadn’t wanted to insult him.
“Not at all. You sound like an expert to me.” He huffed a laugh. “I always knew he was a good dog, but that’s impressive.”
Sierra hiked along the mountain trail alongside Bryce, her self-imposed bodyguard. “So here we are. This is the high probability area where the subjects supposedly left to hike. Samson knows to find a human scent and then search.”
“What if he finds the wrong person?”
“That can happen in a search like this. If it does, we tell him he’s a good dog and then to find again. And we just keep looking.”
“And he won’t track the others searching?”
“Not yet. They’re coming in behind us. That’s why we go in first.”
“What happens next?”
“We’ll give him time to explore and he should alert me soon if he finds anything.” They walked a bit farther, and Sierra couldn’t help smiling. “I love the switch to wilderness from the city—it’s refreshing in ways you can’t imagine. Though of course it’s challenging too. There was no question we would train for avalanches.”
“Again, impressive.”
She shrugged.
“How often do you train?”
“I like to train with him every day, but the last few days we’ve gotten off our schedule. We meet with others every other week and train together.”
Bryce glanced at her intermittently while he hiked across the top of the snow. “This suits you.”
Admiration clung to his silver-blue gaze and her heart tripped up. She stumbled forward then righted herself on her snowshoes.
“Careful there.”
“I’m fine.” She was the expert hiker here, but it didn’t look like it.
Get a grip, Sierra. You can’t fall for him. Time to redirect. “You said this suits me.”
She wasn’t sure she completely understood what he’d meant.
“Being here in the small town where you grew up. The mountains right at your back door sans the smog. And the dog.” An emotion beyond mere admiration surfaced in his eyes.
Sierra wanted to pull her gaze away from his but she couldn’t.
Samson’s deep throaty bark startled her and broke the moment. She jerked around to search the woods. Through the trees she could see her big dog plowing his way through the snow toward them.
She worked hard with him all the time and could read him. As soon as she acknowledged him he turned around—his way of alerting her that he would lead her. He’d found someone.
Sierra radioed the sheriff. “We can’t know if it’s them. I’ll let you know as soon as we’re there.”
Through the woods, she could see other searchers.
Samson barked and tirelessly tilled through the snow.
“Oh, no...”
“What is it?” Bryce asked.
“Up ahead, see? It looks like... It looks like there was an avalanche.” She picked up her pace and radioed the sheriff again to let him know.
“Well Samson can find them, then. You said he was an avalanche dog now.”
“If they were buried in that, they’re dead by now.”
Sorrow infused her but she pushed it away as she caught up to Samson who had his nose to the ground, sniffing at the snow that recently collapsed from the mountain face looming above them.
His actions let her know that he might have found someone. Saint Bernard dogs were one of the preferred breeds for avalanche dogs, and they were descended from mastiffs. Still, she didn’t doubt that no matter the task, Samson was the dog to get it done. He was faithful, hardworking and enthusiastic. Her heart warmed with love for him.
On top of the snow, Samson whined but seemed confused, then, with his nose in the air, he suddenly took off again and disappeared into the woods.
“I don’t understand,” Bryce said.
“Neither do I, but let’s go.”
A shout resounded.
Bryce grabbed her arm. “Wait, Sierra. I have a bad feeling about this.”
She yanked her arm free. “Samson is barking. He found someone. It could be the hikers we’re searching for.”
“Over here!” a woman called. “Please help us!”
Sierra spotted someone in the shadows under the overhang of a rocky ledge. She hiked toward the area and, as she got closer, two people could be seen in the shadows. Sierra’s heart rate jumped. Could it be the snowshoers?
She tried to pick up the pace, but moving quickly was difficult in snowshoes. Already she was gasping for breath. Finally she approached the woman on the ground. A man was sprawled out, but his head rested on her lap.
“Are you McKayla Markum? McKayla and Jim?”
“Yes.” McKayla choked out the words. “I’m so glad you found us. Please help. My husband’s been shot. I’ve put pressure on the wound, but—” Tears overcame her.
Samson sat close to the woman, panting and whining. He pawed the snow. Sierra took that to mean he was concerned too.
Sierra called the sheriff to let the others know that Samson had found the missing snowshoers and that medical assistance was required. A gunshot wound was a serious injury. Since he was not instantly killed, the greatest danger was that he could bleed out. If he was still alive, McKayla had done a good job of slowing the bleeding, and the cold could have helped too. But the temperature presented other complications since hypothermia would also be an issue.
“Help is on the way.” Sierra dropped to her knees. The snow was packed where McKayla and Jim had been waiting. “What happened?”
Tears streaked McKayla’s face. “An avalanche almost took us out. We made it out of the way, but then we came across someone. He acted like he was here to help us, but I...” Her teeth chattered making it difficult to understand her. “He wanted to hurt us. I don’t know why. My husband fought him but was shot. Still, I got the weapon when the guy dropped it.” Her hands shook and she pressed it over a gun next to her. “I would have used it, but he ran off. And I couldn’t shoot him in the back no matter that he attacked us. I couldn’t do it.”
Fear corded Sierra’s throat. “What did he look like?”
“His face was mostly covered, you know, with a cap, and sunglasses. He seemed tall and bulky. It’s hard to tell with winter clothes and coats, but he seemed large. Jim tried to protect me.” McKayla couldn’t finish. She pressed her faced against her unconscious husband’s forehead.
Sierra shared a glance with Bryce. An escaped convict was in the region. Was the man who attacked the Markums Raul Novack? If so, maybe he thought they’d recognized him and he hadn’t wanted anyone to report his whereabouts. But his actions were counterintuitive.
Samson growled and paced. Bryce grabbed Sierra and forced her to look at him. “Raul co
uld still be here which means you’re in danger. Now’s your chance to let Samson do what he does best. He can track a criminal. Raul is hurting others, Sierra. We have to stop him now.”
Sierra looked closely at where McKayla still pressed her hands against Jim’s wound in the side of his gut. “You can let go. I’ll take over now. You must be tired. I’ll keep the pressure on. Help is coming.”
McKayla appeared slightly relieved, though deep lines of worry were carved into her thirty-something face. She was scared for Jim. “I... My cell... I couldn’t get a signal to call for help.”
“Give him the command.” Bryce pleaded with Sierra.
“No. We’d send him to his death. Besides we have to stay here with McKayla.”
Come on, Sheriff Locke! Come on, medical assistance.
She continued to press her hand against the blood-soaked scarves McKayla had used against the wound. “We don’t know if this was Raul’s doing.”
“Don’t we?”
“I’m not sure if Samson can even detect the scent from a gun that has had so many hands on it.”
“You don’t need that, remember? He can air scent. He can find anyone. We know the man who shot Jim ran that way, though the tracks are gone now.”
Sierra had noticed that too. McKayla and Jim had done well to find a place to keep out of the falling snow.
“May I?” She eyed the gun.
McKayla handed it over.
“No, just set it down there in front of the dog.”
“Samson.” Sierra forced the right voice and tone to come out. “Verloren!” Find whoever belongs to the gun.
The massive beast took off as if he’d been waiting for the chance.
Bryce started after Samson.
Sierra glared at Bryce. “I’m coming too!”
“No. Someone has to stay with McKayla, until help arrives.”
She eyed the search and rescue volunteers, who’d left their snowmobiles behind in rough terrain and hiked toward them. Help was arriving soon.
Then she was going after Bryce and Samson.
Fugitive Trail Page 7