Page 97 of Legacy of Lies
Chapter 23
Garrison’s pulse pounded in his head as he ran twenty feet and crouched down next to a huddled, motionless form.
His heart stopped.
“Zach? Buddy?”
He pulled his son into his lap and cradled his head. Zach murmured and raised his arm. Alive.
Holy shit, his son was alive. But was he injured? Sick? Would he survive?
“Dad?” That incredulous whisper was imprinted on his soul forever.
Helped by Eric, Shelby staggered over and knelt down as well.
At her instruction, Eric yanked Shelby’s saddle off, and she brought the horse-warmed saddle pad to tuck around Zach.
“Hi, Zach Attack.” Her smile, bright in the icy moonlight, contrasted with the circles under her eyes.
“Auntie Shelby?”
“Anything hurt?” Shelby ran her hands over him, using her EMT skills.
“Tired. Can’t feel my feet.”
“We’ll get you home, buddy.” Garrison had to force the words out around the lump in his throat.
He clutched his son to his chest, holding on like Zach was a life preserver and Garrison about to go under for the last time.
Shelby’s hand on his shoulder kept Garrison’s anger in check. “He needs warmed up, pronto. Maybe frostbite on his feet. We’ll take him to the hospital,” she said.
“Okay.” He searched the area around them. Nothing moved. No sounds. No one else around. Sweat popped out on his forehead. “Zach, where’s Ms. Lopez?”
“Back there.” He pointed with a shaky finger.
Garrison peered into the dense forest that pushed into mountains. Out there? “How far? Was she with you?” Was she lying in the snow as well?
“No, she stayed at the little house,” Zach said.
Maybe his son was confused from the hypothermia. No one lived out here. “What house?”
“Mr. Hank’s house.” He whispered, “He’s not nice, Dad.”
“Did he hurt you?” With effort, Garrison kept his voice low and even.
Shelby flinched and bit her lip as she drew the pad farther around Zach.
Eric froze in his vigilant stance, head cocked toward them, his hand still on his gun.
“Mr. Hank tied me to a chair until Ms. Lopez came to get me.”
“What?” Garrison gritted out.
“When she got to the house, Mr. Hank let me go. He told me to keep walking until I got home.”
Above them, Eric stared. “Geezus.”
Shelby gasped.
