Page 34 of Wilderness Search
“I heard the same thing,” Willa said. When they all turned to look to her, she added, “We had one of her cabin mates in the clinic yesterday. She said Olivia’s best friend at camp really misses her.”
“Her poor parents,” Carrie said. “I hope we find her soon.”
They set out for the section of the map they were assigned to search—a brush-choked half acre of forest bisected by a deep gully. It was easier to forget about Aaron’s close proximity asthey fought their way over and around the massive, rotting trunks of fallen trees, pausing to look under each one in case Olivia had hollowed out the space for shelter.
After forty-five minutes of this, they stopped to drink water and catch their breath.
“I don’t see how a kid could get through all of that,” Bethany said.
“She would probably have an easier time of it than us,” Willa said. “She’s smaller and probably more flexible.”
“It would be a good place to hide,” Aaron said. He looked around them. “We’re making so much noise thrashing through here, she would hear us coming from a long way off. All she would have to do is double back to an area we had already searched and wait until we left.”
“Come on out, Olivia!” Bethany shouted. “Your parents really want you to come home!”
Aaron was leaning against the same tree trunk as Willa, two feet of space between them. “Did the girl you saw at the clinic have anything else to say about Olivia?” he asked.
“She said she didn’t know Olivia very well, but that her friend Stella cries at night now that Olivia is gone. She thinks it’s because Stella misses her friend.” She couldn’t believe she was having a regular conversation with him. It didn’t even feel that awkward. They were behaving like normal people, no messy past between them.
“We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover,” Carrie said. “We’d better get going.”
Another half hour of pulling aside thorny vines, slipping in mud and scrambling up rocks had Willa feeling bruised and battered. She stood atop a granite boulder and surveyed the surrounding wilderness. Then her breath caught.
“There’s someone over there!” she said, and pointed straight ahead.
Aaron vaulted up beside her, and steadied himself by briefly holding her arm. He released his hold and followed her gaze. Someone was clearly moving around, ducking under branches and around rocks.
“There aren’t supposed to be any other searchers assigned to this section,” Carrie said.
Aaron cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hello!” he shouted.
The figure stopped. Aaron took a pair of binoculars from his pack and focused. “It’s not Olivia,” he said. He handed the binoculars to Willa.
She focused in on a burly older man in a green shirt and a silver Stetson. “It’s Scott Sprague,” she said.
Aaron waved. “Mr. Sprague!” he shouted.
Scott looked up, then began picking his way toward them. “What are you doing out here by yourself?” Aaron asked when Scott was almost to the boulder where they waited.
“I can’t sit still and do nothing while Olivia is missing,” he said. “I’m responsible for that little girl.”
“It isn’t safe to be in this rough country alone,” Aaron said. “You need to go back to camp and leave the searching to us.”
“It would be terrible if you were hurt while you were trying to help,” Carrie said. “The camp needs you.”
He slumped against the rock. “You’re probably right. I felt energized when that brush shelter was found. Now that we know that Olivia is alive and probably close by, it feels wrong not to be out here searching for her.”
“I’m sure you’re a big help to Olivia’s parents,” Bethany said. “You should go back to them.”
He wiped a hand over his face. Up close, Willa could see slashes from vines across his cheek, and scraped knuckles on his hands. He didn’t even have a pack or water. She pulled one of her own water bottles from her pack. “Drink this,” she said.
“Bethany, could you go with Scott back to camp?” Aaron asked. At his sister’s frown, he added, “Please?”
“I don’t want to take one of you away from the search,” Scott protested. “I’m sure I can find my way on my own.” He looked around. “If you’ll start me off in the right direction.”
“I’d better go with you,” Bethany said. “It’s so easy to get turned around out here.” She consulted the map. “It’s going to be easier to retrace our steps to the lodge. Are you ready, Mr. Sprague?”
“Please, call me Scott.” He returned the half-empty water bottle to Willa. “And I’m ready, thank you.”
