Page 9 of Summer Storm
Around forty minutes later, Brielle pulls right up to my assigned bay door and hops out of her SUV. Coming straight to me she wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me tightly. I hug her back, pressing my lips against her temple.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
“The authorities have a couple of missing boys up at the campground, and they’ve asked me to bring my dogs to help with the search. Rudy’s up to it, search and rescue is what he does, but Toothless is still recovering from his ordeal, can he stay with you until I get back? I’ve brought all his stuff from the house.”
I stiffen in her arms. “Babe, you don’t know the area.”
“Well, I’m sure they’re not going to send me and Rudy out on our own, Aaron.”
“Yeah, I may sound like an asshole, and honestly, I’m not trying to be one, but I’m not comfortable with you traipsing through the woods with strangers who may not be familiar either.”
Glancing over her head, I meet Ezra’s gaze. He already knows what I’m planning. He dips his chin in agreement. “I’m going with you. We can stop at the house for me to grab my gear on the way.”
Brielle’s mouth drops open but then snaps shut. “But what about Toothless?”
“We’ll take him. He’ll be safe and cared for,” Jorie pipes in quickly. “Let’s grab his stuff and make him comfortable in the office with Jolie. If you aren’t back when we get done for the day, Ezra and I will take him home with us.”
“Okay. Thank you. I’ll grab his things.”
“Babe, let her take your vehicle so she can transport Toothless. Go show her how his doggy seatbelt works and gather what you need, we’ll take my truck.” Breille drops her forehead against my sternum and nods before straightening and then hurrying toward her SUV with Jorie on her heels.
Chapter 8
Forest for the trees
Brielle
The buckle of Rudy’s fluorescent orange ‘work’ harness snapping into place beneath her belly is all the signal Rudy needs to change from a fun-loving family pet to a highly trained operative ready to get the job done. I give her a quick pat. She sits at attention her head slightly tilted, as if she understands everyword the campground’s assistant ranger and the police officer manning the base of operations are saying as they fill Aaron and I in on the search efforts already underway.
Several groups of volunteers including the boys grandfather and rescue personnel have already been dispatched to search the trail where the two youths were last seen by a group of teenage boys.
I’m slightly irritated they didn’t wait, with so many human scents out there it will muddy the trail and possible slow us down, but I also know time is of the essence and the boys’ safety and well-being come first. In the long run it won’t really matter how many scents are out there Rudy is rockstar when it comes to search and rescue.
The assistant ranger introduces me to the boy’s grandmother, who’s stayed at the campground in case the boys return on their own, and a small group of people, mostly teenagers. These are the witnesses who last saw the boys. With Rudy sitting at his feet, Aaron discusses ideas, areas, and trail split-offs the boys might have taken, with the officer.
“Brenda, do you have any clothing the boys may have worn recently? Preferably without insect repellent on it? If it does that’s okay, but Rudy will work faster without the chemical interference.”
“Why yes, of course. I’ll be right back.” She looks determined as she trots toward the area assigned to RVs and not tents. I’ve seen it a hundred times before; how the family members of themissing are so grateful to have something, anything, to do to help.
While she’s gone, I walk back to Aaron’s truck and dig into the front pocket of my survival gear and rucksack. I pull out two orange vests and two whistles. After slipping into a vest I attach one of the whistles to an O-ring on the vest. When Aaron notices what I’m doing he and Rudy follow me. I hand him the other vest and whistle. When I see Brenda hurrying back toward us, I remove a vinyl resealable storage bag from the same pocket and open it up.
“Will these pajama pants be okay?” Her bottom lip trembles as she anxiously meets my gaze.
“It’s perfect. Put them in here, please.” Holding open the vinyl bag, I wait until she’s shoved them inside and then zip the seal together. I reach for my pack, but Aaron beats me to it. As he lifts it, he gives me a considering look but doesn’t say anything as he helps me slip it on.
“It’s okay, it’ll get lighter the longer we’re out there. Half the weight is water.” I’m carrying three gallons, but with all of us drinking, it’ll go down quickly. I eye the larger pack he lifts out of the back of his truck. I’m not sure why he’s worried about how much weight I’m carrying. For crying out loud, it only took him a few minutes to prepare. What does he have stuffed in it? “You got the kitchen sink in there?” I tease.
“Scout’s motto, baby. Be prepared.” He grins as he swings the pack onto his back with ease.
“Humph. I doubt you were ever a Boy Scout.” I admire the contour of his muscles in his arms as he settles the pack into a more comfortable position.
“Yeah, you’ve got me there, but I do have friends. Even though I haven’t gotten out this year with the filming of the show cutting into our free time, we like to take off at a moment’s notice to do some rough country hiking and treasure hunting.
“Treasure hunting? Like diamonds or gold?”
“Gold, yes, but also sapphires, agates, quartz, and some fossils too. How’d you move to Montana and not know we’re called ‘the treasure state’?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug, as he snaps the sternum strap into place. “Ready?”
