Robbie stared down at the German shepherd. “What’s his name?”
While her son talked with Josiah about his dog, Ella gave David a call. “He’s in a tree, but Josiah is helping him down. We’ll return to base soon.” She lowered her voice while she continued. “Has Michael been found yet?”
“No, but I’ll pull everyone off the other areas to concentrate on the trail Jesse is following.”
“Are the police there?”
“Yes, Thomas Caldwell is here. He’s talking with Travis and getting a description of the man.”
Thomas was a friend of David’s and Josiah’s as well as a detective on the Anchorage police force. “Good. We’ll be there soon.”
When Ella disconnected the call, she watched Josiah shimmy toward Robbie as far as it was safe for him to go on the branch. He was probably one hundred and eighty pounds while her son was forty. Josiah paused about seven feet from Robbie.
“I can’t come out any farther, Robbie, but I’m here to grab you as you slide backward toward me. Hug the limb and use one hand to move back to me.” Josiah’s voice was even and calm, as though they were discussing the weather.
“I can’t. I’m...I’m scared. What if I fall?” Robbie peered at the ground and shook his head.
“Don’t look down. Do you see that squirrel on the branch near you? He’s watching you. Keep an eye on him.”
“He’s probably wondering what we’re doing up here.” Robbie stared at the animal, its tail twitching back and forth.
Her son scooted a few inches down the limb, which was at a slight incline from the trunk. When the squirrel scurried away, Robbie squeezed his eyes shut and continued to move at a snail’s pace. Finally, when he was within a foot of Josiah, her son raised his head and glanced back at Josiah. His gaze drifted downward, and he wobbled on the branch, sliding to the side.
Ella gasped.
Josiah moved fast, latching on to Robbie’s ankle. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”
But her son flailed again. “I’m gonna...”
He fell off the limb, screaming. Then suddenly he was hanging upside down, dangling from the end of Josiah’s grip. Robbie’s fingertips grazed a smaller branch under him, but it wouldn’t hold his weight. Ella’s legs went weak, but she remained upright.
“Okay, Robbie?” Josiah adjusted his weight to keep balanced.
“Yes,” her son barely said.
“You’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you. Hold still. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” Robbie said in a little stronger voice.
“I’m lifting you up to me, then we’ll climb down together.”
Josiah’s gaze connected to Ella’s, and she had no doubt her son would be safely on the ground in a few minutes. She sank against the tree trunk, its rough bark scraping her arm. She hardly noticed it, though, as Josiah grabbed her son with both hands and brought Robbie to him, the muscles in his arms bunching with the strain.
When Robbie was in the crook of the tree between the trunk and limb, he hugged Josiah. Surprise flitted across the man’s face.
He patted her son on the back several times. “Let’s get down from here. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving for a hamburger and fries.”
“Yeah!” Robbie’s face brightened with a big grin.
With Josiah’s help, her son finally made it to the ground. Robbie threw his arms around Ella, who never wanted to let him go. She kissed the top of his head as he finally wiggled free.
“Can we go eat a burger with Mr. Witherspoon? Can we?”
The eagerness in his voice made it hard to say no, but it wasn’t fair to keep Josiah any longer than necessary. “I’m sure he’s—”
“I think that’s a great idea, Robbie. There’s a place not too far from here that’s a favorite of mine. After we eat, then I can take you two to the hangar so your mom can pick up her car.”
Robbie looked at Buddy. “What about him?”
“He’ll be fine while we’re inside. I imagine he’s pretty tired. He’s been working a lot today.”
So have you, Ella thought, glimpsing in Josiah the same weariness she felt, but he must have sensed how important doing something normal and nonthreatening was for her son. Usually when Josiah came to a SAR operation, he did his job and went home. He was all business. But not now. The smile he sent her son made her want to join in.
“Can I pet Buddy?” her son asked.
“Sure. He loves the attention.” Josiah squatted next to Robbie after he moved to the German shepherd.
“I wish I had a dog like this. No one would bother me.”
Josiah peered up at Ella. “You don’t need to worry about that man now.”
“You know about the man?” Robbie’s forehead scrunched.
“Yes.” Ella clasped Robbie’s shoulder. “Honey, when we get back to camp, you can tell the police what the man looked like. They’ll find him.”
Robbie ran his hand down Buddy’s back, stroking the dog over and over while Josiah stood next to her son. “How’s Travis and Michael?”
“Travis is at the command center. They’re still looking for Michael. He may even be with Travis by the time we arrive at camp.” At least she hoped that was the case. The idea that Michael might still be lost while the man hadn’t been found gave her shivers. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
The realization it could still be her ex-husband mocked her. Until she found out for certain, she needed to start making plans to leave Anchorage. She’d disappeared once before. She could again. But the thought of leaving the life she had carved out for her and her son in Alaska swelled her throat with emotions she tried not to feel. She loved Anchorage and the people she’d become friends with. She didn’t want to leave.
“Let’s go. I imagine you’ve got a camp full of people anxiously waiting to see you.” Josiah rose and said to Robbie, “You want to hold Buddy’s leash and lead the way?”
Her son’s smile grew even more. “Yeah.”
Ella fell into step with Josiah while her son took off with Buddy. “Maybe I should think about getting a pet for Robbie.”
“I can help you with that. Buddy became a daddy eight weeks ago. My friend will be selling most of the puppies soon, but I can have the pick of the litter free. I hadn’t intended to get another dog, so if Robbie wants one, he can have my free one.”
“A mix breed or a German shepherd?”
“A purebred German shepherd. This guy trains dogs for search and rescue. He’ll keep two pups to train, then sell them later.”
Her pride nudged forward. Ever since escaping her abusive marriage in Georgia and relocating to Anchorage, she hadn’t depended on others to help her. It had taken all her courage to seek aid through the New Life Organization and break free of Keith. She was thankful to the Lord that she and Robbie had been able to make it on their own without constantly glancing over their shoulders, looking for Keith, who should have been in prison for years. For four years, she’d been able to live without being scared for her life and now... “I can’t accept one. You should take the puppy and sell it.”
“I don’t need the money. Outdoor Alaska is a successful business. I’d much rather see a child happy with a new pet. I always had one while growing up, and they were important to me.”
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