Kaleidoscope Eyes (42 page)

“I can’t. I just … I can’t … ”

He firmed his grip and set her away from him, turning her to face Andy as he approached. Annie gasped, then tore free of Jed’s hands, scrambled to her feet, and ran to meet Andy.

And the dog limping along at his side.

Kodi’s deep “Arroww-roow-row!” filled the air, accompanied by Annie’s tear-filled laughter. The shepherd then lavished her mistress’s face with kisses when Annie threw her arms around the animal and buried her face in that black neck.

Jed sat back on the pile of rocks, floating on a cloud of gratitude and relief.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You.
He watched as Andy came to stand beside him. “How?”

Andy put one hand out to help Jed up and with the other
held his camera high. “I got it all, bro. Every beautiful second. That dog can
move.
You startled the spit out of her when you tackled Annie, and she did one of the fastest scrambles I’ve ever seen. She got clipped, but that didn’t stop her. She ran a circle away from the rock slide then over to me. I had to stop taping for a few minutes while I held her back though. She didn’t seem to care that she was hurt or that the rocks were still falling. She just wanted to get to Annie.”

“I know how she felt.” Jed knelt beside Annie, one hand on Kodi’s soft back. “Is it bad?”

Annie’s hands ran up and down the dog’s body. Kodi sat, watching Annie with such trust. Only when Annie’s hands took hold of the dog’s injured leg did she protest—by laying a woeful chin on Annie’s shoulder.

“I know, girl. It hurts.” Annie looked at Jed. “I don’t think it’s broken, but there’s a bad gash.” She unzipped her day pack and pulled out a first aid kit. “I need to wrap it, then we can get her back to base camp so the vet can examine her.”

“Get her wrapped up, and I’ll carry her.” Jed buried his fingers in the dog’s thick fur. He still couldn’t quite believe she was here.

Annie’s hand covered his where it rested on the dog’s back. He met Annie’s wide gaze.

“Thank you.” Her voice was hoarse with tears. “You saved our lives.”

The mere thought of losing Annie made Jed’s gut churn. He wanted to grab her, hold on to her, but before he could do so, Kodi suddenly turned that big head and emitted a low whine. Ears perked, she stared past Jed, up the incline.

Amberly couldn’t talk.

All she could do was cry. And scream. It made her throat hurt. But she was too scared to care.

Her knees were sore and cold, and her fingers hurt so bad. She stopped crawling and curled up in a little ball, shaking.
Where was her mommy? Where was her angel?

She didn’t like it here. Didn’t like being all alone. It scared her. And made her mad.

She fell back on the cold, cold ground, kicked her cold legs, and screamed again.

He
missed?

He peered over the edge of the incline, staring, unable to believe what he saw.

The dog was still alive!

How had it escaped the rocks? He’d cut squares from the child’s blanket and buried them in just the right spots to position the dog.

He’d taken such care with the planning. How could he have … have … ?

Wait. That noise. What was that noise?

Alarm skittered up his nerves, and he turned away from the ravine, staring through the trees.

Back toward the car.

He listened. And the alarm shifted into panic.

No!

He ran.

No!

“Kodi, no!”

What on earth was wrong with that dog?

She’d broken away from Annie and was limping back the way they’d come, along the bottom of the ravine, barking up a storm. How she could run on that injured leg was beyond Annie. But she had to stop her before Kodi hurt herself even worse.

Suddenly Kodi spun, trying to scramble up the incline.

Annie caught up with her, grabbing at her, managing to snag the edge of her shabrack. Kodi fell with a yelp when her injured leg gave way, then scrambled back to her feet and tried again.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Annie could barely hear Jed over Kodi’s frantic barks. “I don’t know! It’s as if she hears—” Annie’s fingers tightened on the shabrack, and she turned to meet Jed’s eyes. “As if she
hears
something.”

Jed was already looking up to the edge of the ravine. Annie finally got an arm around Kodi’s straining neck. “Kodi, no!
Stand!”

Every muscle quivering, the shepherd finally obeyed. She fell silent, except for a pitiful whine. Annie closed her eyes, listening.

There!

Her eyes flew open. Someone was crying. No,
wailing
. The piercing, terrified wailing of a child.

A little girl.

“It’s coming from up there!” Even as she pinpointed the sound, Annie jerked her radio free and called in to command. “We’ve found a child.” She clamped down on the emotions wanting to surge through her, focusing on giving command the correct GPS coordinates.

“10-4. I’m going to try to get to her from here.”

Andy was beside Annie then, taking hold of Kodi’s collar. “Go. I’ll hold her.”

Annie didn’t have to be told twice. She ran to Jed’s side, and they started up the steep incline.

“Watch it!” Jed’s cry came a moment too late.

The rocks beneath Annie’s boot shifted and tumbled, and she went down. Hard. But she pushed back up and kept going.

Jed moved in right beside her. “Take it easy, Annie. You can’t help Amberly if you get hurt.”

She wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. His low, calming voice flowed over her.

“Take a deep breath, and let’s climb. Together. We’ll get there. But we’ll do it smart.”

She met his steady gaze and nodded. Together they climbed.

“Amberly!” Annie’s cry was as loud as she could make it past the tears clawing at her throat. “We’re coming, honey!”

The footing was treacherous, and each step sent rocks sliding and tumbling in their wake. But they didn’t stop.

“Look!”

Annie followed Jed’s pointing finger and froze.

A little face peered at them, just over the edge of the incline.

Annie’s heart seized. “Stay there, honey. We’re coming. I promise.”
Father; please, don’t let her fall. Move her back from the edge!
“Don’t move, honey, we’re coming.”

Amberly scooted closer to the edge, looking down at them with wide eyes. “I … want … my
mommy!”

The child’s hiccupping sobs punctuated her demand, and Annie’s heart nearly broke. “I know, sweetie. And she wants to see you. Just stay there, okay? Just stay right there. You’re safe now. I promise.”

Please
, God, Annie prayed as she dug in for a better foothold and pushed forward,
let me be right.

Trees grabbed at him, branches slapping him in the face as he ran.

It wasn’t fair! Everything was working against him!

He hit the edge of the woods—and stopped cold. The passenger’s door stood open. Even from here he could see the tracks in the snow. He followed them, looking past the car …

And then he heard her. Annie. Calling to the child. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

No! No!

He stepped out of the trees, ran to the car, and slammed his hands on the hood. The child was there. On her hands and knees in the snow, looking over the edge. He took in the distance. He could do it. He could get to her—

“Amberly!”

His disbelieving eyes watched as Annie surged up and over the edge, scooping the child into her arms.

Anger. Fury Despair.

Not fair! Not
fair!

He crouched low, behind the car, and clawed at the driver’s door. Jerking it open, he scrambled onto the seat and jammed the key in the ignition. He slammed it into reverse, then spun the steering wheel to clear the trees as he turned around and floored it.

His tires threw dirt and snow as they spun then grabbed and propelled the car forward, the open passenger’s door slamming shut from the violent motion of the car.

He took one look in the rearview mirror as he sped away One horrible sight met his angry eyes: Jed Curry coming up over the ridge and putting his arms around Annie and the child.

Jed buried his face in Annie’s hair, holding her and the little girl tight. He wasn’t going to let either one go.

“Jed.”

He shifted his face to answer. “Yeah?”

“I … can’t breathe.”

“Oh.” He let her go. “Sorry.”

Annie stepped back, glancing past Jed. “Did you see it? The car?”

“Just caught a glimpse of it.” He gritted his teeth. “I didn’t catch the plate, but I think it was an old Chevy Nova.”

Jed could see the anger in Annie’s eyes and the touch of disappointment. He understood. They all wanted to catch the creep.

Annie knelt, setting the shaking child on the ground, running her hands over her arms and legs. “Are you hurt anywhere, honey?”

The girl popped a thumb in her mouth and nodded, her tear-soaked eyes fixed on Annie. “My knees are cold and sore,” she said around her thumb. Those big blue eyes blinked, as though the child could barely keep them open.

Annie scooped up Amberly then directed shining eyes at Jed over the blond head. “How ’bout we take you someplace where we can fix those old knees up?”

“Can I see my mommy and daddy now?”

Annie’s smile was glorious. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

Jed drew a breath of relief. At last, the search was over. The lost was found.

And she was safe.

He turned to look down at Andy and realized his friend had the camera on his shoulder, filming it all. A pang pierced his heart.

The search was over.

Time for him to leave.

FORTY-FOUR        

N
othing felt as good as this.

Annie watched Bree and her husband hold their daughter, tears bathing their faces even as their laughter brushed the air.

An arm slid across her shoulders, and she turned. Killian smiled at her.

“See why this means so much to me, Killie?”

He gave her a little shake. “I just said so, didn’t I? Brat. You want me to grovel?”

“Why not?” Dan came to stand between Annie and Killian. “After all, most men have to grovel at some time or another. Why should you be any different?”

Annie frowned at the hard edge to her brother’s words. Was he angry with Killian for some reason?

Dan turned to her then, and his features softened. “You done good, sis.”

“Kodi done good. She led us to the right spot. And the SAR unit done good. It was a team effort.”

“You play a part too, Annie. Don’t ever forget that.”

Dan nodded. “Killian’s right. You and Kodi, you’re a team. And a very good one.” He tugged at her hair. “I’m proud of you, little sister.”

Pleasure warmed her cheeks, and Annie smiled around the tears that had suddenly sprung to her eyes. “Thanks, Dan. That means a lot.”

More than he could know.

She glanced back toward Bree and her family “Are you going to talk with Amberly, Dan?”

“Yes. Would you mind coming along? Amberly knows you better, and she’s comfortable with you. Besides, I think it would help Bree for you to be there.”

“I’d like that.” She hopped off the picnic table, ready to follow him.

Killian straightened. “As for me, I believe I’ll head back home. Glad the little girl is back safe and sound.”

Dan glanced at Killian, an odd spark in his eyes. “Sure you don’t want to meet Amberly? Might help you understand Annie’s work even more to talk with the victim.”

Killian studied Dan for a beat, a small smile tipping his lips. “A tempting offer, but no. I’ve left my work long enough. Poor Ryan is probably overwhelmed. I tried calling him a few minutes ago and he didn’t even answer. So I’ll more than likely get an earful when I get back.”

“Hmm.”

Annie glanced at Dan and frowned. He looked like he was going to say something more, but another voice stopped him.

“Annie?”

She turned, heart dropping to the bottom of her stomach. Andy. And if he was there, Jed probably was too. She wasn’t ready to see him. But when she turned, Andy was alone.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

Annie looked from him to Dan, who inclined his head. “I’ll wait over here.”

She turned to Andy “What’s up?”

“Look, I know things are kind of unsettled with you and Jed.”

If he was looking for her to deny it, he was in for a disappointment. When she didn’t respond, he shrugged. “Okay, things are really messed up with you and Jed. I know that. But I wanted—” he held out his hand—“to give you this.”

She took the business card and read it, then looked at him. “Your card?”

“It’s got my home number there too. On the back. You know … just in case you need anything. Someone to talk to. Someone who understands Jed really well.” He looked at the ground, then angled a look at her. “And who respects you. A lot.”