I do too. “I didn’t smell any unusual amount of blood at any of the houses, nothing like that.”
“Thank god. Tell me what you did learn. Will you be able to follow their scents?”
“Yes, to a point. Scents fade over time, so we should hurry.” I don’t want to give him bad news, but I must. “There’s a problem. I could be wrong. I won’t know for sure until we begin following the trails, but the paths diverge. Tonight’s three scents led in two different directions.”
Bowie’s eyes widen. “What?”
“With any luck, they’ll converge.”
“I’ve been operating under the assumption the girls are being stolen away to the same place. If that’s not the case…”
“I know.” I place my hand over his, warming the cool flesh with mine. “This complicates matters.”
“It could be a nomadic band. Stealing them and selling them into slavery. In which case, there could be dozens of trails to follow.”
I can think of only one piece of good news. “We’re in luck that at least it hasn’t rained.”
Bowie’s face crumples. “Rain! I didn’t think of that. How hard is it to track a scent after a rain?”
Well, I thought it had been good news, but Bowie’s right. It’s only a matter of time before weather inevitably interferes. “Much slower. Not impossible.”
“We must hope for no rain then and move quickly. What’s the plan?”
My jaw drops. I’m to come up with the plan? I feel inadequate to the task. Following Bowie’s instructions I can do, but making decisions for both of us? My heart begins to pound. What if I’m wrong? The consequences could be dire. Panic rises in my chest. Those families are counting on us. On me. If I fail—
“Andras.” Bowie sits up, bringing himself directly in front of me. He drops my hand to put both of his on my cheeks. “Just breathe.”
I blink and suck in a gulp of air. My palms are sweaty.
“There, that’s good.” He keeps his voice low and soothing. “You’re all right.”
I wrap my hands around his wrists to keep them in place. They’re cool against the rushing heat of my cheeks. The back of my throat is tight like a vise, and I can’t think.
“Look at me, Andras. We’re all right. Can you tell me what’s happening?”
I’m not sure I can, but I will try. “Scared,” I mutter.
He nods, eyes locked on mine. “This is frightening, isn’t it? I’m scared too.”
That’s hard to believe. He seems so unflappable. “You are?”
“Yes.”
Somehow, that helps. It becomes easier to control my breath. I close my eyes and just feel his hands on me. Slowly, my racing heart finishes its sprint and returns to normal. We sit together in the field as the sound of crickets chirping filters back into my consciousness. I think on the scent of each girl, how two went north and the other east. I have an idea.
My lids flutter open to find a concerned expression on Bowie’s face, his forehead wrinkled, brows drawn tight. He gives me a sweet, closed mouthed smile.
“How long until sunrise?” I ask.
Bowie glances at the sky. “About six hours.”
“Then we spend three following the trail that goes east, then three back here to the safety of your home. Tomorrow we follow the other trail north and hope to discover they converge.” This next part is hard to say. I don’t like abandoning either trail. “If not, we continue on the trail of two girls rather than the trail of one.”
“That’s wise. I agree.”
A huff of relief escapes my lips. Though not perfect, it’s good to have a plan. A place to begin.
“How are you?” he asks.
