CHAPTER 11
Early the next morning,Wyatt loaded the last of his gear into his truck bed and checked it twice. He had his pack, a first aid kit, an emergency bivouac, extra food and water, and Thunder’s kit.
He’d been up since four and hadn’t slept much before that. He was anxious to get started with the search.
He cranked the engine and let it run a moment, watching his breath fog in the cab.
The storm had moved through overnight and left everything buried in white. According to his phone, it was fourteen degrees outside.
He had the route mapped, the contingencies considered, the gear sorted. What he had less of was any certainty about what he was walking into. A missing hiker. A dangerous trail. Unusual threats. A symbol he couldn’t find anywhere.
He’d tried. When he’d gotten back last night, he’d done his research. But he hadn’t found any insignias that matched the description Kori gave him.
So what did it mean? He still needed to figure that out.
A few minutes later, he and Thunder pulled out of his driveway.
Hollow House was only a few minutes away. Thankfully, county crews had been out early to plow the roads—and the local coffeehouse was already open. He stopped for warm drinks first and then went to pick up Kori.
He turned onto the street and pulled to the curb. He’d barely braked before the front door opened, and Kori hurried down the porch steps. She moved as if she’d been awake for a while. Thunder watched her approach from the back seat with quiet, absolute attention.
She pulled open the passenger door, put her backpack on the seat behind her, and climbed in.
She looked at him then at the coffee in the cupholder. “Is that?—?”
“Yours.” He handed it to her. “I didn’t know how you liked it, so I took a guess. Oat milk. I brought some sweeteners just in case.”
She wrapped both hands around it, her gaze softening. “Thank you. I left too early for breakfast at the B&B, so this is perfect. I really need some caffeine.”
“You’re welcome.”
She glanced in the back seat. “Hey, Thunder. Good to see you.”
Wyatt fought a smile. Maybe she was warming up to the dog after all. If any canine could do the trick, it was Thunder.
He pulled away from the curb. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Some.” She paused and shrugged. “Actually, not really. Not much.”
“That makes two of us.” Wyatt glanced at the road before adding, “Listen, before we get too far, we should talk about something.”
She took a sip of her coffee and looked at him. “That sounds ominous.”
“It’s practical.” He hesitated a moment. “I’ve got to be honest with you. I don’t think you should come on the search with me today.”
Her gaze sharpened. “I’m coming.”
He’d expected that response. “Kori, this isn’t a normal hike. Search and rescue operations follow certain protocols for a reason. Civilians aren’t supposed to be part of them.”
“I’m not going to sit at Hollow House and wait for someone else to find my sister.”
“I understand that.” He kept his tone calm. “But understanding your desire to help and allowing it are two different things.”
She crossed her arms and stared out the windshield a second before looking back at him. “You said the trail was four miles out.”
“Four miles to the official end,” he corrected. “After that it turns into unmarked backcountry.”
“Then I’ll go as far as the official trail.”
