Page 122 of Daybreak

“Yes, at the Tumbleweed.”

“Give Jacob a call and tell him that the ambulance driver is going to stop at the Weed and pick up the boy. He’s a wreck victim, too, and needs to be examined.”

“On it,” Gunner said and made the call. When Jacob picked up, Gunner started talking. “Dad… They have Sam’s mother ready to go. They’re going to pick up the boy on their way. Get Sam and be ready to meet them.”

“Consider it done,” Jacob said. He ran into their house and saw Holly holding the sleeping child in her arms.

“I wrapped him in the blanket at the foot of Gunner’s bed,” she said.

“It’s fine. Leave him in it. It’s old, and he needs it. The ambulance is coming to pick him up. I have to take him out to meet them.”

Holly handed him over and followed their exit, watching as Jacob hastily carried the sleeping child beyond the parked cars to the highway beyond.

The scream of ambulance sirens announced their arrival as they came to a stop.

The back doors flew open.

Jacob handed off the child, and then they were gone.

Holly arms felt strangely empty. Mother instinct, I guess. Then she looked toward the east. Gunner was down there—somewhere in the midst of chaos. Where he belongs.

* * *

The only member of the wreck who was still in limbo was Buster. For the moment, he was in custody of the sheriff’s office, and the sheriff began making calls.

Sam’s grandparents were on the way to the hospital when they got the call and sent a friend to meet the patrol car to retrieve the beloved pet.

* * *

Gunner finally left the scene as the truck was being towed away.

He began walking back on the shoulder of the highway when he saw a white SUV driving toward him.

It was Holly.

When she stopped, he got in without saying a word. She made a U-turn on the highway and headed back home.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “Hell of a run. Thank you for coming to look for me.”

“I’m not about to lose you, and I knew where to look. That phone app. Remember?”

“The little boy… Sam… Is he okay?” he asked.

“Yes. Jacob cleaned him up, but he couldn’t stop shaking. I wrapped him in the old blanket that was on the foot of your bed and rocked him to sleep. Your dad said it was okay. The ambulance stopped and took him with them.”

He looked at her then, thinking one day she would rock their babies to sleep. “It’s definitely okay.” A few minutes later, she let him out to get his car, and then they both drove home.

By nightfall, Gunner’s episode with the little boy and the dog, and being led to the wreck in time to save the mother’s life, had just added to his story.

As for the men with the plan for Gunner’s future, it solidified their purpose even more.

* * *

The next day, Gunner was at the bar, helping Jacob get ready to open when they saw a car drive up and watched a man and a dog walking up the steps.

“I don’t know who the man is, but that’s Buster,” Gunner said.