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Ten minutes later, we had a crew of about thirty people ready to search for Connor. After a tight hug from Sawyer, Talia left to pick up her daughter. Lane and Jonah brought their UTVs, along with five local farmers. Travis headed to do all the evening chores of feeding cattle, which had to be done regardless of the crisis at hand. Gene began feeding after he’d made it back from town, but, between checking all the pastures, it was a two man job. Particularly because I had stopped partway through chores earlier when I found Sawyer.

Everyone gathered around my front porch steps, Sawyer and Fulton standing partway down the stairs on either side of me. I gave directives of areas we had already covered. The locals nodded, being almost as familiar with the area as I was. Many of them were lifelong residents who had been here for three or four generations. This part of Kansas had a heavy population of German and Irish settlers who had traveled to the area in hopes of worthwhile farming. Many of those farms were still in operation, having been passed down through generations. Some of the older generations still spoke German in addition to English, which caused their English to have a slight Germanic accent.

After assigning areas to search, Fulton set forth a plan to make contact again in two hours if we hadn’t found Connor by then. Additional law enforcement agencies would be called in, along with search and rescue dogs. Two officers would continue to patrol sections of land, searching for clues and questioning locals to see if anyone had spotted Connor walking down the road.

I turned to Sawyer at my side and quietly asked, “Anything you want to add?” Her shattered blue eyes met mine, and she gave a small nod.

Once Fulton was done giving instructions, I cut in. “This is Sawyer.” I nodded to her. “She knows Connor.”

“Hi. I just wanted to add that I really appreciate you coming out to help. Connor is truly a sweet kid, but he’s just dealing with some disappointment right now. Also, to reiterate, he’s wearing a light blue sweater and khaki dress pants.” She expelled a deep breath, turned toward me, and inclined her head.

“All right. Everyone follow me and Fulton, and we’ll split up at the marker,” I called out, turning to Sawyer.

“You’re with me.”

I wasn’t about to let anyone spend time in her light. Call me selfish, but I wanted her warmth all to myself. There was something about her I couldn’t put my finger on, but I didn’t have time to wonder. A lost little boy needed to be found, and the temperature drop tonight was becoming more concerning. A small child couldn’t survive in twenty-nine degree weather without a jacket, without the risk of injury or more. As we neared the UTV, I gave her back my hoodie in case she needed it. Her brows met.

“In case you get cold, or we need it for Connor.”

Because I want my hoodie on you. What was wrong with me? I had barely met this woman and she was already under my skin. I didn’t have time for a relationship, and my last not-relationship had nearly cost me everything. The entire town was witness to that destruction, and I blamed myself for my parents leaving soon after that. They had expressed a desire to retire from farming and travel the country in their RV. Although, sometimes I wondered if it was to keep their distance from me and my ruin. Sure, they loved me and encouraged me from a distance, but all I had ever done was cause them grief and shame. I couldn’t blame anyone for keeping their distance, because I devastated the things I loved. How could I pursue a woman if it always ended in ruin?

Chapter

Five

Sawyer

The volunteers dispersed and were driving into the field toward where Connor had run. We had already covered this area, but maybe with more eyes, we’d see something we had missed. But what if—

“Wait!” I blurted.

Soren turned toward me, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“What if he doubled back and ran into the fields on the other side of the road?” Soren paused, his eyes scanning the area.

“It’s worth checking out.”

We headed off in that direction after he radioed the other searchers and gave them a heads-up. The fact that he had accepted my ideas so easily made me pause. It felt good. Growing up, I had learned that speaking up often led to consequences I didn’t want to pay. Those ingrained responses often kept me from speaking my mind unless I was truly comfortable with someone. We rode an hour in silence, only making noise to call out Connor’s name. The clock ticked away as the threat of darkness got closer and closer. I didn’t talk, the tension of concern for Connor weighing heavily on my mind. This was beginning to seem more and more scary by the moment. I ran my hands down my jean-clad thighs. Soren looked toward me at the movement.

“I won’t stop until we find him.”

His voice was firm and confident, and somehow, I knew with complete certainty he was telling me the truth. He continued driving by a creek bank that twisted and curved like a ribbon. We paused from time to time when he’d lean over the side and scan the muddy bank. He never indicated why but simply continued along the path. We continued to call out, hoping that Connor could hear us over the wind that howled more fiercely as the cold front moved in. I tucked my hands beneath Soren’s hoodie that was acting as a blanket over my legs.

Further down the creek, Soren slowed down and extended his long muscular arm, pointing toward a small figure in the distance. Connor was huddled against a tree near the edge of the creek, his legs pulled up to his chin and his head laid across his knees. I took a deep breath for what felt like the first time in hours. The sound of the UTV must have registered, because his head shot up and his red, teary eyes widened. Soren drove us the rest of the distance until we pulled up alongside his huddled body. Connor's stance spoke of defeat and his stormy eyes met mine. Soren killed the engine but didn’t move, and I slowly climbed off the UTV, clutching the hoodie in my hands.

“Connor. Would you like to put this hoodie on?”

I held it out as a peace offering, trying to get a read on his mood and anticipate possible movements. Would he come willingly with us, or would this be a struggle? He immediately took the hoodie from my outstretched hand and shimmied into it. It nearly came to his ankles. His own sweater had been pulled down to cover his red fingers from the cold. To my side, I saw Soren texting on his phone, most likely informing the others Connor had been located. My heart finally slowed until it was beating normally. Connor took a choppy gasp. His cheeks were reddened from windburn and the chill in the air. Scanning his body, I didn’t see anything out of place other than his eyes that were red from crying, a few mud smears, and minor scratches here and there.

“I shouldn’t have run away.” The defeat was evident in his shaky voice.

He peered up once more. I paused. I wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but in reality, he took a risk today and could have been injured or worse.

“It wasn’t a safe choice because you could have been hurt, but I understand that you were disappointed. I was worried about you,” I offered softly.

“I just want my dad back.”

His words caught on a sob, and his face crumbled as he buried it in his arm, now covered in the thick, way-too-big hoodie. I heard Soren shift in his seat, clearly uncomfortable about standing back. I could sense his struggle in not helping. In the little time I’d been around him, I could tell he was a ‘take charge’ kind of man. I edged closer to Connor, hoping to bring comfort. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and tell him everything would be okay, but I knew better than most that sometimes everything wasn’t okay. I also knew sometimes physical touch was not the answer—or was even welcomed. I knelt beside him.