it. He knew that gray head he’d glimpsed in the crowd on the night of the campfire looked familiar.
“Change of plans, Gunny?” Aunt May said.
He glanced over at her, saw the hint of a smile in her questioning face, and rolled his eyes. “I think it’s more accurate to say one more change of plans, don’t you agree?”
She let the smile loose. “I told you I was coming for a visit.”
“Yes, but you didn’t mention that you were already here at that point.”
“I needed a little time to myself. Plus, I wanted to check out your new hometown for myself. What’s the big deal?”
Gunnar sighed. “No big deal at all, apparently.”
“And just as soon as I finished my research, I called you to come pick me up.”
“Which nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“A strong, healthy guy like you? Never.” She pursed her grinning lips and stared out the window, obviously pleased with herself.
“So, what deep dark secrets did you uncover about Spellbound Falls?”
Aunt May looked back at him, her brow arch promising intrigue. “All in good time, Gunny. All in good time.” She tucked that trademark silver hair behind her ears and leaned back in her seat. “I assume we’re going on that rescue call?”
“Can’t get anything by you,” he said with a smirk.
“Do you even have to respond on your days off?”
He shook his head and gripped the wheel tighter. “No, it’s my choice, but this one sounds like I might want to be there.”
Silence swelled, long enough to surprise him, and he looked over at his aunt once again. Her face questioned more aggressively this time, discerning hazel eyes in full squint and thin lips pooched. “What’s different about this one?”
“I have a young friend who lives at Inglenook. And I have a feeling he’s one of the missing kids.”
“And?”
“That’s not enough?”
“Of course it’s enough, but it’s not the whole story.”
Gunnar sighed. He was clearly a little out of practice when it came to handling May. Nothing slipped past her. Not. One. Thing.
“Okay, Aunt Sherlock, you got me. Katy boards her horse at the Inglenook stables, and she’s particularly close to the young boy I mentioned. Even worse, I have a feeling the other two missing kids are her cousins.”
“Got it,” she said. “You absolutely have to be there.”
“Thanks for understanding.” Gunnar almost missed the turn for Inglenook and skidded them where they needed to go at the last minute. “Sorry about that.”
“No need for apologies. I’m enjoying seeing you in action.”
Though his worry intensified with every mile, a small bit of amusement slipped between the cracks. Leave it to his aunt to turn this into an experience she could use for her own purposes. Maybe the crisis would even take the edge off her curiosity about Katy.
“So, how will I recognize her?”
Gunnar rolled his eyes. That had to be a new record for dashing his hopes. “Okay, time for some ground rules. I know it’s not ideal, but I’m really going to need you to stay in the truck. My team needs to be able to do its job without interruption.”
May gasped loudly, obviously for effect. “I’m not an idiot, Gunny. I would never endanger those children by distracting the searchers. I might be a busybody, but only in the right circumstances.”
He nodded and peered into the distance. Flashes of rescue red and yellow glinting between the leaves told him he’d nearly reached the stable.
“You didn’t answer me,” Aunt May said.
“You don’t need an answer. You’re staying in the truck.”
She rapped on the window. “Fortunately, this truck has these clever glass inserts in every direction. I feel like I’ll be able to see a great deal from here.”
That one made a laugh tumble right out. “Touché, Auntie. Touché.”
He slowed the truck and scanned the road ahead. There was the bus, parked near the stables, and the big engine still on the road. He sure hoped the team had been able to make some progress with his checklists before the call came in. It would only cause delays if any equipment still awaited inspection back at the station. Swinging his truck in behind the engine, he shifted into park and turned to his aunt.
“There’s water in the cooler behind the seat if you get thirsty, and I’m leaving the keys in the ignition in case you have to move the truck. Anything you need, help yourself. Hopefully they just made themselves a fort out of branches and leaves and we’ll find them in no time.”