I struggled over the uneven terrain, tripping more than once and landing on my knees a few times. My hands were scratched up and a sharp pain stabbed under my kneecap when I went down again.
But I didn’t stop.
We were getting closer. Logan was calling out to his master, and if he had words, I guessed he would be begging for help.
As we ran, the day dawned, and it was easier for me to anticipate where to put my feet. My lungs burned, but I kept Easton in my sights. If I lost him because I couldn’t keep up, I was screwed. I had no idea where we were.
The dog’s bellows rang through the air. He was nearby. Easton ran faster, his voice cracking as he called Logan again and again.
“I’m comin’, boy. Where are you? Logan!”
A long howl filled the air, and just over the next incline, we saw him. The dog was stretched out on the ground beside a small child.
Percy.
“Percy! Oh, god.” Easton fell to his knees beside dog and child, his hands trembling as he brushed Percy’s hair back.
There was blood.
Everything inside me stilled, and I couldn’t move. Was he breathing? Was he alive?
Easton bent over him, one hand on Logan’s back as he spoke quietly to the little boy lying prone on the ground.
“Percy? Percy, come on. Wake up.”
Is he breathing? I wanted to scream. I couldn’t drag oxygen into my lungs. They wouldn’t work. Moving closer, needing answers, I dropped down beside Easton. Tears ran rivers down his cheeks as he brushed his fingers along Percy’s. There was a large gash across the kid’s forehead, and blood matted his hair.
“He’s so cold,” Easton whispered.
I couldn’t take it. I shoved Easton aside and put my ear as close to Percy’s mouth as I could. He was lying on his stomach, so I watched his back, begging to see it move.
And it did.
Soft even breaths made his back rise and fall. His exhales fanned against my cheek.
“He’s alive. Talk to him, East. I’ll call the police.”
“He’s bleedin’. He’s hurt. Why isn’t he wakin’ up?”
“Talk to him.” I shook Easton and forced him to meet my eyes. “He needs you.”
Easton nodded and sucked in a shaky breath. He lay down beside the boy and continued to stroke his cheek while I held up my phone, praying for a signal. Thankfully, reception near Jasper and in the mountains hadn’t been as bad as I’d first thought. I had two bars and made the call.
Since I didn’t have the chief’s personal number on my phone like Easton, I called the main office in Jasper.
“Percy. Percy, it’s East. Wake up.” The worry in Easton’s voice tore a hole in my chest.
“Jasper County Police. How can I direct your call?”
“I need to speak with the Chief of Police.”
“He’s busy at the moment—”
“We found the child. Percy. I need him on the phone. Now.”
She was much quicker to comply with my demands after that and put me on hold.
Before the chief came on the line, Percy stirred, and I dropped to the ground beside Easton.
“East?” Percy whimpered and shifted his legs.
“Yeah, buddy. I’m here. It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.”
“I’m cold, and my arm hurts.”
Neither of us were wearing jackets, but Easton didn’t flinch and tugged his shirt off without a second thought. He laid it over the boy who was underdressed and shivering. Logan shuffled closer, squishing his big body against the boy’s like he knew the dilemma. He whimpered and nudged the kid with his nose.
“You did good, boy,” Easton said, giving the dog a scratch before returning his focus to Percy. “I wanna pick you up, Percy, but I don’t wanna hurt you worse. Is it just your arm?”
“My arm. My head too. I fell out of the tree.”
I glanced around and noticed a tree nearby, one with branches low enough for a child to scale. Beneath it lay a rifle.
“East.”
He glanced up, and I pointed to the gun on the ground.
As Easton took in the sight of the rifle, the police chief answered the phone. “Where are you? Is he hurt?” the man barked.
“We need an ambulance. We’re somewhere off the trails. I don’t know where. Hang on.”
“Tell him to meet us at the trailhead. I’ll carry Percy. They won’t get an emergency vehicle up here.”
I relayed the message and was informed they were on their way before hanging up.
Easton had one eye on the rifle and one eye on the kid. The look on his face told