me his mind was racing for answers. Cautiously, he collected Percy off the ground and into his arms.
Percy cried out in pain and tucked his face against Easton’s neck. “My arm.”
“I know. I’m sorry, buddy. We’ve gotta move you and get you to the hospital, okay. I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
The little boy wrapped his legs around Easton’s middle as Easton stood up. Percy kept his one arm tucked against his stomach. The blood on his forehead was dried and no longer ran down his face, but bruising and swelling surrounded a vicious cut.
“Percy?” Easton rubbed the kid’s back, staring at the rifle. Deep grooves marked Easton’s forehead. “Did you bring the rifle into the woods?”
“Yes. Daddy said we had no food, and he didn’t have money for shopping. He said he would go hunting tomorrow. But my tummy was too grumbly, and when I asked again, he told me I needed to grow up and get my own damn food.”
My stomach flipped at the thought of this small boy in the woods with a rifle. He could have killed himself.
“So, you were huntin’?”
“I don’t know how, East. I was scared the coyotes were gonna eat me, so I climbed the tree so they couldn’t get me. Then I saw a rabbit and tried to shoot him. But the gun hurt my arm, and I fell out of the tree.”
“Jesus.” The kid had been out here all night, hurt and alone. And bleeding. He was lucky he hadn’t drawn the attention of a wild animal.
Easton closed his eyes, and his jaw ticked. “The kickback on them rifles is nasty, buddy. That’s what gotcha. Percy, you’re too small for huntin’, and you should never, ever touch a gun. Do you hear me?”
“I know. But Daddy said—”
“Your daddy is gonna deal with me.”
The kid started crying again. “I’m sorry, East. Don’t be mad at me. I didn’t know.”
Easton held him close, kissing his head and shushing him. “It’s okay. I’m not mad at you. You scared me, that’s all. I didn’t know where you were.”
“My arm really, really hurts.”
“It’s probably broken or dislocated. We’ll get you to a hospital.”
“I don’t feel good.”
“I know.”
Percy sobbed, and Easton met my eyes. The look brewing in his amber spheres was dangerous. God help the kid’s father when Easton got his hands on him. I didn’t think Easton was a violent guy, but there was murder in his eyes.
“Can you grab that rifle,” he bit out. “We gotta get movin’. He’s shiverin’ real bad.”
I glanced at the gun, my skin prickling at the thought of touching it. I’d never handled a gun in my life, but I knew we couldn’t leave it out in the woods. It was either carry it or the kid, and there was no way Percy was going to let anyone else take care of him when he had Easton.
With my stomach in a knot, I collected the gun. Easton must have seen my trepidation.
“Just keep the muzzle pointed at the ground. You’ll be fine.”
I nodded.
We went at a much slower pace back toward the trail. I followed behind Easton and listened as he talked quietly to Percy the entire time. Logan kept close to his master, and I could have sworn the dog looked worried about the kid too. Percy whimpered and slept off and on. His shivering grew worse.
A crew of police and ambulance workers met us at the head of the trail. They’d pulled an ambulance right onto the property and had it ready to take Percy the minute we came into view.
A man in a uniform took Percy from Easton’s arms, but the kid wailed and reached for Easton. “No. I want East.”
Easton looked torn and did all he could to encourage Percy to let them take care of him. I went up behind him and rubbed Easton’s arm. “I’ll take you to the hospital. We’ll follow them, okay?”
He nodded, wiping his own tears. “You hear that, buddy. I’m gonna be right behind the ambulance. Just a short drive.”
Reluctantly, Percy released Easton’s hand, his lower lip quivering. A constable came and relieved me of the rifle with a questioning look on his face. I gave him a quick summary, and the look of pain that crossed the officer’s eyes echoed how I felt inside.
We watched them check Percy head to toe, wrap blankets over his shoulders, and examine his head and arm. They returned Easton’s shirt, and he tugged it on. I got the feeling he