Rock Harbor Series - 01 - Without a Trace Read Online Free PDF

yet.”
    That was a stupid question and clearly none of his business. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut? The radio attached to his belt crackled to life.
    “Ranger station, come in.” Bree’s voice cut out then surged stronger. “We’ve found them, and I’m sending up a flare. We’re in sector four.”
    Kade grabbed the radio. “Ten-four. What kind of shape are they in?” Only a crackle of the radio answered his question, then a light shot from the forest and illuminated an area to their left. He gunned the truck down the rutted track. Hilary clung to the door as the truck pitched from side to side. He tossed the radio to her.
    “Call an ambulance!” When the truck finished grinding to a halt beneath the spreading light, he jumped from the vehicle, grabbed his first-aid kit from the back, and ran toward the cluster of people huddled at the base of a giant sycamore.
    Bree and Naomi were kneeling beside the two children. The little girl’s face was streaked with mud, and tears had left blotches on her face. She held her younger brother’s hand. Kade’s gaze dropped to the little boy cradled in Bree’s arms, and his heart sank at his condition. Even in the fading twilight, Kade could see him shaking. The sour smell of vomit lingered in the air, which didn’t bode well.
    “Timmy is sick,” Emily sobbed. “Is he going to die?”
    “We just gave him his shot,” Bree said. She pulled the little boy closer to her and wrapped her coat around him. Timmy visibly relaxed at her tender touch. He turned his face into her chest and sighed.
    Bree appeared oblivious to everything but Timmy, and Kade wondered if holding the little boy brought back memories of her own loss.
    Kade opened his canteen and knelt beside the children. He poured a few drops of water into Timmy’s open mouth. The little boy coughed but managed to swallow it, then Kade gave Emily a drink too. Running his hands over their arms and legs, he was relieved to find nothing broken.
    “Just insect bites,” he said. “They seem to be all right. But we need to get them to a hospital. The mayor is calling the ambulance.”
    “I already did,” Naomi said. “It should be here any minute.”
    Kade whipped off the jacket of his uniform and knelt beside Bree. He wrapped the jacket around Emily like a blanket. “The ambulance won’t get here any too soon. I think we’d better run them to the hospital in my truck. Some of you will have to ride in the back of the pickup or wait for the ambulance.” He took Timmy from Bree and moved toward the road without waiting for an answer. Timmy’s head lolled against Kade’s chest, and his small feet dangled from the folds of the coat. Kade didn’t like the boy’s limpness.
    Bree took Emily’s hand, and they started toward the dirt access road. As they reached the road, Kade heard the shrill wail of the ambulance in the distance. Relief left him almost lightheaded. Timmy and Emily would soon be under medical care. Moments later the flashing lights came into sight, followed by the headlamps of two other vehicles.
    Putting her radio away, the mayor came toward them. She reached out a hand and touched Timmy’s hair. “You’re safe now, sweetheart.” She stroked his face then reached down and touched Emily’s head. “You’re both going to be just fine.”
    Emily took her hand, and Hilary’s face softened. Kade turned away from the naked longing in Hilary’s face. He felt he was intruding on something private. His eyes connected with Bree’s, and he saw sorrow in them. All this motherly angst made him put his hackles up, and he tensed.
    Kade signaled with his flashlight in case the driver had trouble seeing them in the twilight. Crunching gravel under the tires, the ambulance came to a stop and two paramedics leaped out. One of the men took Timmy from Kade and rushed him to the back of the ambulance. The second paramedic led Emily to the back as well. The other two vehicles stopped, and two men got