Authors: Karen Ball
Before I do something to embarrass myself.
Several runaways later, the real search was on.
Annie and Jed waited with Kodi as Jayce, the designated search subject, made his way to a hiding spot deep in the woods. He radioed them when he was set and gave Annie her boundaries on the map.
“So he doesn’t tell you where he is?”
Annie smiled. “Wouldn’t be much of a search if I knew where he was.”
“Oh.” The word was as sheepish as Jed’s expression. “Right.”
Annie squeezed her powder bottle, watching the dust as the breeze carried it away so she’d know which direction to grid in before sending Kodi. That done, she took hold of Kodi’s collar, pointing in the direction they needed to go. “Find him!”
Kodi was off.
She and Jed followed, keeping their steps purposeful but relaxed. Running was fine for warming up, but you had to pace yourself on a real search.
“Question.”
She kept her focus on Kodi as she responded. “Go for it.”
“Why didn’t you have Kodi sniff something of Jayce’s? You know, a shirt or something with his scent on it?”
“Because she’s not searching for Jayce’s scent.”
Jed stopped, one foot lifted to step over a fallen tree. “Huh?”
Annie laughed. “Kodi is a Wilderness Air Scent Dog. That means she’s searching for
any
human scent, not just Jayce’s.” At Jed’s creased brow, she held out her hands. “It’s like this. When a human is alive, his body sheds forty thousand dead cells a minute. We call those
rafts.
When someone dies, the bacteria
breaking down the body creates a by-product.”
“A by-product.”
“Right. Gases and vapors that can be smelled by a human at a closer range. But dogs? If the air currents are right, they can pick them up at a substantial distance.”
She understood his deep laugh even before he explained it.
“I know someone who definitely gives off plenty of gases. My earner—uh, buddy, Andy”
Annie swatted his arm. “Not those kinds of gases, you goof. These gases are indiscernible to us, but if a human is in the area, they’re present. At least a third of the cells emitted from humans are lighter than air, which means they stay suspended for a while, like smoke.”
“Now, that I smell.” Jed lifted his face to the breeze. “Wood smoke. It’s everywhere.”
“Right, because folks who live around here heat with wood. And though their homes are quite some distance away, the smoke is carried on the wind. Well, that’s what the human scent is like for air scenting dogs. It emanates from people in a cone shape, growing larger and more spread out the farther it goes from the source.”
“Okay, so is it affected by the weather, like smoke is?”
Annie’s mouth quirked. “See there? I don’t care what everyone else says. I think you’re a smart guy.”
This time Jed punched her arm.
“That’s exactly what happens. On calm days, with the sun overhead, smoke and human scent rise up from convective currents. So calm, sunny days are actually harder for air scenting dogs. The scent rises straight up, so Kodi would nearly have to trip over it to hit on it.”
“And days like today?”
“Perfect. The air currents move uphill as the sun heats the ground.” Annie lifted her hand, pointing to a trail that led off to their left. “Kodi, check it!”
The shepherd ran up the trail, circled, and came back, then continued on ahead of them.
“So you tell her where to search?”
Annie rolled her shoulders, keeping the muscles loose. “Sometimes. I’ll let her range at her own pace, in her own way, but if I see something I want her to check out—a path or a culvert, whatever—I’ll direct her.”
“Man.” Jed shook his head. “I can’t believe all the stuff you have to know and keep in mind. Weather, time of day … ”
“It all matters.”
Jed held a branch out of her way. “So how do you remember all of this?”
“Training. Twice a week. We’ve done it for years, and we’ll keep doing it as long as we’re in SAR.”
“No wonder you’re in such good shape.”
Annie giggled and flexed her arms. “Hey, walking is one of the best exercises in the world. Look how strong and healthy people were back in Bible days. They walked everywhere. I mean, Jesus and the apostles must have walked hundreds of miles every year. I bet they were like the Jack La Lannes of their day.”
“Jack La Lanne? You’re comparing Jesus to Jack La Lanne?”
Annie couldn’t tell if Jed was amused or horrified. “I’m comparing his physical condition to Jack’s. I mean, think about it. Jesus was a carpenter. A number of the apostles were fishermen. These guys were strong and fit. Add all that walking, and I’d wager they were as well developed physically as they were intellectually.”
“Intellectually?”
No confusing that one. Disdain dripped from the word like old dishwater from a sodden sponge. Annie glanced at the man beside her. “Well, yeah. They spent all that time with Jesus talking and studying. Learning from the best teacher in history.” She shook her head. “That must have been amazing.”
“I think it’s amazing we still talk about those guys.”
Annie cocked her head. Those guys? Was she reading him right? If so, they had a problem, because he sounded like he was talking about a bunch of idiot frat brothers rather than the apostles. “Well, of course we do. They’re among the most influential men in
history. They brought truth to nations and died for what they believed in.”
At the sight of a large fallen log just beyond them, Annie signaled to Kodi. “This way!”
Jed watched the shepherd respond, sniffing all around the log, her tail wagging her delight at what she was doing.
“She seems to enjoy this.”
Annie smiled. “She wouldn’t do it if she didn’t.” She glanced at him. “About the apostles, you sound like you don’t think much of them.”
“And you sound like you actually respect them.”
Anxiety gnawed at Annie’s gut. Jed sounded so … annoyed. “Sure, don’t you?”
“Annie, come on. Look what they did! They walked with Jesus, a guy who was supposed to be the Son of the living God.”
Supposed
to be?
Oh, no. No, no, no …
She couldn’t believe she hadn’t asked Jed about this. Annie swallowed the growing panic inside her.
Jesus, please don’t tell me You’ve let me fall for a man who doesn’t believe in You!
“Like you said, they talked with Him, were close to Him. They had to be His closest friends. And what do those crumbs do when things get hard? They run. Like petrified rabbits.” He kicked a rock, sending it flying. “I’d never do that. Not to someone I was supposed to believe in. Care about.”
Such depth of emotion in his tone, his suddenly stiff demeanor. Anger. Pain. Betrayal. It seeped through Jed’s words—and his mood—like a black stain on cool white cotton.
And it lifted Annie’s spirits to the skies.
If he was this upset, this angry at what the apostles did to Jesus, then he must believe in Him. Of course, she’d ask, just to be sure. But later. Now wasn’t the time for that discussion.
Kodi ranged to the left and disappeared in the trees. Annie watched her as she and Jed walked along, making their way
through the silence as carefully as they did the forest.
She gave herself a little time by scanning the terrain, looking for spots where she should send Kodi deeper, areas where someone could hide—such as in the middle of bushes, which would hold the scent in.
She paused, checking the drainage they were crossing against the map, then looked at Jed. “You know, I’ve heard that a lot. People saying they’d never do what the apostles did. But we do, Jed. All the time.”
Denial thinned his mouth. “Not like they did.”
“Exactly like they did. Don’t you see? We’re with Him every moment of every day, and yet when something we think is too hard comes our way, what do we do? Pitch a fit. Turn and walk away. Doubt Him.”
He considered her words for a moment, but she could tell he didn’t like them. “I’m sorry, Annie. I just don’t see it.”
“Most people don’t. They look at the apostles and see weak men. But you know what I see?”
“What?”
“Myself.”
The minute the word slipped past her lips, something clicked, deep inside.
Myself … I see myself …
Annie’s mouth opened on a gasp. Of course! Oh, it was perfect!
“Hey, are you okay? I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, it’s okay” More than okay. It was wonderful! Ideas raced through her mind. Oh, for a pencil and paper to sketch them! Annie wanted to dance, to jump up and down and yell it out to the world.
I’ve got it! Oh, I’ve got it!
Kodi ran past them and out of sight to the right. Annie knew she should follow, but instead’, she spun toward Jed, propelled by the pure euphoria of excitement, and threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled backward, his arms enclosing her as she pressed a grateful kiss to his cheek.
“Whoa! What did I do to deserve this?”
Jed’s laughing question jarred her from the excitement of discovery, slamming her full bore into the mortification of self-consciousness.
Oh, good heavens! She’d just thrown herself at the man!
She pulled back, but he tightened his hold on her. “Come on, now. Tell me what I did.” Mischief twinkled in those brown eyes. “So I can be sure to do it again.”
Face on fire, Annie eased from the warm circle of his arms. “I’m sorry, Jed.”
His mouth quirked. “I’m not.”
What was
wrong
with her? And where was Kodi? Annie listened. No sound. Suddenly, the dog bolted from the trees, heading straight for Annie. “Good girl, Kode! Did you find someone?”
But instead of alerting, Kodi dog ran past them, still hard at work.
Which was more than Annie could say for herself.
“So … what wonderful thing did I do?”
Annie turned to Jed. “I just had an idea about a window I’ve been working on. Something I haven’t been able to figure out.” She overcame her chagrin enough to smile. “And I owe the solution to you.”
“Wow. Well, let me know any time I can help, ’cuz the payment is great.”
Thank heaven her laugh was only slightly self-conscious. They started walking again-.
Jed tugged his sleeve back and checked his watch.
“Getting tired?”
He lowered his arm. “Nah, I’m good.”
She restrained a smile. Typical guy. Wouldn’t admit it if he were about to drop. “It’s okay if you are, Jed. We’ve been out a couple hours now, and this isn’t exactly easy terrain to navigate.”
“Yeah, well,
you’re
not tired.”
The smile escaped. “I do this all the time. Kodi and I run every day.”
“So what you’re saying is that you’re in great shape and I’m a wimp?”
“A
what?”
She hooted. “The last thing I’d call you is a wimp.”
Interest sparked in his eyes. “Oh? Why is that?”
Annie pushed branches out of their path, holding them back out of the way. “With those shoulders and muscles—?” Oh, good heavens! She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. Sure, she’d thought it a number of times, but to say it right out loud like that? She must have lost her mind. She wasn’t sure if it made her seem more stupid or desperate.
Either way, Jed didn’t seem in the least bothered. In fact, utter delight painted his features. “Please, do go on.”
“Ohh, you!” She let the branches snap back into place—and smack into his chest.
“Aaahh! Medic!” He flopped back against a tree, milking the melodrama for all it was worth. “I’ve been wounded!”
“Not yet you haven’t. But keep it up and I’ll be more than happy to oblige.” Annie hesitated when Kodi came loping out of the trees. But again, no alert. Kodi just eyed Annie and then, reassured that her mistress was still close by, bounded away, nose to the ground.
“Man, this takes a lot of patience.”
Annie sniffed. “Almost as much patience as putting up with you.”
Jed slung a companionable arm around her shoulders. “Ah, c’mon. You know you think I’m wonderful.”
“Hmpf.”
He gave her a squeeze. “Right?”
She tugged away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go.
“Almost as wonderful as I think you are.” The teasing in his tone had vanished, replaced by a low warmth that made her tingle.
Her heart tripped. She couldn’t make herself look at him, so she just stared at the ground. “You … you think I’m wonderful?”
He slid a finger under her chin, coaxing her to meet his gaze. The affirmation she saw there sent her spirits soaring.
“Wonderful, and beautiful, and talented…”
With each word, his head lowered a fraction. Annie let her eyes drift shut—
Then jerked them open with a yelp when something nailed her from behind.
Kodi!
The dog was alerting, and Annie hadn’t even heard her coming back! She’d actually forgotten for a moment why she was out here! Shame flooded Annie as she scrambled to her feet. Censure wrapped itself around her heart, making her throat ache.
Kodi barked, poised to jump on Annie again, but this time she was braced. Kodi raised up, planted her huge paws on Annie’s midsection, then dropped back down on the ground. “Good girl, Kodi. Show me, girl! Show me!”
As the shepherd bounded into the trees, Annie ran after her, not even looking back to see if Jed was following. Because if she did, she’d lose it.
For the first time she could remember, she’d forgotten what she was doing. Forgotten she was out here for a reason—one that could mean life or death for someone. Her only saving grace was that this was a training exercise and not the real thing. That helped.
But not much.
Because she knew, deep inside, it wouldn’t have made a difference. With Jed looking at her like that, saying things like that, with his arm holding her close against him like that, Annie did something she always swore she’d never do. Something that absolutely terrified her.
She got lost.
Jed scrambled to his feet, racing to catch up with Annie as she crashed through the woods, calling encouragement to her dog.
“Good, Kodi! Show me!”
He could hardly believe the way she’d stood there, letting Kodi jump up on her. She’d told him that was how the
dog … what had she called it? Oh yeah, alerted. But he’d figured it was a nice, gentle thing.