Page 55 of Shades of Mercy

Jag swallowed with difficulty. He needed to stay positive.

He detected another shoe print—this time, a partial.

Pressing a finger to the disrupted soil, the print was fresh. That was a good sign.

With his pack thrown over his shoulder, Jag followed the trail as it narrowed.

Disappointment climbed into his chest as he felt the first drop of rain.

The rain could wash away any available clues, making the trail far more treacherous.

Jag walked a few more feet and heard a faint noise in the distance. He paused to listen. The rushing river drowned out many sounds, but one resembled a cry. He surveyed the area, and his heart nearly leapt from his chest when he noticed a low-hanging limb fifty feet away had a strip of clothing attached to it.

“Bingo!”

Wasting no time, in a race against the clock, he darted in the direction of the clue.

He stopped again, listening.

“Jacob? Are you there?” he called out.

More cries sounded through the thick trees.

Jag parted the limbs, and just ahead, he saw a rock overhang. A dirty, untied tennis shoe was visible.

He took a step and the rocks gave out. Jag hit his side and slid the rest of the way to the cave. He jumped up, muddy and a little sore, but his attention was on the boy huddled in a fetal position pressed against the rock wall, trying to stay warm. Soft sobs escaped from his trembling body.

Jag dropped his bag and rummaged inside, taking out the zero-degree weather blanket. “Jacob!”

He needed to be careful, not knowing the boy's mental and physical condition.

“Jacob?” Jag said a little louder.

The boy lifted his face, looking at Jag as if he were an apparition. With a quick visual examination, Jag could see that he was exhausted, dehydrated, and scared. Mud was smeared on his face with tear trails marking his cheeks. His clothes were wet and torn, his blonde curls matted with embedded debris.

“My name is Jag. Did you get lost?”

The little boy, who appeared much younger than eight, nodded.

“It’s okay. I’m going to take you home just as soon as this rain calms down. Okay?”

“I want my mommy.” The dam broke and the boy started sobbing again.

“I know you do, son. Before we can do anything, though, I need to know if you’re hurt.” Jag didn’t see any cuts or broken bones. Just a tired kid who was cold. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” he mumbled.

“I want you to take this blanket and cover up with it.” Jag held the blanket out.

After a second’s hesitation, Jacob grabbed the offering.

“Spread it over you,” Jag said.

Jacob did. “It’s not soft like a blanket.”

“That’s because it's made to keep you warmer than a blanket.” Jag noticed the boy’s shivering was starting to subside. Jag uncapped a water bottle and set it near the kid. “Take some sips of that.”

Jacob grabbed the bottle and started guzzling.