“The colors of the jackets and ski pants?” Reed asked, jotting down the answers. He gave a reassuring nod. “Red and yellow—great. Those will be easier to spot.”

Since picking her up, he’d been on alert. He’d been friendly and obviously happy to see her, but his mind had already been on the rescue.

Hers had taken a little longer to shift from the excitement of being near him to razor focus on the task they were about to embark on. Watching him, she marveled over his dedication and commitment to this volunteer role. Saving lives, putting his own at risk... His selflessness made her six-figure salary for doing the same thing seem frivolous.

“Okay, I think we have everything to get started,” he said, zipping his jacket. “Tank will continue to ask further questions and if you think of anything...even something small, be sure to tell him. He’ll communicate with us over the radio.” He slid his hands into thick gloves and pulled a yellow hat on his head.

“If we can’t reach the kids by cell phone, how will you be able to communicate by radio?” one of the fathers asked. A big, burly guy in a camouflage ski jacket. His Wild River Hunter’s Club badge on his shoulder suggested this was the guy who’d taught the teens to love the wilderness.

Erika just hoped he’d taught them enough about survival in these winter conditions.

“It’s possible we could lose contact with the station, so if you don’t hear from us in a while, don’t panic. And no one else rush out into the trails for their own search. Having to find you as well will only make this more difficult,” Reed said, obviously reading the man’s on-edge, eager demeanor properly.

“You expect us to sit around here and wait while our kids are missing?” he said, moving closer to Reed.

Reed’s six-foot frame towered over the other man, but the guy had at least twenty pounds on him.

Erika shot a worried look at Tank, but he was briefing the crew members as several others arrived.

“Yes,” Reed told the father. “I do. You’re more help to us here, answering questions and not giving us all more to worry about. Keep trying their cell phones. Call other friends and family to see if anyone has heard from them. You’re more help to us and your kids by staying put. For now, at least.”

Erika swallowed hard. For now. She knew if the search went on too long and entered a critical time it would be all hands on deck and everyone would quickly become a volunteer, searching the safer regions led by an experienced rescuer.

“But...” the man started.

“Honey, Reed is right,” a small woman said, touching her husband’s arm. “We’ll wait here,” she told Reed.