“So, you walked out for help. Good decision, man.” Gabe gave his pen and notepad to the woman who’d brought Chevy in. “Write down directions to where you found him as best you can. Then can you take me to the place?”

“Certainly.” She took the pad and started writing.

Gabe gripped Chevy’s uninjured shoulder in reassurance. “I’ll take a crew out to search. Anything else you can think of?”

“Uh-uh. Please find him.”

“We will.” Gabe remembered the boy’s happy grin when the pup crawled into his lap. His gut tightened. Please, let us find the kid alive.

Caz bumped his shoulder against Gabe’s. “My turn, viejo.”

As Gabe stepped back to let the medical shit begin, he saw townsfolk gathering around the pickup.

“Here you go, Chief.” The woman handed over the pad of directions.

Gabe asked, “Do you want to come with me in the patrol car?”

“No, I want my vehicle. You can follow me.”

“Good enough.” Gabe glanced around at the crowd. “A pissed-off sow with cubs attacked Chevy. Chevy’s son, Niko, is still out there. The kid’s about ten years old. I need volunteers to search for him.”

One person—only one—eased away and left.

Someone’s voice rose. “Get Dante here. He’ll be able to backtrack Chevy and the kid.”

“Yeah, Dante’s good at picking up a trail.”

Dante’s raspy laugh sounded off to the right. “From what I’ve heard, the Chief can leave me in the dust.”

“No one follows a trail better than Gabe,” Bull said.

Gabe saw the skeptical expressions. Looked like he shouldn’t have been so close-mouthed about his past. No time to rectify that now, though. He motioned to Bull. “Organize volunteers. I want them wilderness-experienced and able to help with a carry-out.”

Bull flicked his fingers in a salute and started barking orders to the people around him.

Caz would deal with medical. Bull had the search team. Next—support staff. It was hypothermia weather.

Gabe spotted Sarah and Audrey. “Can you set up a base station on the road? Blankets, warm drinks, and food for the searchers and hopefully the boy?”

“Absolutely,” Sarah took the pad of directions from him and glanced at it before handing it back. “I know the area.”

Beside her, Audrey hesitated as if unsure if she would be of use. A city girl would be used to calling 911 for shit like this. He gave her an encouraging nod.

Her chin lifted. “We’ll get it done.”

Yeah, she would.

“Good. We’ll leave you a place to park.” Spotting Regina, Gabe gave her the pad of directions. “This is where we’re starting the search for those who aren’t joining us right away. Also, get a wildlife trooper out here, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Caz drafted men to help load Chevy onto the stretcher.