“It was Mako who gave us the idea.” Sarah smiled. “He was a wealth of practical knowledge when we got here. Even after a couple of years in Alaska, we were still learning how to manage.”

Audrey eyed her. “New York, right?”

“You can hear the accent, hmm?”

“New York to Rescue is quite a leap, isn’t it?”

“Oh, was it. I blame my husband. He was determined our children would learn skills other than playing video games. It took us a while to find the right place, though. We tried Anchorage. Too many people for Uriah. A cabin without electricity? Not for me.” She made a face. “There are certain skills I don’t need—like doing laundry by hand.”

What a horrible thought. “I’m with you there.”

“So, we settled here in Rescue. It suits us both.”

Audrey set up the oversized coffee and soup dispensers and then wrapped them with insulating blankets. Additional thermoses of hot water for tea or hot chocolate were lined up and insulated under more blankets. In case the search lasted too long, Sarah had a camp stove available to reheat the food and drink.

Blankets and heat packs were available in a box inside the vehicle.

“We’re ready if we’re needed.” Sarah glanced toward the forest, her lips compressed. “Let’s hope our work is in vain and they find Niko quickly.”

Audrey said a silent prayer.

Ten minutes later, Tucker limped out of the forest, supported by a bearded man. The two headed straight for the SUV.

“Tucker, what happened?” Audrey hurried to open a camp chair so he could sit under the canopy.

“Stepped right into a be-damned hole in a clear-cut area. This ol’ leg of mine doesn’t bend like it used to.” He slapped his thigh. “Twisted my ankle.”

Sarah shook her head and gave the other man a cup of coffee.

“Thankee, Sarah.”

Tucker looked up at his friend. “Appreciate the help, Guzman.”

“No problem.” Guzman chugged the coffee. “I’ll get back to the search. You’ll take care of him?”

Sarah nodded. “Leave him to us. Good luck.”

As Guzman jogged back into the forest, Audrey handed Tucker a mug of coffee. “How is the search going?”

“Thanks, Audrey.” He took a sip and sighed with pleasure. “I gotta say I was worried when Dante didn’t lead us out. But the Okie was right. MacNair’s damn good. He followed Chevy’s trail slicker’n grease through a goose. After finding where the bear attacked, he picked up the kid’s tracks. But we stalled out in the clear-cut.”

A clear-cut meant loggers had taken all the trees down, making a treeless area filled with slash. “Why?”

“The clear-cut was where Chevy shot the moose.” Shifting uncomfortably, Tucker rubbed his leg.

Audrey frowned. First aid manuals said sprains and such should be elevated. She pulled another chair close.