Chapter Two

Turning Spartan so that he was clear of the group Amy watched as Lisa prepared to mount. Sable was a sweet little mare, but she had been through a lot, and Amy still wasn't sure what kept setting her back. She knew Lisa could ride, and that her grandpa would be watching for problems; Grandpa and Buddy had helped Sable make a lot of progress. But even so, if the partnership didn't work there weren't a lot of options when they were out here.

"They'll be fine." Ty glanced at her, able to tell exactly where her mind was. "Lisa will give her a chance, that's what she really needs."

She nodded, turning her attention to the bush, as they put a little distance between each other and swept through their area; she could hear other searchers calling the kids names as well.

Her chest felt tight, she knew what it felt like to hear that a child was lost but as a parent it was more intense; even if her daughter was safe at home. They had fanned out from a trail and moved through the trees, she watched Spartan's ears, he would be aware of the kids, or anything else nearby well before she was.

The ground was soft from the spring rain, but she didn't see any footprints, or signs of the kids; though there were some other tracks. The afternoon wore on and she began to hope the radio would chirp, that someone had found the kids before they lost the light.

Cresting a rise Georgie pointed down towards the river and through the trees she spotted Grandpa and Lisa, her grandpa leaned forward in his saddle, one arm resting on the horn; they were already at the trail that marked the end of their search grid. Georgie and Phoenix picked their way down, calling for Cyla and Abraham again as she and Ty followed.

Amy had let the teenager do most of the yelling, she had been watching Spartan and the landscape around them; looking for any signs that someone had already been through here. As they approached, she turned Spartan in next to Sable, glancing at Lisa.

The woman's tack was a bit of a mix given the mare didn't neck rein yet but for this terrain Grandpa had wanted Lisa in a western saddle. "How is she doing?"

"Good." Lisa replied, but her tone was a little tight, even as she patted the horse's shoulder. "You guys didn't see any sign of them?"

Amy only shook her head, but their section was only the riverbank; a small section of the area. Grandpa had got his hands on a map of the park somehow and Ty had eased in beside him, she missed what had been said but she knew both of those men; they were worried about something.

"We saw a lot of tracks, something is coming down to drink at the river." Lisa murmured quietly, and Amy felt her gut tighten, she had seen tracks too and thought they were wolf; maybe it would be better if the kids were out here alone.

"We don't have much light left." Grandpa sighed, it had taken several hours to sweep this section and as if on cue the radio chirped; calling for searchers to head in. "Let's shift over and we'll do another pass as we head in."

"We can't just go back." Georgie protested. "We have to…"

"We can't stay out here after dark, we would be putting ourselves and the horses in danger." But by his face she knew her grandpa didn't like it anymore than Georgie did.

As they headed in Georgie shifted to join Grandpa and Lisa, so she stayed close to Ty. They picked their way slowly through the trees, Amy felt her hopes jump as Spartan's ears started going, listening to something on the right and trying to get a look.

"Ty, over here." Were the kids hiding from all the strangers' voices calling for them or afraid that they would be in trouble?

Her husband swung down tying his horse to a nearby tree as he went to investigate, Spartan shifted as she followed, eyes still wide and ears swiveling. Amy called out their names again as she started up the hill, her own eyes scanning, there were so many places for them to be.

The kids had just set out on an adventure this morning, hoping to have some fun; they would never have thought this would happen. Now, if they weren't found by searchers heading in, they could face a night out here on their own.

"Amy. Stay there." Ty was farther up the hill and tension had crept into his voice but as she looked up at him, she realized why; he was approaching a den.

She squeezed her hands together and he knelt to peer in, staying off to one side in an effort to protect himself; there was little else he could do.

Then he rose. "It's empty, looks like it might have been abandoned. I heard some chatter about another east of here."

She only nodded, that confirmed what Grandpa thought about there being predators around here. Ty wrapped an arm around her, sensing her worries. "We're going to find them; if not us then one of the other teams."

"I know, I just keep thinking about Lyndy." Amy admitted, it felt selfish somehow, but she couldn't stop her mind from going back to their like girl.

"Me too. I can't imagine what those parents are feeling right now; it's different having our own child." He pulled her closer and Amy closed her eyes for a moment, soaking in his strength.

…

Something about this didn't seem right, they were a good distance from the camp site and eyeing the little map he had picked up he couldn't see anything that would interest some kids up here; it was mostly trails winding between campsites. But they had an easier time of it in the bush, there were fewer obstacles than along the river.

Lisa and Sable stayed a pace or two away as they wove through the trees, his wife kept her reins loose and used small motions to instruct the mare; her hands steady from the English riding she preferred. He'd seen them have a few moments and Lisa had commented on just how sensitive the mare's mouth was; but they moved well together.

"You've got that look again." Lisa jerked him from his thoughts as they came onto another trail, drawing the horses up to get their bearings and wait for Georgie to emerge further up.

"Other than animal tracks I haven't seen any sign of life and kids leave plenty; they don't know how not too." Jack admitted. "And I can't see where they would have been heading."

"They may have just been exploring." Lisa observed.

"Maybe but it's more likely they'd set out somewhere. There is a playground down by the rest area, but most of the other activities and sights aren't available yet; it's too early in the season." He muttered, hearing Georgie call the kids names again; she was close now.

"So?" His wife prompted.

"Maybe we stay up here tonight. The Mounties will have people at the camp site in case they find their way back, but we could take another. Voices would carry at night, if they are still wandering around nearby they might stumble into us. And we'll be here at dawn." He knew they couldn't keep searching through the night, it would just put more people at risk, the Mounties might try; but they'd have the equipment to do it.

"I'll call Lou when we get to the trailers and see if she can bring us some supplies." Lisa agreed, and he smiled a little, she didn't hesitate, even if she wasn't fond of camping.

They both paused as a pair of officers on foot emerged from the bush near them. The men turned towards them. "You folks heading in?"

"We are, we didn't know we had help in this section." He was seriously questioning this search grid.

"You don't, there was a report of a wolf den a little way east of here, we were just looking for any signs; no luck though." The men joined them, and Sable tried to sidle away; one reached out to pat her. "It sure must help having these guys."

The mare snorted, raising her head, eyes wide, and before Jack could tell him to give her some space she twisted and backed up fast, when the officer grabbed the reins Sable pulled against him and dumped Lisa in the dirt.

"Whoa, she's high strung." The young man who clearly didn't know how to handle horses eyed the mare now watching them from the trees.

"Best not to grab onto somebody else's horse." Jack said tightly, swinging down to help Lisa up; his wife glared at the young officer.

"Right, is she okay?"

"I'm fine." Lisa responded quickly, brushing dirt from her jeans as Jack looked her over; at least she hadn't hit her head. "Let me get her."

She looked a little stiff as she moved towards the mare, but the horse let her catch it, even if she did hesitate before letting Lisa lead her back onto the trail. Prancing at the slightest movement of her reins. Buddy turned towards her, as though sympathizing with his friend and Jack kept Lisa between him and the mare; with his body between her and the officers. Georgie surfaced and joined them, Phoenix as reliable as ever as the teenager frowned at the situation.

"We better keep going, we want to get our horses in the trailer before we lose the light completely." Jack waited for the men to head off before turning to his wife. "You're sure you are okay?"

"I'm fine, she's been touchy all afternoon; she really doesn't like having that bit in her mouth." Lisa patted the horse's neck, shrugging off his concern.

"Somebody gave her a good reason to, gave her a reason not to like men either; doesn't seem to mind you though." He rested his palm on her back, it wasn't the time to push the mare even if she had gotten to know him. "Amy might have some ideas for her mouth."

"I'll ask, but we better head back." Lisa sighed. He nodded and stooped, pressing a hand to her knee; giving her a leg up.

Then mounted himself, Buddy waited patiently for his cue to head out. Weaving back through the bush Georgie drew alongside him, they were approaching the rest area and voices carried to them, folks packing up; only the cops were staying.

"We can't leave them out there, Jack we can't." Georgie protested. "You didn't leave me when I ran away."

"We're not leaving." She was older now and had a better understanding of what people had been feeling when she's took off all those years ago, but she also had a better understanding of what those kids had to be feeling. "We'll find a camp site and get your mom to bring up some supplies, pick up again first thing."

Georgie nodded but did not look convinced and Lisa sidled over. "Maybe you two can go and see where they need us tomorrow; take a look at what has been done."

He nodded and when they dismounted Lisa took his reins; Georgie quickly loosened Phoenix's cinch and slipped his bridle for a halter. Jack gave his wife a quick glance and headed off with the teen; the RCMP were still gathered under the pavilion. And the officer showed Georgie the map, the teen leaned in, eager to listen; Jack stood back but he listened closely.