A Christmas Wish: Dane by Liliana Hart Read Free Book Online

down the hall and stopped when he almost bumped into Charlotte. “What’s wrong?” he asked, taking her by the shoulders. Her face was white with panic.
    “Jayden’s gone. His bed is empty and his shoes and jacket aren’t where he left them. I’ve looked everywhere.”
    “Let’s look again, just to make sure. Maybe he fell asleep some place else while he was waiting for Santa.”
    She nodded, hope blooming in her eyes, and they started a search through the house. They weren’t bothering to stay quiet any longer and soon doors were opened all through the house.
    “Everything all right?” Cooper asked
    “Jayden’s not in his bed.” A cold fear gripped a round Dane’s heart and the thought that crossed his mind was almost enough to paralyze him. “Oh, God.”
    He ran to the f amily room where he’d left the Bible and skidded to a stop. The folded piece of paper was gone.
    “Jesus, he didn’t,” Cooper said from behind him.
    “Check and see if anything is missing from the supply box while I get dressed. Hopefully he went out prepared.”
    Dane threw on extra layers of clothes, a jacket, scarf, and hat that covered his ears, and he pulled on thick socks and his warmest boots. Things could get rough during this time of the winter and he needed to be prepared. By the time he got back to the kitchen Cooper had gotten things organized. He handed Dane a pack with extra blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate, as well as flashlights and flares if he needed help.
    “Charlotte says his backpack is gone, and there’s a flashlight and some matches missing from the supply box, as well as one of the thermal blankets.”
    Dane breathed out a sigh of relief. “That’s something then.”
    “I checked outside and it’s starting to snow again, but you can still see his tracks for now. We’ll take the snowmobiles to save some time. Cade and I will ride with you until the ravine and then we can split up on foot. Everyone else will wait here in case he comes back.”
    Dane saw Charlotte shaking her head. She’d gotten dressed and was ready to walk out the door, and she looked like she was ready to flatten Cooper if he suggested otherwise.
    “He’s right,” Dane said, stepping in front of Cooper so he was the target of her anger instead. “Jayden needs someone here in case he comes back.”
    She pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t budge. “I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
    “I’m asking you to trust me , Charlotte. I promise I won’t come back without him.”
    Tears welled in her eyes and he wasn’t sure she was going to give in. But she finally nodded. “I trust you to bring him back. But hurry.”
    Dane nodded and kissed her once, and then grabbed the pack Cooper had made up for each of them. Then he set out with his brother and his cousin to find his son. He only hoped they could find him before the snow covered all his tracks and made conditions even more treacherous.
    They followed Jayden’s rapidly disappearing footprints for more than a mile until they hit the ravine. Dane knew in his gut where Jayden was headed, but it was dark and the landmarks on the map wouldn’t be easy to see, even with a flashlight. It would be easy to get turned around, especially someone who wasn’t familiar with this particular area.
    He cursed himself for not taking the time to show Jayden basic survival skills. What kind of father was he? It was a miracle he at least knew enough to take dry matches and the thermal blanket. 
    The three of them parked the snowmobiles at the ravine and then set out on foot, each going in a different direction. Visibility was getting more difficult as the wind and snow picked up in speed and strength, and he only hoped Jayden had the sense to find some protection from the elements and stay put.
    Dane knew the area by heart. He’d roamed the land his entire life and knew the easiest paths to take. The flashlight was powerful and the high beam spread wide over boulders and the