Mary Sullivan - Cody's Come Home

“Yes. It overlooks a ravine and the views are spectacular.”

“If the views are so great, why isn’t it more popular?”

“It’s a serious hike in.”

“Dangerous?”

“Not really.” The man frowned. “Maybe. The path’s narrow. In a couple spots, it butts right up against the side of a steep hill. Most people who come out here are social and want to take well-traveled trails.”

“Okay, I’ll take that one,” Cody decided.

“Who are you going with?” the ranger asked. “We don’t want anyone out there alone.”

Cody glanced around. Only Mom and Dad were left. He didn’t want either of them out on that trail for that long of a hike at their ages. “I’m fine on my own.”

“You sure?” The ranger didn’t look happy.

“Yep. I have my cell. Battery’s fully charged. Can I get service out here?”

“We’ve got most of the perimeter covered.” He pointed to a cell tower across the lot. “Unless you go deep into the middle of the park where there’s no service, you’ll be fine, but she wouldn’t have been able to do that in an afternoon’s hike.”

The ranger gave him a quick once-over. Cody knew he looked strong and reliable. He worked out regularly. During the past year, his weight workouts and pounding on the heavy bag had kept him sane. They had also made him stronger. He’d always been athletic. Lately he’d kicked it up a notch. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t be able to handle on a hike.

“Okay,” the ranger said. “Go on alone. My phone will be on. Here’s my number. Call if you find her, or if you need anything.”

“Will do.” Cody programmed the number into his phone along with his dad’s cell and Salem’s. He studied the sky. “Looks like we’ve got weather coming in.”

“Yeah, that’s why we’re out here early urging everyone to get out and back quickly.” The ranger peered into the distance. “It’s a ways off yet.”

Cody hoisted his knapsack onto his back then felt someone fiddle with it. “Who is it and what are you doing?”

“Food,” his mom said from behind him. “I stopped at the bakery on the way here. I got some day-old baked goods.”

Good old Mom. “Any cinnamon buns?” Mom’s bakery-cum-café was famous for them.

“God, no, Cody. We never have any of those left and today’s weren’t out of the ovens yet.” He heard a smile in her voice. “The Colantonios also brought crusty rolls, salami and cheeses from their store. The salami is cured. With the weather this cool, the cheese won’t go bad in your bag.”

Tonio’s, the organic Italian market on Main, had the best food around. His lunch was going to be pretty spectacular for an impromptu meal.

When she finished, Laura walked around to face him. “It’s good to have you home, but—” she took his face between her hands and kissed both of his cheeks “—when this is over, we’re having a serious talk, you and I.”

When she used that parent tone, he knew she meant business. She walked away.

He wished he could avoid their talk. Parents were great at protecting children while they grew up, but there came a time in a man’s life when the child wanted to protect the parent.

“Okay, I’m headed out,” he called to the few people left. “I’ll phone if I find her.”

An hour later, thunder rumbled in the distance. He could smell rain. Electricity shimmered on the cooling air.

He called the ranger for an update. No one had reported finding Aiyana. She was still out here somewhere. He studied the sky. Dark clouds fomented above.

The storm was heading in faster than predicted. “Great. Just great.” Cody retrieved a poncho from his backpack and covered himself just in time. Heavy rain pelted him. Visibility diminished. An enormous crack of thunder shook the air at almost the same moment a streak of lightning snapped. Too close. Cody figured it might have hit the parking lot.

He debated calling back to make sure everyone was okay, but he needed to use his time to find Aiyana. He could only hope everyone was safe.

This storm was a bad one.

Where was Aiyana? Was she sheltered? Protected? He examined every side shoot of the trail. Would she go off trail? The trail was halfway up the side of a low mountain. If she wanted to shoot scenery, wouldn’t she opt for views of the valley below?

He couldn’t chance not checking out everything. Maybe she decided to take one of these paths to shoot nature up close.

A couple of hours later, frustration ate away at him because he hadn’t covered as much ground as he would have liked, even though he’d done a fair bit of running instead of walking.

He took out his cell to call the ranger. Nada. Not even a dial tone. What the heck? He wasn’t that far into the park.

Oh, crap. That huge crack of thunder probably hit the tower. Cody had no way of knowing whether Aiyana had been found and no way of calling for help if he found her.

He wouldn’t stop looking. He had to go at least as far as the ranger said she would have been able to get in one afternoon.

After a foray into yet another offshoot, he stepped back out onto the main trail and started forward again.

In the nick of time, he caught himself from tumbling into a break in the path. A three-foot gap of earth had disappeared down into a ravine.

His heart rate kicked up. Could this have been the spot where she disappeared? If she’d come this way, could she have fallen here?

“Aiyana!” he yelled.

Nothing.

“Aiy-aaa-naaaa.” He pitched his voice to travel as far as possible.

He thought he heard something and crouched down on the edge of the path.

“Aiyana,” he shouted again.

“Down here.”

The voice was faint, feminine. Thank God! She was here and conscious.

He slipped and slid down the wall of rocks, trees and dirt until he got to the bottom. She was lying half in, half out of a fast-moving creek. His heart lurched into his throat.

“Aiyana!”

“Who’s there?” She picked up a stick and held it across her chest, the gesture both defensive and aggressive.

Cody wondered about the fear in her voice, but maybe it made sense. She’d been in the woods all night alone. “Aiyana, it’s me. Cody Jordan.”

He bent down beside her and removed the hood of his poncho so she could see his face.

“C-C-Cody?” Her face registered her surprise. If he were she, he would be shocked, too. She must be wondering where he’d come from. He hadn’t been home in six months and she hadn’t been here at that time.

A sigh of relief whooshed out of him.

He touched her icy cheek, her normally golden skin currently gray, and her thick dark hair soaking wet and plastered against her scalp. She looked like hell...and he drank in the sight of her like a parched man in the desert. She was found, maybe not in a great situation, but alive. He could handle whatever needed to be done to get her out of here.

He breathed out, his relief so great he only now realized how deep his worry had been. He’d half expected to find her dead. Sure, he hadn’t seen her in years, but he knew that Aiyana would have fought tooth and nail to get out of whatever predicament she was in to save her dad and Emily from worry last night.

This was a girl who cared more about others than herself.

He studied her. She was no longer a girl. Even with straggly hair and pale skin, she was a sight to behold, imperfect but lovely and all herself. No Botox or pouty lips or unnaturally taut skin.

Aiyana was still Aiyana.

“Why are you staring at me?”

He shook himself out of his musings. “Sorry.”

She shivered and rubbed her hands.

Protective instincts on high alert, he soothed, “Hey, hey, I’m here now. I’ll take care of you. First let’s warm you up.”