Chapter 16

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They’d slept through the night at the firehouse, and a rested Bear went home to do chores and feed Blood. He picked Dane up at his apartment around noon. Heat feathered through his chest and his heart rate picked up as it always did at the sight of him. He was so happy to be unobserved and alone with Dane he could have hugged him, but he didn’t.

Cinnamon’s tail wagged as she waited for her turn to get in. Dane tossed his backpack in the luggage area next to Bear’s. SAR had taught them never to go into the mountains unprepared.

Soon the two exuberant dogs were in the seat behind the wire mesh that prevented them from climbing in front or they’d have been in each man’s lap. They each found a spot at a window. Bear wished he could open a window so they could hang their heads out and let the wind blow in their faces, but not only was it too nippy it was dangerous; something might fly into their eyes and damage a cornea.