Chapter Four
Tanner
The trail I’ve been following and losing on and off for nearly three hours has no rhyme or reason.
It’s crossed back and forth across the expanse of the forest, even going in circles at times.
I’m almost positive the signs I’ve found are from Maisie.
Every so often I find a partial print of a small foot in soft soil, indicating I’m on the right track.
It’s worrisome that the prints have included toes, which means she’s out here barefoot.
My team is spread out around the area searching as well, but no one has discovered anything more concrete to go on.
Periodically I call out Maisie’s name with my hands cupped beside my mouth, with no response.
It’s concerning she still hasn’t been located by now.
I’m frustrated because this is taking much longer than expected.
The desire to erase the devastation and worry as soon as possible from the cerulean eyes of her mother only exacerbates the helplessness.
I growl at losing the trail yet again. Circling the area cautiously to avoid potentially destroying signs, I yell for Maisie once more.
I stand quietly, listening for any response.
A rustle of brush by a nearby nurse log draws my attention.
Scanning the vicinity, my gaze catches on something purple tucked into a depression in the ground by the log.
My pulse races as I scurry toward the spot. Nausea swirls in my belly at the sight. “Maisie?” I call softly, not wanting to startle her.
The purple moves. Rising up, Maisie rubs her eyes before blinking at me slowly.
“Hey sweet girl, my name is Tanner. I’m here to take you back to your mommy.” I squat down next to her to appear less threatening and intimidating.
“You knowed my mommy?”
“Yep, she’s worried about you. Are you hurt anywhere?”
“My feets hurts some.”
“Can I take a look at them?”
At her nod, I lift her feet into my hands. “It looks like you got some scrapes. Is it okay if I clean them?”
“Otays.”
I swing my pack off my back and retrieve my med kit. Pulling out the alcohol wipes, I warn her, “Now this might sting some, but we need to get your feet cleaned so they don’t start to hurt worse, okay?”
Her eyes wide, she nods.
I’m as quick and as gentle as I can be getting the worst of the dirt off. She’s a courageous little thing, pressing her lips together and only whimpering once. “You’re doing great Maisie. You’re such a brave girl. Okay all done. How about we get you home?”
She nods again before holding out her arms.
I take off my flannel shirt. “How about we put this on you so you’re not so cold?”
“Otay. I gots lost. Is Mommy mad?”
I chuckle as I help her thread her small arms into the much too large garment. Rolling up the sleeves so they don’t hang to her feet, I assure her, “She’s not mad at all, sweet girl. She’s just worried.
“Ready?” I ask, swinging her up into my arms after radioing my crew I’ve located her safe and sound, with no immediate medical required. She’ll be checked over by Alana, our paramedic, when we get back, just to be sure.
“You’ve been on quite the adventure, haven’t you? How’d you end up clear out here?”
“I woked up early. I was being quiet sos I didn’t wake up Mommy. I saw a bunny outside and wanted to catch it.” She starts telling me the story of how the bunny got her lost.
They say children are resilient. I’ve never been around them enough to confirm this to be true, but if the little blonde haired cherub in my arms is any indication, then they couldn’t be more right.
She chatters nonstop almost the entire hike back. The relief of locating her almost brought me to my knees. Seeing her sit up when I called her name was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Even after hundreds of successful rescues.
When she crawled right into my arms, clinging to me like a koala cub to its mother, my chest ached for all I’ve lost
Eventually, she falls asleep against my shoulder. Exhausted from her ordeal, I’m sure.
When we’re close to the farmhouse, I shift her to one arm gently so as not to wake her and radio my crew to let them know we’re only a few minutes out.
As soon as I clear the trees, Ella races across the yard screaming Maisie’s name.
Maisie startles awake in my hold. Her little arms grip my neck so tightly it’s difficult to breathe.
“Mommy, I gots lost, but Tanner founds me. He’s just like the prince who rescued the princess in my book. He’s my prince hero.”
“Oh, baby you scared me so much, and yes, you are absolutely right, he’s a real-life hero.”
My stomach somersaults at them declaring me a hero. It’s not something I’m comfortable with. Usually, I slip into the background for these tearful reunions. I loosen my hold on Maisie, expecting Ella to take possession of her so I can do just that, but instead she wraps her arms around me.
Maisie keeps one arm around my neck and the other goes around her mother’s.
It should be awkward, but a feeling of rightness settles over me instead.
My chest swells, and I let myself enjoy it for once.
For a time, I thought I would have hundreds just like this until reality proved there’s no such thing as fairytales, no matter what Maisie and Ella might think.
Regardless, I steal the moment.
Alana clears her throat. “I hate to break up the reunion, but we should probably get Maisie checked out just as a precaution.”
Ella steps back at the request and attempts to take Maisie, who apparently has other ideas.
“I want to stay with my Prince Hero Tanner,” she declares, lower lip poking out, arms once again precariously close to cutting off my airway.
My eyes widen at her announcement, and Ella’s lips turn down. “Sweetie, Tanner’s been looking for you for a long time, and he’s probably tired from carrying you.”
Maisie shakes her head. “He’s a prince hero, and he doesn’t get tired. Right?” Her gaze swings to mine.
The complete faith she has in me once again has opposing actions warring in my body. My chest swelling at her belief, and nausea swirling at what never was. It’s a challenge to get a full breath, but I inhale deeply, filling my lungs before slowly releasing it.
Maisie waits with more patience than I would’ve guessed she possesses after knowing her for such a short time.
I should be giving her back to her mother and gently letting her down.
Instead, I find myself just as mesmerized by her eyes as I was by her mother’s.
It’s the only reason I can think of to explain why I agree with her.
“She’s right, I’m not tired. I got her if that’s what she needs.”
The smile which lights up Maisie’s face is brighter than the sun. It also carves itself into my chest, securing a place of its own, ensuring I will always comply with her requests no matter what they are.