Page 14 of Flashback

But Ethan vehemently shook his head. “No. We can stay here. I have enough food. We’re fine.” He sniffed and lifted a strong chin in a surprising show of defiance. “I’m not going back.”

Nolan cried though. His whole body shuddered. “I don’t wanna see the bad man again. He’ll kill us.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What bad man?” Dakota came closer to the boys.

Ethan stood quickly and moved in front of his brother. He held his own wrist, as though he might’ve injured it. “Who are you?”

“That’s my friend Dakota. He came to help me find you. He’s a firefighter.”

Dakota held out a hand and gave the boys a friendly smile. It was a nice smile. Apparently Nolan thought so too. He jumped into Dakota’s arms and wrapped his own chubby ones around Dakota’s neck.

“Nolan!” Ethan yelled. “He’s a stranger.”

“It’s okay, Ethan. Firemans are safe. And he’s Allie’s friend. Scout likes him too.” Nolan gave his brother a wobbly grin.

Scout. Right. Allie pulled out Scout’s absolute favorite toy, a now-stinky tugging rope. “Scout did such a good job finding you guys. I’m going to play with him now. Want to see?”

She dangled the rope in front of the Lab. Scout jumped and grabbed it with his mouth. He pulled, letting out a playful growl. Allie held tight. “Good boy!”

Both boys’ eyes lit. Ethan stood a little straighter. Even Dakota seemed to soften, watching Scout play.

She held the toy out for Ethan to hold. “Wanna give it a try?” Maybe if he felt a little more in control of the situation, a littlesafer with them, she could convince them to leave. They still didn’t have a lot of time.

Ethan held the rope with one hand. Scout tugged and immediately got the rope away from the boy.

“Try holding the rope with both hands.” Allie snagged it from Scout and handed it back to Ethan.

“I can’t. I hurt my hand.”

Dakota approached, still holding Nolan in one arm. “Can I see? I took classes on first aid. I might even have a bandage we can use.”

Ethan hesitated but eventually nodded. “Look over Nolan’s leg first. He cut it when we fell.”

Allie continued Scout’s tug-of-war while she watched Dakota examine the boys.

Dakota glanced up. “I think Scout needs a new tugging rope. That one looks well-loved.”

“That’s for a reason. This toy is special. I only use this rope to reward Scout when he’s done his job.”

He grinned down at Nolan. “I think he did his job. He found you guys. I say give him all the stinky ropes he wants.”

Nolan giggled.

Allie couldn’t help but smile. “He did do a great job.”

“So, do you only play with him or pet him as a reward?” Dakota said it with a sincere look on his face, a simple question. But accusation still burned within her.

“I…no. I’m still learning how to interact with Scout. It hasn’t been as easy for me as it was with Dixie.”

“I’m sure it’s hard after losing her so suddenly. Especially when you were so close to her.” There was no judgment in his tone, just simple understanding. Empathy.

Maybe shehadbeen holding back with Scout. Belle had mentioned it too. She needed to change that. She sat down and really sank her fingers deep into his fur, massaging hisflanks. “Good boy,” she murmured into his floppy ear while they watched the others. Scout lay by her and rested his head on her lap.

Dakota pulled out a kit from his pack. Nolan winced when he poured water over a deep cut on his lower leg, but he didn’t cry out.

“You cut this one good, little man. But not as good as me.” Dakota lifted the leg of his Nomex pants and showed them a long, jagged scar that wrapped around his calf.

The boys gaped as if in awe. “What did you do?” Nolan asked.

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