"Jacob!" Josh's voice echoed in the mountains. "Meredith!"

Dani focused on God. She thanked Jesus for saving her and refused to listen to the voice of the enemy.

Did she truly believe He was with her even in this time of trouble? Yes! Jesus' precious blood had covered her sins, and all those who believed, and she was thankful. She wouldn't repay his incredible gift with doubt.

For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. -Romans 10:13

Would she still follow Him with her whole heart if the worst happened and they never found Jacob and Meredith? The question was the most difficult she'd ever answered. Could she follow a God who would take her child away from her just when she'd found him again?

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit—Psalm 34:18

Yes! No matter what, Dani would follow the Lord because he was the creator of all and she'd worship no other. Afraid, she recited the Lord's prayer in her head.

"Over here." Caleb waved. "I found the cave. Anyone have a flashlight?" he asked, switching his on and off. "My battery's dead."

Josh jogged to the narrow entrance of the cavern. Dani followed, calling her son's name. "Jacob!"

No answer. Crisp air came from the dark opening.

Her frantic gaze slammed into Josh's. "I-I don't think they're here."

"The cave opens up once you get further in. We need to check it out." Caleb glanced at Tanner. "Stay with the women."

Tanner looked annoyed. "Why do you always want me to stay with the women?"

Josh smirked. "You don't really want him to answer that."

"One tiny incident," Tanner complained. "And it's like I can't hang with the guys anymore. The snake looked real."

"You climbed a tree and got stuck. Ty and I had to get you down, and when we did you didn't listen to us." Caleb's said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Josh ended up catching you."

Tanner released a heavy sigh. "Fine."

"I'm going too," Dani was adamant, seeing the concern on Josh's face. "Please. I have to do this."

Josh tensed. "Dani—"

"You don't have to protect me. I can manage." Her voice held a pleading note.

"The spaces are small," Caleb warned, knowing how claustrophobic she was. "Some areas you can't even stand."

She lifted her chin, determined. God would be with her. "I won't get in the way or slow you down."

Josh hesitated a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Stay behind me."

"Thank you," she breathed, relieved.

One by one they entered the cave that was so narrow they had to turn sideways to fit. Josh was in front of her, behind Caleb, and Ty was behind her.

"All good?" Josh turned his head and whispered to her once they cleared the entrance and the cold, dark cavern opened into a small room. The walls were wet and slimy.

"Y-yes." She shivered from the cold, but forced a smile so he wouldn't worry. He wasn't fooled but he let the subject drop.

"How many rooms are there?" Josh asked Caleb.

"Hmm." Caleb scratched his head. "It's been a while since I did this, but...maybe two more, and then it opens up into a larger room."

"Let's keep moving," Ty suggested, hearing a squeaking noise that sounded suspiciously like bats.

Dani didn't dare look up.

"You don't sound too enthusiastic there, Ty." Caleb chuckled. "Guess we could have left you with Tanner and the girls."

"You're just rolling with the jokes." Sarcasm dripped from Ty's words.

"Keeps our mind off the bad stuff."

They kept moving, making their way through another narrow passage, with cold and slimy walls, and then into another room. As they crept along the wall approaching the last room, a gentle breeze lifted the wisps of hair that had escaped her ponytail and her skin tingled.

She must have made a sound because Josh glanced back again. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I have this feeling that Jacob is nearby." She stared off into the distance, searching, but it was too dark to see anything. At last, the cavern opened into a large room with rock and a pond.

Caleb shined the flashlight into the room.

The hair prickled at her nape and an arm emerged from a rock in the distance.

They all watched as Jacob pulled himself up and scrambled to his feet. 

Relief flooded inside Dani and she gasped. "Oh, thank you, Jesus!"

"Dad!"

The voice was the sweetest she'd ever heard, and then she saw Jacob running towards them. She heard Josh say their child's name as he lunged forward, opening his arms to lift Jacob into them.

A soft sob tore from her chest and she felt Ty's arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, so sorry," Jacob sobbed, clinging to Josh. "My fault. All my fault."

"Shhh, you're safe now." He spoke the soothing words against his son's temple, his gaze fastened on the woman hurrying towards them. "Meredith."

Dani's first reaction was relief, then joy. Jacob and Meredith were found! And from the looks of them, they were unharmed. God had answered their prayers! Silent tears of gratitude slid down her cheeks.

"Oh, Josh," Meredith sobbed and went into his arms.

Dani watched the three of them, clinging to each other like they'd never let go. The scene was both beautiful and heartbreaking. They were a family.

"I-I was chasing Moses," Jacob managed to say through a haze of tears. "He was afraid. Coyote was after him."

"It doesn't matter you're both safe now." Josh stroked his head and held on to Meredith with his other arm.  He tossed her a lopsided smile. "Moses?"

Meredith gazed up at the man holding her like she never wanted to leave him again. "The puppy Jacob found."

"Ah, a pup. Sounds just like my son." Josh's voice was full of affection.

"I'm so sorry this happened," Mer cried into Josh's chest.

He bent his head, whispering something in Meredith's ear.

Dani stood still, watching. When her heart felt like it would break, she turned away. There was no place for her at this reunion. Something nudged her ankles, and she looked down and saw a scrappy little pup with big brown eyes and floppy ears.

"I think we've just found Moses." There was a smile in Ty's voice.

Caleb chuckled. "So, they chased a dog up this mountain. Good thing Mer was there to look out for our boy."

"Yes, it was," Dani said gratefully. Meredith would always hold a special place in her heart for what she did for Jacob.

Moses bounced around and pounced on her shoes. Crouching, Dani petted the pup's head and it licked her face. "He's a sweet little fella." She picked up the golden puppy and held it under her chin.

Rach scratched between Moses' ears. "He likes you."

"Yeah, I think he does." Her gaze strayed back to Josh, Jacob, and Meredith. They were still holding each other in a protective circle, and Dani's stomach knotted at the tender reunion.

Rachel's gaze followed Dani's and a look of sympathy flashed in her eyes. "It's not what you think."

Dani managed a smile. "This isn't about me. My baby boy is safe. My prayers were answered. I can't ask for more."

***

Josh held his son in his arms like he hadn't done since Jacob turned three and became fiercely independent.

His heart raced and relief sank through. "Thank you, Jesus."

Jacob's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck as if he'd never let go, and Mer was quietly crying in the crook of his arm. He held her close as the adrenaline high he'd experienced crashed. His body went weak with relief.

"S-so sorry, Daddy." Jacob's words were muffled against his neck. He repeated the words over and over.

"It's done. I've got you. You're safe." He mussed Jacob's hair and turned to Meredith. "Are either of you hurt?"

"No." She shook her head. "I was so scared. We were trying to get the puppy and heard something..." Meredith shivered against his shoulder.

"Why didn't you get me?" Regret flashed in her eyes at the question, and was he immediately contrite. "It doesn't matter. It all worked out," he said, softening his tone.

Mer still looked guilty. "I'm so sorry, Josh. I didn't think we'd get lost. And then there was a wild animal. Probably a coyote or bobcat. It chased us." A shiver racked her body.

"That's when we started climbing," Jacob put in. "I prayed really hard. The coyote didn't follow us up the mountain."

"Praise God." Truly the Lord protected them.

"I told Mer we should wait here." Jacob lifted his chin. "Because this is where Jesus said. Mama knew where to find us. I showed her the picture."

Josh's heart seemed to trip a beat. He turned suddenly, searching for Dani, and his gaze crashed into hers, tangling with violent emotion. He fell back a step at the hurt in her eyes.

"What picture?" Meredith asked.

"The one I drew for Mrs. Huckabee."

Suddenly Jacob's eyes widened. "Where is she?"

Josh blinked as his son pulled away from him, his gaze searching for his mother. When he found her, he leaped from his arms and took off running. Dani wasn't prepared for the force of a four-year-old tornado, and she stumbled back a few steps with Jacob in her arms.

"Mama," he heard his boy say. "I knew you'd come. Knew you'd find us."

Dani held him close, her head to Jacob's. Their eyes met again and the air was sucked from his lungs. She was so beautiful and yet so sad. "That was your dad. And your uncles. They found you."

Jacob hugged her harder and said something he couldn't hear. Mother and son were finally reunited.

Something twisted inside his chest. Josh knew it was his heart.