Read Online His Dakota Bride (Book 5 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello - Free Book Online

real father and son relationship that had been missing in Alex’s life.
    They drove the truck out to the back of the property and found the perfect camping spot that Logan had cleared. It was far enough away from the water that they wouldn’t worry about the boys playing, but close enough that they didn’t have to walk far to go fishing. It was already too late in the season to swim.
    They unpacked the camping gear, fishing poles and tackle box. But seeing that they were still missing one sleeping bag, Logan drove back to the house to retrieve it while Wade set up the tent. The boys were supposed to help him, but like all young boys, they soon tired of the details of constructing a tent and decided to go in search of worms so they could fish.
    He’d just hammered the last stake into the ground that would hold the tent in place when the air around him became eerily quiet. The sound of little boy laughter had faded while he’d set up the tent and yet he hadn’t noticed until just then.
    “Alex? Keith?”
    It had only been a few seconds. But with little boys, that’s all it took. He glanced around the camp. The fishing poles were gone. The tackle box was open and new lures he’d bought to try out were gone.
    “You two weren’t supposed to go to the river without us,” Wade called out as he hastily walked down the short trail toward the water’s edge. He shook his head as he saw the two boys on the trail ahead of him, running toward the large boulder Logan had said was the best spot for them to stand while fishing. Alex climbed up the boulder first, holding his fishing pole in one hand. Keith followed.
    Wade couldn’t help but smile at the unbridled determination both boys had for this adventure. It reminded him of Hawk and himself when they were kids.
    “Don’t go to the edge of the rock, boys,” Wade called out, keeping his voice steady so as not to startle them. “I don’t want to have to rescue you two if you fall in the water.”
    Keith laughed, giving him a look that reminded him of his late sister-in-law, Kelly. Alex took an unsteady step back as he struggled with the fishing pole, making Wade’s heart jump in his chest.
    “We’ll be careful,” Alex said, looking up at Wade with a wide smile. Wade saw the stick under Alex’s foot before he stepped on it. The stick rolled under Alex’s sneaker and made his already unsteady step more unstable, causing him to fall backward.
    “Alex!” Wade yelled. But it was too late. Alex tumbled off the boulder onto the hard ground below. The fishing pole was still in his hand when Wade reached him. Terrified, Keith slowly climbed down from the rock to see if is best buddy was okay.
    Alex was momentarily quiet, as if the shock of the fall was still stunning him. Wade pulled the fishing pole out of Alex’s grip and looked him all over to inspect him. Blood was already pouring down the front of Alex’s face, covering his cheek and staining his shirt.
    Keith started crying before Alex did and when Alex saw the blood, he wailed. Wade scooped Alex up in his arms and started running.
    “Stay with me, Keith,” he called out, looking over his shoulder to make sure his nephew was with him.
    Relief filled Wade when he heard Logan running down the trail before he actually saw him.
    “Get the truck,” Wade yelled to Logan.
    The drive to the clinic was a blur. Keith stayed behind with Poppy as Logan drove Wade and Alex to the Hawk’s clinic. His mother and Skylar were waiting at the clinic when they arrived. When Alex saw Skylar, his wails increased. Wade didn’t want to upset Alex any more than he already was, so he stayed in the waiting room while Hawk examined the gash on Alex’s head. Skylar stayed with him to keep him calm while the wound was being stitched.
    Wade sat in the chair, looking at the blood on his shirt, knowing it was his child’s blood and feeling guilty and helpless that he’d done nothing to stop Alex from getting hurt.
    “Knock it off,” his