Brady’s shoulders drooped.
“We can make it,” Joel hollered, hoping his voice would carry on the rushing wind. “Keep moving!”
He shifted his thoughts off their situation and on to the lodge of his childhood summers and holidays—the best memories warming him. He’d always wanted to bring Cassie to the old lodge but never under these circumstances.
She shivered beneath the coats draped over her, her heading bobbing to one side.
Faster. Move faster.Battling the painful numbness threatening to consume him, he strove to raise his legs higher with each step, plowing through the snow, now crusting with a layer of ice.
Everything in him ached to lie down and rest his eyes.
He shook his head. Keep moving.Keep moving.
Maybe if he repeated it enough, his exhausted body would heed his direction. His leg hovering above the snow, he teetered—the gurney wobbling in his hand.
“Whoa!” Jayce said.
“Sorry.” He stabilized. “I’ve got it.”No. You. Don’t.He swallowed, his throat raw and closing in.Father,I can’t dothis without You. They are all looking to me. Pleaseequip me to lead them to safety.Lead the way.
Theyhadto keep moving. Otherwise, they’d fall asleep and never wake up—at least not on this side of heaven.
“He is my refuge and my fortress,my God,in whom I trust.”
Joel tightened his grip on the gurney, his fortitude strengthened.
Cries sounded on the howling, blustering wind.
Mia.
Had she fallen? Surely Scott would get her through. His cousin, having spent holidays with them at the lodge, was familiar with the distance left. He could spur Mia on, if she wasn’t too far gone.
It wasn’t the same lively lodge they remembered—the onebustling with people. It’d been abandoned for years. Who knew what condition they’d find it in? Or what supplies might be there. But the old lodge was theironlyoption.
“H-how...?” Iz stuttered. “M-much ... longer?”
“Not much,” he hollered back, hoping his voice would carry on the wind.
They plowed rather than stepped through the snow—striving against its full, wet weight, exhaustion and frostbite threatening to grip hold.
Please,Father.
Desperation clawed at him.
You can’t make it. You’ll fail themall.The taunts slipped in his ears in a haunting whisper.
He shook his head and ignored the lies ... or perhaps the truth.
Shapes took form ahead. Were those ... ?
“The tree line,” he yelled, gratitude welling in his chest.
“What tree line?” Lyle yelled.
“Thattree line.” Joel pointed his hand, unable to get his fingers to respond. “The lodge sits on the other side and down the slope.”
“Finally,” Heath grunted.
Everyone’s steps were invigorated with the news. Cutting a swath through the wooded trail, they moved swiftly through the narrow forest, the snow thin on the pine needle–covered ground. Relief filled him.Nearly there.
