She made it to the right cubby and pulled out a handful of batteries. Turning for the stairs, she paused at the window. Shehadseen a face. It probably was Heath playing another distasteful joke, but she wasn’t seeing things, was she?
Hobbling back upstairs, she paused at the landing to catch her breath.
Footsteps creaked along the floor. Deep. Purposeful steps.
“Who’s there?” She limped around the corner.
The kitchen door swung, but nobody was there.
Get out of my head. She was making herself crazy.
She dropped the C batteries on the table with a clunk and caught the stray one rolling away.
“Okay.” She sat down, then angled her flashlight and took her gloves off for better maneuverability.Yikes!It’s cold. Pain shot through her hands—the sensation of cold hands dipped in hot water for that first excruciating second. Shaking them for some warmth, she lifted the first battery and slipped it in place. She cupped her hands and breathed on them.Come on,three to go. She sped her pace with the second, third, and then she paused. She bent down, angling the flashlight right on the battery well. The spring wire was gone. She traced her finger across where it should’ve been. It punctured her skin, blood beading on her index finger as she yanked it back.Great.
“What’s wrong?”
She jumped.
Kendra laughed. “My, aren’t you the jumpy one.”
She clutched her chest. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Joel told me to come check on you. I guess he worries about you or something.” She shrugged.
The wordsI can’t imaginewhyseemed to hang at the tip of her tongue.
“We better get back before he has to come looking for you.”
Cass narrowed her eyes. Did Kendra have a problem with her?
For the quiet one, she was being rather sassy. “Is there something wrong?”
“Yes. Brady is missing, and I’m worried about him.”
Of course. “I’m so sorry.” She stood and rubbed Kendra’s arm.
Kendra stiffened.
Cassie pulled her hand back. “I’m sure he’s okay.” She hobbled to the door. “Let’s go find him.”
“Thanks.” Kendra smiled.
“Oh, wait!” Cassie halted. “I forgot matches for Devon.” She grabbed them and caught back up with Kendra in time to enter the buzzing commotion.
Twelve
“ARE YOU SUREBrady isn’t just taking a snooze in one of the rooms?” Joel asked his brother as Cassie leaned against the wall, easing the pressure off her swelling leg.
“I’ve been in the parlor the whole time,” Jayce said. “I see everyone who walks by from the outside. Brady and Lyle went out together to search the first set of buildings. Lyle came back twenty minutes ago but still no Brady. I even checked his beacon, but I’m getting no signal.”
“The blizzard must be messing with the reception, or he’s too far out,” Joel said.
“But everyone knew to switch it on when they went out in the storm.” Jayce indicated his hooked by a carabiner to his pocket zipper.
Joel shifted his attention to Lyle. “Where’s Brady?”
Lyle shrugged with his hands held out. “I don’t know.”
