Right. “You too?”
“Yes. I don’t have moments like that, but there are things that trigger me.”
“Okay.” And that was enough said about that. “I’d love to catch up and have some time if you do. I just put in a couple of hours digging, so I won’t go back for a while. Everyone who is able is taking two-hour shifts. Most people want out of here, so they’re willing to put in the work around the clock.” The shifts were short to prevent exhaustion and injuries. It was mostly effective. “I think it’s hopeless, to be honest. I know a bit about avalanches, and while the fresh, powdery stuff on top is easy enough to dig through, we’ve hit the compacted, cement-like stuff at the base. Without proper tools, I’m not sure it’s worth the energy or effort. Even the Bobcat isn’t strong enough for that stuff.”
“That sounds awful.”
“Not awful, just tiring—especially when I think it’s a waste of time. I’m not the only one who thinks so, but most are still willing to dig because of the desperation of others.”
“And that’s why you’re continuing to help?”
He shrugged. “What else am I going to do? Besides, hope is apowerful thing. If I can offer it in some small measure, then why not? How about you?”
“I had the night shift too.”
“Don’t you need sleep?”
“I need food more.” She laughed and shrugged. “I could use a nap at some point, but the patients mostly slept, so I was able to set my watch alarm and nap in between checking on them.”
“How many do you have?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Anyone serious?”
“Heart attack victim could be. He’s stable right now but definitely needs a hospital. He needs meds we don’t have here, so I’m worried about him. If we could find the sat phone, we could call for a chopper to come haul him out. The others are mostly broken bones, several concussions, lacerations and cuts, a few dislocations—the list goes on. Most we’ve treated and sent back to their cabins. The more serious ones we’re watching.”
He helped her around a slippery patch of ice, and his hand on her arm sent shivers coursing through his veins that had nothing to do with the weather. He’d always had a bit of a crush on her, but she’d never seemed to return the attraction, so he hadn’t pushed for it. And he definitely wouldn’t now.
It wouldn’t be right to saddle someone with all his baggage. Especially not after some of the stupid things he’d gone and done. The people he’d gotten involved with. He shuddered and stayed by Maya’s side, wishing he’d made different choices in life.
Ifwishes were nickels...
His grandmother’s voice echoed in his head and he shoved it away. Nothing he could do about the past. The future ... yeah, he was working on that one. “Where’s the sat phone?”
“We don’t know. Some were destroyed—or at least buried—in the avalanche, but the one at the desk? When I asked about it, the staff person looked for it but couldn’t find it. She was dumbfounded. Truly shocked that it wasn’t in the box where they keep it.”
He shot her a frown. “Did someone else have the same idea about calling for help and just didn’t return it?”
“Well, help’s not here, so I doubt it.”
True enough. “And they said the landlines weren’t working either.”
“To be expected, I suppose.”
The Silver Pines lodge came into view. It was an imposing structure that had gone through some recent updates. Not only was the stone chimney and fireplace the centerpiece, they’d added a restaurant off to the side called The Pine Hearth. The addition definitely gave the place an upscale feeling, and mouthwatering aromas came their way as they walked up the steps.
The inside was warm, and they shrugged out of their heavier coats. “The restaurant or the café?” he asked, hanging his coat on the rack just inside the door. Some would say the fact that the power wasn’t knocked out was a blessing from God. He wasn’t willing to go that far. Sometimes people just got lucky.
“Don’t forget,my love,‘every good gift and everyperfect gift is from above,coming down from the Fatherof lights.’”
Again with his grandmother’s voice. She wouldn’t approve of his straying from the Lord she loved—and had raised him to love. Gideon loved him, he just wasn’t sure the affection was returned. He’d made too many bad choices in—
“Gideon?” Maya was waving a hand in front of his face. “You okay?”
He blinked and chuckled, forcing the bad memories away to focus on the good. “Yeah. I was just thinking about my grandmother.”
Her face softened. “Well, she’s a good one to think about.”
