And tell her why you snapped?
Maybe.
Probably not.
But he should.
Something in the middle of the avalanche slide snagged his attention as he zipped past. A dip in the snow, something dark—like a hole and a piece of flat wood just below it. He had no time to figure that out and gunned the machine.
He finally caught sight of Maya about halfway down. The slopes to their right were sparsely populated but not empty. Busier than when they’d started out. Maya bounced off the snowmobile trail and onto the ski slope. What was she doing? She wasn’t supposed to be there. She whipped around a skier who slid to a stop and yelled something at her, but instead of slowing down, she seemed to go faster. It did look like she was trying to get back onto the trail but was having trouble.
Dread pooled in his belly. There was no way she’d be so careless on the machine, no matter her mood.
Something was wrong.
Five
MAYA TRIEDthe brake again and got the same result as last time.
Nothing.
Panic threatened to choke her. She turned the key to shut off the engine.
And it didn’t work.
Her heart hammered.Think!
She couldn’t stop this machine that was now a lethal weapon.Oh please,God,don’t let me hit anyone! Help me!
The snowmobile seemed to have a mind of its own and had pulled her off the trail and onto the ski slope. She struggled to keep it on a straight path away from skiers, and thankfully, there weren’t many. Relief was fleeting. She still had to figure out what to do and she was running out of time to do it. She managed to get back on the snowmobile run, away from anyone on the slope, but her speed kept inching upward.
The roar of another engine sounded close, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Gideon gaining on her. His helmet covered his face, but she pictured his expression of confusion and worry he had to be wearing. She thought he might have shouted something at her, but she couldn’t make it out over the roar of the machines.
He drew closer. “...are you doing?”
“I can’t stop!”
“Turn it off!”
“I tried! Didn’t work!”
Remains of the avalanche came into sight. Piles of densely packed snow and ice loomed high, and an idea formed. It was risky, but she was out of time, and it was the only plan she could think of before she hit someone. She yanked the handlebars, grateful they responded, and aimed for the nearest mountain of snow, praying that the area would create enough drag to slow her down and allow her to jump. She’d have to scrape along the edge or she risked flipping and that would not end well. The problem was controlling the machine. She had no choice. She had to try. It was either that or slam into the lodge at the bottom—where lots of people were gathered.
Please let this work anddon’t let me die.
It was all she had time to pray before the snowmobile hit the edge of the mound. The momentum jerked her, and she almost lost her grip on the bars. She struggled to stay on the seat and keep it right at the edge of the mound to continue the drag.
She did it and the machine slowed, dragging and rumbling just before it started to roll to the right—away from the remains of the avalanche. Maya pushed off and leaped to the left, straight into the mound, praying she wouldn’t be buried—or hit a jagged patch of ice.
She sank for a flash of a second, then landed hard on her shoulder, sending waves of pain ricocheting through her arm and back.
Time ticked past while she fought to suck air into her lungs. Finally, she could breathe and opened her eyes. She was surrounded by snow. Her panic flared, but light filtered to her from above. While she was definitely trapped, she could see the way out. Air reached her. She could breathe. She wouldn’t suffocate. Those facts allowed her to control the fear.
Maya reached for the hole, but it was too far. If she could stand...
She tried to move her legs and couldn’t. Snow and ice held her trapped. Okay, now the panic returned full force.
“Maya!” Gideon’s shout sent sweet relief racing through her. “Tell me you’re all right!”
