"There."
Two Stones turned to look where Jericho pointed. Fresh tracks moved along the base of the slope ahead of them.
He pushed his horse into a trot as they followed the prints. This was as fast as they could maneuver on the narrow ledge.
He had to fight urgency in his chest. God had already won the battle. They simply had to arrive when the Lord planned for them to.
As the ravine grew shallower and its sides not as steep, the tracks moved down to the creek bed. Two Stones slowed and studied the path ahead. Should they stay up on the bank or follow Fitz’s trail down?
"We might be able to see him from above if we stay here." Jericho's quiet words stated exactly what Two Stones had been wondering.
He nodded. "Let's try it." They might have to move slower to watch for sign that the man had tried to ride up the far bank. But it would be worth the chance to have the advantage if he’d stayed down in the ravine.
Two Stones pushed his horse forward, ducking beneath snow-laden branches. The cold air burned his lungs, but that was nothing compared to the pain Heidi must be experiencing.Father, protect her. She’s in Your hands.
They were getting close now—he could feel it. Every fiber of his being strained toward Heidi. If that snake had harmed one hair on her head…
A gunshot rang out, echoing through the silent forest.
Two Stones's heart seized.No.
He drove his heels into his horse's sides, racing along the top of the ridge. In the ravine below, a flash of movement made him slow.
A horse bucking. That was Fitz atop the animal, struggling to control it. And Heidi...
A form lay on the ground, a short distance from the flailing horse. That was her skirt.
And she wasn't moving.
He couldn't breathe, couldn't move. His mind knew he had to get to her, but his body wouldn’t obey.
The bucking horse reared, then tumbled backward. Man and horse screamed together, and Two Stones's own belly lurched.
The horse landed on its back, squashing Fitz beneath his saddle. Then the animal scrambled onto its side, pausing for a single heartbeat before heaving up to its feet.
Fitz still lay in the snow. A second motionless body.
Two Stones finally shifted into action. He jumped from his horse, keeping hold of his rifle, then scrambled down the side of the ravine. He had to help Heidi. If there was any spark of life left in her, he would coax it back to a flame.
Even as he ran, the realization flicked in his mind. He had no ability to breathe life or death. Only the Creator could do so.Fan the spark to flame, Lord.
Jericho reached the bottom of the slope just behind Two Stones, and he headed toward the man, leaving Two Stones to focus on Heidi. His wife.
"Heidi?" He couldn't breathe as he approached her, slowing the final step so he could drop to his knees beside her.
She lay on her side, facing away from him. And she didn’t respond. No movement at all.
He laid a hand on her shoulder. "Heidi. Wake up."
Her coat was wet through, and he brushed her hair away from her neck so he could feel for the beat of life.
Yes!
The pulse was light and fast, but blood still pumped through her.
He gave her shoulder a gentle nudge. "Can you wake, Heidi? We need to get you warm."
She gave a small moan, but her eyes stayed closed.
