Eric started toward the voices. Jonah's long strides caught him up fast, and in the places they had to slip single-file, Jonah took the lead. He certainly seemed to know this terrain better than Eric, and he was better at breaking a new trail through the high snow. Was Jonah as soaked through as Eric? From the waist down, the snow had drenched his trousers and socks.
His worry for Naomi kept the cold from mattering.
The voices came clearer as he and Jonah closed the distance, and Sean's higher pitch joined Naomi's. Relief swept through Eric.
Had he been wrong? Had Sean been the child he’d seen?
Much as he’d be embarrassed to have raised a ruckus, he’d rather that than find anyone in danger.
But why had Naomi and Sean come out here? And where was Mary Ellen? Surely Naomi hadn’t brought the baby out here to this treacherous, snowy mountainside?
The underbrush gave way to a small campsite, where Naomi and Sean stood over something covered with blankets. What had they found? "Naomi?"
She spun to face him. “Thank God you’re here. Hurry. She needs help."
CHAPTER 16
She?Eric struggled to make sense of Naomi’s words as he strode to her.
Naomi crouched by the blankets and began rubbing her hands over them.
Eric reached her side and realized what she was doing.
An old woman lay there, eyes closed, face gnarled and cheeks hollowed from cold or hunger or both.
Eric's breath hitched. She didn't look alive. Did Naomi think she could restore life to her by force of will?
"She's still breathing,” Naomi said, “and she opened her eyes a minute ago." Her tone was determined. "We have to get her warm."
"Who is she?" Jonah moved around the campsite, poking at bundles of supplies. "Have you seen the boy?"
Naomi looked up at him, eyes wide, though she didn't stop rubbing the blanket over the woman's upper arms. "What boy? We found her just lying here."
Jonah frowned and straightened, staring into the trees in the direction they'd come. They did need to find the lad, but if thiswoman were to have any chance to survive, they had to move quickly.
Eric crouched beside Naomi and felt the wrinkled forehead. Sure enough, she was still warm enough that blood must be flowing, but her skin was cool. He touched his fingers to her neck, just to make sure there was a pulse. Yes, though weak. He was no doctor, and that was probably what she needed, along with a warm fire and shelter.
He glanced at Sean. "Do you know where Doc Dinah is?"
Jonah spoke up. "She's in the east pasture with Jericho."
Good. Eric held Sean’s gaze. "Ride to her as fast as you can. Tell her to meet us at the house."
Sean glanced at his uncle, maybe for permission. Eric couldn't see the other man without turning, but he must have confirmed Eric's order, for Sean sprinted toward the two horses at the edge of the camp.
Eric shifted his focus to Naomi. "We need to get her to the house. Do you think she's injured?" If she had a broken bone, moving her would be much harder.
"I didn’t think to check." Naomi reached for the blankets. "I hate to make her colder, but I suppose we need to know."
Was there any chance the woman was coherent enough to tell them? He rested a hand on the blankets where her shoulder should be. "Ma'am, can you hear us?"
They waited without speaking. For his part, he held his breath so he wouldn’t miss a sound. Her eyelashes fluttered a little but didn't part.
He tried again. "We need to know if you're injured. Can you tell us if you're hurt?" Maybe he should make it easier on her. He scooted farther down where he could reach the length of her, then rested both hands on her blanket-covered arms. "Do you feel pain here?"
No answer, but her lashes twitched again. Was that a yes orno? He glanced at Naomi, but she shook her head, her eyes showing her confusion.
He focused on their patient again and moved his hold down to her legs, though he kept his gaze on her face. "Does this hurt?"
