The bridge itself was knocked sideways, sticking out like a severed limb from under a tomb of fallen rock. Even as he watched, the detritus rattled and slid as if the volcano were reminding them it was far from finished.
Hands on his hips, he stared.
There was no way to cross the river, not in the truck.
Kit climbed out. “Tot’s on the floor and she’s not happy that we stopped. What’s the delay?” With her elbow crooked over her mouth to protect her lungs, she took in the ruins.
“No way across.”Captain Obvious.Regroup. Now.“New plan. We’ll have to hike.”
“No way. Can’t we find another route?”
“Too steep and wooded here. Only other choice would be to retrace back to my cabin. And we know who we’d encounter if we chose that option.”
Kit’s breath puffed white in the air. “How far?”
“Good news is they won’t be able to cross either, and they don’t know the way around, I hope. They’ll double back in their vehicle. Buys us time.”
“How far?” Her tone was weary but hard-edged with determination.
“Four miles, maybe five.”
She groaned. “That’s not tenable. Tot’s cold.”
He touched her shoulder and felt the shivers she’d been trying to suppress. “I’ll carry Tot and the bags. We’ll stop when we need to. Take it slow.”
Her eyes were wide glimmering points of light in the gloom. She wouldn’t express her fear and frustration, but he felt it anyway, a current of dark emotion.
This isn’t goingto be the end, he wanted to tell her.We’re not going to hunker here and wait to seeif the killers or the volcano get us first. Not.Going. To. Happen.He hadn’t felt that stubborn flash in a long time.
Look where it got you before.
He pushed that thought away, muttered a silent prayer, and started to unzip his jacket to put over her and Tot when engine noise cut through the darkness.
Found. How? There was no way...
In unison they raced back to the truck. With no rifle, what was he going to do? The handgun was their only protection. He drew it from the holster.
Thoughts tumbled as they scrambled. Was it safer for Kit and Tot to stay in the truck, a bull’s-eye target? Or hide in the cold wasteland, breathing in who knew what? And how would Kit and Tot find shelter if he didn’t survive? Maybe they should attempt to reach the trees that hadn’t been consumed by the landslide. Make it harder for the SUV guys, anyway.
Kit got to his vehicle first, tugging open the passenger door.
He was still frantic for a better plan.Lord,how are we going to play this?
She slid in and scooped up Tot from the floor. Before he could take aim, he was blinded by headlights.
A crackly voice rang out as someone exited the four-seater ATV. Cullen could barely make out a tall man and the outline of a shotgun aimed squarely at him.
“You just halt yourself right there, mister,” the voice said.
Cullen blinked in disbelief. “Archie? Is that you?”
“Who’s that? Stay still and speak up.”
“It’s Cullen Landry, sir.”
A stream of colorful language followed as the man trudged forward. Up close, Cullen saw the familiar straggly beard and battered hat.
Archie heaved out a breath and hugged Cullen in a spindly armed embrace. “No way did I figure on finding you here.”
