Two to three hours. She turned it over in her mind, running the math. The cold. Their layers. The blanket. They could manage two to three hours. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it’d be manageable.
As long as they weren’t found.
She typed a message, her thumbs working carefully.Three men. Armed. Rifles. Camp in trees northeast of meadow. Snowmobiles, at least two operating. We are sheltered but unable to move. Believe the men to be poachers. Confirm law enforcement response.She sent it and tucked the device back in her pocket.
Jack’s shoulder was warm against hers under the blanket, and she was suddenly far too aware of it.
The snowmobile engine dropped off again, moving south this time.
“Help is coming,” she said. “Two to three hours.”
He nodded. “We can do that.”
“I hoped it’d be quicker. Road conditions are probably bad. And they need to get a team together.”
“Seems likely.”
She looked out at the dark. “Sheriff Hepner will probably come himself.”
“Makes sense if he’s on the Search and Rescue team.”
“He is. All the deputies are. Lots of volunteers, too, including my friend Gina. Me too, but, um, well...” She shrugged and shook her head. “The sheriff will come so he can catch the poachers. He wouldn’t want to risk missing that.”
Jack drew a quick, sharp breath. “You mentioned the poachers?”
“Yeah. And that they are armed.”
“Will that slow them down?”
She turned to look at him. “What do you...Yes, I didn’t think. I was thinking bringing the sheriff was smart, but you’re right. They’ll approach under the assumption of walking into danger. They’ll be all...tactical.”
“Which is what they need to be.”
“Yeah. But that means we might be on our own longer than they’re saying. The team won’t come in if there’s danger of gunfire.”
“But the sheriff and his deputies will. They’re trained for that.”
“Others too. Highway patrol, park rangers, and game and fish. Maybe even bring in LEOs from other counties or Montana. It really could take a while before they get organized.”
“We’ll be okay.” Something in his voice made her believe him. As if he truly couldn’t imagine any other outcome.
In spite of everything, she smiled. They’d be okay. While she hated that it might take SARs longer to reach them, she still wanted the sheriff there. Wayne Hepner had been in her life since she moved to Irma for the job at the college. She’d known him before he was sheriff, before she started dating Chris, and before the running club was ever a thing.
Over the years, she’d come to count on him and look on him, not only as a mentor but also as a father figure. Her own dad had died while she was in college, killed in a car accident. Her mom had died when she was in elementary school. Her dad had remarried, but Steph wasnever close to her stepmom. In fact, she hadn’t even spoken to her in at least a decade.
Wayne and his wife, Meagan, both treated her like family. Even now, with Chris married and expecting a child, Steph knew she was always welcome at the Hepner home. Both had also supported not only Steph herself but her running club. Wayne introduced her to people and made connections when he didn’t have to. Connections that could help her reach her goals and dreams.
She had little doubt he’d have plenty to say about her being stuck in a crevice with Jack Swisher. He’d no doubt remind her, as he had dozens of times before, about the dangers of her hobbies.
“You know him well?” Jack asked.
“Well enough.” She reached into her jacket and pulled out the bag of pretzels. “I was almost his daughter-in-law.”
She didn’t mean to say that. Not that it was a secret, and she suspected he already knew, especially since he’d been by her side at the gear swap when Chris and Bethany showed up, both glowing over the news of their pregnancy.
She felt him nod, but he didn’t say anything. She appreciated that about him.
“Chris and I were together for years. Engaged for the last two.” She paused. “I ended it.”
