Chapter Eight
Sommer
Sommer jolted awake, grabbing at her phone and tapping the call open when she saw it was Abbie. “Jesus, what time is it?”
“Midnight.” Abbie didn’t sound like she was in crisis, but she was definitely wide awake at a time when she usually slept like the dead. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Swinging her legs out from under the covers, Sommer raked her nails over her head as she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Two kids went missing from the family trailer up on Sweet Gum Ridge. Search and Rescue is in the field, but temperatures are going to drop toward morning, and the kids probably only have their pajamas on. Wet with dew, cold, they’re at risk. One of them is a runner; she’s on the spectrum.”
“Are they checking all the area water spots?” Sommer was up and turning on lights, though she didn’t quite get why Abbie was calling her about this situation.
“The professionals are on it. I’m sure they have a checklist. Anyway, emergency services are reaching out to hiking clubs who have familiarity with the area.”
“Ours does. With Sweet Gum only an hour from here, we hike a bunch of those trails with some regularity. They could put us on one of them.”
“Exactly. They want the hiking clubs to take the trails, and the trained searchers are going to spread out and, I guess, search the areas between the trails. They have horse teams and dog teams, the whole shebang. They’re just trying to get skilled bodies out there looking fast. I’m heading up. I don’t know how you’re doing after working fifteen hours straight.”
“I can rally myself to save some kids,” Sommer said, heading to her wardrobe to pull out a set of trail clothes. “Are you already dressed? Can you come get me?”
“My car’s in the shop, remember? I’ve got Marna heading to my house. We can drive to yours. But from there, we’ll need to take your SUV. Marna says hers is making a weird noise. She doesn’t want to drive it on the highway in the middle of the night.”
“No problem, we’ll take mine. Is Jennifer coming?” Sommer asked, reaching for a pair of panties.
“Jen’s out of town for work.”
“That’s right, New Orleans. Okay, well, three can be helpful.”
“I’m sure there will be more from the club,” Abbie said. “I’m doing my part of the phone tree. You’re my last call.”
“I’m the roots of that tree, so no one to call. Lucky me. What kind of gear are you bringing?”
“Marna and I decided to bring our overnight packs just in case we’re out there for longer than expected.”
“Or we’re too damned tired to get back off the mountain.” Coffee would be a good next move, Sommer decided and started toward the kitchen.
“That’s entirely possible. Hey, Sommer, I hesitated to call you. You were on your feet all day. Are you going to be okay to do this?”
“I’ll be okay. I’m motivated.”
“Alright. Juice your phone. Bring a power bank.”
“Yup. Coffee first. Pants second. Then I’ll grab my pack and be waiting.”
Abbie lived a few minutes up the road, so Sommer would have to hustle.
After putting water in the microwave to heat, Sommer dragged her overnight pack from the closet and laid it on thekitchen table. She pulled out all the components, filled the camel bag with water, then consulted her list to make sure everything she needed was clean and ready for use, and that she had fresh batteries in the front pockets.
She dumped espresso powder into the mug, gave it a stir, then added an ice cube so she could chug it while she checked the weather on Sweet Gum and dressed in layers.
And lastly, but most importantly, she put what she knew of her itinerary on a note on the kitchen table, took a picture of it, and sent it to her sister Sloane. Pregnant with twins, Sloane guarded her sleep, so the text wouldn’t get to her until later that morning when the “do not disturb” would end.
The closest Sloane came to hiking was vicariously through Sommer. But she played the important role of emergency contact because Sommer knew that if she didn’t check in on time, Sloane would be dogged getting help headed her way.
That was one of the benefits of being a twin, and her soon-to-arrive nieces would inevitably have that same close connection with each other.
By the time Sommer was sitting on her couch, lacing up her boots, Abbie was parking on the street.
