His words sank in. He was right. But her cheeks were so cold. Her nose. Her fingers. Her feet.
The coolness had crept through her jeans, through her shoes. Soon it would probably sink through her coat. If she survived Leo’s men, frostbite just might kill her.
“Will they see us?”
“Our coats are covered in snow. I think the chances are good that we’ll blend in. Just don’t make any sudden moves.”
Only moving her eyes, she glanced in the direction she’d seen the headlights. They were upon them.
She held her breath, waiting to see how the situation would play out. She prayed they’d be invisible.
“What do you see?” Trent asked.
“They’re getting closer.”
At once, visions of the car sliding on ice and hitting them filled her mind. There were so many dangers in being out here right now. All she had to do was take her pick of various fear-inducing scenarios.
“They’re slowing down,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?”
She watched carefully. “I think they’re stopping.”
“If they see us, just follow my lead, okay?”
She nodded. That was fine, because she had no idea what else to do. Running through the snow didn’t seem like an option. There were too many unknowns.
“They’re backing up,” she muttered.
“Really? Can you see anything else?”
“I think it’s them, Trent. The car is brown. A sedan. I can’t be sure, but...”
“Just keep a cool head. Let’s see how this plays out.”
She nodded, Trent’s words helping to ground her. He was right. They couldn’t let panic alert these men to their presence.
“They found the car,” Trent muttered. He took her arm again. “We’re going to start moving—slowly and carefully, until we can’t see them anymore. If those men realize that was our car, they’re going to come after us. We need to put some space between us and them.”
“I agree.”
He tugged her forward, still remaining close to the wall. Thankfully, the mountain curved away from the car behind them and helped them to disappear out of sight for a moment.
A sign appeared in front of them.
“Snow Current,” Trent read. “One mile ahead.”
“That’s the ski lodge!” Tessa said.
“Ski lodge?”
She frowned. “But it’s closed. From what I heard, it was booming about ten years ago until the economy forced the place to shut down. It’s been abandoned ever since. My boss, Chris, as well as a few of my clients at the travel agency, used to talk about the place, but I’ve never been there.”
“It’s shelter. We need to make it there. It’s only another mile. Can you do it?”
She nodded, eyes squinted and head lowered as gusts of cold, frosty air assaulted them.
“I can.” Even if the thought caused dread to fill her. She wanted out of this snow. Now.
The rock beside them disappeared, and Tessa sucked in a breath, feeling the unknown swirling around her. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was messing with her mind. But she felt as if she’d just stepped out into a white abyss. The ground under her felt like packed ice but gave no indication if there was asphalt there still or if they’d veered off the road.
Trust. This was all a matter of trust, she reminded herself. She was going to have to learn her lesson and make some decisions...fast.
* * *
Though the snow concealed them, Trent couldn’t help but feel exposed. They were walking into the great unknown, uncertain of each of their steps.
His gut told him that the men had discovered their car. If Leo’s men had found the car, Trent had no doubt they would search ardently for them.
They’d been dressed in SWAT gear last time Trent had seen them. Then, at the café, they’d worn long sleeves with khakis. With any luck, those men weren’t dressed to be in this weather. He only hoped that would work to his and Tessa’s advantage.
Whatever happened, they had to get somewhere warm. These conditions could cause serious damage to their health. They needed a fire, to eat, to get warm.
He glanced behind him. Headlights.
The men were attempting to come after them in their car.
This wasn’t good.
He grabbed Tessa’s arm. “We’ve got to move.”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t ask any questions. Just then, the rock wall beside them bent, allowing for some extra room. This was probably a roadside pull-off, Trent realized, remembering some of the small areas he’d seen that sported a small parking area, picnic tables and scenic overlooks. This might be the perfect place for them to hide. He pulled Tessa into the cove and instructed her to stay low. A picnic table was there, covered in snow. They crawled beneath it.
Trent kept an eye on the headlights.
The car stopped.
Slowly, the vehicle seemed to disappear.
They were slipping, Trent realized.
The car had hit a patch of ice and they couldn’t make it up the mountain road anymore.
“What’s going on?” Tessa asked.
“The road is too slick for them to continue, especially with this incline.”
“That’s good, right?”
“As long as they don’t set out on foot.”
“Trent?” Tessa whispered.
“Yes?”
“If we don’t make it out of this alive, I just want to say thank you.”
“Don’t talk like that,” he told her, his heart twisting with emotions he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“No, I need to say this. You’ve gone above and beyond. Any sane person would have left me on my own by now, set me up to fend for myself. You had no obligation to stick with me, but you did.”
Did she really think that he would have abandoned her? He wasn’t that type of person. He’d set out to do a task and he intended on completing it. “We’re going to be okay, Tessa,” he assured her.
“Thank you, Trent.”
He’d had no idea when he’d agreed to this assignment that this was what it would turn into. The danger had been much greater than he’d thought, as this case went much deeper than a simple missing person investigation.
Tessa’s life was on the line. By default, so was his. Not only that, but his heart was getting involved. He could deny it all he wanted, but his feelings for Tessa were already starting to move beyond that gut-level attraction he felt toward her. He wasn’t ready for that.
Even more worrisome was the realization that the safety of many people in this country was at risk.
Several minutes passed and finally Trent felt it was safe to leave. The men must have turned around and headed back. Their search would probably resume when the weather broke.
Trent and Tessa started their upward climb again, battling the elements, the slick road and their waning energy. Tessa’s steps were becoming slower. Her breathing was heavier. Her face was red.
His heart panged with regret. He wished there was something he could do to help her. But their only choice was to keep moving.
One mile. On an ordinary day, that distance wasn’t unthinkable. But in this weather—and in the mountains—it would take much longer. He estimated they were halfway there. Once they reached the abandoned ski lodge, it could still be a hike to get to the first building.
Lord, give us strength. Show us Your way. Protect Tessa.
They marched forward, one step at a time, no clue as to what was around them. The snow beat down, creating a white shield in every direction they looked. The elements battered them, made it hard to communicate, caused friction as their bodies collided with the air and snow.
Just as his foot hit something—something that felt more hollow than the ground prior—Tessa slipped out of his grasp and disappeared into the white below.
TWELVE
Tessa felt the ground vanish from beneath her. The air rushed from her lungs, and she let out a gasp. Before she realize
d what was happening, gravity pulled her downward in a free fall.
Her arms flailed.
Her feet kicked.
A scream stuck in her throat.
Finally, instinct kicked in. Her hands connected with something. She clawed at the slippery surface just within reach.
A brief window of opportunity.
A small chance to save herself.
Her body jerked to a stop. Her arms ached at the impact, her joints immediately sore from the harsh jolt.
But it didn’t matter. She wasn’t falling. Not for the moment, at least.
Her fingers had somehow managed to grip a wooden beam. Immediately, her arms burned under the strain of holding her weight. Her gloved fingers felt uncertain, weaker than she’d like, as if this was only a temporary fix.
Against her better judgment, she looked down. A swirling white mass beckoned beneath her.
The river, she realized.
This was a bridge.
She’d stepped off a bridge.
It suddenly all made sense, and her fear intensified.
This was going to be a horrible way to die.
As if to confirm that, her hands began to slip.
She couldn’t hold on much longer. She wasn’t strong enough. Her gloves were too slick. She was too cold.
Mom, I love you. I’m sorry you had to endure all of this. I wish I could have seen you again. Tell everyone how much I missed them.
If only her mom could hear her final words.
Lord, I’m sorry for how I must have let You down. I’m sorry I realized too late how important You are in my life. Please forgive me. I want to do better. I want to do right.
Her hand slipped again. Her heart raced as she felt her last inch of security disappearing.
Suddenly, Trent’s hands covered hers. His face came into view. “I’ve got you, Tessa.”
With an unnatural amount of ease, Trent gripped her hands and pulled her from where she dangled. She landed in the snow behind him.
Her heart raced.
She was on solid ground.
Finally.
Thankfully.
Trent knelt beside her, his eyes full of concern, his chest rapidly rising and falling with adrenaline. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
“Let’s get you on your feet, then.”
He helped her up. As soon as she put weight on her leg, she yelped in pain. When she looked down, she saw that her jeans were torn and blood gushed out.
“You must have cut yourself on the way down.”
“I’ll...I’ll be fine.” As soon as she said the words, she tried to take a step and nearly fell. Her face squeezed with pain.
Before she could contemplate her options, Trent swept her up in his arms and began walking. Apparently they were wasting too much time and had to move.
“I can’t...ask you...to do this,” Tessa said, her face still scrunched with discomfort.
“You didn’t ask. I just did it.”
* * *
Trent had been trained to travel in these conditions. He’d fought in Afghanistan—in both the dry and arid deserts and in the frigid mountains. Tessa hadn’t.
Her strength was fading, and fast. He had to hurry.
At the moment, she seemed to melt in his arms. Her head flopped against his shoulder. Her lips were pressed into a tight line.
“We’re going to be just fine, Tessa,” he murmured.
“I can’t ask you to do this,” she whispered.
“Like I said, you didn’t. I once carried one of my comrades in arms five miles up a mountain toward help,” he told her, trying to keep her talking. “He weighed twice as much as you.”
“What happened?”
“Roadside bomb. He got hit. I didn’t. Our vehicle was destroyed. If we were going to get out of that village, we had to walk.”
“I guess you escaped?”
“We did. My friend is doing just fine today, you’ll be glad to know. Just like you’ll look back one day and realize how crazy all of this was. It will be in the past tense. You’ll move on.” As he said the words, his heart lurched. Why did it bother him to think about her moving on one day? He had to put those thoughts out of his head.
“I hope so,” she whispered.
He pushed forward, breathing easier once he knew he’d crossed the bridge. The lodge should just be a little farther up this road. Once there, maybe Tessa could get warm. He’d look for a first-aid kit. Maybe start a fire.
When Trent had seen her go off that bridge, his heart had dropped. He couldn’t let Tessa die. He’d sacrifice himself if he had to. He’d feared he wouldn’t be able to pull her from where she dangled.
But when he’d seen the absolute fear in her eyes, he knew he had to do everything within his power to do so. Leveraging himself while trying to reach her had been a struggle, but by God’s grace he’d done it.
He continued to push forward, step by step. Slowly, the lodge got closer.
He glanced down at Tessa and saw her eyes had closed.
“Tessa,” he called.
There was no response.
He shook her slightly. “Tessa.”
She moaned.
This wasn’t good. Trent had to get her somewhere warm, somewhere he could properly bandage her wound. They’d made it this far—he couldn’t give up now.
Just ahead, during a break between snow gusts, another sign appeared—Snow Current. The insignia didn’t have a “distance ahead” designation. No, it was a welcome sign.
They were here! They were at the lodge. Now he just needed to find a building to give them shelter.
He had no time to waste.
The snowstorm eased. He wasn’t sure how long the interruption would last, but he was grateful for it. Maybe it would give him just enough time to find shelter.
Ahead, he saw a large lodge-like building. That was where they would go. It wasn’t the closest building, but it was the one most likely to have a fireplace. Even though the smoke would be a giveaway that they were here, it was a chance he had to take.
Because he was determined to keep Tessa alive.
* * *
Tessa had wafted from lucid to delusional as she rested in Trent’s arms. She’d drifted off for a moment and, in that instant, she’d been back at home with her family. They’d been laughing. She’d felt safe.
Even stranger, in her quasi dream Trent had been by her side.
The image had left her feeling warm and cozy. Too happy. What she needed was to keep her distance from Trent. It was the only way she could protect her heart—by remaining solo, and not getting attached.
It had been so long since she’d felt safe and loved that the dream had just seemed to mock her, to show her what she was missing.
At once, she pulled her eyes open. She sucked in a deep breath at the unfamiliar place surrounding her.
A fire crackled beside her, a blanket—blankets, for that matter—were piled on top of her. The room around her was large, almost overwhelmingly so. It smelled dusty and looked neglected.
Finally, Trent’s face came into view. Everything came back to her. The men hunting them. The snowstorm. Falling from the bridge.
In each of those instances, Trent had saved her. She’d be dead now without him.
Her heart filled with gratitude. And maybe something else. The thought made her throat tighten with both joy and fear.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, peering down at her with concern in his eyes.
Had he been sitting there beside her the whole time? Watching her? Making sure she was okay?
Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
She tried to sit up, but her leg jolted with pain. That was right—she was injured. She’d almost died, for that matter. How had she gotten here? Trent must have carried her the entire way.
“You have a pretty deep cut,” Trent said, tucking the blanket around her. “I cleaned it and put a bandage on it. Right now, we need to concentrate on get
ting you warm.”
“How about you? Are you—”
He shook his head, his gaze steady and almost somber. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
At his words, a shiver raced through her and a deep ache seemed to reach down to her bones, despite the warm fire crackling beside her. “It’s so...cold.”
“You’ll warm up soon.” He reached under the heap of blankets and found one of her hands. He began rubbing it in his own.
His touch—however utilitarian it was—caused her cheeks to warm. He was only trying to save her from frostbite, yet his touch was too tender for that. His hands, though callused, felt gentle.
Her gaze wandered the area as she tried to focus her thoughts on something other than Trent. They were in a huge room with a ceiling that stretched at least three stories high. Bright windows lined one wall, displaying the blizzard-like conditions outside. Huge wooden beams strapped the edges of the room, and the fireplace was probably taller than Tessa and surrounded completely in what looked like river rock.
“You found it,” she whispered. “The ski lodge.”
And somehow he’d managed to get her here, start a fire and remain intact himself. Maybe he was a superhero.
His eyes followed her for a brief moment. “I did. I built a fire and found some blankets in a few of the old rooms. I haven’t been able to explore much else.”
“How long was I out?” As she said the words, she realized how dry her mouth was. It felt like sandpaper. Not to mention the fact that her lips were chapped and peeling.
She inwardly groaned at the thought.
She could only imagine what she must look like. Not that she cared. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. But she could have died out there. If Trent hadn’t been quick in his thinking and reacting, she would have fallen to her death into the river below that bridge. Even more, if he hadn’t gotten her here, she could have frozen. She knew she wasn’t home free yet, but her odds were greatly improved, and not by anything she’d done herself.
“We’ve been here for about an hour.” He continued to rub her hands.
“Any sign of Leo’s men?” She didn’t even want to ask; she hardly wanted to know. Couldn’t she just deal with one emergency at a time? She wished she had that luxury.
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