“We’ll see.”
The sinking feeling in her gut sank even lower. Why did this situation keep getting worse? As if it wasn’t bad enough that Leo’s men were after her. Now it had to snow.
Lord, please. Help.
Again, desperation was leading her back to exploring the possibility that God actually cared.
What if He doesn’t answer your prayer? a quiet voice asked. What if He doesn’t answer it in the way you want? Will you still be open to the idea that God is a loving God?
She tried to shut out the voice.
God doesn’t work like a vending machine. You don’t put twenty-five cents in and get the candy of your choice. Faith is about trusting Him whatever the outcome.
Where was this internal conversation coming from? Maybe all of those days of growing up in Sunday school were coming back to her. Answers that she’d thought were buried were coming to the surface.
Perhaps she’d stopped trusting God just like she’d stopped trusting people. Maybe that was her biggest mistake of all.
Before she could dwell on it any longer, the car lost traction. It slipped across the ice, gliding dangerously in the direction of the cliff. Each second seemed to pass in slow motion yet incredibly fast at the same time.
Tessa gasped and reached for the dash to steady herself.
The snow made it impossible to see how close they were to careening off the mountainside. But for the third or fourth time in twenty-four hours, her life began to pass before her eyes.
She wasn’t ready to go yet. She had conversations to finish, family to see, a relationship with God she had to make right. Plus, she still needed to clear her name.
Her eyes flung toward Trent. Though his gaze was intense and his grip tight on the steering wheel, he remained in control. That thought brought Tessa immense comfort. If anyone could maneuver out of this tricky situation, it was Trent.
With dizzying, mind-perplexing movement, the car slowed, slid and flirted with deadly danger.
Finally, the vehicle stopped gliding and came to a slow halt.
Trent glanced over at her, visibly releasing his breath. “That was close.”
“Too close.”
He grimaced. “I think this is the end of the road for us. It’s too dangerous to go any farther.”
“So what are we going to do? Just sit in the car wait for the storm to pass?”
“That’s not safe, either. There are too many unknown factors. Too much risk of another car coming this way and ramming us. That would send us off the edge of this cliff.”
“What are you suggesting?” She thought she knew the answer, but she hoped wrong.
“We’re going to have to go and find shelter. On foot.”
ELEVEN
Trent didn’t want to do it. He knew the risks involved in leaving the safe confines of the car. But he also knew the dangers of staying in one place. The snow was coming down so hard that he couldn’t tell where the road started or ended. There was no way he could attempt to drive again, not after that tailspin they’d just experienced.
Tessa was tough. He’d seen the strength in her gaze. Sure, she might be scared, but fear made people’s reactions sharper. It could work to her advantage right now.
Despite that knowledge, his heart sank with compassion when he saw the trepidation on her face. The task before them was huge and would overwhelm anyone. Go walking in a snowstorm on a mountain road? It wasn’t ideal.
“If you say so,” she finally said.
“I’ll check and see if there’s anything in the trunk. Meanwhile, zip up your coat and tuck the legs of your jeans into your boots. Also, take the food we have and see if you can store it in your jacket. We’re going to need everything we can get.”
She nodded and began preparing for their journey.
Trent opened the door and a gust of frigid air rushed into the vehicle, confirming what he already knew: this was going to be hard. Arduous. Grueling.
He put his foot down, expecting to feel the ground. Instead, he felt air.
He sucked in a breath as he realized what that meant.
“What?” Tessa asked.
“We were only about two inches from going over the mountain.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow.”
“I’m going to have to climb out of your side. Carefully.”
She nodded stiffly. “We can do this, right?”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “We can. We just have to stick together, okay?”
She nodded again. With one more deep breath, she opened her door. More cool air rushed inside, attacking any warmth left on their skin. Carefully, Tessa placed her foot on the ground, tested it to make sure the solid surface beneath her was real and then stepped out.
Wasting no more time, Trent climbed across the seat and stepped out behind her. He watched each step carefully, uncertain where the ground began and ended. He opened the trunk and was relieved to see there were a few supplies that had been left by the previous owner, including a blanket and a flashlight. He took the blanket and wrapped it around Tessa’s shoulders. Her coat was heavy, but she’d need all the warmth she could get.
There were also a couple of pairs of old work gloves. They’d be sufficient to protect their hands against the elements.
“Let’s go.” He put his hand around her arm so they could stick together.
As snow battered their faces, they started down the road. The weather had turned brutal and he wasn’t sure what was colder: the snow or the wind. Trent prayed Tessa would be okay.
Every once in a while, the downfall would ease slightly and he could make out the wall of rock on one side of them. As the ground declined steeply down into a river gorge, he could see the treetops on the other side.
Trent hoped that once this section of road broke, maybe a house would appear. A driveway. Anything.
They couldn’t stay out here in these conditions for too long. But if they’d remained in the car, they’d be sitting ducks, and those men could have come upon them. “You okay?” he asked Tessa.
She squinted against the snow but nodded.
Every few minutes, he glanced behind him. Usually, all he saw was white. But this time, something else caught his eye.
A light appeared.
Two lights.
Headlights.
* * *
Tessa followed Trent’s gaze. “A car! We should flag them down. Maybe they can help.”
Before she could say anything else, Trent pulled her against the rock wall beside them. He pressed himself into her. She wanted to complain, but the heat he brought with him made the words stick in her throat.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. She had the strange desire to bury her face in his chest. Just to keep warm, she told herself. Not because he was her knight in shining armor.
“We don’t know who that is,” he told her, his breath hot on her cheek.
Her heart thump-thumped out of control—from the adrenaline of the situation, not from Trent’s closeness, she assured herself. How many times would she have to mutter that to herself before she was convinced?
“But—”
His gaze locked on hers. “We know Leo’s men are out there looking for us. We can’t take any chances.”
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 breat
h, 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 realized 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 t
o 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.
Deadly Mountain Refuge: Mountain Ambush ; Mountain Hideaway Page 30