“What took you so long?”
He walks over to Skyler and inspects her leg. She winces at his touch. “Got yourself a mighty nice break there.”
She reaches up and hugs his neck. “You came. Thank God. Where’s Wyn?”
Agent Sweeney unpacks a few medical supplies from his bag and begins making Skyler a proper splint.
“We found him about a mile off course. He told us what happened. He’s back at the office waiting on you guys to make it back safely.” Agent Sweeney grips Skyler’s shoulder. “You’ll be just fine. We have a chopper waiting for you on the ridge.” He pulls out a foldable nylon stretcher. “Grace and I can carry you there. It’s not too far.”
Skyler hops over to a long stick and picks it up. Leaning on it, she eyes me. “No, thanks. I’ll walk.”
I frown. Some thanks. Then my spirit sags. To some people, no matter what I do, I will never be able to make up for what I’ve done.
“Tough girl.”
I almost laugh, but hold it in. Yeah, as tough as snails.
Agent Sweeney hands Skyler a couple pills and some water. “Take these. They should help you feel better until you get to the hospital.”
She focuses on me and for the first time looks worn and sad. “That’s okay. I’m used to the pain by now.”
Survival Skill #12
In a snowy whiteout, try not to move; windblown snow can fill in contours, obscure cairns, and conceal drop-offs.
The next morning, as soon as Wyn walks into Agent Sweeney’s office, I race over to him. “Are you okay? I was worried about you.”
He laughs. “Me? I was worried about you guys. Didn’t think they would get to you in time.”
“It was cold, but we were fine.”
“I wasn’t talking about the cold.” He smirks. “Afraid you and Skyler would kill each other if you had to stay the night. Glad to see you made it.”
“Ha. I would’ve won that fight, trust me. Skipper never let Barbie win a round.”
Agent Sweeney calls out from the corner. “Yeah. Grace could scare off the wolves and the cold. Can you believe it?”
Wyn stops joking and gives me a quick hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. We should have stuck to the path.”
“I’m always right. When will you learn that?” I pretend punch his jaw. “So. How is Skyler?”
Wyn runs his hands over his head. “She’ll be fine. Broke her leg in a couple of places, so it’ll be a long recovery. Her mom’s peeved with me, though.” He shoves his hands inside his coat and shivers a bit. “To be honest, I think Skyler’s kind of glad. She’s getting tons of attention – which she loves – and it gives her an excuse to be off this project. Seems to be more upset at having to hang up her heels for a while.”
I can’t help but smile at the strange benefit of a broken bone. “That’s awful, I guess.”
“She said it, not me.” He folds up his collar. “Now, what are we waiting on?”
Porter walks around the corner. “The rest of the team.”
Wyn looks confused. “What?”
My mouth drops open. “We’re going back out today?”
Agent Sweeney frowns and pulls on a baseball cap. “Against my protests, I must add. It’s too cold, but Porter wants to merge the two teams together.”
Forget the weather, I’m more concerned about being trapped outdoors with the other team. At least I enjoy Wyn’s company. Skyler is easy compared to Seth who’s totally obnoxious. I barely know Madison, but from what I do know, she’s a bookworm, not a nature girl. And Big Mike is, well, he’s just big. I can only imagine how loud he is in the woods. Not conducive for tracking. The wolves will hear us a mile away.
“Does Katie know we’re hiking in today?” I ask.
Porter nods. “Yes. But she insisted I go with you.”
Wyn looks frustrated, his face all pinched. “Can this not wait until tomorrow?”
“No. Bad storm is coming in a few days. We gotta move now. If anyone wants to back out, they can. No one’s forcing you.” Porter studies his watch. “They’re late.”
On cue, Seth and his posse appear around a corner like some street gang. He’s in front, and the other two are trailing close behind. “Better late than never. You guys ready to help my team find these wolves?”
“Your team?” I ask.
He shrugs and pulls on a knit hat. “Yeah, I assume I’m taking over as leader. I mean, majority rules, right?”
I try not to sound too perturbed. “Wrong. Skill comes first, and you know what ass-u-me means?”
He looks to Agent Sweeney for some backup. “Surely we’re not going to have a chick lead us. And Wyn doesn’t know a log from a bridge, apparently.”
Wyn puffs up. “Watch it, Seth.”
Seth laughs. “What are you going to do? Push me in a river? Break my leg maybe?”
Agent Sweeney waits to answer, somewhat amused with the banter.
Meanwhile, my blood boils. “Trust me, Seth. This is not your average Boy Scout expedition with a nature badge waiting at the end. I’m the most qualified here, so I’m leading.” I look at Wyn. “We see what happens when we leave it up to the boys.”
Instead of being mad at me for ranking on him, he nods. “I’m with Grace. She’s the best out of all of us. Though it hurts to admit.”
I smile at his support. “Thanks.” I grab one of the packs and toss it to Seth. “Don’t worry. You can be my ass, though. Seems right up your alley. I need someone to carry the bags.”
Agent Sweeney chuckles in the corner as he works.
Big Mike laughs out loud and slams Seth on the back. “Looks like you got beat by a girl.”
Seth points at me. “Wait a minute, that’s a girl?” He hands Mike the pack. “Since you think this is so funny, you haul it. You’re the strongest… if we’re going by skill.”
Big Mike shrugs and straps on the backpack, making it look tiny against his muscular physique.
Porter is already standing by the door when Agent Sweeney hands him an extra pack. “Since this is your brilliant idea, I insist you carry another bag of supplies. Just in case.”
“Fine by me.”
I speak up. “What’s the plan?”
Porter smiles and hands me a map that has a path highlighted with coordinates. He studies a beeping electric contraption while he speaks. “The wolf pack has been somewhat stationary. So you should have no problem.”
Agent Sweeney crosses his arms. “In case you all didn’t hear, Porter’s going with you. It was the only way I would allow this again. Les is on high alert in case you need anything, and Katie’s ready to pull the plug if anyone else gets hurt.”
Wyn raises his hand. “With all due respect, Skyler’s accident was my fault. Grace told me not to cross that bridge. I was just trying to get us across faster.”
Porter glares at him. “Yes, it is your fault. Not only did you get someone hurt, but your carelessness has also jeopardized the project. If you stick to the plans and routes, we will be fine.” He looks at all of us. “Any of you guys mess up again, and you’re off the teams. No questions asked and no free grade.”
Wyn lowers his head like a beaten down mutt.
I speak up in his defense “There’s no need going on about it. Skyler’s fine. It was just an accident.”
Seth plays with his phone. “A fool’s only accident is birth.”
“That’s stupid.” Wyn shakes his head. “What does that even mean?”
“Come on, boys. Cut it out.” Agent Sweeney opens the door. “Now all you fools get out of my office. I’ve had enough of your bickering for one day.”
Porter puts on his large hat. “Let’s go then. Grace, you lead, and I’ll bring up the rear in case we miss anything.”
I nod. “I won’t.”
Agent Sweeney drives us up a few miles to the drop off location, and the six of us head into the thick trees. As soon as we’re out of Agent Sweeney’s sight, Seth jogs past the line like a child running ahead of hi
s parents at an amusement park. He veers left at a fork in the path, and I veer right. I don’t think anyone else even saw him. I almost say something, but stop myself. Let him get lost. See if I care. I’m staying on the path this time.
Nothing good happens off trail. And one dumb person can get a whole bunch of smart ones killed out here.
The rest of the group follows me as we walk through a winter wonderland. Frost-covered trees line up against the white sky. The dim light reflects off the icy branches, making it look as if the world around us is sparkling. I’ve always loved a crisp walk in the winter. Besides the sound of melting ice and footsteps crunching through the crusty snow, the best sound of winter is the sound of silence. The early morning sky acts as a warm backdrop to the chilling landscape. The smell of evergreen in the air gives it a Christmas tone. I even spot the perfect tree Dad would haven chosen for the holiday.
Obviously, Seth isn’t as dumb as he looks because he eventually jogs up next to me. “Dude, we’re supposed to stay together.”
I keep slushing through the snow. “No, you’re supposed to stay with me. You were going in the wrong direction.”
He jumps in front of me. “I could have gotten lost back there.”
I mumble and walk around him. “Somehow, I knew you’d figure it out.”
He stops me with his hand and gets in my face. “And what if I didn’t? What happened to no man left behind?”
“Doesn’t include boys.”
Wyn walks up next to me. “Back off, Seth. Why are you always causing trouble?”
Seth gets in his face. “So is this your new girlfriend for the day? Why do you keep crushing on a girl who thinks you’re a total loser? You’d think you’d learn. I mean, it’s been like ten years already.”
Wyn’s face turns red, but before he can respond, Madison’s whispery voice floats from the back. “Just let it go, Seth, jeez.”
When she speaks, Big Mike speeds up and grabs both Wyn and Seth by the back of their jacket collars. “Ladies. Stop bickering, and let’s do what we came to do. I’m getting tired of being out here and not seeing squat. I didn’t miss football to hike around with a couple of fighting sissies.”
I check my compass. “Yeah, and if we keep bickering, every wolf within a five-mile radius is going to hear us coming. Let’s keep it down.”
Big Mike tugs on the hood of Seth’s coat. “You bring up the rear with me so I can keep an eye on you.”
I wait until I spot Porter on the trail and then continue on.
Madison walks up next to me and joins my pace. “Seth’s not all that bad, you know. His ego gets the best of him.”
I hop over a slushy puddle in the trail. “Yeah, I noticed.”
“So how long have you lived here? You seem to know your way around.”
I keep an eye on my compass. “All my life.”
She doesn’t miss a beat before she’s onto the next question. “Ever seen a bear?”
I smile thinking of Simon. Then I remember how I found him dead due to poachers. My spirit drops as I choke out. “A couple times.”
“Whoa!” Madison opens a small book in her hands on red wolves. “Hey, did you know a red wolf can travel up to twenty miles a day and run up to thirty miles an hour?”
I really don’t want to talk, but I know Madison is new here and excited, so I play along. “I didn’t.”
She flips through the book and trips over a root. Stumbling a bit, she catches herself and laughs. “I’ve never been out hiking like this before. To me, the jungle is New York City.”
I can’t help but laugh, but I try not to say too much more, hoping not to encourage an ongoing conversation. We need to be quiet if we’re ever going to come across a live creature. Let alone the elusive wolf.
“Did you know some red wolves could be up to a hundred pounds? Can you imagine?”
I keep my voice hushed. “I’d like to find out.”
She laughs nervously. “Yeah, me too. I guess.”
I exhale my frustration. Is she going to talk the whole time? Do these people not take this seriously? I feel like I’m the only one out here who wants to find a wolf. The only one who is here for this project besides Porter.
Madison takes a few steps without reciting any facts. As soon as I hear her take a breath to speak again, I stop and turn to face the group.
“Hey guys, maybe we should split up a little. It looks like we’re close to one of the suspected dens. If we come in from two different sides, maybe one of us will be able to spot something if the wolves decide to move.”
Porter hikes up behind us. I can understand why he’s hanging back so far. Can’t take the noise. “Sounds good. We should still be within a mile of each other. Are you guys okay with that?”
Madison tucks her small book away in her jacket pocket. “I thought we were staying together.”
“It might be a smarter way to find them,” I say.
Porter nods. “It’s settled then. Just don’t tell Katie, or she’ll have my hide. But I trust you guys. I’ll take Mike and Madison. Grace, you stick with Seth and Wyn. I think you know these woods almost as good as I do.”
Better, actually, but I don’t say that out loud. I can’t help but be slightly disappointed at getting stuck with Seth. I guess I was being too optimistic thinking Wyn and I could go at it alone. “Okay,” I mumble.
Seth claps. “Sounds good to me.”
“Great. You guys circle around to the east, and we’ll circle around to the west. We’ll meet here in one hour.” Porter points to the center of our route. “So don’t dillydally. Sound good?”
Mike salutes me as the three take off in the opposite direction.
About five minutes into our hike, Seth pipes up. “Smooth move, Grace.”
“What do you mean?”
He thumbs over his shoulder. “Getting rid of the baggage back there. I couldn’t take Madison’s chitchat anymore. Between her 411 and Big Mike’s grunting, there was no way we were going to spot any Rufies out here.”
I don’t bother to correct his scientific reference. Instead, I reorganize. “Seth, since you’re so good at pointing out other people’s mistakes, why don’t you bring up the rear? Trail behind us and make sure we don’t miss anything. Be our Porter.”
“Yeah. ‘Cause you know you will.” He jogs back down the track and lingers a few yards behind us.
Wyn files in behind me. “That’s only going to keep him busy for, oh, two minutes.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
As we head toward the coordinates mapped out for us, the air turns chillier by the minute. Eventually, I stop and watch a low mist roll through the trees, making it a little tougher to see.
I call back. “Grab a stick for support.”
I hear Seth crash off into the trees and crack a branch. Idiot.
Wyn snags a small twig from the path, “Why?”
“It helps when things get foggy, so you can keep your bearings.” I pick up two long branches and snap them to the perfect length. “Here. Your stick’s too short. Needs to be as long as your leg.”
He raises his eyebrows. “I’m pretty sure that’s something a guy never wants to hear.”
I smack him upside the head. “Gross.”
When I turn back around, I notice the long-distance visibility has gotten worse. Now we can only see about ten or fifteen yards in front of us.
“Looks like Mother Nature is getting grumpy.” I call out to Seth. “You okay back there?”
I hear Seth whistle in response and watch as Wyn picks up an even larger stick than mine. He tests it against his leg and tosses the one I chose for him. Guys are so lame. No matter where they are or who they’re with, they're always trying to prove something. Must be exhausting carrying around those heavy egos all the time.
“We need to wait for him to catch up,” I say.
Seth’s hair appears over the white dune. He digs the walking stick into the snow. “Looking nasty out. Maybe we should head back?�
��
I study my coordinates against the maps. “According to this, the pack should be right on the other side of that ridge. Let’s get there, and if they aren’t around, we’ll head home.”
Surprisingly, he agrees. “Sounds good.”
The wind picks up as Wyn and I hike up the hill with Seth trailing behind, now trying to make a sling shot out of a vine. I zip my white coat the rest of the way and pull my hood around my face. My cheeks are practically raw from the wind chill. I can’t help but feel sorry for Wyn, because he doesn’t look the slightest bit warm in his peacoat.
“You okay?” I ask.
He blows into his hands. “Tell me why I signed up for this again? I could be indoors with a nice cup of cocoa, watching a football game.”
I smile and hop over a log. “Because you wanted to protect me.”
“Right.”
A gust of wind picks up, and I spot something ahead. I squint through the blowing snow as Wyn runs into me from behind.
He talks a little louder. “I think we should head back. It seems to be getting worse. We don’t want to get stuck out here.”
Seth catches up. “I say we keep going. Lewis and Clark never stopped on their adventures, and look what they found.”
Wyn squinches his face. “And you think that’s motivating?”
For some reason, I don’t want to go back either, but that would mean I’m agreeing with Seth, which somehow feels wrong. “Guys, let me think.”
Seth plops down on a rock. “I need to rest for a second.”
I lean into Wyn and keep my voice down. “Wait here with motor mouth. I’ll go ahead and check things out, see how it looks. The weather didn’t look bad when I checked this morning, so a few more minutes won’t hurt us.”
“Yeah? Well, does Mr. Snow Miser know that?”
I smile at the holiday movie reference. “I’ll be back.”
Wyn grabs my sleeve. “Let’s stay together.”
“Isn’t that a song? Seriously, I’m only talking right there. Not miles. You’ll be able to see me. If you come, Seth will want to come and I need a break.” I pat his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you. Today.” I smile and punch his arm.
Uncontrollable (The Nature of Grace, Book 2) Page 11