by Tricia Goyer
God is with us. He watches over our every step. Sarah had said those words to Eve just a few hours ago, and here she was fretting. She needed to enjoy the journey. Needed to appreciate this time with her friends, not just feel satisfied on the peak.
Yet the words had barely replayed through her mind when Sarah felt her next step go wrong. The toe of her right boot caught on a rock, and her left foot jerked forward to catch herself. Her left ankle twisted, and Sarah felt a sharp pull. The world around her turned gray, and she grabbed Eve’s arm to steady herself.
Eve paused, grasping Sarah’s shoulders. “You okay?”
Sarah nodded and grimaced. “Oh, ja, jest a bad step.” She stepped on it again. Another pain shot up her leg. Sarah hobbled forward.
Jathan’s eyes narrowed in concern. “Maybe we should go back.”
Sarah waved a hand at him and forced a smile. “Jest a little twist. I’ll be fine in a moment.” She nodded her head as if doing so would convince herself it was true. “Besides, we should be at Lake Geneva soon. Isn’t that what yer map says?”
Jathan eyed the piece of paper. “I’m not sure. I know this must make sense to Edgar, but I don’t think it’s helping much.” He tucked it into his pocket.
Sarah did her best to continue on without a limp.
Her act must have convinced Amos, Eve, and Hope, because they continued on without much of a pause. But Jathan stayed by her side.
Sarah smiled. This time it wasn’t for show. She appreciated Jathan’s obvious attraction but hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. After all, it was Amos who captured her interest, wasn’t it?
After thirty minutes, Sarah could finally hear the sound of rushing water. She rounded a corner, and there was a creek … not beside the trail, but over it. Beyond that, the shore of the lake.
Amos paused beside her, looking down at the water they had to cross. “Looks deep.”
“Spring runoff does that to the rivers in these parts. I jest never expected we’d have to cross one,” Sarah said.
She eyed the rocks that jutted up from the water, knowing they’d be how the group got across the creek. Her ankle offered a gentle throbbing that matched the beating of her heart. How am I going to do this? One slip and she’d be in water up to her waist.
The others crossed with no problem, jumping from rock to rock. Sarah stood at the water’s edge, knowing it wasn’t possible for her.
Without being asked, Jathan hopped back to the rocks in the center of the creek and held out a hand. “Grab my hand and I’ll help you.” He pointed to the rock she should step on. “I promise I won’t let you fall.”
Sarah took his hand. It was large and wrapped around her smaller one with tenderness. Jathan’s eyes met hers, and he smiled. His chin jutted out slightly and his shoulders straightened as if helping her wasn’t a chore, but an honor. She stepped out, clinging to his hand. He guided her with gentle motions and then released her hand on the other side.
“Thank you.” She looked up at him, noticing for the first time what beautiful, kind eyes he had.
“My pleasure, Sarah.”
She’d never heard anyone say her name like that, like a rose blooming from his lips. The ache of her ankle felt dull compared to the heat spreading through her chest.
Jathan … Is he the unexpected gift of this day?
The view opened up as Sarah approached the lake. It sat in a large bowl with mountains on three sides. Numerous waterfalls fell from the rock on the other shore. Sarah bent down and brushed her fingers over the surface of the water, but even this beauty didn’t distract her from Jathan’s closeness.
“What are you doing? Testing the water before you jump in?” Jathan chuckled as he squatted beside her.
“Oh ne. Just splashing in the snow.” She offered a smile, remembering Patty saying nearly the same thing.
Twin peaks rose straight ahead. Amos pointed to one farther left. “That is Robinson Mountain.”
“How do we get up there?” Eve asked.
“According to Edgar’s note, we go to that rock slide on the other side of the lake and climb it.” Jathan’s eagerness to find the trail in the rock slide was clear, and Sarah didn’t want to disappoint him — or disappoint the others.
She took a long drink from her water bottle, and then took the lead.
“I’ve never climbed a rock slide before …” She tried to sound cheery.
“Don’t you want to eat lunch here?” Amos called after her.
Sarah shook her head. “Why don’t we wait until we get to the top? Then we can really relax!” She spoke more from fear than eagerness. If she paused, it would be impossible to get up.
The climb wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be. As long as she led with her good foot, she was able to scale the rocks fairly quickly.
“Well done.” Amos grinned when they reached the top. “I’m going to have to call you Sarah Mountain Goat from now on.”
Sarah crossed her arms and pretended to scowl. “Why, thank you. How flattering.”
They continued on. The trail became steeper, more dangerous. Snow clung to the ledges, and the path gave way to drop-offs on both sides. The rocky trail was made up of what looked to be quartz. It sparkled beautifully in the sunlight but made the trail slippery, especially where there was snow. Sarah paused, picking up a large nugget of quartz. It looked like a large piece of gravel with shiny specks.
“So this is where it came from,” she said between ragged breaths.
“What?” Jathan paused beside her.
“Oh, there’s an old cabin … deep in the woods behind … where the Sommer family lives now. A friend and I … came upon it years ago, and I found … a rock like this.” The elevation was high. Even though she was sucking in large breaths, the breaths didn’t satisfy her lungs. “It makes me smile to think that an occupant … from years and years ago hiked this same trail.”
Her ankle burned as if it were on fire. Tears rimmed her lower lashes. Sarah knew they were partly from the pain and partly because it had been Patty who had led her to that cabin.
Jathan placed a hand on her arm, and she paused.
“Is it yer ankle, Sarah?”
She limped toward a large boulder. “It really smarts. You better go ahead.”
“We can’t leave you behind.” Jathan’s voice rose an octave. Upon hearing his words, the others paused and turned.
“No, really, I’ll be fine.” She waved her hand toward a vista as pretty as had ever been painted. “It’s not a bad view to have to sit and take in.”
“But if there’s another bear … No, I’m not going to leave you. I promised …”
“A bear up here? Above the tree line? Ach, I don’t think so.” She pointed. “Look, I can see in all directions. No bear is going to sneak up on me.” She wiped away a tear and tried to hide the pain. “Besides, if I see one, I’ll sing really loudly. That will scare him away.”
The others circled around her, looking unsure.
“Look, the top is jest right there.” She pointed up the trail. “It’ll probably take you only fifteen minutes to get up there. I’ll be fine.” She pulled up her backpack and set it on her lap. “I’ll jest be sitting here eating my lunch.”
Amos stroked his jaw. “You sure?”
Sarah turned to Jathan, knowing he was the one she had to convince. “Ja, really. I’ll be all right.”
Jathan eyed her. He looked up the trail and then back to her again. “If you think so …”
“Yer wasting time. See, if you hadn’t argued so, you’d already be up and back.” She playfully slugged the taller man’s arm. “And then on the way down, we can talk, ja? I’d like to hear more about yer Mem’s bakery. And yer dreams too.” Sarah glanced up at him, ignoring the stares of the others. “I’m sure you have some ideas for yer future, Jathan. But get on yet or the darkness will be here and we’ll miss our ride!”
The trail was longer than it had looked when they’d left Sarah. Jathan had thought it would on
ly be a ten-minute walk, but they’d been gone at least thirty. Worry caused his heart to pound even more than the exertion. Then, just when he’d convinced himself he needed to turn back, the trail opened up to a small plateau and there sat an old lookout cabin.
“Wouldja look at that.” Amos picked up his pace, and Jathan joined him. Almost the entire face of the cabin had been carved with people’s initials. As he paused before it, Amos pulled out a pocket knife and set to work carving. Jathan thought about joining him, but it wasn’t his name he wanted to carve. It was Sarah’s. And now, standing here at the top without her, he wished he would have stayed by her side.
“We shouldn’t stay too long,” Jathan said.
“Ja, well, tell them that.” Amos pointed to Hope and Eve. They’d passed the top of the trail and were heading over the other side.
Jathan’s jaw dropped. “Where do they think they’re going?”
Amos shrugged. “Canada? I hear the border is only a half-mile from here.”
Jathan didn’t wait for Amos to finish carving his initials. He quickened his pace and caught up with Eve and Hope. They’d stepped down to a rocky area that overlooked a majestic view. Hills rolled down from where they sat — slopes covered with trees arrayed in fresh green leaves. In the distance, snow-covered mountain peaks jutted into the sky.
As Eve and Hope ate their lunch, they chatted about some of the other bachelors, and Jathan found himself forgetting about Sarah for a moment. Instead, his heart leaped in awe of God’s handiwork. For a strange reason, he wanted to grab both girls by the shoulders and say, “Look at this. Look what God has done!”
Instead, he walked a short distance away and sat on an outcropping of rock. A warm sensation flooded over him. One he had never felt before. It was as if God had moved from “out there” to right in the middle of his chest.
Jathan blew out a long, slow breath, never wanting this knowing of God’s nearness to leave, but fearful of it all the same.
He’d grown up knowing about God. His people spent their whole existence ordering their lives with God at the center, but at this moment, it was as if a curtain had been pulled back. Reality replaced knowledge. The heat grew within Jathan and filled his chest and limbs. It was as if his heart had swallowed up some of the sunbeams that hit his shoulders and then radiated them through the rest of his body.
Dear God, his soul whispered. I know I’m running. Maybe I’ve known all along that it’s also what I’m running to. Maybe I came to Montana because I’m running to you.
The thought grew and took root in his mind like a small acorn in dark rich soil. He’d brought his Bible and had read it every day. He’d attended the church services and had really listened. And when he had sung, he’d paid attention to the words. He’d prayed about more challenging things, like how to handle returning home. But at this moment, another prayer touched his lips. Jathan needed to pray for Sarah.
God, be with her. Watch over — The words had barely pulsed through his mind when fear crashed over the peace in his soul.
He jumped to his feet and turned. Amos was already there, standing just behind him on another rock. Amos glanced at Jathan. His smile fell. “You all right? Yer face is as white as Eve’s kapp.”
“We need to head back. I have a bad feeling about Sarah.”
Amos narrowed his gaze. “A bad feeling?”
“Jest …” How could he explain it? He shook his head. “We’ve been gone too long already, that’s all.”
When they passed by the lookout cabin, Jathan sent up a silent vow that he would return. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he did like the idea of carving Sarah’s name into that building … especially with her by his side.
CHAPTER
7
The sun moved toward the western horizon, and Sarah scanned the trail. Where could they be? She strained to hear their voices, but the only sound was birdsong from a distant tree.
What could be taking them so long? Should she hike up to find them?
No, that wasn’t possible. Not with her ankle.
She gazed up at the sun and tried to guess the time. Two o’clock, maybe? Three o’clock? She wished she’d borrowed Dat’s pocket watch.
She could start down the trail, and they could catch up with her. Maybe that would be better, since she was going to have to walk slower than the rest of them.
But if they came to the rock and didn’t see her, they’d worry.
She looked through her backpack, wishing she had something on which she could leave a note. She had no paper, no pens, but … she thought of something else.
As quickly as she could, Sarah picked up nuggets of quartz and formed an arrow on the path.
The wind picked up. Dark clouds gathered in the south and moved Sarah’s direction. Just seeing them made Sarah shiver.
She pulled her jacket from her backpack and put it on. She hobbled down the hill, and the pain shooting out from her ankle caused her stomach to lurch. Tears filled her eyes. She brushed them away with the back of her hand.
She walked on, but there was no sign of the others behind her. Had someone slipped off a snowy part of the trail? Had they come across a bear? She doubted it at their elevation, but one never knew.
Sarah’s shoulders quivered. She wasn’t sure if it was from the breeze, the thought of bears, or the greater worry of what had happened to her friends.
She hobbled on until the open ledges were behind her, and trees lined the trail once again. It meant she was getting closer to the lake, but the pain in her ankle was almost too much to bear.
At least another thirty minutes passed. The storm darkened the sky, and soon the clouds began spitting speckles of rain.
Sarah tried to pray for help but no words came. Yet something caught her attention. Just as the trail turned, she noticed a path leading into the trees. It was wide enough for two people to enter. Was it another path from the lake they hadn’t known about? It made sense. There had to be a better way to get from the rock to the trail than by climbing down a rock slide.
She looked down the new trail, noticing that it wound gently down the hill. It looked easier to go down. Easier than jumping down the rock slide to get to the lake.
“Lord, I think finding this trail was from you. Please watch my steps. Guide my steps.” She moved forward, thankful the ground was softer on this trail.
She continued on, step by step, hurrying as fast as she could while hoping the others weren’t as worried about her as she was about them. She walked farther and the trail narrowed. The trees pressed in. Instead of looking to the left and right as she had coming up the mountain, Sarah focused her eyes forward. If something was out there, she didn’t want to know.
Then, just when she thought she should be upon the lake, the foot trail disappeared before her. The trees had grown thicker, darkening the sky around her. Snow clung to their bases. Sarah turned in a slow circle, eyeing the ground. If the trail was here, it was hidden under a layer of snow.
Suddenly, she wasn’t sure why she’d headed off the main trail or even what direction she’d headed. Even the trail she’d just walked down seemed no more than a steep, narrow path when she looked back up at it.
She could have been walking in the opposite direction of Lake Geneva for all she knew. She cocked her head and lifted her ear, listening for the roar of water from the waterfalls and creek. Only silence met her ears.
To make things worse, Sarah’s ankle was past the point of only throbbing.
She looked around and noticed a fallen log. Part of it looked dry. She sat on it, and as she did, the pain radiating up her leg caused her heart to pound harder. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she considered rolling down her stockings and checking her ankle for swelling and bruising, but fear changed her mind. She didn’t want to see. Didn’t want to know how bad off she really was.
Stupid, stupid, she’d told herself. She pressed her hands over her white apron, smoothing it. She pressed and smoothed it over and over again, whil
e her heart pounded in her chest.
She’d lived here long enough to have heard many stories of people who set off by themselves in the woods only to get lost. It wasn’t like she was a tourist. It’s not like she didn’t know better.
The cold wind picked up again, and Sarah pulled her arms closer to her chest.
She also thought about her friends, but instead of worrying, anger heated her cheeks. Why had they taken so long? Didn’t they know she couldn’t wait all day?
A sick feeling settled in her heart — the same feeling as when Patty had paddled out onto the lake.
“Ach, ne.” Maybe the feeling came not because something was going to happen to her friends, but because something was going to happen to her. Who was she fooling? She was lost and injured and afraid. Something had already happened.
Don’t be afraid. It wasn’t an inner voice that spoke to her, but rather the memory of what she’d told Eve.
Sarah lowered her face into her hands and shook her head. Then she lifted it up quickly, eyeing the trail — the path she’d just struggled down.
Maybe this was a path worn down not by humans but by the animals that called this mountain home. She studied the trees as if expecting a bear to lumber through the forest at any moment.
Don’t panic, Sarah. Think, think.
What had Jonathan told her about his hunting trips? Ah, she remembered. An expert hunter was like a detective, searching for clues. She hadn’t spotted any animal footprints on the trail, even though the ground was soft. That had to be a good sign. She looked around, searching for any sign of freshly broken limbs or old, dead leaves that had been disrupted on the forest floor. She didn’t see any signs that an animal had used this path in a while. Sarah breathed out a sign of relief and then bit her lip. That didn’t mean one wouldn’t come this direction though.
She considered heading back up the trail, the way she’d come, but the pain in her ankle made that impossible. Besides, what had Dat told her to do if she ever got lost? Don’t move. The people who tried to find their way out were often the ones who were never found alive.