Page 9 of The Ice Sisters

Cord quickly checked Ellie for wounds but saw no blood. Cord set his backpack on the ground, opened it and grabbed blankets. Knowing he needed to warm Ellie, he pulled off her wet socks and boots, then her pants and sweatshirt. Her eyes opened slightly and she looked up at him in a daze and moaned.

“You’re okay, El, Fox and I are here. He’s calling an ambulance.”

Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she passed out again. He dragged a clean sweatshirt from his pack along with dry thermal pants and socks, then dressed her and wrapped her in blankets.

Heaving a breath, he cradled her in his lap and rubbed her arms to warm her.

Fox ended the call, then glanced at Cord, his jaw clenched. “She’ll make it, won’t she?”

Cord was too shaken up to speak so he simply nodded. He could not think anything but that Ellie would be okay. Losing her would be unbearable.

TEN

KNOTTY PINE HILL

As Claire came to, she searched the darkness, wondering how long he’d been gone. Her body ached from the beating and she was so sore her limbs felt heavy and weighted.

But she had to get to the twins. Save them.

A sob tore from deep in her gut as she realized one hand was tied to the bed post. She jerked and yanked at it, but the lock only clanged against the metal frame. She pulled and twisted until her wrist was bleeding, but she couldn’t stand or free herself.

Despair overcame her as she pictured her twin daughters in her mind. They must be so terrified.

God help her. All she’d ever wanted was a baby of her own. A little one to hold and love, someone to love her in return. Something that was hers, that no one could take away from her.

Joel had wanted that, too. They’d planned for it ever since their engagement. But pregnancy had been challenging.

But finally she’d had Taylor and Heidi. Not one, but two darling precious girls. She’d been elated and doted on them. Had vowed to protect them with her life.

But now… they were in danger.

Pain, anger, sorrow and rage ate at her insides, as fierce as the snowstorm blazing across the mountains.

Barb had called and warned her that an intruder had left her a message. A threat that he knew her secret. Was he talking about what they’d done? Or did Barb have other secrets she hadn’t shared with them?

Liarin lipstick on Barb’s bathroom mirror. That was his message.

That word hit home with her. She’d lied to her husband. And now… was he really gone?

A fleeting memory of the first time she’d met Joel floated through her mind. Who’d have thought she’d find the man of her dreams in line at the coffee shop? He’d ordered black coffee. She’d loaded hers with sweetener and cream. Then they’d both reached for the same cinnamon roll. There was only one.

“Why not share it?” he’d suggested.

A ten-minute coffee and pastry had led to an hour-long chat then a date.

The romantic gifts, dinners and trips followed. They’d lived a good life. Been happy and in love.

Then she’d tried to get pregnant.

And things had become strained. She’d seen a different side of her husband.

Finally, the pregnancy test showed positive. And for a while they’d been ecstatic.

He’d said he loved the babies, but she’d seen questions in his eyes when he’d held them. Occasional bouts of anger and frustration during the sleepless nights.

She’d chalked it up to exhaustion. And fear, the fear of losing what they’d tried so hard to have. The family they’d wanted so badly.

Where were her daughters now? Still hiding in the attic? Or had he found them?

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