Page 69 of Mountain Refuge

“I have a few leads some of my men are checking out,” Jack said cryptically. “With the loss of his men, he needs to find others. He’s low on cash but has assets he could sell to get what he needs. I’m looking into a black-market art auction that looks promising. He’s been known to frequent it before.”

I walked over to where Elijah was still kneeling by Trenton’s cot. I put my hands on his shoulders and leaned down to press a kiss into his hair. “Once we get back up the mountain, Gunther will no longer be our problem.”

“Weather’s supposed to turn tomorrow,” he reminded me. “We need to get back up before dawn.”

He still didn’t like our current sleeping arrangement. I wasn’t too thrilled about being separated from him either, but it wasn’t like we were next door neighbors where he could walk across the street to check on his kids. Until the weather was better and we could get all of the kids’ supplies down to my cabin, it just wasn’t feasible to swap sleeping arrangements yet.

“I’ll have Owen carry Trenton out to theJeep,” Jack said, standing. “The sooner we get them up the mountain, the better.”

“What medications are needed?” I asked him.

“I’ll get Trenton,” Elijah offered. “I just need to know where to go.”

As Elijah started to get bundled up, Jack gave me instructions for each patient and separated the necessary pills into two different zippered baggies. I assisted Josie into a heavier coat and snow boots. She wouldn’t be exposed long, but in this weather, it wasn’t worth the risk. She was already injured and did not need to complicate her health further.

Once Elijah was bundled up, he lifted Trenton under his knees and behind his back. Jack went out first to ensure the coast was clear. He held the backdoor open for us. I guided Josie to the front seat of theJeepwhile Elijah laid Trenton down. I wondered if he’d been given a sedative since he’d barely moved during the transfer.

Then Jack went to switch places with Owen. Since Jack didn’t have any regular employees, it was noticed when he closed down and locked his doors. Everyone in town knew when Jack had a doctor’s appointment or such because those were the rare times when the store was closed or he had a townie watching the register.

Once Owen was ready, Elijah and I headed for my snowmobile. Jack would send the signal up to Corbin and Walter that we were headed to Tommy’s.

Looking up at the heavy clouds rolling in, I hoped we made it back to our respective homes in time.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Elijah

We barely made it through Corbin’s cabin door before the snowstorm came in full force. When Corbin had met us at Tommy’s, he’d told me that Belle had begged to come with him. I was so thankful that he was able to resist the power of her Bambi eyes and told her ‘no’. Corbin had no issue spoiling my daughter and letting her have her way in everything—except when it came to her safety. He knew these mountains and these winters better than I did and I was grateful he’d trusted his instincts over her desire to tag along.

Brooke and Trenton had a shorter ride than Corbin and me. As soon as we were through the door, Gertie informed us that Brooke had radioed to say she and Trenton were safe inside her cabin. I knew that Brooke was capable, but I still felt a sense of relief at the knowledge she was safe from the storm.

Trenton had woken up part way up the mountain to Tommy’s. Owen and Josie explained to him where they were and what was going on. He apparently did not handle painkillers well; they tended to make him loopy and drowsy. This was unfortunate for him because that meant he couldn’ttake another until after he was at Brooke’s. Even so, Brooke had strapped Trenton to her to ensure he didn’t fall off if he passed out again.

Tommy had grumbled and groaned about us meeting up on his land. Even through his cursing, though, I saw the appreciation in his eyes when Owen and I brought more firewood onto his porch for him and Brooke checked over his stores and supplies while we were waiting for Corbin and Walter to arrive.

After giving a quick kiss and hug to each of my kids, I ran over to the radio to inform Jack and Brooke that Corbin and I had arrived safely.

Unfortunately, Walter never checked in. He and Josie should have arrived at his cabin about two hours after Corbin and I did. Even with the heavy snowfall, Corbin did not seem concerned. Walter knew how to shelter in place to wait out the storm if needed. There was also a high possibility that he wasn’t able to get a signal out due to the storm.

I was on edge the next two days, thinking up all of the worst case scenarios as to why Walter was not answering the radio. What if we’d been followed up the mountain? What if the ride made Josie’s injuries worse and she was hurt more but there was no medical assistance? What if they had run out of gas and were stuck with no way up or down?

Corbin tried to calm my fears, but damn I did not like not knowing where Josie and Walter were.

Finally, Walter hailed through. He said they did not make it to his cabin the first night and had sheltered from the storm. Then they were able to journey the rest of the way on foot. Per Walter, the snowmobile was buried too deep to have dug it out by hand.

Walter also reported that Josie was grouchy and was being very vocal about ‘insane mountain men’.

Later that afternoon, Brooke called over that Trentonwanted to speak with Belle. I hadn’t had a chance to say much to Trenton the day we brought them up the mountain but understood that Belle was his priority.

Belle used the HAM radio often and knew how to work it as well as any child did their parent’s cellphone. She was also careful about what she said over the transmission. Generally, she used it to talk to Super Jack or to Gertie if we were spending a few days at Brooke’s.

Sitting on her knees in Corbin’s chair, she leaned over to key the microphone. “This is Omega-Delta-Four-Six-Two-Two-Tango calling Foxtrot-Niner-Niner-Charlie-Eight-Seven. Over.”

“Lyd—Belle! Hi, sweetie. How are you?”

“You’re supposed to say ‘over’, TT,” Belle informed her brother with a giggle, using his nickname from when she’d been learning to talk. She had a hard time saying ‘Trenton’ and had ended up with a version ofTat, which had eventually been shortened to ‘TT’. “Brooke, did you teach himnothing? Over.”

Brooke’s laughter came over the speaker, which was like music to my ears.“I’m sorry, Belle. He was so excited to talk to you that I didn’t get a chance. Over.”

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