Page 119 of 15 Summers Later

“I’m so sorry, Madi. Poor Ava. How is she?”

“Sleeping, for now. I hope she stays that way until we get back.”

“I’m ready to go when you are.”

“I’m ready.” She gestured to her travel backpack, which he picked up and slung over one shoulder, already heading for the door.

“Thanks, Nic,” she said, hugging her friend.

“I’ve got Ava. Don’t worry. I’m here for her.”

She nodded and hurried out into the pale blue twilight, where Luke’s truck and trailer waited in the circular driveway. He helped her into the passenger seat and then climbed in and pulled away from the house.

“Is it reckless to head up into the mountains at this time of the night?” she asked.

“We’ll be fine. The UTV has headlights.”

She was suddenly fiercely glad his sister had reached out to Luke. This would have felt like an impossible journey without him.

“What did you tell Sierra?”

“Not much,” he admitted. “I assumed Ava might want her privacy protected, so I only told her there was an emergency at the shelter here. No details.”

“Thank you for that. I’m sure Ava will be grateful. Did you take Sierra to your mom’s house?”

“No. I wanted to, but she reminded me she’s thirteen and insisted she would be fine by herself. The security system at the house is armed, plus she’s got two big dogs to protect her. She also has her cell phone with Mom’s number and Nicki’s number.”

Sierra still seemed like a young girl to Madi, but she had to remind herself she was a teenager now, only a year younger than Madi had been when she and Ava had escaped through the darkness, into the wilderness.

She wanted to ask him if Sierra was still upset about what had happened earlier, about that kiss that seemed as if it had happened a lifetime ago, but she bit back the question. It seemed wrong to even think about that kiss when her sister had suffered an unbearable loss.

She looked out at the passing trees and the black mountains looming in the distance, as a few raindrops began to spatter against the window.

“Oh no,” she exclaimed.

“With any luck, it won’t last long.”

“Even a quick rain will make the trail muddy and harder to navigate.”

He glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to the road. “Do you want to turn around?”

She considered briefly, then shook her head. “Cullen needs to know about the baby. Ava should have her husband with her. What’s a little mud?”

His mouth lifted into a smile. “Right. What’s a little mud?”

He reached a hand down and his strong fingers folded around her smaller curled ones and they rode that way through the night as the headlights sliced through the darkness and the wipers beat away the rain.

33

Days blur into nights, and our strength is tested in ways we never imagined.

—Ghost Lakeby Ava Howell Brooks

Luke

The trust Madison Howell had in him was as remarkable as it was humbling.

Luke drove toward the Sawtooths, more aware with every passing mile of her hand curled inside his. He could no longer avoid the overwhelming truth.

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